History

The Jesuits began missionary work in the vicinity of Maqueda Bay at the close of the 16^th century but the settlements along the coast remained small. These settlements came under constant threat from Moro slave raiders during most of the Spanish period until the later half of the 19^th century.

The entire island of Samar was under the jurisdiction of the province of Cebu until 1735. In that year, the island became part of the province of Leyte. In 1768, Samar was established as a separate province with Catbalogan as its first capital.

During the Philippine Revolution, forces from Luzon took over the government of Samar and conducted guerrilla warfare against the Americans from interior strongholds. The interior remained unsettled during the early 20^th century due largely to the activities of the Pulahanes, a militant religious sect. American civil government was established in June 1902. The island province of Samar was divided in 1965 into three provinces by virtue of Republic Act No. 4221. In 1969, the western Samar province was renamed, simply, Samar.

People, Culture and the Arts

Samar is the home of the Warays, a lively and resilient people whose dialect appears to be related to Bicolano but with a strong overlay of Cebuano. Most Samareños are fishers and farmers who live off the bounty of the sea and the land . Samar’s seas are among the most productive fishing grounds and the island is famous for the huge amount of dried fish and marine products that go to the markets of Cebu and Manila. Calbayog City is particularly noted for tinapa or smoked fish. The farms of the province, with very little effort, produce all of the needs of the people. This has produced a perception that the Warays are among the most contented of the Visayans.

When one speaks of Samar, it is difficult not to think about the beautiful mats woven in Basey. The women weave a variety of intricately designed mats from sedge grass locally known as tikog (Fimbristylis milliacea). This tradition has been handed down from generation to generation and has made Samar mats among the most esteemed traditional craft in the Philippines. They also produce embroidered mats with flowers, birds, fishes, mermaids and scenes from folktales and legends.

The Warays are very fond of celebrations and during these events, singing is a natural social activity. The balitaw, a Visayan traditional courting song was a widely popular artform in the province. It features verses set in rhyme and sung by a pair or pairs of young men and women. The men would reveal their feelings of the women, who, in turn sing of their doubts. The balitaw varied in length, depending on how well each singer could ‘joust’ with the opposite sex but it required quick wit and a good command of language and was a highly esteemed art form. This form of singing survives among the more mature Samareños but no longer forms part of the courtship practices of the younger generations of Warays.

Trade and Investments

Samar, the principal province of the region, is rich in both natural and human resources. It has a 325,000 strong labor force that complements its abundance in natural resources of fish, forest, mineral and agricultural products. Samar is similarly endowed with tourist spots that include beach resorts with pristine waters, underground rivers and historic ruins.

The province could be accessed through a network of roads and bridges that connects Samar to Luzon and Mindanao. The province has two airports. The Calbayog airport offers regular commercial flight to Manila while the Catbalogan airport is a feeder airport that can accommodate general aviation aircraft. While all the municipalities have their own ports, only the seaport in Catbalogan and Calbayog City are classified as national ports and are linked by inter-island shipping companies to Manila, Cebu and other neighboring cities. Telecommunication facilities include 18 public telegraph exchange facilities and two telegraph companies and three public calling offices that offers local and international long distance telephone services. The province also hosts 15 banks to support and facilitate the efficient conduct of local and international business transactions in Samar.

The primary business opportunity in Samar is in the trade and processing of marine resources. Samar is currently a major supplier of fish and other marine products to the Visayas and the rest of the country. Considering the large labor force, vast tracts of fertile land, and ample water supply available on the island, land based ventures ranging from agricultural, livestock and poultry production are also potential business opportunities. Tourism is also a viable endeavor since the province has at least 20 tourist spots that offer a range of exotic spectacles and adventures for tourists. Subterranean caves, waterfalls, forested peaks and off shore islands have only recently been explored and are awaiting further development as tourist destinations. Services and facilities, catering to tourists such as lodging houses, restaurants, and resorts can flourish in Samar.

Development Initiative Highlights: