“HISTORY OF BARANGAY STA. FE, MATALOM, LEYTE”

Sta. Fe was named from the first (1st) occupant of the barangay, in the name of FERNANDO and SANTA. Santa was taken from the wife’s name and Fe is from Fernando, the husband. Since the couple was the only resident in the area, they’re the one who give name and they called it SANTA FE. Way back 1820, the couple found a “wooden tablet” called TAPARAN, where the image of Santo Nino became the Patron of the barangay and also the beginning of the celebration of the festivity. Barangay Itum and Barangay Agbanga was still part of Barangay Sta. Fe when the festivity started. People of different Islets of Cebu, Bohol and other neighboring places came in and married to the woman from the barangay and prefer to settle down and stay in the area. Most of the constituents were fishermen because of the abundance and rich fishing grounds at ease. They used fishnets, spearheads and nylon with hook called pasol in fishing, some were using motor banca while others using bugsay in fishing. Barangay Sta. Fe was the 22nd barangay of the Municipality of Matalom, Leyte located along national highway bounded in the north by Barangay Itum, Matalom, Leyte; # in the south by Barangay Cahagnaan, Matalom, Leyte; in the east bound by Barangay Esperanza, Matalom, Leyte; and the west bound of Canigao Channel. It was approximately 5,000 kilometers away from Matalom proper and 20,000 kilometers away from Maasin City, Southern Leyte. The barangay was also a mountainous and of broad area with a large field of coconut trees, rice and corn products owned by dominant occupants. It has been distributed equally in the economic way of living by land and marine resources. Above all mean of livelihood in every different natures is the through the showers and blessings of our Patron Senior Santo Nino for each and every people resides in the barangay.