On this path near the village gateway gathers people and Chinese merchants selling and buying wares, livestock and other farm produce.

Women from Mabitac trade chickens with clay pots, pandan mats, and sabutan hats.

Its falls called “Ambon-ambon” located in one corner of the village looks like a stair of giant rocks going up to heaven.

Its Nilubugan River was rich in exquisite white rocks and stones and its crystal-clear water seems to drift to nowhere.

Residents believe that he was the one responsible for making the village a town and in renaming it into San Miguel de Caboan in 1602.

A legend tells the story of how San Miguel de Caboan became Santa María.

The story says that a couple going home from the market place after trading their vegetable harvest with their basic needs, found lying on the ground an image of the blessed virgin.

In 1613, Padre Geronimo Vásquez built the first church on the spot where the couple found the image of the Virgin Mary.

San Miguel was the name given by the Spanish friar who founded the tow, which was in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, the town's first patron.

Caboan came from the native term "kabuhuan", a kind of bamboo abundant in the place during that time.

When the Philippines was ceded to the United States of America by Spain, the Filipinos realized that they were under another authority for the second time.

[1] The United States Congress passed a law which granted the Philippine Government the right to give the public lands to persons who wanted to cultivate them.

This cause the influx of settlers from the neighboring towns and provinces then, the development of agriculture as well as the establishment of the different barrios began.

The guerilla troop with the leadership of Martin Bautista, a native of this town invaded the Japanese headquarters which was located at the oldest school building.

Another unforgettable incident that happened in 1942 was when Captain Nacamura, a high-ranking official of the Japanese Imperial Army, was killed.

After his death, the natives of Santa Maria witnessed the ceremonial burning of his dead body.

He was killed outside the town of Santa Maria by Colonel Pabling, a native of Antipolo, Rizal.

In 1944, Alyas Capadudia, a Hukbalahap member, encountered the Japanese Army at Barrio Bubucal.

Schools were open, bridges were rebuilt, roads were constructed and the economy of the people was gradually elevated.

At present, the Municipality of Santa Maria, situated in the Province of Laguna, having 25 barangays and possessing a population of more than 30,000, faces numerous challenges for the future.

Being agricultural town and having a big land area, the place promises to be one of the quality producing citrus in Southern Tagalog.

Endowed with agricultural lands, the place calls for knowledgeable agriculturist, soil technologist and the like to help develop and improve more of its undeveloped areas.

At present, there is also a need for more doctors, lawyers and other kinds of professionals who are really native of the town to really look for the welfare of the people.

Bounded by the provinces of Rizal and Quezon from the western portion up to the northern tip down northeastern part, the town has a mountainous terrain.

With the MARILAQUE Sub-Regional Plan (Manila-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon), the municipality functions as link between the highly industrialized capital and the marine life-rich Quezon province.