Santiago City stands today as the major showcase and effective catalyst for change in Region 2. This present-day urban glory began to achieve prominence and was called El Pueblo de Carig in the 16th century while it wasbut a simple barrio in Camarag or Echague today. During the early period of Spanish conquest and christianization, this pueblo served as a strategic outpost from where was set forth all and every risky passage to Spanish missions, garrisons, and settlements that then lay upper-north in Cagayan Valley. In a short time, its bountiful and hospitable character revealed itself to those missionaries and soldiers, plantation owners and farmers, traders, civil government officials and clerks, and fortune-seekers from near and far regions who had the good fortune of seeing and knowing the place. Most of them fell so in love with the pueblo of three mountains and four rivers that they settled devotedly in.
For 397 years now, the City's commanding location has been serving as an advantageous means towards the attainment of religious, governmental, commercial, and settlement goals. With her new status as a city, this beautiful heiress to the venerable and exalted name of St. James, the Apostle-Warrior, promises to be hospitable more than she has ever been with her riches, opportunities, and pre-eminence to all her faithful inhabitants, so they can fulfill with her their destiny in community life all throughout the 21st century and beyond.
SCATEC (Santiago City Agro-Tourism and Ecology Center)
Unperturbed with the lack of natural tourist attractions, the City of Santiago has embarked on its determined goal of developing the Santigo City Agro-Tourism and Ecology Center as its flagship project area for TOURISM.
Being an ecology-friendly habitat quietly nestled within the rolling hills of Balintocatoc, covering an area of 209,199 sq. m, the site of the SCATEC was chosen as the most typical pilot area for this integrated project.
The city government has envisioned of showcasing a perfect package and world-class Ecology Park and Agro-tourism destination. It spells out a sustainable tourism development with its multi-tiered components, modern tourist amenities and facilities that lure both foriegn and local visitors.
Chapel of Transfiguration
It embraces a new age of millenium architecture with its modern distinctive and innovative design. Soon it will rise on top of the "Holy Hill" as a temple built for Jesus. It will be the home of common rituals, specila asses, communion, a perfect worship place for those who seek secluded place to pray and commune with God.
Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette
Standing majestically on top of the Holy Hill overlooking the grandeur of Santiago City with its vast green ricefields and built up areas, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette symbolizes the Roman Catholic as the dominant religion in the City.
