Traveling A–Z: Eastern Samar

By Jacky Lynne A. Oiga

November 13, 2010, 5:38pm

Homonhon Island (http://escaestehanon.org)

 In one of his first speeches as Tourism Secretary, Alberto Lim cited Eastern Samar as one of the new areas in the country that will be opened up for tourism development by the Department of Tourism. Being an island of unexplored scenery, Eastern Samar is definitely one to watch out for in the travel and tourism industry.

Blessed with countless sightseeing spots ranging from sculptured rock formations, mountains, beautiful cave system, cool resorts, waterfalls, stretches of white sand beaches, and quiet surfing spots-scattered all over the island, Eastern Samar can rival premier destinations in the Visayan Region. However, aside from untouched natural wonders, the province also boasts of heritage sites and historic spots.  

On March 16, 1521, Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan first set foot on Philippine soil on the island of Homonhon on his way to conquer the Philippines for the western world. Its tiny island of Guian, on the other hand, was likewise where the US Army rangers had their first encounter of the Philippine territory in 1944, three days before General Douglas MacArthur made his historic landing in Leyte.

Historians have since described this part of Samar Island as the “eastern gateway to the Philippines.” The coast of the small province faces the Pacific Ocean and much of the land is rugged with the vast forested parts. The interior part is rough and hilly and covered with dense tropical vegetation but drained by numerous rivers and creeks. Mountain ranges and peaks abound in an interior. Narrow plains hug most of the coastal areas and, in some instances, the banks of its principal rivers and their tributaries.

Located at the eastern coast of Samar Island facing the Pacific Ocean in Eastern Visayas, it is bounded in the east by the Philippine Sea, on the north by Northern Samar, on the west by Western Samar and on the south by Leyte Gulf. It has a population of 375,822 as of May 2001 census and a land area of 4,450 sq. kilometers. It has 23 towns and one city, provincial capital, Borongan City.

Fast facts

Local Dialect: Waray-waray

Festival: The Pandul-ong Festival is celebrated in the city of Borongan in honor of their patron saint and the feast of Our Lady of Nativity.

Places of Interest:

• Homonhon Island – A tiny island where Ferdinand Magellan and his men first set foot on Philippine soil on March 16, 1521; viewing of the historic Magellan plaque/marker.

• Sulungan Beach - Habitat of the world famous “Golden Cowrie;” ideal site for deep sea fishing, scuba diving; multi-colored school of fishes is a common sight.

• Kantican Island - A pearl culture farm haven of rich marine life such as lobsters, shells, fishes, abalones, corals; clear blue waters and immaculately white coral beach; perfect site for scuba diving, fishing, and swimming.

• Santa Monica Caves - Has a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean; excellent place for fishing, scuba diving, surfing, swimming.

• Hamorawon Spring - A natural spring said to be miraculous. This spring as the Boronganons say, is full of legend that whoever takes a bath in this cool spring especially foreigners, will surely go home with a Boronganon wife. Around this spring is a Spanish-built stone wall.

• Binaloan Rapids - It is a beautiful river rapids visible along the highway.

• Divinubo Lighthouse - A beautiful lighthouse atop the mountain of Divinubo which was constructed by the American engineers in 1906. It was originally a gas-operated facility but now it is electrically lighted and is enclosed in thick glass.

How to get there:

The province can be accessed by bus at the Pasay City bus station, which travel through Tacloban City. There are several transport services that will take you anywhere to Eastern Samar from there. By air, daily flights are available to Tacloban City.

Commercial flights to Guiuan expected

 By Vicente Labro
Inquirer Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY – The opening of an airport in historic Guiuan town in Eastern Samar, to commercial flights and the completion of other infrastructure projects will attract more tourists and investors on Calicoan Island, officials said.

Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said commercial flights would start next month after the completion of the P155-million Guiuan Airport Development Project.

In an interview on Sunday, Kwan said that she had talked with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air officials about her request for flights to and from Guiuan.

Cebu Pacific promised to start flights in November, she said, while the PAL manager in Tacloban had “endorsed favorably” the plan to the airline’s head offices in Manila.

The project included a new apron and taxiway, a passenger terminal building, a fire department building and perimeter fence, as well as the installation of a single-phase electrical line and asphalt overlay of the runway, Kwan said.

The mayor also disclosed that the P38-million water system project in Calicoan Island had already been completed. “In the past, many investors in Calicoan had backed out because of lack of potable water,” she said.

Potable water will be supplied to seven of the town’s villages, including four in Calicoan – Pagnamitan, Baras, Ngolos, and Sulangan.

Kwan said two major telecommunication companies had also put up towers in Calicoan, allowing people to use their cellular phones.

Guiuan has a big tourism potential because of its natural wonders and rich heritage, said Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas Cynthia Nierras, who was in Guiuan to attend the inauguration of the town’s Tourism Information and Pasalubong Center on Saturday.

Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, sailing under the flag of Spain, first set foot on Philippine soil in Homonhon Island, which is a part of Guiuan, on March 16, 1521.