Oltaloro

The capital is located on the western coast of the main island of Cataduanes, the original city was founded by the spanish conquistadors who fortified the native fishing village of Oltoru (from were the modern name of Oltaloro comes from) by building the fort of Santiago and the San Martin Docks. For centuries it played second fiddle to the old colonial capital, Merida, but the deep harbour enabled Oltaloro to handle the larger freighters in the early 20th century and it soon eclipsed Merida in terms of wealth and population. It was during the 1920's that the Magalona hills that surround Santiago & San Martin Barrio'swere subjected to mass developement and the old sleepy towns that once ringed Oltaloro where submerged into a growing urban center, a process speeded up after independence in the mid 1930's.

Subdivisions
San Martin covers the whole coast of the metropolitan areas while Santiago is the old city immediatly inland from San Martin and spread into the circle of land sorrounded by the Magalona hills. To the north of Santiago & San Martin on the hills are the Barrio's of Haro, Dumaguete and Banilad. To the East are the Barrio's of Negrense, Masantola and Canlaon and to the south are located the Barrio's of Torrijos, Tañon and Calatrava.

Barrios of Interest
The center of the Coalition government is located in the modern and leafy Barrio of Negrense, while Santiago and to a lesser extent San Martin retain the old colonial charm and remain to an extent almost medieval in character. The sprawling docks of San Martin however remains a hotbed of poverty and discontent as it did in colonial times.

Sport
Football is the premier sport throughout the islands and the Cataduanes Liga (league) has a long and proud tradition. The capital is home to no less than six teams.