Samar
Encyclopedia
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province
Provinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...

 in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 located in the Eastern Visayas
Eastern Visayas
Eastern Visayas is one of the two regions of the Philippines having no land border with another region, MIMAROPA being the other, and is designated as Region VIII...

 region
Regions of the Philippines
In the Philippines, regions are administrative divisions that serve primarily to organize the provinces of the country for administrative convenience. Currently, the archipelagic republic of the Philippines is divided into 17 regions...

. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea
Samar Sea
The Samar Sea is a small sea within the Philippine archipelago, between the Eastern Visayas and Luzon.It is bordered by the islands of Samar to the east, Leyte to the south, Masbate to the west, and Luzon to the north...

 located to the west of the mainland. Catbalogan City and Calbayog City
Calbayog City
Calbayog City is a first class city in the province of Samar, Philippines. It lies along the coastal region of the province stretching about from the northern tip of the island and from southern boundaries...

, two of the three cities on Samar Island, are located in the province of Samar. The province is bordered by Northern Samar
Northern Samar
Northern Samar is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catarman and is located at the northern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the south are the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar...

 and Eastern Samar
Eastern Samar
Eastern Samar is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Borongan.-Location:...

. Samar is connected to island and province of Leyte via the San Juanico Bridge
San Juanico Bridge
The San Juanico Bridge, part of the Pan-Philippine Highway, stretches from Samar to Leyte across the San Juanico Strait in the Philippines. Its longest length is a steel girder viaduct built on reinforced concrete piers, and its main span is of an arch-shaped truss design. With a total length of ,...

, which spans the San Juanico Strait
San Juanico Strait
San Juanico Strait is a narrow strait in the Philippines. It separates the islands of Samar and Leyte. At its narrowest point, the strait is only wide, said to be the narrowest strait in the world. It is crossed by the San Juanico Bridge....

, the narrowest strait
Strait
A strait or straits is a narrow, typically navigable channel of water that connects two larger, navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not...

 in the country. To the south is the Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...

.

Languages/Dialect

Residents of Samar are mostly Waray, the sixth largest cultural-linguistic group in the country. 90.2% of the household population speaks the Waray language with 9.8 percent speaks Cebuano (8.1%), Boholano (0.07%), Tagalog (0.5%) and other languages. English and Chinese languages are also spoken.

Climate and Rainfall

Samar province falls under the 2nd and the 4th type of climate. The 2nd type is characterized by having no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period which usually occur in December to January. Areas characterized by this climate are generally along or very near the eastern coast, thus are open to the northeast monsoon. Municipalities in the southeastern part of the province experience this type of climate.

For the 4th type of climate, rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. This is an intermediate between the 1st and 2nd types, although it resembles the 2nd type more closely since it has no dry season. Those areas located in the northwestern part of the province has this type of climate.

Economy

Primarily, fishing and agriculture are the major economic activities of the province. Economical Data

Geography

Samar island occupies the eastern portion of the Philippines.. It lies southeast of Luzon and occupies the northernmost section of Eastern Visayas. It is separated from Luzon on the north by San Bernardino Strait and from Leyte on the southwest by the narrow San Juanico Strait. It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by Leyte Gulf and on the west by the Samar Sea.

Topography

Samar province is hilly, has some mountain peaks ranging from 200 to 800 meters high and narrow strips of lowlands, which tend to lie in coastal peripheries or in the alluvial plains and deltas accompanying large rivers. The largest lowlands are located along the northern coast extending up to the valleys of Catubig and Catarman rivers. Smaller lowlands in Samar are to be found in the Calbayog area and on the deltas and small valleys of Gandara and Ulot rivers. Slopes are generally steep and bare of trees due to deforestation. Run-off waters after heavy rains can provoke flooding in low-lying areas and the erosion of the mountains enlarges the coastal plains of the province.

Governance

The province of Samar is composed of two (3) congressional districts, twenty four (24) municipalities and two (3) cities (Catbalogan and Calbayog). It has a total of nine hundred fifty two (952) barangays

Municipalities


  • Almagro
    Almagro, Samar
    Almagro is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,619 people in 2,192 households.-Barangays:Almagro is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.-External links:**...

  • Basey
    Basey, Samar
    Basey is a municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the census of 2000, it has a population of 43,809 people in 9,013 households....

  • Calbiga
    Calbiga, Samar
    Calbiga is a 4th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,890 people in 3,889 households.-History of Calbiga:...

  • Daram
    Daram, Samar
    Daram is a 4th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 35,532 people in 6,472 households.-Barangays:Daram is politically subdivided into 58 barangays.* Arawane* Astorga* Bachao...

  • Gandara
    Gandara, Samar
    Gandara is a 2nd class municipality in the Philippines, formerly named Bangahon, transfer to its new location on September 29, 1902, named after the former Governor General José de la Gándara y Navarro....

  • Hinabangan
    Hinabangan, Samar
    Hinabangan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 12,120 people in 2,176 households.Hinabangan was formed in 1948 from the former municipal districts of Concord and Hinabangan....

  • Jiabong
    Jiabong, Samar
    Jiabong is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 15,397 people in 3043 households....

  • Marabut
    Marabut, Samar
    Marabut is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 12,334 people in 2,383 households.-History:...

  • Matuguinao
    Matuguinao, Samar
    Matuguinao is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 5,361 people in 875 households.-Barangays:Matuguinao is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.* Angyap...

  • Motiong
    Motiong, Samar
    Motiong is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 13,147 people in 2,512 households.- History :...

  • Pagsanghan
    Pagsanghan, Samar
    Pagsanghan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 7,077 people in 1,498 households.-Barangays:Pagsanghan is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.* Bangon* Buenos Aires...

  • Paranas
    Paranas, Samar
    Paranas is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 27,926 people in 5,200 households....

     (Wright)

  • Pinabacdao
    Pinabacdao, Samar
    Pinabacdao is a third class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 14,492 in 2,549 households. It is the center of rice production in the province of Samar. It is also known for its "Mayao-mayao Festival" which is being held annually...

  • San Jorge
    San Jorge, Samar
    San Jorge is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 Philippine census, it has a population of 13,376 people in 2,556 households...

  • San Jose De Buan
    San Jose De Buan, Samar
    San Jose De Buan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 6,438 people in 1,269 households.-Barangays:San Jose De Buan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.* Aguingayan...

  • San Sebastian
    San Sebastian, Samar
    San Sebastian is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 6,779 people in 1,263 households.San Sebastian was absorbed into the town of Wright during the American occupation...

  • Santa Margarita
    Santa Margarita, Samar
    Santa Margarita is a 4th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 23,488 people in 4,191 households. it is bounded to the north by the city of Calbayog and bounded to the south by Gandara....

  • Santa Rita
    Santa Rita, Samar
    Santa Rita is a 4th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 30,118 people in 5,797 households.-Barangays:Santa Rita is politically subdivided into 38 barangays...

  • Santo Niño
    Santo Niño, Samar
    Santo Niño is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 12,545 people in 2,477 households.-Barangays:Santo Niño is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.* Balatguti* Baras...

  • Tagapul-an
    Tagapul-an, Samar
    Tagapul-an is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,370 people in 1,677 households.-Barangays:Tagapul-an is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.* Baquiw* Balocawe...

  • Talalora
    Talalora, Samar
    Talalora is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 6,580 people in 1,272 households. Talalora was created from the barrios of Mallorga, Tulac, Talalora, Tatabonan, Navatas, and Navatas Guti of the town of Villareal, by...

  • Tarangnan
    Tarangnan, Samar
    Tarangnan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 20,538 people and 4,020 households.- History :...

  • Villareal
    Villareal, Samar
    Villareal is a 4th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 Philippine census, it has a population of 23,604 people in 4,473 households.-Barangays:Villareal is politically subdivided into 38 barangays.* Banquil...

  • Zumarraga
    Zumarraga, Samar
    Zumarraga is also a 5th class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 Philippine census, it has a population of 15,423 people in 2,849 households.-Barangays:Zumarraga is divided into 25 barangays.-External links:**...



History

The explorer Ruy López de Villalobos
Ruy López de Villalobos
Ruy López de Villalobos was a Spanish explorer who sailed the Pacific from Mexico to establish a permanent foothold for Spain in the East Indies, which was near the Line of Demarcation between Spain and Portugal according to the Treaty of Saragossa in 1529...

, first came to the island in 1543 and named it +Las Islas Filipinas.
  • 1596: Many names (Samal, Ibabao, Tandaya) were given to Samar Island prior to the coming of the Spaniards in 1596. The name Samar was derived from the local dialect “samad”, meaning wound or cut, which aptly describes the rough physical features of the island that is rugged and deeply dissected by streams. During the early days of Spanish occupation, Samar was under the jurisdiction of Cebu.
  • 1735: Samar and Leyte were united into one province with Carigara, with Leyte as the capital town.
  • 1768: Again Samar became a separate province in 1768.
  • 1901: The Balangiga massacre
    Balangiga massacre
    The Balangiga massacre, as it is known in the Philippines, or the Balangiga affair, as it is known in the United States, was an incident in 1901 during the Philippine-American War where more than forty American soldiers were killed in a surprise guerrilla attack in the town of Balangiga on Samar...

     occurs during the Philippine–American War.
  • 1941: The invasion by the Japanese fighter and bomber planes was attacked in the province of Samar.
  • 1941 to 1942: During the Japanese invasion during Second World War, when Filipino troops of the 91st Infantry Division, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFFE under the Visayan-Mindanao Force was established and general headquarters in Samar and started the fall to invasion of Samar and fought against the Japanese forces. This resulted in the defeat of the Filipino troops of the USAFFE 91st Division.
  • 1942: The occupation of the Imperial Japanese forces arrives in the province of Samar.
  • 1942 to 1944: During the Japanese Occupation, many of the several hundreds of thousands of local Samareño men and women was joining the recognized guerrilla groups in Samar and helping the local Filipino troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army units against the Japanese Imperial forces and started the pre-Allied Liberation.
  • 1942 to 1944: During the Japanese Occupation, The 4th, 9th, 93rd, 95th and 96th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was re-established from 1942 to 1946 at the military general headquarters and military camps and garrisoned in the province of Samar was the military unit organization and started by the Anti-Japanese military operations in the province of Samar on 1942 to 1945 and fought against the Japanese Imperial forces.
  • 1942 to 1944: The 96th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was founded and establishment on 1942 to 1946 at the military general headquarters in the province of Samar in Eastern Visayas. The engagements of the Anti-Japanese military operations in the province of Samar on 1942 to 1945 and fought against the Japanese Imperial forces.
  • 1942 to 1944: During the Japanese Insurgencies and Occupation, the Philippine Guerrilla Forces or PGF were established from 1942 to 1945 as a guerrilla resistance headquarters in San Andres in Villareal, Samar was the guerrilla unit organization and started by the anti-Japanese military operations in the province of Samar on 1942 to 1945 to helping the Filipino troops under the 4th, 9th, 93rd, 95th and 96th Infantry Divisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and fought against the Japanese Imperial forces.
  • 1944: The Battle off Samar
    Battle off Samar
    The Battle off Samar was the centermost action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history, which took place in the Philippine Sea off Samar Island, in the Philippines on 25 October 1944...

     took place on October 24, 1944 as Vice Admiral
    Vice Admiral
    Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...

     Takeo Kurita
    Takeo Kurita
    Vice Admiral was a vice-admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.-Early life:Kurita was born in Mito city, Ibaraki Prefecture in 1889. He was sent off to Etajima in 1905 and graduated from the 38th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1910, ranked 28th out of a class of...

    's Center Force warships clashed with several allied naval vessels in a collision course. His force sinks escort carrier , destroyers and , and escort destroyer , but at a cost of his cruisers Chikuma, , and , which despite a tactical victory for the Imperial Japanese Navy, does not alter the course of the entire Philippines Campaign.
  • 1944 to 1945: Combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth military forces including recognized guerrillas liberated the province of Samar and defeated Imperial Japanese forces. When the local Filipino soldiers under the USAFFE 91st and the 4th, 9th, 93rd, 95th and 96th Infantry Divisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 9th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary started the battles in Samar and fought against the Japanese troops.
  • 1945: Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers under the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment
    1st Filipino Infantry Regiment (United States)
    The 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment was a segregated United States Army infantry regiment made up of Filipinos and Filipino Americans from the continental United States and a few veterans of the Battle of the Philippines that saw combat during World War II. It was formed and activated at Camp San...

    of the United States Army was beginning and started during the Battle of Samar and aided the local Filipino soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 4th, 9th, 91st, 93rd, 95th and 96th Infantry Division and the Philippine Constabulary 9th Infantry Regiment, the local Samareño guerrilla resistance and the U.S. liberation military forces defeats and attacking the Japanese liberated the province of Samar.
  • 1965: On June 19, 1965 the Philippine Congress along with the District's Congressman, Felipe Abrigo, approved Republic Act No. 4221 dividing the region of Samar into three divisions: North Samar, East Samar, West Samar. Each region adopted a new capital: Catbalongan (West Samar), Borongan (East Samar), and Catarman (North Samar).
  • 1969: On June 21, 1969, under Republic Act No. 5650, Western Samar was renamed Samar with Catbalogan still as the capital.

External links

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