The Town of Santa Maria

The town of Santa Maria has a glorious past, a pulsating present and a directed future. It has the protective and inspiring guidance from the Blessed Virgin de la Purisima Concepcion. Captain Jose whose real name is Don Jose Serapio enriches the past history of Santa Maria. He was a towering disciplinarian, an imposing leader and a romantic adventurer. He served Santa Maria as its Captain Municipal for several years during which the enlightened and enriched the historical career of the town. The town of Santa Maria is situated in the Eastern part of the province.

Angat and Norzagaray on the North, Marilao on the South, San Jose del Monte on the East, and on the West by Balagtas and Bocaue, bound it. The construction of the church gave way to the formation of the community. Its foundation in 1702 by the Spanish friars marked the beginning of the spiritual crusade. The friars founded the town proper in 1793. Civil affairs were also attended to, so the appointment of the first Capitan Andres de la Cruz, made way for the permanent establishment of the town. He showed examples worthy of emulation, which other captains who succeeded him did also for many times they showed their discontent with the friars' administration. The friars interfered in civil affairs mostly to pursue their selfish interests.

Santa Maria is not only proud of its physical asset, political stability, progressive economy, but also proud of having a son in the person of Jose Corazon de Jesus, the incomparable poet, the one and only "Huseng Batute", who started composing his verse as a child and nationally recognized later, next to Balagtas in order of time, as the "King of Poets". Another Francisco Santiago, the composer who left among as his legacies the immortal "Nasaan Ka Irog" and other famous songs. In times of war, Santa Maria has contributed the blood of its people. She is proud of their "Veteranos de la Revolucion" who took part in the past struggles for the nation's independence. The town Santa Maria is full of contrasts: It has an old, remodeled church, and a stone's throw away from this religious façade is the new modern municipal building of the town build a few years ago.

Santa Maria has modern embroidery factories, which manufacture ready-made dresses for young and old alike; well-paved roads, busy poblacion and big residential houses, and a general hospital. Santa Maria has been known for many years as the "egg basket" of the Philippines and one of the towns in the province, which is thriving with cottage industries. Unemployment is not a problem in this town. The best thing a non-Santa Maria resident to do to feel the town's busy atmosphere is to join the people.