Mingaw Ang Pasko sa Sta Catalina

Unlike previous Christmas in Sta Catalina, Today is the saddest, quiet, and less fun. I can't see Christmas decors, nor the annual inter-barangay belen contest where people from different places meet and enjoy watching the colorful decors and lights.

So just wondering, Nganong walay decorations sa park karon? Nganong walay inter-barangay belen contest karon?

Well, I'm just having a thought that they might saving for electricity? (haha!)...hope not for the upcoming elections. (whew).

I hope there's still preparing activities where people can see and enjoy. I know, it's not the decors, nor the "mabonggang" Christmas lights that bring people together, but the love that binds us together.

But truly, Mingaw jud ang pasko sa Sta Catalina karon!

The Municipality of Sta Catalina Negros Oriental Barangay Officials

The Municipality of Sta Catalina is divided into 22 Barangays, which is led and governed by Punong Barangay (barangay captain) and officials.

+ Alangilan ---- JUANITO F. BUNGCASAN
+ Amio --- JESUSA O. GENIL
+ Buenavista --- NICASIO C. GAUDIA
+ Kabulacan --- JOVENCIANO M. GEROMO
+ Caigangan --- JESSIE T. CADIS
+ Caranoche --- ALFONSO E. OLAM
+ Cawitan --- EDUARDO V. ALILING
+ Fatima --- JURRY M. LAGUARDIA
+ Mabuhay --- JOSELITO P. NAMOCO
+ Manalongon --- ELEGIO N. MONTE DE RAMOS
+ Mansagomayon --- EDWIN S. ESPARCIA
+ Milagrosa --- CONSTANTINO B. VILLANUEVA
+ Nagbinlod --- ROSENDA P. TRAÑA
+ Nagbalaye --- MARLOU E. AGBON
+ Obat --- JONATHAN S. ESTRELLANES
+ Poblacion --- ANTERO T. BIGAY
+ San Francisco --- FLORITA L. ACSON
+ San Jose --- LOYOLO P. LALAMONAN
+ San Miguel --- REYNANTE S. MAGLANGIT
+ San Pedro --- RUEL M. BADON
+ Santo Rosario --- CRESENCIA H. NUICO
+ Talalak --- GLICERIO T. BIGAY

Learn more about:

A barangay is led and governed by its barangay officials. The "barangay officials" is considered as a Local Government Unit (LGU) same as the Provincial and the Municipal Government. It is composed of a Punong Barangay, seven (7) Barangay Counselors or Barangay Kagawad, and a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman which is considered as a member of the Council.

Sta Catalina Town Fiesta 2009 Pictures

Sta Catalina Town Fiesta Parade 2009

Sta. Catalina Barangay Get Water Pipes

The presence of the Philippine Army in Sitio Kakha, Barangay Talalac, will help prevent rebel groups from destroying the water pipes in the hinterland barangays of Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental.

The local government recently sent bundles of water pipes to be used to give ample water supply to the residents of the Gawad Kalinga Kalinaw Village and of Sitio Kakha.

There are 38 families in Sitio Kakha identified as recipients of the housing project under the Gawad Kalinga of the Couples for Christ-World Mission.

Barangay Kagawad Josephine Casido said some of the water pipes were allegedly destroyed by still unknown suspects while some were hit by a landslide caused by strong rain recently.

She said residents of Sitio Kakha used to fetch water from shallow wells almost two kilometers from their place. She added they have to utilize the available water supply because they have no other sources in the area.

Casido said there are other recipients of the Kalinaw Village who refused to occupy the housing units because of the lack of water supply.

Residents said that during rainy season they will make an improvised catchment tank to gather rainwater to be used for cooking and also for drinking.

The 302nd Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army Col. Cesar Yano has instructed the troops in Sitio Kakha to assist the residents in the installation of there water pipes.

Yano has introduced organic agriculture development to the farmers who are residents of in Sitio Kakha. He said he strongly believes that there is money in agriculture partnered with patience and hard work.*MA

Article Source: www.VisayanDailyStar.com, February 2009 By: MARICAR ARANAS

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

The Municipality of Santa Catalina

Santa Catalina is considered as a second class and largest municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. On the year 2000, Sta. Catalina has a population of 67,197 people and 13,125 households according to CENSUS.

The Municipality of Santa Catalina is divided into 22 Barangays:

* Alangilan
* Amio
* Buenavista
* Kabulacan
* Caigangan
* Caranoche
* Cawitan
* Fatima
* Mabuhay
* Manalongon
* Mansagomayon
* Milagrosa
* Nagbinlod
* Nagbalaye
* Obat
* Poblacion
* San Francisco
* San Jose
* San Miguel
* San Pedro
* Santo Rosario
* Talalak