REGION VIII

EASTERN VISAYAS
 BILIRAN
EASTERN SAMAR
LEYTE
NOTHERN SAMAR
SAMAR
SOUTHERN LEYTE
• AREA: 23,251.10 km(squared)
(8,997.30 sq mi)
• POPULATION: 4,440,150
-6 PROVINCES
-7 CITIES
-136 MUNICIPALITIES
-4,390 BARANGAYS
-12 DISTRICTS
• LANGUAGES
(Waray-waray, Cebuano, Abaknon,
Baybayanon, Kinabalian, Tagalog, English)
• ECONOMY & LAND USE:
agricultural region with rice, abaca, corn,
coconut, sugarcane and banana as its major
crops.
• Third most populous region in the Visayas
• Consists of three main islands, Leyte,
Biliran and Samar
• The region's sea and inland waters are rich
sources of salt and fresh water fish and
other marine products
DANCES

TINIKLING KURATSA

MUSIC

DANDANSOY
B I L I R A N
CAPITAL: Naval
LAND AREA: 536.01 km²
POPULATION: 171,612 (2015)
MUNICIPALITIES: 8
LANGUAGE: Cebuano, Waray-waray,
English
-known as Isla de Panamao
-borobiliran
-bilir defined in an old Visayan
dictionary to be the “corner or edge
of a boat, vase or anything
protruding, like veins, or the furrow
made by the plow
-Biliran was site of the first large-
scale shipyard
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF
BILIRAN
CAUCAB RICE TERRACES IN ALMERIA
One of the many smaller versions of the
more popular Banaue Rice Terraces found
in Biliran

TINAGO FALLS IN CAIBIRAN

The hypnotic waterfall blends perfectly with nature
as its cold waters cascade beautifully in
breathtaking scenery.
MAINIT HOT SPRING IN CAIBIRAN
Mainit Hot Spring’s warm water is also good in
alleviating rheumatism, skin allergies and
arthritis.

SAMBAWAN ISLAND OF MARIPIPI

Sambawan Islands have two islets connected by

boulders. It is blessed with crystalline waters with
beautiful white-sand beach.
HIGATANGAN ISLAND OF NAVAL
Higatangan Island is famous for its long stretch
of powdery white sand which extends about 200
meters to the pristine sea.

MT. PANAMAO

Solfataric active volcano located in the island

province of Biliran in the Philippines. Panamao
is a much-publicized mountaineer’s destination.
FESTIVALS IN BILIRAN
GINALUTAN FESTIVAL
• Celebrated in Maripipi in
time with its annual fiesta
on every 29th of September
honoring St. Michael

SUBINGSUBING FESTIVAL
• The Subingsubing
Festival is celebrated
every 24th of October
honoring St. Raphael the
Archangel.
GAPNOD FESTIVAL
• Celebrated in Almeria
during its character
anniversary on every 1st
September
IBID FESTIVAL
• Celebrated in Caibiran during its
town fiesta every 25th of July
• illustrates the playful stance of
lizards locally known as “Ibid”
FOOD AND DELICACIES
IN BILIRAN
CHOCOLATE TABLETS FROM BILIRAN
• Chocolate tablets made
from pure natural cacao
seeds roasted, milled

SUMAN BILIRAN “SUMAN BALINTAWAK”

• The tasty suman of Naval of
different flavors like the
tinambiran (a combination of
white and brown glutinous rice),
plain white suman and suman
with mango marmalade
SMOKED FISH TINAPA
• Smoked Fish Tinapa are made
from freshly caught fish smoked
using DOST ITDI designed smoke
house

PAPAYA PICKLES
• Produced from fresh green
mature papaya mixed with
other fresh vegetables, such as
carrots, green and red bell
peppers preserved in natural
coco vinegar
E A S T E R N
S AMA R
CAPITAL: Borongan City
LAND AREA: 4,617.2 km²
POPULATION: 467,160 (2015)
MUNICIPALITIES: 22 and 1 city
LANGUAGE: Waray
-The Land of Good Harbors
-Ferdinand Magellan landed in
Homonhon Island in the town of Guiuan
on March 16, 1521 officially recognized
as the discovery of the Philippines by
the Western World.
-Magellan called the place “Zamal”
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF
EASTERN SAMAR
CALICOAN ISLAND
Calicoan is an island bounded by the Pacific
Ocean on the East, Calicoan is a must-see
for the adventurous traveler or intrepid
surfer.
CANHUGAS NATURAL PARK

Canhugas comes from a root word

“hugas” which means to wash.
HOMONHON ISLAND
It was the first island which Ferdinand Magellan
first set foot on his way to rediscover the
Philippines on his expeditions.

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH

sacred place where those who pray for impossible

prayers shall be granted such as healing for incurable
disease and asking for materials things.
MINASANGAY ISLAND
It is a marine eco-park & resort that can be
found in Balangkayan, It is mostly known for
the conservation of reefs and sea turtles

BALANGIGA CHURCH

The Balangiga bells are three church bells2

taken by the United States Army from the
Church of San Lorenzo de Martir
FESTIVALS IN EASTERN
SAMAR
ALIMANGO FESTIVAL
• The Philippine mud crab,
scientific name Scylla serrata,
also called as mangrove crabs or
black crabs is an economically
important crab species

KARAYAPAN FESTIVAL
• Karayapan is an old
Waray-Waray word which
broadly means “for all”
and closely related to
the concept of
community
PADUL-ONG FESTIVAL
• Padul-Ong festival is celebrated
by the Boronganons every 8th of
September to pay homage to its
Patroness, the Blessed Virgin
Mary

HOMONHON FESTIVAL
• people celebrates the
Homonhon festival in
honor of Ferdinand
Magellan
FOOD AND DELICACIES
IN EASTERN SAMAR
BINAGOL
• Binagol is made of a
root crop named
Talyan, coconut milk
and sugar
SALUKARA (RICE CREPE)
• A native delicacy of
Eastern Samar. It is a
cross between a
hotcake, bibingka and
puto
TAMBIS-TAMBIS
• sweet coconut treat sprinkled
with white sugar. The coconut
shreds were molded with the
added food coloring to give its
bright and fruitful.

MORON
• Moron is pronounced like
Morong. Moron is like the
regular suman but the rice is
cooked in coconut milk and
mixed with a bit of cocoa
DALU-DALU
• These are snail-like
slugs found on sea and
fresh waters as well as
on land
TAMALA
• One of the tentacled
family. This one’s
served kinilaw so the
meat are a bit
tougher.
L E Y T E
CAPITAL: Tacloban
LAND AREA: 5,712.8 km²
POPULATION: 1.57 million
MUNICIPALITIES: 41 municipalities
and 2 cities
LANGUAGE: Waray, Cebuano and
Filipino
-Underwater Paradise
-One of the Philippines’ most
historic provinces as it has
witnessed many significant events
that formed the history of the
country
-Leyte is also the famous landing
site of the US forces during World
War II led by General Douglas
MacArthur.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF
LEYTE
MT. PANGASUGAN ECOPARK
“the last frontier” in Eastern of Visayas’ Mt.
Pangasugan features a steep terrain and is a
virgin rainforest mountain

TONGONAN HOT SPRINGS

geothermal power source suppliers the whole region
of Leyte with energy and it’s actually the first
geothermal plant in the Philippines.
SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

longest bridge in the Philippines that

connects Leyte to Samar.

KALANGGAMAN ISLAND
The island has fine sands and although not
exactly as fine as Boracay, it’s close and it’s a
new paradise.
FESTIVALS IN LEYTE
PINTADOS KASADYAAN FESTIVAL
• The festival is held every
June 29 to celebrate their
Patron Saint Sr. Santo Nino
through numerous song and
dance numbers
PASAKA FESTIVAL
• Celebrated every month of
August, it commemorates
their rich heritage, colorful
tradition, as well as strong
beliefs
ALIKARAW FESTIVAL
• this event is a celebration of
the rich natural resources of
the place, which boasts of
pristine forests and beautiful
orchids.

BUYOGAN FESTIVAL
Held every 19th day of August, to
celebrate the founding as well as
the rich history of the town.
FOOD AND DELICACIES
IN LEYTE
SUMAN-LATIK
• Another version of rice cake is
the suman malagkit made from
glutinous rice, coconut milk,
brown sugar and flavored with
lye solution

VACUUM FRIED JACKFRUIT

• A nutritious food product
made from the pulp of
ripe jackfruit.
ROSCAS

• Made in Barugo, Leyte,

Roscas are like cookies
but harder to bite.

BUKAWIL
• Leyte’s own sea snail. You
can have it cooked with
butter garlic, with coconut
milk, or simply steamed.
 BAKED SCALLOPS

• butter rich entree smothered in spices,

is a definite must-try in Tacloban City.
NO R T H E R N
S AMA R
CAPITAL: Catarman
LAND AREA: 3,692.93 km²
POPULATION: 632,379 (2015)
MUNICIPALITIES: 24
LANGUAGE: Waray, bikolano,
English
-Hidden Paradise of Visayas
-Catarman is a first class
municipality and the largest town in
terms of land area and population.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF
NORTHERN SAMAR
BIRI ISLAND
Biri Island is notable for a large number of
unusual rock formations along the northern
shore

PINIPISAKAN FALLS
Breathtaking view clear and fresh water,
one of a good tourist spot in the northern
samar
CAPUL ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
is a lighthouse on Titoog Point in San
Luis on the northern tip of Capul
Island

CAPUL CHURCH
The church of Capul, built during the Spanish
Colonial Period, is dedicated to St. Ignatius of
Loyola
396-year old stone church (2011)
 FESTIVALS IN
NORTHERN SAMAR
EMBAJADA FESTIVAL
Place: Catarman and Catubic, Northern
Samar
Date: Second week of January
The festival depicts the conflict
between Christians and Muslims that has
existed in the archipelago brought about
the Spanish occupation.
BANKATON FESTIVAL
• Place: Lavezares, Northern
Samar
Date: August 20
It is an annual boat racing
contest to celebrate the feast of
Nueva Señora de Salvacion, the
town’s patroness.
 MANOGLAYA FESTIVAL

• A cultural-tourism festival held in the town of San

Antonio from the 9th to the 12th of June
annually nightly entertainment of music and other
performances from leading local performers in the
community.
FOOD AND DELICACIES
IN NORTHERN SAMAR
KAMUNTAHA
mantis shrimp in
English, is neither
shrimp nor lobster, and
definitely not a mantis.
SHARKS MEAT/KINILAW
• Shark’s meat cooked in kinilaw
dish is a favorite side dish for
beer drinkers as well as it goes
well with the native Northern
Samar’s coconut wine or locally
known as “tuba”
Other Northern Samar food specialty dishes
mainly consists of seafood like crab on stick,
grilled tuna, sinigang na bangus and chicken
adobo cooked with a tender twist by Northern
Samar people.
S AMA R
CAPITAL: Catbalogan
LAND AREA: 13,428.8 km²
POPULATION: 1,751,267 (2010)
PROVINCES: Eastern Samar,
Northern Samar, (Western) Samar
-The name "Samar" was derived from the local
language samad, meaning "wound" or "cut", aptly
describing the rough physical features of the
island, rugged and deeply dissected by streams.
-Third largest island in the Philippines
-Samar was the first island of the Philippines
sighted by the Spanish expedition of Ferdinand
Magellan on 16 March 1521
-Samar is connected to the island of
Leyte via the San Juanico Bridge (Marcos
Bridge).
-Major economic of samar are Fishing and
agriculture
-On 8 November 2013, the province was
significantly damaged by Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan)
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF
SAMAR
LULUGAYAN FALLS CALBIGA CAVES
FESTIVALS IN SAMAR
FOOD AND DELICACIES
IN SAMAR
S O U T H E R N
L E Y T E
A flag is a visible representation
of the feelings, aspiration and
values of people through the use
of conventional or traditional
symbols.
CAPITAL: Maasin
LAND AREA: 1, 798.61 km²
POPULATION: 421,750 (2015)
MUNICIPALITIES: 18 and 1 component
city
LANGUAGE: Cebuano, English
-Province ranks as the second least
populated in the region
-The province is well known for its
quality abaca products and is the
country's major producer of abaca
fiber.
 FESTIVALS IN
SOUTHERN LEYTE
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF
SOUTHERN LEYTE
AGAS-AGAS BRIDGE

The Agas-Agas Bridge is a prestressed concrete

beam bridge on the Pan-Philippine Highway

MONTE CUEVA
Accessed by a steep stairway, this
Catholic shrine features a chapel in a
cave
 CABALIAN VOLCANO
Cabalian Volcano is an active volcano located in the
province of Southern Leyte
Last eruption: 1820
FOOD AND DELICACIES
IN SOUTHERN LEYTE

Suman latik, moron