Municipality of Santa Cruz is a 1st class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur.
The place now known as Santa Cruz was the site where Captain Juan de Salcedo landed to get provisions, especially water, on his way to pacify the North. As soon as they came ashore, his men went immediately to the top of the highest sand dune and planted a big wooden cross to signify the place has been conquered by the white men (like what they did later in Santa Catalina). This cross is visible to mariners passing by, often describing the place as “Santa Cruz.” The cross may have vanished, but the name Santa Cruz stuck, especially with natives who became Christians.