History of Sta. Monica

        Santa Monica is one of the towns in Siargao Island. It lies along the northern seacoast. It is approximately fifty-five nautical miles away from the mainland of Surigao. Its former name  was Sapao. It was the name given by the first Spaniards who reached the place. It was believed that a fisherman who casted a net was asked by the Spaniards as to the name of the place. The fisherman’s reply was “no sapao”, meaning he missed to catch the school of fish.   Another version of the story states that the fisherman had caught so much fish that filled his banca. When the fisherman was asked by the Spaniards as to the name of the place,his answer was “sapao”, meaning his banca was full of fish.  Since then, this place has been called “Sapao”.

       Sapao had been a pueblo (town) during the Spanish regime. But later on, the town of Sapao was reverted into a barrio. Sapao belong to the municipality of Numancia (now Del Carmen) until September 30, 1953. During that time, Sapao has given several municipal mayors from Numancia. Nicolas Vitanzos, Teodulfo Concha and Maximino Cometa, Sr. were elected mayors of Numancia during pre-war period. During the Japanese occupation, the late Vice Mayor Ricardo Platil was appointed Mayor of Numancia of the Free Philippines to head the Municipal Government of the Resistance Movement.

       Sapaonons had a dream. They wanted Sapao to become a municipality once again. The 14-man mission approached Congressman Ricarido Navarro (lone representative of the Province of Surigao) in order to express the great desire of the people to convert the barrio of Sapao into a municipality. The 14-man  mission composed of the following: Zosimo Nogaliza, Timoteo Nogaliza, Ruperto Beterbo, Teotimo Arlan, Jose Golo, Aurelio Espolita, Sr. Conrado Arlan, Bernabe Arlan, Deogracio Merlin, Florito Arlan, Asclipio Febra, Jose Dolar, Rosalio Patagan, and Macario Febra. The aforementioned appealed to the late Congressman Ricarido Navarro. Maximino Cometa, Sr. personally went to Manila to make a follow-up on the resolution converting the barrio of Sapao into a  municipality. By virtue of Executive Order No. 624 of President Elpidio Quirino,   Sapao became a municipality which took effect on October 1, 1953. The  effort of Maximino Cometa, Sr. was rewarded for being the first appointed   municipal mayor and Teotimo Arlan as his vice mayor until December 31, 1956. Zosimo Nogaliza was the last Barrio Lieutenant of Barrio Sapao. Wenceslao Andanar and Filomeno Arlan were the first elected mayor and vice mayor. From 1964-1967, Flordicante M. Platil, Sr. was elected as mayor. During his  incumbency, a House Bill No. 7233 changing the name Sapao to Santa  Monica was approved by His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos under Republic Act No. 4998. Read more...