Santa Margarita, officially the Municipality of Santa Margarita (; ), is a municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 27,012 people.
Formerly known as Magsohong, it is bounded to the north by the city of Calbayog and to the south by Gandara.
History The town used to be a barrio in Calbayog named Magsohong. On June 29, 1878, the principalía of Magsohong petitioned the Gobierno Superior to establish Magsohong as an independent pueblo. They argued that Magsohong was four hours away from Calbayog, while it already had a casa real or a Juzgado de Paz of nipa,relics of the old Juzgado a church with a techada (roof) of nipa; a convent; an escuela also made of wood and nipa; and had more than 300 tributos. The petition was endorsed by the cura parroco, the Gobernadorcillo as well as the principalía of Calbayog. Fourteen years later, Royal Decree No. 25 dated September 25, 1892 approved the establishment of the pueblo of Magsohong renamed Santa Margarita. The new pueblo had three visitas: Balud, San Bernardo, and Londara. However, it remained under the parish of Calbayog.
Geography
Barangays Santa Margarita is politically subdivided into 36 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Agrupacion Arapison Avelino Bahay Balud Bana-ao Burabod Cagsumje Cautod (Poblacion) Camperito Campeig Can-ipulan Canmoros Cinco Curry Gajo Hindang Ilo Imelda Inoraguiao Jolacao Lambao Mabuhay Mahayag Matayonas Monbon (Poblacion) Nabulo Napuro I Napuro II Palale Panabatan Panaruan Roxas Salvacion Solsogon Sundara
Climate
Demographics
Economy
Tourism Arapison Falls Baluarte Burabod Picnic Grove Calvary Hill The Oldest Bell The Oldest Natural Spring Water Hell’s Fog Nature Oark Mamitagaytay St. James Parish Sta Margarita
Culture
Alimango Festival July 25 (Alimango Festival) - this dance festival revolves around the courtship between the female alimango (the mud crab Scylla serrata found in fishponds) Atabayi and the male Amamakhao. It also depicts the capture of the alimango with the use of the bobo and giant bentol (kinds of traps). Dancers, dressed as alimango, flex their hands as if to bite. Snare drums and talutang highlight the fast rhythm of the dance.
References
External links Santa Margarita Profile at PhilAtlas.com Official Website [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Philippine Census Information Local Governance Performance Management System