History

The pre-Spanish Filipinos called the northern and eastern Samar coasts Ibabao. The Jesuits established missions on the northern coast early in the 17^th century. The region of was an important point along route of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. For more than 200 years the galleon trade was the main economic activity of the Spaniards in the Philippines. The town of Palapag was a shipbuilding town and a royal port where galleons sheltered against buccaneers and inclement weather. However, due to the exactions of the Spaniards, the region became the focus of a revolt that spread to Leyte and Mindanao in 1649. Sumuroy led the uprising against the exactions of forced labor for shipbuilding.

Northern Samar, along with the other Samar provinces, was once part of the province of Cebu. In 1735, Samar became part of the province of Leyte and thirty years later, in 1768, it was constituted as a separate province. In June 1965, Northern Samar was created from out of the old province of Samar by virtue of Republic Act No. 4221.

People, Culture and the Arts

Warays are the predominant people in Northern Samar. However, as a result of the proximity of the province to the Bicol Region, it is not surprising that the Waray dialects spoken in the north have a strong affinity with Bicolano. Certain towns like San Vicente and San Antonio speak Cebuano, due to migrations from Cebu and Bohol.

In Capul, a small island off the northwestern tip of this province, the people speak Abaknon. The language is not Visayan in origin but Sama-related. This group of languages is found mainly in the Sulu Archipelago, Sabah and Southern Palawan. Abaknon oral history holds that the people were originally from Balabac, in the south of Palawan, who migrated to Samar. They reputedly refused to be dominated by the Moros and chose to seek other shores in which to build their communities. These people take their name from the leader of the original migrants, Abak.

Farming and fishing are the main livelihood in the province. The Northern Samareños, like all the Warays and Visayans in general, hold on to a belief system that acknowledges the existence of nature spirits who have to appeased or thanked. The cultivation of rice, which is most extensive in Northern Samar, involves rituals that invoke the cooperation of these spirits, from land preparation up to post harvest. The tambalan or folk medicine man/sorcerer performs these essential rituals. Christian customs such as the recitation of novenas or nine-day devotions, are likewise used. Fisherfolk likewise ask permission from the water spirits for safety at sea and a good catch.

Northern Samar bears the physical reminders of the importance this coast used to have in former times. On the island of Batag, in Laoang town sits an old American-era lighthouse, which was an important beacon for ships coming in from the open Pacific and moving towards the San Bernardino Strait. Capul Island is also topped by a Spanish lighthouse and the sea surrounding the island is littered with dozens of sunken Spanish galleons, some laden with silver and treasure.

Trade and Investments

The province of Northern Samar can be reached by means of land, sea and air travel. The province has 24 municipalities and a total land area of 349,800 hectares. It has a total population of 383,654 and a labor force of 308,000. Labor force participation rate is estimated at 67.36 %. The province produces a total 14 crops in 169,235 hectares of land while livestock and poultry production yielded 118,081 and 388,430 heads respectively. Northern Samar has three major fishing grounds that abound in fish and aquatic resources, forestland covering 182,153 hectares, metallic mineral deposits that include copper, aluminum and bauxite, and attractions that have been gaining national and international recognition.

Northern Samar is linked to the regional center, Tacloban City, by a 295-kilometer road and to Manila by a 630-kilometer highway. The province may also be reached by plane that flies a regularly from Catarman to Manila. There are four major ports in the province. The Philippine National Oil Company-National Power Corporation Tongonan Geothermal Plants supplies the power requirements of 16 out of the 24 municipalities of Northern Samar. Fifty percent (50%) of the water supply in the province comes from shallow and deep wells, 38% comes from communal water faucets and only 12% are served by a formal water system. The province has three telecommunications companies offering domestic and international long distance services. A total of 9 banks, 5 rural and 4 commercial banks, provide banking services to the province of Northern Samar.

Much of the business opportunities in Northern Samar are linked to the rich bounty found in its three fishing grounds. Major harvests of mackerel, tuna, anchovy, sigania, skipjack, grouper and shrimps allow possible ventures in both trading and processing of marine products. Although much of the province is forested, non-wood products are the only extractable commodities. The natural and rugged beauty of Northern Samar sets to fore business opportunities in tourism. The unique and exciting tourist spots include rock formations, waterfalls, hot springs, beaches and coral reefs.

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