| Flag Size: | 120x80px | ||
| Seal Size: | 100x80px | ||
| Image Map1: |
| ||
| Pushpin Map: | Philippines | ||
| Pushpin Label Position: | left | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Philippines | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Province | ||
| Named For: | Saint Monica | ||
| Other Name: | Sapao | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Subdivision Name3: | 1st district | ||
| Established Title: | Founded | ||
| Established Title2: | Renamed (as Santa Monica) | ||
| Established Date2: | June 17, 1967 | ||
| Parts Type: | Barangays | ||
| Parts Style: | para | ||
| P1: | (see Barangays) | ||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
| Leader Name: | Fernando N. Dolar | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Leader Name1: | Arwela A. Dolar | ||
| Leader Name2: | Francisco Jose F. Matugas II | ||
| Leader Title3: | Councilor | ||
| Leader Name4: | voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|) | ||
| Elevation Max M: | 183 | ||
| Elevation Min M: | 0 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Population Blank1 Title: | Households | ||
| Timezone: | PST | ||
| Utc Offset: | +8 | ||
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code | ||
| Demographics Type1: | Economy | ||
| Demographics1 Title2: | Poverty incidence | ||
| Demographics1 Info2: | % | ||
| Demographics1 Title3: | Revenue | ||
| Demographics1 Title4: | Revenue rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title5: | Assets | ||
| Demographics1 Title6: | Assets rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title7: | IRA | ||
| Demographics1 Title8: | IRA rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title9: | Expenditure | ||
| Demographics1 Title10: | Liabilities | ||
| Demographics Type2: | Service provider | ||
| Demographics2 Title1: | Electricity | ||
| Demographics2 Title2: | Water | ||
| Demographics2 Title3: | Telecommunications | ||
| Demographics2 Title4: | Cable TV | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Native languages | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Crime index | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Major religions | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Feast date | ||
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Catholic diocese | ||
| Blank4 Name Sec2: | Patron saint | ||
Sta. Monica, officially the Municipality of Sta. Monica (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan Santa Monica; tl|Bayan ng Santa Monica), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 9,423 people.
It is also known as Sapao. Sta. Monica is one of the two northernmost towns of Siargao Island. The other is the municipality of Burgos.
Although many sources refer to it as "Santa Monica" it is officially named "Sta. Monica".
Sta. Monica is named after its patron saint, Saint Monica, in shortened Spanish term. It was originally known as Sapao, a name given by the first Spaniards who reached the area. According to one version of the story, a fisherman, upon being asked by the Spaniards about the name of the place, replied "no sapao," meaning he missed catching the school of fish. Another version suggests that a fisherman responded "sapao," meaning his banca was full of fish.
Sta. Monica was originally known as a pueblo (town) named Sapao during the Spanish regime. Eventually, Sapao was reverted into a barrio, part of the municipality of Numancia (now Del Carmen). It regained its municipal status on October 1, 1953, by virtue of Executive Order No. 623. It then consisted of barrios Alegria, Baybay, Bailan, Bitaug, Burgos, Cabugsan, Libertad, Rizal, and Sapao.[1] [2]
On June 17, 1967, the municipality of Sapao was renamed Santa Monica and five barrios, including Burgos, and three sitios were separated from it to form the new municipality of Burgos.[3] [4]
Sta. Monica is politically subdivided into 11 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.