Santa Cruz, municipality of the Philippines in the province of Davao del Sur
Santa Cruz is a coastal town in Davao del Sur province that sits on the Davao Gulf with land stretching across hills and flat areas. The town divides into 18 barangays containing wooden houses with nipa roofs in some neighborhoods and concrete buildings in others, while fishing, farming, and small shops form the backbone of daily life.
Santa Cruz was founded in the late 1800s by Spanish explorers and missionaries and is the oldest town in the province, with the name reflecting early conversion efforts. After the Spanish-American War and Japanese occupation during World War II, the town recovered slowly, and multiple border changes in the late 1940s led to the split-off of new municipalities.
The name Santa Cruz means "Holy Cross" in Spanish, reflecting the arrival of missionaries in the late 1800s who established a cross to mark their spiritual mission. Today visitors can experience the community's strong traditions during local festivals and religious celebrations, when streets fill with music, dancing, and colorful decorations that bring neighbors together.
The town is easily reached by main highway connecting it to Davao City and other towns, with bus terminals where jeepneys and buses run regularly. Tricycles and motorcycles with sidecars are readily available for short trips, and the flat location makes it straightforward to walk around and enjoy views of the water.
The town was long overshadowed by faster-growing neighboring municipalities even though it is older, yet local leaders today push for it to gain city status officially. Visitors can also discover unexpected links to national history, as several notable people including an Olympic boxer and a former police general hail from this place.
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