History of Sta Catalina

The municipality of Santa Catalina is named after their patron saint, Santa Catalina de Alejandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine. She is a figure claimed to have been a noted scholar in the early 4th Century who, at the age of only 18, is said to have visited the Emperor of the time, who could have been Maximinus II or Maxentius, and to have attempted to convince him of the error of his ways in persecuting Christians (and having succeeded in converting his wife).

According to legend, she also converted many pagans, who were subsequently murdered. The legend of Catherine continues that she was condemned to death on the breaking wheel (an instrument of torture), but that it broke when she touched it, so she was beheaded. Her symbol is the spiked wheel, which became known as the Catherine wheel, and her feast day is celebrated the 25 November in most Orthodox churches.

Ranked with St. Margaret and St. Barbara as one of the fourteen most helpful saints in heaven, she was unceasingly praised by preachers and sung by poets. It is a well known fact that Jacques-Benigne Bossuet dedicated to her one of his most beautiful panegyrics and that Adam of Saint-Victor wrote a magnificent poem in her honour: "Vox Sonora nostri chori". In many places her feast was celebrated with the utmost solemnity, servile work being suppressed and the devotions being attended by great numbers of people. In several dioceses of France it was observed as a Holy Day of obligation up to the beginning of the seventeenth century, the splendour of its ceremonial eclipsing that of the feasts of some of the Apostles. Numberless chapels were placed under her patronage and her statue was found in nearly all churches, representing her according to medieval inconography with a wheel, her instrument of torture.
St. Catherine became the patroness of young maidens and female students. Looked upon as the holiest and most illustrious of the virgins of Christ, it was but natural that she, of all others, should be worthy to watch over the virgins of the cloister and the young women of the world."

The spiked wheel having become emblematic of the saint, wheelwrights and mechanics placed themselves under her patronage. Finally, as according to tradition, she not only remained a virgin by governing her passions and conquered her executioners by wearying their patience, but triumphed in science by closing the mouths of sophists, her intercession was implored by theologians, apologists, pulpit orators, and philosophers. Before studying, writing, or preaching, they besought her to illumine their minds, guide their pens, and impart eloquence to their words. This devotion to St. Catherine which assumed such vast proportions in Europe after the Crusades, received additional eclat in France in the beginning of the fifteenth century, when it was rumoured that she had spoken to Joan of Arc and, together with St. Margaret, had been divinely appointed Joan's adviser..

Article Source: ELGU.ncc.gov.ph, May 31 2006

Sta. Catalina contingent bags NegOr's “Sayawit” championship award

DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 18 — The contingent from Sta. Catalina municipality was this year’s champion of the Negros Oriental "Sayawit" competition, bringing home not only the pride, but a trophy and a cash prize of P60,000.

Sta. Catalina bested four other local government units (LGUs) who participated in the competition last Saturday.

The Sta. Catalina contingent also awarded the best in production design.

Bayawan City was second with P50,000 in cash prize and was also awarded best in costume, while San Jose came up third with P40,000 in cash prize and the best in performance award.

The two runners-up, Mabinay and Tayasan, received a consolation prize of P10,000 each. Mabinay was also named as best in choreography while Tayasan was best in musicality, and was also awarded the best rondalla accompaniment.

In the “parol” competition, Dumaguete bested 13 other local government units who also presented equally beautiful Christmas lanterns made of indigenous materials during the competition.

Bayawan City won special award for the creative use of waste materials. The city used parts of ballpens to produce a beautiful lantern.

The Pinaskuhan Sayawit Festival is an annual Christmas activity spearheaded by the provincial government. (PNA)

FFC/LBV/jfp/JG
written by: pna, December 18, 2008 11:44AM

Ang Dagat Sa Sta Catalina - Talisay

The following photos were taken last September 2008 at Talisay beach (hehe, assuming), Sta. Catalina.

my gf and my nephew
meet my sister
no idea, who the hell he is? - a model i guess.
the pido family
oh, TJ is making a macho pose..at the back.
crossing the bamboo bridge
These were taken early Sunday morning around 8:00 AM. And it's still low tide as you can see.

Sta Catalina Cockpit Pictures

Today, I had the chance to took pictures of the cockpit ("bulangan", "sabungan") located at Nagbagang, Sta. Catalina Negros Oriental. And because its Friday there's no people around. Regular cock fighting schedule is every Sunday.

this is the cockpit arena
right side view from the entrance gate
...and then the left side view from the entrance gate
the center view
the view from the outside of the cockpit
This is the only legal/authorize cockpit in Town that runs/operates cock fighting, unless if there's an official permit from the Town Mayor for special occasions such as Barangay fiesta.