Allen, Northern Samar

Allen
Municipality
Map of Northern Samar showing the location of Allen
Allen Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°30′N 124°17′E / 12.500°N 124.283°E / 12.500; 124.283Coordinates: 12°30′N 124°17′E / 12.500°N 124.283°E / 12.500; 124.283
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province	Northern Samar
District	1st District of Northern Samar
Barangays	20
Government[1]
• Mayor	Rod Laurean D. Suan
Area[2]
• Total	47.60 km2 (18.38 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	23,738
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Allenian
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6405
Dialing code	55
Income class	5th

Allen is a fifth class municipality located in the north western tip of the province of Northern Samar, the northern province among the three provinces comprising Samar Island. The island of Samar is located in the central eastern portion of the Philippines, in the group of central islands known as the Visayas.

According to the 2010 census, Allen has a population of 23,738.^[3] The town borders the municipality of Victoria to the south, the municipality of Lavezares to the east, and the strategic San Bernardino Strait both to the north and west.

Allen is known for being an important port for inter-island transport, specifically between the island of Samar and big island of Luzon.

Etymology

Before the Spanish colonisation of the Philippines, the original Malayan name of the town was Minapa-a. During the Spanish colonisation period, the name of the town was changed to La Granja. The name Allen was given by the Americans in honor of the American General Robert Allen,^[4] the military governor of the Visayas after the victory of the Americans over the Spaniards in the Spanish–American War.

Barangays

Allen is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.^[2]

History

The area of present-day Allen was originally populated by natives of Malay stock from the western and central portions of the island of Samar, particularly Catbalogan and Calbayog. Successive migrations to Allen from other islands that are near Allen were characterised by several waves. Malays from the neighbouring Bicol Peninsula in what is now Sorsogon crossed what is now the San Bernardino Strait using small sailing barges, trading with the locals before settling in, and inter-marrying with the local Malays many years after. Simultaneously, Malays of southern stock from Bohol through the islands of Capul and San Antonio crossed the strait and settled in the area.

The heavy waves of migration from Bicol to Allen in Samar in the course of the centuries is attested by the fact that almost 70% of the peoples of Allen trace their ancestries to the families in Bicol, from the province of Sorsogon in particular, and by the linguistic fact that Allen is the only town in the province of Northern Samar and of the island of Samar that does not speak the native Waray language of Samar and Leyte, but speaks the Bicolano language of Bicol.

The first recorded persons to have their names officially entered into a Spanish census in Allen were that of Cosmenia Cajandab and Mariano Cabacang; both surnames originated from the island of Capul.^[5]

Demographics

Transportation

Roll-on/roll-off ferry boats at Allen

Allen serves as an important transit point, connecting Samar and other islands with Luzon. It is opposite the Luzon transit point in the municipality of Matnog, Sorsogon. The primary modes of transport are the inter-island bus route via the Maharlika Highway, and the ferry crossing the San Bernardino Strait. Its location as a transit point makes it a future 'transitropolitan' area in the country.

Ferry Service

Ferries cross the strategically important Strait of San Bernardino, transporting passengers and vehicles to and from Allen in Samar and Matnog in Luzon. Travel time ranges between one hour to 2 hours depending on the speed of the ferry.

Bus

Buses from the various provinces of the Visayas and Mindanao bound for various destinations in Luzon pass through Allen, riding the ferry services of Allen to Matnog, and vice versa.

The bus terminals servicing the numerous passengers crossing the San Bernardino Strait are located at the piers and ports that are operational in Allen. Booking offices for buses that ply the route are also located at these terminals.

Accommodations

A number of relatively low-priced hotels and inns within the town serve most of the transit passengers for overnight stay, specially during bad weather when some stranded passengers take refuge in the small hotels and inns. During bad weather conditions, ferries cannot cross the San Bernardino Strait due to high waves.

See also

• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Allen, Northern Samar.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System

		San Bernardino Strait
	Matnog, Sorsogon / San Bernardino Strait		Lavezares
		Allen
	San Antonio / Dalupiri Pass	Victoria

Province of Northern Samar Catarman (capital) Municipalities Allen Biri Bobon Capul Catarman Catubig Gamay Laoang Lapinig Las Navas Lavezares Lope de Vega Mapanas Mondragon Palapag Pambujan Rosario San Antonio San Isidro San Jose San Roque San Vicente Silvino Lobos Victoria