REGION 8

EASTERN VISAYAS
BILIRAN & EASTERN SAMAR

PREPARED BY: GARCIA, MARIE ANGELINE

 BILIRAN HISTORY
• Biliran, officially the Province of Biliran (Waray-Waray: Probinsya han Biliran; ;
Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Biliran), is an island province in the Philippines located in the
Eastern Visayas region (Region VIII). Biliran is one of the country's smallest and
newest provinces. Formerly a sub-province of Leyte, it became an independent
province in 1992.

• Biliran lies less than a kilometer north of the island of Leyte. A bridge-causeway fixed
link over Poro Island in the gateway town of Biliran connects the province to Leyte.
Its capital is the municipality of Naval on the western coast of the island.
During the early Spanish era, what is now called Biliran was known as Isla
de Panamao. The present name, believed to be adopted sometime between
the late 17th century and the early 18th century, was, according to many
publications, derived from a native grass called borobiliran which once
grew abundantly on the island's plains. A contending theory states that the
name came from the word bilir, which was 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.” The dictionary also gives
biliran as an alternate spelling for bilir. This theory is supported by the fact
that Biliran was site of the first large-scale shipyard, built in the 17th
century. Galleons were built to support the Galleon trade between Manila
and Acapulco in Mexico.
 FOUNDATION
• The first town, named Biliran, was founded in 1712 after petitioning for a
municipality and parish status. During this time, the island was a part of Cebu
Province. Biliran, together with the islands of Samar and Leyte, were constituted
into a separate province in 1735. Later when Samar and Leyte were split into two
provinces in 1768, Biliran became part of Leyte Province as its sub-province. The
first parish priest was assigned in 1765, but its parish status was apparently
withdrawn because of Padre Gaspar's apostasy. The parish was re-established on
February 22, 1782.
 PROVINCEHOOD
• On April 8, 1959, Republic Act No. 2141 was signed into law effectively
making Biliran a sub-province of Leyte. The island became an independent
province on May 11, 1992, through Republic Act No. 7160, making it one of
the newest provinces in the country.
 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS
• Biliran is subdivided into 8 municipalities, with a total of 132
barangays. All municipalities are located on Biliran Island, with the
exception of Maripipi, which is an island municipality located to the
northwest. The largest among the towns in terms of land area is the
provincial capital Naval, while the smallest is Maripipi.
MUNICIPALITY

• Almeria • Culaba

• Biliran • Kawayan

• Cabucgayan • Maripipi

• Caibiran • Naval
 LANGUAGES
• The inhabitants of Biliran predominantly speak Waray. It is primarily
spoken in Caibiran, Culaba, Cabucgayan, Biliran and Maripipi. Whereas the
towns of Naval, Almeria and Kawayan speak Cebuano. Both are Visayan
languages.

• The majority of the residents also speak and understand English and
Filipino.
POINTS OF INTEREST
BAGONGBONG FALLS
It is also called Bagumbong
falls, crystal-clear and ice-cold
rapids of water coming from the
cathedral-like falls nestled in a
forested area of Almeria town.
ULAN-ULAN FALLS
• Derived from the Visayan
dialect which means “rain," the
falls' cascading waters form a
catch basin with water
sufficient for swimming.
RECOLETOS FALLS
• The waterfall which is
approximately 15 meters high,
has a wide pool with deep
water that is perfect for
swimming and cliff jumping.
The wide and flat stones
surrounding the basin of water
is perfect for picnic.
KASABANGAN FALLS

• The nice ambience of the

waterfall adds to its
attraction, and its cold water
is refreshing and relaxing.
There are 13 layers of this
waterfall from its highest
level up in the mountain.
TINGKASAN BAT CAVE

• The bat cave is a favorite

stop for tourists going to
Sambawan island. The place
is ideal for spelunking,
diving and spearfishing.
IYUSAN RICE TERRACES

• A manmade agricultural
landform and tourist
attraction found in Barangay
Iyusan, Almeria, Biliran
MAIN CROPS
• Agriculture is the main economic activity in the province of
Biliran where rice, corn, coconut, fish, rootcrops and vegetables
are the main products.
 EASTERN SAMAR
HISTORY
The Province of Eastern Samar was created by Republic Act. No. 4221 approved by
Congress on June 19, 1965. It divided the whole island of Samar into three independent
provinces: Northern Samar, Western Samar (subsequently renamed Samar), and Eastern
Samar. The eastern province was to be composed of 23 municipalities, with Borongan as the
capital. The first set of officials were elected in 1967.

Eastern Samar played important roles in the country’s history. On March 16, 1521,
Ferdinand Magellan first set foot on Philippine soil in the island of Homonhon, on his way
to rediscover the Philippines for the western world.
An American garrison occupation troops was annihilated by the
townspeople of Balangiga on September 28, 1901. Now known in
history as the “Balangiga Massacre,” the accident triggered a wave of
reprisals against the people of the whole island of Samar.

On October 17, 1944, rangers of the U.S. Army landed on the

tiny island of Suluan Guiuan and had their first encounter of the
Philippine territory three days before General Douglas MacArthur
landed on the beaches of Leyte.
Earliest known chronicles reveal that further contact with western
civilization, aside from the Magellan landing, occurred as early as
1596 when Jesuit missionaries worked their way from the western
coast of the island of Samar and established mission centers in what
is now the Eastern Samar territory. It is most probable that the
populated existing settlements were created pueblos shortly after this
time. The eastern part of the island was known as “ibabao” and
distinct from Samar, which was the name of the western part. It was
Magellan who named the place where he landed as Homonhon .