Santiago Ilocos Sur Philippines

History of Santiago

As soon as the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, Spain sent missionaries to spread Christianity, one of their purposes in their colonization. Christianity was then spread throughout the Philippines. The Spaniards organized groups called pueblos and divided these into sitios for easier proselytization and evangelization. From then on, the pueblo built tribunals for the Spanish government and churches and convents for the missionaries to live.

Because the Muslims were the champions of Islamic religion and because they considered war as an occupation and piracy as a hobby, they raided Christian pueblos along China Sea coast of the Philippines.

In June 1578, Spain started the Moro Wars in Jolo. This aggressive act marked the beginning of a long, bloody conflict between Spaniards and the Moros. In 1602, Spain sent punitive expeditions to Zamboanga, Cotabato and other places to curb the rising tide of Moro depredations. In the course of time the Moro continued to go to warpath and raid northern islands. Their raids rose to terrifying heights especially after the withdrawal of the Spanish garrison from Jolo (1646) and in Zamboanga (1662). To counteract the rising tide of Moro piracy, Zamboanga was refortified in 1719 and other Spanish ports were constructed. Watchtowers were built along the seacoasts from Mindanao to Luzon. Armed galleys and frigates patrolled the sea-lanes. The Moros stopped the raids for a while.

The Moros renewed their piratical forays. In 1717, they swept the Visayan Islands and attacked Appari and Northern Luzon. According to an old resident, Moro pirates entered the pueblo known today as Santiago in their return to Jolo. Guards in the watchtowers sounded their trumpets warning all the people of the pueblo of the arrival of the pirates. The church bells also rang alarming the people that pirates are fast approaching the shore. The people rushed and got their available arms like bolos, bows and arrows and fought the prates boldly. Sporadic battles ensued. These lasted for few hours. As the battle went on, the missionaries stationed in this place took the image of St James the Greater which they brought with them from Spain and held it high facing the seashore praying fervently the rosary with few people, for the safety and victory of his Christian followers. The Moros ran away and fled southward in their kumpits leaving behind their dead.

After the battle, a solemn mass was held in the church. The missionary told the people that due to the great intercession and miraculous protection of the image of St. James the Greater from the Moro pirates, this pueblo was saved and in his honor, this town was named SANTIAGO (Spanish for Saint James).