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PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF EASTERN SAMAR
FAST FACTS
Capital : Borongan
Area : 4,470 sq. km
Population : 329,335
Cities : none
No. of Towns : 23
Click Here To View The
List Of Towns.
LOCATION
Eastern Samar comprises the eastern portion of Samar Island. It
is bounded
on the north by Northern Samar, on the east by the Philippine Sea
which
forms part of the Pacific Ocean, on the west by Samar, on the
south by the
Leyte Gulf.
THE LAND
The topography of the province, particularly in its interior, is
rough and hilly.
The mountain ranges and peaks extending from north to south are
covered
with dense tropical vegetation. Drained by numerous rivers and
creeks, level
land is found principally in the valleys and deltas of the Ulut
and Oras rivers.
The province has constant rainfall from November to February and
has the
least rain during May and June. Due to its geographical position,
Eastern
Samar suffers very often from violent and destructive typhoons in
September
and October.
A BRIEF HISTORY
What is now Eastern Samar was the first area of the Philippines
sighted by
Magellan on March 16, 1521. Magellan's crew called the island's
lofty
mountains Zamal. The Spaniards, however, anchored at the tiny
island of
Homonhon on the southern part of the province.
During the early days of the Spanish rule, the province of Samar
was called
"Ibabao." The towns of Borongan, Sulat, and Balangiga
became religious
centers. Borongan was also a center of trade and a military
outpost of Spain in
the Pacific Ocean. The province of Eastern Samar was created by
Republic
Act No. 4221, dated June 19, 1965, which divided Samar Island
into three
provinces.
THE PEOPLE
The inhabitants of Eastern Samar speak Waray.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Coconut growing is the leading industry. The people also raise
cacao, tobacco,
rootcrops, rice, and corn for local and regional needs. From the
forests, the
get logs, rattan, dyebark, nipa, and firewood, Fishing, cattle
and poultry
raising are also important industries.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised:February 01, 1999.
