General Information

Capital Borongan City

Land Area 4,640.7 sq. km.

Population 467,160

Density 100/sq. km.

Divisions 22 municipalities

1 component city

Political Voters 304,922

Physical Profile

Eastern Samar, one of the six provinces in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), is in the eastern part of the island of Samar. The entire east coast of the province faces the Philippine Sea that forms part of the Pacific Ocean. Eastern Samar other boundaries are: Northern Samar on the North; Samar on the West; and on the south is Leyte Gulf that merges farther south with Surigao Strait. 

Borongan City, the provincial capital, is approximately 550 air-kilometers southeast of Manila and around 65 air kilometers northeast of Tacloban City, the regional capital. Eastern Samar has a total land area of 4,617.2 square kilometers (51.5%) of which are classified as agricultural land subdivided into 22 municipalities and one (1) city. Twenty  (20) of these are located along the coasts while two (2) are inland municipalities.

Brief Introduction to Eastern Samar Province 

Eastern Samar Province neighbors Philippine Sea which forms part of Pacific Ocean in the east, Northern Samar Province in the north, Samar Province in the west and Leyte Gulf in the south, and has a total landmass of 4,339.6 square kilometers. Its annual average temperature is about 27 degrees centigrade. The period from November to January is the rainy season and from July to September the dry season, with its annual rainfall being 3,147 mm. The province includes 23 municipalities and 597 barangays, with its capital named Borongan. The total population is 477,168 (data of 2020). The major language used is Waray. 

Commercial activities in the province are centered on the provincial capital of Borongan City while tourism activities are centered in Guiuan town where Calicoan Island and the historical Homonhon Island are located. 

The main industries are agriculture and fishery. The major agricultural products are corn, vegetable, coconut, banana, pineapple and other fruits. The marine products include fishes like mackerel, tuna and tropical aquarium fishes, lobster, crab, shells and seaweed, etc.. 

The province has two airports, the Borongan and Guiuan airport. Presently, the government is planning to develop the Guiuan airport to support the commercial and tourism industry in the region, most especially Calicoan Island, an upcoming island resort for surfers and beachcombers.

By land, mini buses and vans ply from the regional center in Tacloban City to some towns in Eastern Samar. From Borongan City, buses ply to Manila. Motorized boats ply through the Leyte Gulf ferrying passengers going to Tacloban City seaport.

Attractions

Beautifully blessed with the splendor of nature and other inherent resources, the province boasts of at least 15 major tourist spots located in Guiuan, Borongan, Maydolong, San Julian, Taft and in other municipalities. These includes historical sites and other natural attractions which mainly consist of beaches, natural caves/springs, waterfalls and rock formation.

A popular spot is Kantican Island also known as Pearl Island and located in Guiuan town. This habitat of the world famous “Golden Cowrie” is an ideal site for deep sea fishing，snorkeling and scuba diving with its rich marine life along the 52 hectares fish sanctuary.

Borongan has a beautiful beach, almost 2 km. long which makes it special since only a few, if any, Philippine towns or cities have beaches within walking distance. A 45 minute boat ride from Borongan will bring you to Ando Island, Monbon Island and Divinubo Island.

Tourists may also want to check out the various waterfalls and coastlines that adorn Eastern Samar. 

Culture

The culture is basically Visayan. The Waray-Waray are often stereotyped as brave warriors, as popularized in the tagline, “basta ang Waray, hindi uurong sa away” (Waray never back down from a fight.) 

Festivals

1. Homonhon Landing – (March 16 Homonhon, Eastern Samar)

Reenactment of the discovery of the Philippines in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan. 

2.Karayapan Festival – (March Guiuan, Eastern Samar)

– A colorful festival depicting how the early Guiuan Townsfolk enjoyed nature’s bounties, rich marine life, fertile land, verdant forest. It is also a thanksgiving to their Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mother. 

3.Padul-ong - (September 7)

- A mythical presentation of how the image of the blessed Virgin was mysteriously transported to Borongan from Portugal and its connection to the Lady in White who frequented the Hamorawan Spring and caused its water to miracuously heal the locals. 

4.Balangiga Incident – (September 21)

A commemorative pageant on the Philipine-American encounter in 1901. A reminder of the Filipinos’ quest for freedom.  

Popular Food

Dalu-dalu- These are snail-like slugs (see Florida Cerith) found on sea and fresh waters as well as on land. Truly delectable and succulent with gata. A bit of trick here is to suck its tail-end first so as to vacuum the main opening. Soon you’ll have an orchestra of shell suckings.

A stir fried Ganga. These are the inhabitants of those shells you may have chanced upon creeping their way or hanging around banana leaves. Great with tuba (coconut wine) or GSM blue! 

Lato are translucent green seaweeds best with onions and tomatoes (lato salad). Everybody’s familiar with this except that what’s offered in the restos especially in Manila, are not always as green and thick.

Minuron are the suman of the warays made of palawan root crops and here, wrapped in palm leaves. We brought a pack of this on the beach and I could have a mouthful of this if I wasn’t snorkeling.

Tamala, of the tentacled family. This one’s served kinilaw so the meat are a bit tougher. But one can have it any which way one pleases. 

Tulya are bivalve seashells easily picked on shallow waters. These shells creates an exquisite broth fit for a king. Grilled unicorn fish served on a banana leaf. 

Salukara – crepe-like delicacy that uses young coconut wine as pampatubo, in favor of baking powder.

Sasima is a caramel bread crumb treat which is more expensive than the tambis-tambis. This is made by using caramel to stick the bread crumbs together and hold them in one piece. It is neither hard nor is it soft like how it was before it was processed into this. I think it is largely because of the caramel which is absorbed by the small pieces of bread. 

Binagol is pronounced with a longer stress on the “a”. Binagol is made of a root crop named Talyan, coconut milk and sugar. It is then molded into a coconut shell. Binagol is quite sweet with the distinct tast of the root crop. 

Tambis-Tambis is a sweet coconut treat sprinkled with white sugar. The coconut shreds were molded with the added food coloring to give its bright and fruitful appearance and then deep friend which holds them together but still retaining the soft insides. 

Moron is pronounced like Morong. Moron is like the regular suman but the rice is cooked in coconut milk and mixed with a bit of cocoa. The Moron has the similar consistency of the suman and the cocoa enhances the taste. Moron is so soft that you can cut the small tube with a pair of scissors down the middle and just squeeze it out. You can go through a lot really quick.