Northern Samar

Northern Samar
Lalawigan san Amihanan nga Samar
Lalawigan sa Amihanang Samar
Lalawigan ng Hilagang Samar
Province
Province of Northern Samar

Flag
Seal

Map of the Philippines with Northern Samar highlighted
Coordinates: 12°20′N 124°40′E / 12.333°N 124.667°ECoordinates: 12°20′N 124°40′E / 12.333°N 124.667°E
Country  Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Founded June 19, 1965
Capital Catarman
Government
 • Type Province of the Philippines
 • Governor Jose L. Ong, Jr. (NUP)
 • Vice Governor Gary M. Lavin (NUP)
 • 1st District Representative Harlin C. Abayon (Nacionalista)
 • 2nd District Representative Emil L. Ong (NUP)
Area[1]
 • Total 3,692.93 km2 (1,425.85 sq mi)
Area rank 37th out of 80
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 589,013
 • Rank 48th out of 80
 • Density 160/km2 (410/sq mi)
 • Density rank 55th out of 80
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 0
 • Municipalities 24
 • Barangays 569
 • Districts 1st and 2nd districts of Northern Samar
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6400 - 6423
Dialing code 55
Spoken languages Waray-Waray, Cebuano, Inabaknon, Tagalog, and English

Northern Samar (Filipino: Hilagang Samar) is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catarman and is located at the northern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the south are the provinces of Western 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.

Geography

Northern Samar is one of the three provinces comprising Samar Island (the other two are Western Samar and Eastern Samar provinces). It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east, the San Bernardino Strait on the north, Samar Sea on the west, and the Samar and Eastern Samar provinces on the south. 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. It is located at the eastern edge of the Archipelago with an area of 369,293 hectares. About 52 percent of the total land area is covered by forest and 42 percent is classified as alienable and disposable.

Socio-Demographic Situation

Northern Samar is classified as second class province. Based on the 2010 National Census, the province has a total population of 589,013.

Catarman is the capital town of the province where most political and economic activities take place. It is the seat of administration and the center of trade and commerce as well as industry.

The province is considered a very rural area with 65% of its people residing in the countryside.


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.

Political

Northern Samar is divided into three (3) 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 the some part of the Central Area, the Pacific Area and the Catubig Valley:

Municipalities

Physical

Northern Samar is bounded on the north by the San Bernardino Strait, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by the Samar Sea, on the southwest by Western Samar and on the southeast by Eastern Samar. Its total land area is 3,692.93 km².

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.


Official Provincial Seal

               The Official Seal of the Province of Northern Samar

The emblazonry of the Coat of Arms represents the political, geographical description, historical, economic, and social representation and allegorical ideas of the province

The letters NS represents Northern Samar. The map of Northern of Samar represents the geographical and political subdivisions comprising the twenty four (24) municipalities of the province, including the five (5) island towns. The galleon represents the Spanish Conquistadores that reach the land of the Ibabao to preach the gospel of Christianity, spread the Creed of Roman Catholicism and introduce civil governance thru the Royal Port of Palapag in the Year 1640. Mt. Bubuya on (Palapag Mesa) represents the highest mountain range in Palapag where Agustin Sumuroy and his men (the insurrectos) retreated to and encamped after killing Fr. Miguel Balberan, thus starting the “Sumuroy Rebellion.” The rice field, abaca, timber, coconut are all economic representations. The following are the allegorical ideas of the province: Blue-the color is symbolic of vast marine and aquatic resources, a source of livelihood for the fisher folks of the coastal towns. Tangerine-this bright color of the province represents the cheerfulness, high spirits, and optimism of the people of the province. Yellow-it represents golden harvest, and abundance of resources. White - free from color, it symbolizes transparency in governance. Torch-it is meant to illuminate the province and set it afire with quality education, a primary thrust of the provincial government. Rope-tying the emblems together in a circular shape, it represents equality in rights and justice, and unity for peace and development.

History

In 1614, the Jesuits established a mission residence in Palapag among the Ibabao populace. These missionaries stayed until the late 17th century when they were expelled from the Philippines and were replaced by the Franciscans.

As the San Bernardino Strait was along the route of the Spanish galleons plying between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico, a royal port was established in Palapag where the richly laden Manila galleons were protected from unfavorable winds and troubled seas.

In the early year of the 16th century, shipbuilders were drafted from Palapag to the Cavite shipyards for the construction of galleons and vessels for the conservation of defense of the island. It was also at this time that these recruits ignited the Sumoroy insurrection, which signaled a general uprising against Spain in the Visayas and Mindanao. The insurrection simultaneously flared northward to Albay and southward to the northern coasts of Mindanao and then Cebu. It took over a year before the Spaniards were able to subdue the rebellion.

Later in 1898, when the Americans landed on the beach of Catarman, they organized a revolutionary army led by General Vicente Lukban who fought the invaders armed with cannons and rifles with only bolos and "paltiks". Although defeated, they, however, continued to harass the Americans through guerilla warfare.

During World War II, the people of Northern Samar organized a platoon of volunteers supported by voluntary contributions. The contingent became a part of the Philippine National Guards in Manila. The province also helped the government by purchasing a considerable amount of bonds floated to finance the National Commission for Independence, then organized by Manuel L. Quezon after a coalition of the Nacionalista and Democrata parties was formed.

Congressmen Eladio T. Balite (1st Dist. Samar), Fernando R. Veloso (2nd Dist. Samar), and Felipe J. Abrigo (3rd Dist. Samar), authored Republic Act 4221 which was approved by Congress in 1963. The law, ratified in a plebiscite on June 19, 1965, divided Samar into three, namely, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and (Western) Samar. The first provincial officials of Northern Samar were elected on November 14, 1967 and on January 1, 1968, they officially assumed office.

Demographics

Population census of Northern Samar
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 383,654—    
1995 454,195+3.21%
2000 500,639+2.11%
2007 549,759+1.30%
2010 589,013+2.54%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]
Languages Spoken (2000)[3]
Language Speakers
Waray
  
 460,390
Cebuano
  
 14,436
Abaknon
  
 10,668
Binisaya
  
 8,885
Tagalog
  
 746
Others
  
 3,306
Not Reported
  
 1,571

The people of Northern Samar were previously called Ibabaonon. 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.

Languages

Majority of the people in the province of Northern Samar speak the Ninorte Samarnon, a variation of Waray-Waray. About 4.5 percent of the population, especially in the island towns, speak Cebuano, while a minority speaks Inabaknon, a unique language said to be one of the most preserved languages to date. This 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.

Religions

The communities of this province are predominantly Catholic. Other religious groups are Members Church of God International (Ang Dating Daan), Iglesia ni Cristo, Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan), Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other Christian sects. A small number of population are Muslim.

Tourism

Northern Samar has a lot of tourism potentials that are still undiscovered and unknown by many tourists. You can find famous old churches, beautiful falls, rivers, caves, virgin forests, beaches, and other secret places.

Three of these “secret” places are the island Municipalities of Biri, Capul and Dalupiri Island (San Antonio), all off the coast of Northern Samar.

Remote and desolate, and definitely off the normal tourist track, forgotten Northern Samar evokes powerful images.

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.

Entering the waters of the Philippine archipelago, the galleons called at the fortified island of Capul off Samar, offered thanks for a safe crossing at the Jesuit church, and then negotiated the rough waters of narrow San Bernardino Strait toward Manila, their final destination.

Capul also became the last stop on Philippine soil of the departing galleons before the long, often treacherous trans-Pacific sail to Acapulco in Mexico.

Government

Congressional districts


List of former governors

Governors of Northern Samar:

  • Irene Balite (1967-1971)
  • Edilberto del Valle (1971-1980)
  • Reynaldo del Valle (1980-1986)
  • Justiniano M. Singzon1 (1986-1988)
  • Harlin C. Abayon (1988-1998)
  • Madeleine M. Ong (1998-2001)
  • Raul A. Daza (2001-2010)
  • Paul R. Daza (2010-2013)
1 Appointed

References

  1. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Table 4. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Northern Samar, 2000

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northern Samar.
 Sorsogon / San Bernardino Strait Philippine Sea
Masbate / Samar Sea Philippine Sea
   Northern Samar  
Samar Eastern Samar