Population: 639,186 (as of 2020 Census)
Land Area: 3,694.96 square kilometers
Capital: Catarman Municipality
Catarman City Population: 97,879 (as of 2020 Census)
Catarman City Land Area: 464.43 square kilometers or 179.32 square miles
Northern Samar (Waray: Amihanan Samar/Norte san Samar; Tagalog: Hilagang Samar, officially the Province of Northern Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. It is one of the three provinces comprising Samar Island.Its capital is Catarman and is located at the northern portion of the island of Samar. Catarman is the political and economic center of the province.
Bordering the province to the south are the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar. To the northwest, across the San Bernardino Strait is Sorsogon; to the east is the Philippine Sea and to the west is Samar Sea.
Northern Samar has 24 municipalities. Total population as of 2020 census is at 639,186 (as of 2020 Census) spread out in a 3,694.96 km2 area.
It is 733 kilometers away from Manila by land. Fifty percent of its 349,800 hectares total landmass is covered by forest and 42 percent is classified as alienable and disposable. The terrain is very rugged with low-lying river valleys and hills crossing one another. The province falls under the intermediate type climate, which has no distinct dry and wet seasons.
The province is considered a very rural area with 65% of its people residing in the countryside.
Economy
Its major industries are agriculture, fishery and handicraft production. The agriculture includes rice and vegetable farming, cattle raising, banana and peanut plantation and oil manufacturing, etc.. The fishery consists of deep sea fishing, prawn and agar culture and fresh water fish culture, etc.. The handicraft production comprises furniture manufacturing, hat and mat weaving, brick making and soap processing, etc..
Geography
Northern Samar covers a total area of 3,692.93 square kilometres (1,425.85 sq mi) occupying the northern section of Samar Island in the Eastern Visayas region. The province is bounded by north by the San Bernardino Strait, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by the Samar Sea, on the southwest by Samar and on the southeast by Eastern Samar. It ranks thirty-seventh (37th) in size among the 80 provinces of the Philippines and accounts for practically 1.2 percent of the total land area of the country. About 52 percent of the total land area is covered by forest and 42 percent is classified as alienable and disposable.
The province is composed largely of low and extremely rugged hills and small lowland areas. It also has small and discontinuous 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.
Topography
Northern Samar has a very rugged terrain with restricted pocket plains and valleys. River valleys are low-lying and are often interrupted by hills, while the remaining portion is rolling, hilly, and mountainous. The interior of the mainland consists of highly dissected hills and mountain peaks. Low-lying hills are found between the coastal plains of Palapag, the river valley of Gamay, and Catubig Valley.
Climate
Northern Samar falls under the intermediate type climate, which has no distinct dry and wet seasons. The rainiest months are October to January, while the driest is the month of May.
Administrative divisions
Northern Samar is divided into three major geographical areas, namely: Balicuatro area, Central area, and Pacific area including Catubig Valley – the province’s rice granary. It comprises 24 towns or municipalities with 569 registered barangays. The province is divided into two legislative districts, the first district, covering the Balicuatro and most part of the Central Area, and the second district, covering some part of the Central Area, the Pacific Area and the Catubig Valley.
The people of Northern Samar were previously called Ibabaonon or Lequios. They are predominantly Waray-Waray or Waray, the people of Eastern Visayas or Samar-Leyte region. To distinguish themselves from the Westehanon (people from Samar) and Estehanon (from Eastern Samar) when Samar Island was split into three provinces in 1965, and the Leyteños (the people from the Leyte Island), they now call themselves as Ninorte Samarenyo or Nortehanon. They are primarily speaking in Waray-Waray which is the main lingua franca of the province.
Bicolano Inhabitants coming from the neighboring provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate are also common at Northern Samar.
Languages
The majority of the people in the province speak the Ninorte Samarnon variation of Waray-Waray. About 4.5 percent of the population, especially in the island towns, speak Cebuano, particularly in the island town of San Antonio. Inabaknon, a unique language said to be one of the most preserved languages to date, is the native tongue of the populace in the island town of Capul. Ninorte Samarnon usually is further subclassified into Balicuatro, Central and Pacific speakers. Tagalog and English are also widely used and understood in Northern Samar.
TOURISM
Northern Samar has several tourism potentials that remain undiscovered by tourists. Some of these include old churches, waterfalls, rivers, caves, virgin forests, and beaches.
Among the last frontiers in the country, its rugged coastline of limestone cliffs along the Pacific Ocean is a historical landmark. During the Spanish colonial era, Samar island was the first Philippine landfall seen by the Manila galleons as they approached the end of their long voyage from Acapulco.
CAPUL ISLAND
This unique island in terms of cultural importance still upholds its proud Malayan tradition through their language derived from the Sama-Badjao linguistic form. The island also boasts as a navigational stopover for the Manila – Acapulco galleon trade.
The 16th century church San Ignacio de Loyola Parish Church, also known as Fuerza de Capul stands as a testament of its importance as trading post. The 19th century lighthouse known as Faro de Capul, a historical landmark of the American presence in this island, still stands as a beacon for ships entering the San Bernardino Strait. Built by the US Army Corps and Engineers, it is 143 feet above sea level with a 40-foot tower that commands a panoramic view of the San Bernardino Strait and extending towards the Pacific Ocean.
LAOANG HISTORICAL AND HERITAGE TOWN
Laoang is one of the oldest town of Northern Samar after Papalpag. It lies on the mouth of the great Catubig River and has a port which in olden times serviced the northern parts of Samar Island. It holds the disctinction of having a Spanish-built school house although its façade has been smoothened. Inogkahan or the Grand Canyon is a man-made shortcut pass through the Tumagingting Hill and was excavated in 1913. St. Michael the Archangel Church is of 18th century architecture.
LALAGUNA BAY
A protected marine sanctuary area in Las Navas that hosts different migratory birds for bird watching. It’s best to ride a paddle boat around mangrove forest to get closer to nature.
LALAGUNA MANGROVE ECOPARK
Lalaguna Mangrove Ecopark, managed and operated by the local women’s group, is beautifully situated in a cove within the Lalaguna Bay Marine Protected Area in the Municipality of Lavezares. The ecopark is rich in marine resources, features a vast mangrove plantation, seagrasses that is breeding ground of siganids or “samaral”, corals of different size and shapes. The adjacent mountain is home to monkeys and fruit bats. The serene beauty of the ecopark is great for nature immersion. Kayaking, paddle boating, stand-up paddle boating, trekking, swimming are among the activities offered in the park.
BIRI ISLAND
The island municipality of Biri boasts of 7 majesctic rock formations, most famous of them are Bel-at and Magasang. The gigantic rocks float just off the coast of northeastern Biri where San Bernardino Strait and Pacific Ocean converge. The strong tidal forces that repeatedly smashed the island for the last several million years formed these fascinating natural monuments featuring distinct patterns. Because of its outstanding biodiversity, the whole island of Biri was declared a landscape and seascape protected area. Snorkeling and diving are among the activities the island offers.
BIRI ROCK FORMATIONS
Trek the monolithic wonder in Biri composed of seven rock formations of various sizes lapped up and carved through time by the winds and waves of the great Pacific Ocean. These gigantic rock formations are perfect for those who wish to find solitude.
FARO DE ISLA DE CAPUL
Capul Lighthouse was constructed during the last years of Spanish occupation. Redesigned and finished by the American Army Corps of Engineers, it is 143 feet above sea level with a 40-foot tower that commands a panoramic view of the San Bernardino Strait and extending towards the Pacific Ocean.
PINIPISAKAN FALLS
The water flows into a 50-meter deep river. At the left side portion of the river are small huts provided with tables and benches. A separate hut is used as a comfort room. A grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes with 26 steps from the ground with an altar and a wishing stone bowl had been constructed. The waterfalls is part of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) and is identified as an ecotourism site.
SILA ISLAND PINK BEACH
This unique pink beach is located in the Island of Sila. The pinkish hue of the islands sands comes from the natural colors of coral shell fragments. During mid-day when the sun is at its hottest and brightest, the beach reveals another more saturated reddish shade.
The cool blue green water is perfect for swimming. The rich marine life is pure paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers.
SAN ANTONIO ISLAND
It is an island municipality with nice sand beaches and is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, sailing and marine life observation.
BANGON RAPIDS
A very good potential source of hydro-electric power which can serve the whole island of Samar. Down stream is a fantastic area for picnic and an ideal place for kayaking and other water sports activities.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
PILI - Northern Samar is home to pili products such as mazapan (a mixture of ground pili nuts, sugar, butter and egg yolks and then baked like macaroons) and polido.