Provinces

Eastern Samar Province

Written by Patrick
 

ABOUT

Eastern Samar is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas Region. Its capital is the city of Borongan. Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar was the first landing site of Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines during his first circumnavigation of the globe.

LOCATION

Eastern Samar

Coordinates: 11°40′N 125°30′E

FAST FACTS

The following are a few useful and interesting details about this province.

Province:
Eastern Samar
Location:
11°40′N 125°30′E | View Map
Year Founded:
1965
Capital:
Borongan
Area:
4,660.47 km2 (1,799.42 sq mi)
Population:
477,200
Density:
100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Division:
Region:
Cities & Towns:
1 Component city, 22 Towns (Municipalities)
Demonym(s):
Eastern Samareño/a
Elevation:
(Mount Pagcem) 590 m (1,940 ft)
Time Zone:
PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code:
6800–6822
Area code:
+63 -(055)-XXX-XXXX
Electricity:
Standard voltage is 220V.
Plug commonly used is Type A but Types B and C are used as well.
Bring A to B adapter(s).
Currency:
Philippine Peso (PHP)
Exchange Rate:
Approximately 1 USD = 50 PHP | click for exact exchange rate
Income Class:
Second Class
Religion(s):
96.76% Roman Catholic
Language(s):
Waray, Cebuano, English
Known For:
The island of Homonhon
Major Industries:
Agriculture (coconut, copra, corn, rice, and sugar), Fishing, Tourism
Climate:
Tropical
Best Time to Visit:
May to September
Clothing:
Casual light clothing: shorts, t-shirt, sandals. Light jacket and pants at night, at higher elevations, and boating.
Seaport(s):
Ando Island Seaport | Guiuan Port
Bus Terminal(s):
COMING SOON

CLIMATE

The climate in this province is classified as tropical. The rainfall in Eastern Samar is significant, with precipitation even during the driest month. The climate here is classified as Af by the Köppen-Geiger system.

The best time to visit is from May to September, although the growing number of surfers who come here to take advantage of the swells that rip in from the Pacific might argue that the typhoon season is best.

The most appropriate clothing in this province is casual light clothing: shorts, t-shirt, sandals. Light jacket and pants at night, at higher elevations, and boating.

READ MORE: Climate & Weather in the Philippines

CITIES & TOWNS

Eastern Samar Province Map

The Eastern Samar province is divided into 22 Municipalities, 1 Component City:

  • Arteche
  • Balangiga
  • Balangkayan
  • Borongan
  • Can-avid
  • Dolores
  • General MacArthur
  • Giporlos
  • Guiuan
  • Hernani
  • Jipapad
  • Lawaan
  • Llorente
  • Maslog
  • Maydolong
  • Mercedes
  • Oras
  • Quinapondan
  • Salcedo
  • San Julian
  • San Policarpo
  • Sulat
  • Taft
 

ISLANDS

There are 17 outlying islands surrounding the mainland of Eastern Samar which are under the jurisdiction of the province.

  • Anajao Island
  • Andis Island
  • Apiton Island
  • Bactol Island
  • Catalaban Island
  • Dalo Island
  • Divinubo
  • Hilabaan
  • Loud Island
  • Macalayo Island
  • Makate Island
  • Monbon
  • Pasig Island
  • Rapit Island
  • Tabunan
  • Uguis Island
 

POINTS OF INTEREST

The following is a list of points of interest relating to the Eastern Samar province:

  • Apiton Island
  • Balangiga Bells
  • Ban-ak Beach
  • Binogawan Beach
  • Canhugas Nature Park
  • Jagnaya Beach
  • Luksoon Cave

If you plan to visit the province of Eastern Samar, you can use the following sites to determine the best places to stay:

FESTIVALS

The following is a list of festivals celebrated in Eastern Samar throughout the year:

  • Balangiga Incident (September 21) – Balangiga
  • Homonhon Landing (March 16) – Homonhon
  • Karayapan Festival (March) – Guiuan
  • Padul-ong Festival (September) – Borongan City

FAQs

The following are the most frequently asked questions about Eastern Samar province.

Where in the Philippines is Eastern Samar located?
Eastern Samar is located on eastern section of Samar Island in Eastern Visayas.

Is Eastern Samar a city or province?
Eastern Samar is a province.

What is the Capital of Eastern Samar?
The capital of Eastern Samar is Borongan.

What is Eastern Samar famous or known for?
Eastern Samar is famous or known for The island of Homonhon.

How do I get to Eastern Samar?
There are several ways to get to Eastern Samar, the most common being from Manila:

  • Plane to Tacloban City | 1.5 hours | $36-$180 + Bus or van to Eastern Samar | 2.5 hours | $4
  • Bus ferry | 24 hours | $40

RESOURCE: Best Online Transportation Resource for the Philippines

How many islands are in Eastern Samar?
There are 17 islands in Eastern Samar.

What does Eastern Samar mean?
Samar is derived from the Visayas word “samad” which means “wound” or “cut” which describes the rough physical features of the land which is rugged and deeply dissected by streams.

How Safe is Traveling in Eastern Samar?
Eastern Samar is generally safe for locals but not tourists.

Is the climate the same as the rest of the Philippines?
The climate in Eastern Samar province is considered tropical with significant rainfall during the driest months.

To learn more about the various climate types in the Philippines, and for a Climate Map, click the link below …

READ MORE: Climate & Weather in the Philippines

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About the Author

Patrick

Patrick is an entrepreneur, digital nomad, explorer, and photographer. Patrick is always in search of fun and adventure. He is well travelled throughout the world, and although location independent, his home base is Phoenix, Arizona in the USA. Patrick loves island lifestyle which is no wonder why he is so interested in spending time in the Philippines with it’s over 7,000 islands. Patrick created this site to share his knowledge of and experiences in the Philippines with Filipinos as well as other foreigners.

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