(inclusions: Battle of Balete Pass)
HISTORY OF SANTA FE
The Municipality of Santa Fe ascribed as the "Gateway to Cagayan Valley" was also known as an Igorot Settlement in Imugan since the Spanish time. Its original inhabitants are the Kalanguya, an indigenous cultural group belonging to the generic IGOROT tribe who first immigrated to the area. Later on, when major roads, such
as Daang Maharlika and Santa Fe-San Nicolas Road commonly known as Villaverde Trail were built, other cultural groups flourished in the lower parts of the territory. These tribes include the Pangasinenses, Tagalogs, Ilocanos and some others. The influx of immigrants from other provinces of Cagayan Valley, Pangasinan, Ilocos Region and from other faraway lands such as the Bicol Region and the Visayas made the population of Santa Fe of diverse ethnolinguistic characteristic. A municipality with too diverse cultural traditions and religious practices with varied and complex personalities of its inhabitants live as mere acquaintances among themselves solely for economic relief and sustainability. The cultural communities in the upland barangays produce quality handicrafts and agro-products while the lowlanders buy and sell and generate other goods and services. As living in one municipality, things like strong solidarity need to be established. Thus, as one resolution, political leaders enjoin its constituents through a municipal-festive gathering. For twenty-four years now, Santa Fe during its Town Fiesta highlighted the Celebration of Kalanguya Festival-named and patterned after the considered major tribe and original settlers of the place. The Caลao is the ritual of the Igorot for thanksgiving to Kabunyan, or Bathala for all the abundant blessings through the year. The member of the community will choose the best wild boar as an offering. It will be speared through its neck, and as the scream gets loud, is believed to be a reflection of greater blessings ahead. The people gathered around will then be asked to perform the TAYAW or a dance ritual as a means of offering gratitude to Kabunyan. The offering of the pig is the highest form of giving thanks to Kabunyan. The elders of the tribe will perform the adoration, prayers, and confirmation of more abundance through chants. TOWN FIESTA Description
Santa Fe's town fiesta is celebrated every 2nd week of March with variety of events for barangay night headed by officials, people's day, Agro tourism day, and Search for Mutya ng Santa Fe. Their town fiesta is highlighted by the Kalanguya Festival with float parade and grand canao which showcases the rich culture of the Kalanguya tribe, the majority Indigenous Cultural Community of Santa Fe. The Kalanguya Festival is one of the most colorful and original cultural festivals in the province. The Kalanguya Festival is one of the most colorful and authentic cultural festivals in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya. THE BATTLE OF BALETE PASS
By February 1945, the American soldiers were in Manila, the US Eight
Army was in Mindanao, the Japanese Navy had ceased to exist after the debacle at Leyte, Japanese air defense likewise close to being non-existent, the pragmatic Gen. Yamash*ta held no illusion of winning the battle for the Philippines. He only hoped to pin down American forces in Luzon that might otherwise be used in invading Japan. He then mustered 152,000 Japanese soldiers for a protracted resistance in Northern Luzon. He concentrated his forces in the mountainous regions, utilizing natural obstacles-- impenetrable forests, steep mountains, deep ravines, and concealed caves -- to maximize his defensive position. Yamash*ta was going to sit and let the Americans force him out of the mountains. He was offering a battle in a place of his own choosing with all the strategic advantages favoring him. His position also guarded the entrances to the fertile Cagayan Valley, his source of food supply. MacArthur, recognizing the defensive plan of the Japanese and the fact that delay only gives the Japanese more time to fortify their defenses, quickly directed the US Sixth Army under Gen. A careful analysis revealed the weakness of the Japanese defense wherein they can be routed in the Balete Pass- Santa Fe- Imugan Area. The mission of attacking the place was given to I Corps (under Gen. Swift), which has e divisions on the area -- the 25th, the 32nd, and the 33rd. The plan was for the 25th and the 32nd Divisions to link up in Balete Pass- Santa Fe- Imugan Area, while the 33rd takes Baguio. Late in February, the I Corps launched a three-pronged attack against Gen. Yamash*ta's mountain stronghold. The attack on the Villa Verde trail, leading to the Municipality of Santa Fe, was under the responsibility of the 32nd Division. By the first week of March, the Division was within 10miles from Santa Fe. It was in this area that the fiercest battle occurred, owing to the area's natural defensive barriers ples the tenacity of the defenders. Air strikes were called in. Eventually the Division took more than two months to realize their goal, sustaining 825 men killed and 2,100 wounded. The Japanese lost 5,750 men here. Meanwhile, the 25th Division, under Gen. Charles Mullins was attacking Highway 5 leading to Balete Pass. The peaks of the Balete Pass were steep and honeycombed with ridges and caves from which the Japanese could fire without being seen. By March 10, the Division, with three Infantry Regiments, was less than five miles of Balete Pass. However, the Japanese, firing from the craggy ridges overlooking the Pass repulsed the 25th Division. On April 15, 1945 three US medium tanks managed to climb the mountainous terrain and penetrated the Japanese line of defense. This breach was utilized by the Americans, sending an entire battalion, who attacked the unsuspecting Japanese guarding the place, dubbed Lone Tree Hill by the Americans. The defenders were quickly subdued; some fled, leaving their weapons. Although now only a mile from Balete Pass, they did not press on as their supplies were dangerously low and they could not be supplied on the route they had taken. They had to wait for two more weeks for the rest of the regiments for one final victorious rush to destroy the remaining Japanese defenders. Yamash*ta, arriving on the Balete front after evacuating Baguio, which was captured by the American 33rd Division on April 26, decided to withdraw his remaining troopers from Balete Pass (3,000 out of 12,000) and retreated into the Central Cordillera, west of the Cagayan Valley, on May 5, 1945. On May 9, an American patrol reached the highway of the pass and found the area deserted. They eventually linked up with other American foot soldiers. The Balete Pass was declared Japanese -free by Gen. Kruger on May 13, 1945. Yet it was only on May 29, 1945 when the 25th Division finally made contact with the main body of the 32nd Division. The drive through Balete Pass cost the division 2,200- battle casualties with 544 killed. The battle at the Gateway to Cagayan Valley was over. The Americans, however, found much of the fertile Valley of Cagayan occupied and under control, not by the Japanese, but by Colonel Russel Volkmann, leader of the USFIP North Luzon guerillas. In memory of the Battle, Balete Pass was renamed Dalton Pass after Col. Dalton II, 161st Infantry Regiment Commander, belonging to the 25th Division, I Corps, US Sixth Army. The 161st led the main attack to Balete Pass.
