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orthern
Samar maybe reached
over land via the
Pan Philippine Highway
which connects the |
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Fast
Facts |
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Capital:
Catarman
Location:
N
- San
Bernardino
Stait
E -
Pacific
Ocean
W -
Samar
Sea
S -
Western
Samar
Land
Area:
3,498
sq.
kms.
No.
of Towns:
24 (twenty-four)
Population:
454,195
(as
of 1995
census)
Climate:
The
province
has
no distinct
dry
or wet
season
but
it has
pronounced
rainfall
from
October
to January.
The
heaviest
precipitation
occurs
in November.
May
is rela-tively
the
driest
month.
Topography:
It
is composed
largely
of low
and
extremely
rugged
hills
and
small
lowland
areas.
It has
also
small
and
dis-continuous
areas
along
the
coasts
and
its
rivers
are
usually
accompanied
by alluvial
plains
and
valleys.
The
province
is endowed
with
relatively
rich
and
fertile
soil
that
most
crops
can
grow
on it.
Dialects:
Waray-waray
Inabaknon
(Capul
Is.)
Assistance
Office:
Provincial
Tourism
Office
Province
of Northern
Samar
Provincial
Capitol
Catarman,
Northern
Samar
Tel.
No.
(055)
354-1233
Fax.
No.
(055)
354-1239
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key cities of the
Samar provinces.
Most of the towns
are situated along
the northern coasts
facing the San Bernardino
Strait.
Another point of
entry into Northern
Samar is through
the northwestern
town of Allen. It
is possible to take
the ferry from Matnog
off Sorsogon (the
southernmost province
of the Bicol Region)
to this town which
is connected to
Catarman by the
winding highway
along the coast.
Travelers will find
Allen a convenient
take-off rest-point
to explore nearby
attractions, most
of which are reached
only after considerable
journey.
Then for a return
to the 16th century,
a visit to Capul
Island is a must.
The island can be
reached by a two-hour
motorboat trip from
Allen. Only missionary
fervor could have
made building a
church on this island
possible. Capul
also features a
stark watch tower
in its landscape,
a further reminder
of the loneliness
of this islet.
Brief History
In
the late 16th century,
the Strait was part
of the galleon trade
route of the Spaniards
between Manila and
Acapulco. A royal
port was established
in the cove of Palapag,
a town east of the
capital, where the
trade vessels were
repaired by experienced
natives shipbuilders.
In the mid-17th
century, many of
these Samareņos
migrated to Cavite
after they have
been recruited by
the Spanish authorities
to work at the new
shipyard there.
Many Caviteņos may
therefore trace
their roots to this
now sleepy coastal
town. The only evidence
of its busy maritime
past is a tall,
lonely stone-tower
used as a lookout
for invading Moslem
pirates.
Northern Samar is
one of the three
Samar provinces
created on June
19, 1965 by virtue
of Republic Act
No. 4221. The province
is relatively young
but it has vital
religious and historical
significance. The
small island of
Capul was the capital
of the province
of Samar in 1848-1852.
Capul was formerly
named Abak after
the ancient ruler
of Java who brought
the first settlers
to the enchanting
island. In the latter
period of the 16th
century, it was
among the first
places to be evangelized
by the Spaniards
(1596).
The Waray-warays
of Northern Samar
also figured prominently
during the Spanish
and American occupation
of the Philippines.
It was part of the
route of the galleon
trade and the Sumoroy
Rebellion started
in Palapag. (1649-1650).
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