Samar (province)

Around 2 million to 8000 B.C., based on geologic findings, during the ice ages (2 million years – 8000 B.C.), the islands of Mindoro, Luzon, and Mindanao were connected as one big island through the islands of Samar, Leyte and Bohol.

In 8550 B.C., diggings in Sohoton Caves in Basey, Samar showed stone flake tools. In 1200 A.D., other diggings along the Basey River revealed other stone flakes used until the 13th century.{{Cite web |title=The Islands of Leyte and Samar |url=https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-communities/the-islands-of-leyte-and-samar/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=National Commission for Culture and the Arts |language=en-US}}

In 1543, the explorer Ruy López de Villalobos, first came to the island and named it Las Islas Filipinas.

In 1596, many names, such as Samal, Ibabao, and Tandaya, were given to Samar Island prior to the coming of the Spaniards in 1596. During the early days of Spanish occupation, Samar was under the jurisdiction of Cebu.

On October 15, 1596, the first Jesuit missionaries arrived in Tinago (now Dapdap) in Tarangnan. From Tinago, the missionaries, Fr. Francisco de Otazo, Bartolome Martes and Domingo Alonzo began teaching Catechism, healing the sick and spreading the Christian faith into the interior settlements.

On June 1, 1649, the people of Palapag led by Agustin Sumuroy revolted against the decree of Governor General Diego Fajardo requiring able bodied men from the Visayas for service at the Cavite Shipyards. Like wildfire, the revolt quickly spread to the neighboring town in the Northern and Western coast of Samar and to the nearby provinces of Bicol, Surigao, Cebu, Camiguin and as far as Zamboanga. It was suppressed in 1650 by the combined forces of the Spaniards, Lutaos, and Pampangos.

In 1735, Samar and Leyte were united into one province with Carigara, in Leyte, as the capital town. In 1747, Samar and Leyte were separated for administrative effectiveness. In 1762, complaints from the Jesuits that the division was not working well, thus it was reunited again by the approval from the King of Spain.

In 1768, Jesuits were expelled in all Spanish dominions. The Franciscans arrived on September 25, 1768, and took over the administration of 14 of the 17 parishes which were under the spiritual care of the Jesuits for almost 172 years. The administration of the remaining three parishes namely Guiuan, Balangiga and Basey in the south of Samar were given to the Augustinians.

In 1777, the two provinces were divided for the last time, it was approved in Madrid in 1786 and had been effective in 1799.

In 1803, Guiuan, Balangiga and Basey were turned over to the Franciscans for the lack of Augustinian priests.

On August 11, 1841, Queen Isabella II of Spain signed a Royal Decree declaring Samar as a province.

The Battle of Catubig occurred on April 15–18, 1900 during the Philippine–American War.

On April 15, 1900, the Filipino guerrillas launched a surprise attack on a detachment of the US 43rd Infantry Regiment, forcing the Americans to abandon Catubig town after the four-day siege.

In 1901, the Balangiga massacre occurred during the Philippine–American War.

On September 28, 1901, the people of Balangiga, Giporlos, Lawaan and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar surprised and attacked the American forces stationed there, killing 48 American soldiers. To avenge their defeat, American general Jacob H. Smith ordered his men to turn Samar into a "howling wilderness".

On April 10, 1910, upon the papal bull of Pope Pius X separated the islands of Samar and Leyte from the Diocese of Cebu and erected the Diocese of Calbayog comprising both islands. Pablo Singzon de Anunciacion was named first Bishop and consecrated on June 12, 1910.

In 1942, the occupying Imperial Japanese forces arrived in the province of Samar.

On October 24, 1944, the Battle off Samar took place as Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's Center Force warships clashed with several allied naval vessels in a collision course. His forces sank escort carrier {{USS|Gambier Bay|CVE-73}}, destroyers {{USS|Hoel|DD-533}} and {{USS|Johnston|DD-557}}, and escort destroyer {{USS|Samuel B. Roberts|DE-413}}, but at a cost of his cruisers Chikuma, {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chokai||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Suzuya|1934|2}}. Despite being a tactical victory for the Imperial Japanese Navy, it did not alter the course of the Philippines campaign.

On June 19, 1965, the Philippine Congress along with the three Samar Representatives, Eladio T. Balite (1st District), Fernando R. Veloso (2nd District) and Felipe J. Abrigo (3rd District), approved Republic Act No. 4221 dividing the region of Samar into three divisions: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Western Samar. Each region adopted a new capital: Catbalogan (Western Samar), Borongan (Eastern Samar), and Catarman (Northern Samar).{{cite web|title=Republic Act No. 4221 - An Act Creating the Provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Western Samar|url=http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno4221.html|website=Chan Robles Virtual Law Library|date=19 June 1965|access-date=18 April 2016}} The law was later ratified by the majority of voters through a plebiscite held on November 9, 1965.{{Cite book |title=Report of the Commission on Elections to the President of the Philippines and the Congress on the Manner the Elections Were Held on November 9, 1965 |publisher=Bureau of Printing |year=1967 |location=Manila, Philippines}} Esteban Piczon, the last governor of undivided Samar, continued as the first governor of Western Samar, while the aforementioned representatives were re-elected for the new provinces in 1965. The first provincial officials of Western Samar were elected on November 14, 1967, and on January 1, 1968, they officially assumed office.

On June 21, 1969, under Republic Act No. 5650, Western Samar was renamed Samar with Catbalogan still as the capital.{{cite web|title=Republic Act No. 5650 - An Act Changing the Name of the Province of Western Samar to Samar|url=http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno5650.html|website=Chan Robles Virtual Law Library|access-date=17 April 2016|date=21 June 1969}}

The capital town Catbalogan became a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9391 which sought to convert the municipality into a city. The law was ratified on June 16, 2007. However, the cityhood status was lost twice in the years 2008 and 2010 after the League of Cities of the Philippines questioned the validity of the cityhood law. The cityhood status was reaffirmed after the Supreme Court finalized its ruling on February 15, 2011, which declared the cityhood law constitutional.

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Typhoon Yolanda, hit Samar province.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/11/07/13/super-typhoon-yolanda-makes-landfall|title=World's most powerful typhoon lands in PH|website=ABS-CBN News}} More than 300 people perished on the first day it hit the province.{{Cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/524543/yolanda-kills-300-in-samar-official|title='Yolanda' kills 300 in Samar – official|first=Frances|last=Mangosing|website=newsinfo.inquirer.net|date=10 November 2013}}

In June 2018, a friendly fire incident happened between Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the administration of Rodrigo Duterte. The incident led to the death of numerous police officials of Waray ethnic origin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/28/1828639/afp-disarms-16-soldiers-samar-misencounter|title=AFP disarms 16 soldiers in Samar 'misencounter'|website=philstar.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1005123/pnp-chief-says-probers-looking-into-case-of-ambush-in-samar-misencounter-pnp-albayalde-afp-samar-ambush-misencounter|title=PNP chief says probers looking into case of ambush in Samar misencounter|first=Jhoanna|last=Ballaran|website=newsinfo.inquirer.net|date=28 June 2018}}

On January 22, 2019, House Bill No. 8824 was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento to establish a new province called "Northwestern Samar", consisting of nine municipalities and one city of Samar's 1st congressional district, of which Calbayog would be the designated capital. The bill is yet to be reviewed.{{Cite news |last=Charissa Luci-Atienza |date=January 22, 2019 |title=Creation of Northwestern Samar province pushed |publisher=Manila Bulletin |url=https://mb.com.ph/2019/01/22/creation-of-northwestern-samar-province-pushed/ |access-date=May 25, 2020}}

Samar province covers a total area of {{convert|6,048.03|km2|sp=us}}{{PSGC detail|nscb}} occupying the central-western sections of the Samar island in the Eastern Visayas region. The province is bordered on the north by Northern Samar, east by Eastern Samar, south by Leyte and Leyte Gulf, and west by the Samar Sea.

File:Ph fil samar.png

The province of Samar comprises two congressional districts, 24 municipalities and two component cities. It has a total of 952 barangays.

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File:Catbalogan Samar.jpg

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The population of Samar (province) in the 2020 census was 793,183 people,{{PH census|current|08}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|793,183/6,048.03|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or|sp=us}}.

{{main|Religion in the Philippines}}

Samar (Western Samar) is predominantly Roman Catholic. The Catholic Hierarchy (2014) states that 95 percent of its population adhere to Roman Catholicism.

Some other Christian believers constitute most of the remainder such as Rizalista, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Born-again Christians, Iglesia ni Cristo, Baptists, Methodists, Jehovah's Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventist, and Members Church of God International (MCGI). Muslims are also present and a few mosques are located within the province.

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| title = Languages Spoken (2000)[https://www.census.gov.ph/content/samar-population-getting-younger Table 5. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Samar (Western), 2000]

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{{bar pixel|Waray|Indigo|91.45||695,342}}

{{bar pixel|Cebuano|Blue|5.92||30,278}}

{{bar pixel|Binisaya|Gold|0.64||4,069}}

{{bar pixel|Tagalog|Black|0.37||2,340}}

{{bar pixel|Boholano|Periwinkle|0.14||877}}

{{bar pixel|Others|Grey|0.66||4,223}}

{{bar pixel|Not Reported|Maroon|0.83||5,316}}

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Residents of Samar are mostly Waray, the fifth largest cultural-linguistic group in the country. 90.2 percent of the household population speaks the Waray-Waray language, while 9.8 percent also speak Cebuano; 8.1 percent Boholano; 0.07 percent Tagalog; and 0.5 percent other languages.

There are two types of Waray spoken in the province, Waray Lineyte-Samarnon which is spoken from the southernmost tip of the province up to the municipality of Gandara and Waray Calbayog, an intermediary between the Waray of Northern Samar and the Waray of Samar, spoken in Calbayog, Santa Margarita, and in some parts of Tagapul-an, Santo Niño, Almagro and Matuguinao.

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{{main|Governor of Samar}}

File:Samar Provincial Capitol (Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan, Samar; 04-27-2023).jpg

19th & 20th Centuries

• Senate President José Avelino{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/jose_avelino.htm|title=Senate President Jose Avelino|website=Senate of the Philippines|access-date=September 24, 2019}} — the first President of the Senate of the Third Republic of the Philippines and the second President of the Liberal Party came from Calbayog, Samar. He was Senate President pro tempore to President Manuel Quezon prior to the establishment of the Commonwealth. He was the grandfather of Filipino actor Paulo Avelino.
• Lieutenant Benedicto Nijaga{{Cite web|url=http://pinoyfolktales.blogspot.com/2013/01/filipino-martyr-benedicto-p-nijaga.html|title=Pinoy Folk Tales: Filipino Martyr: Benedicto P. Nijaga|last=Den|date=2013-01-19|website=Pinoy Folk Tales|access-date=2019-09-21}}— nicknamed Biktoy, one of the "Thirteen Martyrs of Bagumbayan", executed on January 11, 1897, in Bagumbayan (Luneta Park). During a raid of a printing press in Binondo, the Spaniards found and confiscated subversive documents including a list of members of the Katipunan. Benedicto Nijaga was on the list as a collector of revolutionary funds. Upon the order of Gov. Polavieja to arbitrarily arrest all suspected members of the Katipunan, Nijaga was arrested while he was campaigning for revolutionary funds.
• Cardinal Julio Rosales{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brora.html|title=Julio Cardinal Rosales y Ras [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|access-date=2019-09-24}} — (September 18, 1906 – June 2, 1983) the second Archbishop of Cebu, was a Filipino cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. A native of Calbayog, he made his studies at the Seminary of Calbayog and was ordained in his hometown on June 2, 1929. From 1929 to 1946, he did pastoral work in the diocese of Calbayog. He was consecrated bishop of Tagbilaran on September 21, 1946.
• Lucio Godina (March 8, 1908 – November 24, 1936) & Simplicio Godina (March 8, 1908 - December 8, 1936){{Cite web|url=http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-unusual-life-and-times-of-the-godino-twins|title=The Unusual Life and Times of the Godino Twins|website=Positively Filipino {{!}} Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora|date=26 April 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}} — were pygopagus conjoined twins from the island of Samar in the Philippines.{{Cite web|url=http://scribol.com/anthropology-and-history/history/7-most-incredible-siamese-twins-in-history/4|title=7 Most Incredible Siamese Twins in History|date=2012-03-29|website=scribol.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}} Born in 1908, these boys from the Philippines later made the trip to the United States, where they became sideshow attractions in such hubs of ‘entertainment’ as Coney Island. In 1928, after various legal difficulties – including narrowly avoiding jail when a man was injured in an alleged drunk driving incident – they married identical (but not conjoined) twin sisters, Natividad and Victorina Matos, in Manila. At the age of 21 they married Natividad and Victorina Matos, who were identical twins. They performed in various sideshow acts, including in an orchestra on Coney Island and in dance with their wives. After Lucio died of rheumatic fever in New York City, doctors operated to separate him from Simplicio. Simplicio survived the operation, but died shortly thereafter due to spinal meningitis.{{Cite web|url=https://ystream.tv/q/bg/?s=Simplicio+|title=Video-Search for Simplicio|website=YStream.TV|language=bg|access-date=2019-09-24}}

21st Century

• Nemesio Baldesco{{Cite web|url=http://www.samarnews.com/Special_report/specialreport28.htm|title=Tricycle driver wins national award on poetry|website=www.samarnews.com|access-date=2019-09-19}}{{Cite web|url=http://calbayogcity.blogspot.com/2010/06/tricycle-driver-wins-national-award-on.html|title=Calbayog City: Tricycle driver wins national award on poetry|last=Ricafort|first=Ronald Ladrero|date=2010-06-01|website=Calbayog|access-date=2019-09-21}}— a pedicab driver from Calbayog who earned respect in the field of literary works in Waray. He is a recipient of Gawad Parangal of UMPIL (Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas). He is known as the “Father of Waray Poetry” (Amay han Siday).{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
• Dr. Carmelita Abdurahman{{Cite web|url=http://wika.pbworks.com/w/page/8021700/Pamunuan|title=Wika / Pamunuan|website=wika.pbworks.com|access-date=2019-09-19}} — she served as commissioner for Samar-Leyte language at Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).
• Archbishop Pedro Rosales Dean, Jr., D.D., Ph.L., S.T.L.{{Cite web|url=http://calbayogko.tripod.com/calbayogcitywebsite/MSGR_PEDRO_DEAN.html|title=Msgr. Pedro Dean Profile|website=calbayogko.tripod.com|access-date=2019-09-24}} — (born 21 February 1930) is the Archbishop emeritus of Palo from Calbayog since the appointment of Archbishop Jose S. Palma as his successor. He served the Archdiocese of Palo from 12 October 1985 until 18 March 2006.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/palo0.htm|title=Archdiocese of Palo, Philippines|website=GCatholic|access-date=2019-09-24}}
• Chito S. Roño{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2018/09/27/1855214/chito-roo-movie-now-philippines-official-entry-oscars-2019|title=Chito Roño movie now Philippines' official entry for Oscars 2019|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-09-24}} —(born April 26, 1954), also known as Sixto Kayko, is a Filipino writer, film producer and film director from Calbayog known for his expansive vision and special-effects-heavy films, most notably Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure (2001) for which he won the Metro Manila Film Festival for best director.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LOBodllv30IC&pg=PA89|title=Dream Factories of a Former Colony: American Fantasies, Philippine Cinema|last=Capino|first=Jose B.|date=November 10, 2010|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-6972-1|pages=89–|access-date=May 8, 2011}} He is also known for his 1997 film Nasaan ang Puso which earned him his first MMFF for best director. There is an annual literary and visual arts competition held in Samar in honor of him.{{Cite web|url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1024326|title=Waray News: Mga nagdaog han 6th Chito S. Roño Literary Awards pinasidunggan|date=July 8, 2019|first1=Leonilo D. |last1=Lopido |website=pia.gov.ph|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}
• Tessie Tomas{{Cite web|url=https://entertainment.abs-cbn.com/tv/shows/tonightwithboyabunda/videos/2018/08/16/107081618-fast-talk-with-tessie-tomas|title=Fast Talk with Tessie Tomas|website=entertainment.abs-cbn.com|access-date=2019-09-24}} — (born October 31, 1950), a Filipino actress and TV host from Catbalogan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2008/05/03/59872/tessie-tomas-her-own-woman-now|title=Tessie Tomas: Her own woman now|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-09-24}} best known for being the host of the ABS-CBN talk show Teysi ng Tahanan. In an interview with GMA Network's Tunay Na Buhay, Tomas recalled working for an ad agency prior to her career as a presenter and actress. Tessie later appeared in both comedic and dramatic roles, notably in the 2012 remake of the film Mundo Man ay Magunaw and 2015's Buena Familia. In 2018, Tomas played a supporting role in the ABS-CBN soap opera The Blood Sisters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.samarnews.com/news2006/jul/f711.htm|title=Actress Tessie Tomas praises Mayor Uy, requests for presence in tourist spots|website=www.samarnews.com|access-date=2019-09-24}}
• Michael Cinco{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/previous-articles?filterMeta=Michael%20Cinco|title=Michael Cinco news and updates {{!}} Rappler|website=www.rappler.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}— a Filipino fashion designer from Catbalogan, Samar. He launched his eponymous fashion line in Dubai in 2003.
• Rosalio "Yoyong" Martires{{Cite web|url=https://www.abante.com.ph/tag/vice-mayor-yoyong-martires|title=Vice Mayor Yoyong Martires {{!}} Abante News Online|website=Abante |language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}} — (born September 9, 1951), a former Filipino basketball player, actor and comedian from Catbalogan. He played for San Miguel in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association and the Philippine Basketball Association between 1972 and 1982. In 1972, he appeared at the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany as a member of the country's national basketball team. He was a fleet footed guard specializing in steals/interceptions and assists.
• Bishop Maximiano Tuazon Cruz{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcruzmt.html|title=Bishop Maximiano Tuazon Cruz [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|access-date=2019-09-24}} — born in Catbalogan, Philippines and was ordained a priest on November 30, 1947. He was appointed titular bishop to Tanudaia as well as auxiliary bishop to the Diocese of Calbayog on November 10, 1987, and ordained bishop on December 1, 1987. He was appointed bishop to the Diocese of Calbayog on December 21, 1994, and retired from diocese on January 13, 1999. He died on October 9, 2013, at age 90.
• Rosita “Rose” Bradborn{{Cite web|url=https://www.abante.com.ph/tag/ro%C2%ADsita-bradborn|title=Filipino bowler Rosita Bradborn|website=Abante|access-date=September 24, 2019}} — (born on 1973) is a Philippines international lawn bowler from Daram, Samar. She competed at the 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship and 2012 World Outdoor Bowls Championship but came to prominence when winning a bronze medal at the 2016 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Christchurch in the fours with Hazel Jagonoy, Ronalyn Greenlees and Sonia Bruce.{{Cite web|url=http://conceptnewscentral.com/index.php/tag/rosita-bradborn-and-asuncion-bruce/|title=Rosita Bradborn and Asuncion Bruce {{!}} Concept News Central|website=conceptnewscentral.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}} In 2018, he bagged three medals again in international tourneys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadianinquirer.net/2018/03/19/ph-bags-3-medals-in-2-intl-tourneys/|title=PH bags 3 medals in 2 int'l tourneys {{!}} Philippine Canadian Inquirer|date=19 March 2018 |language=en-CA|access-date=2019-09-24}}
• Sergio Apostol{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2006/10/20/363945/apostol-appointed-chief-gma-counsel|title=Apostol appointed chief GMA counsel|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-09-24}} — (born January 17, 1935) is a Filipino politician born in Catbalogan. In 2008, Sergio Apostol was Chief Presidential Legal Counsel for Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. On October 8, 2008, Eduardo Ermita confirmed Apostol's resignation, effective October 30, to prepare for his candidacy, for Leyte congressional seat, in the 2010 Philippine general election. Apostol is a member of the board of Union Bank and the legal consultant of the SSS’ Social Security Commission (SSC). After winning his district's seat as a Lakas-CMD party candidate of Arroyo, Apostol switched allegiance to the Liberal party of Benigno Aquino, the winner of the 2010 Presidential election.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/10/09/08/chief-presidential-legal-counsel-sergio-apostol-resigns|title=Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol resigns|first=Carmela |last=Fonbuena|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=2019-09-24}}
• Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura{{Cite web|url=http://www.set.gov.ph/member-justices/1301/hon-justice-eduardo-b-nachura/|title= Justice Eduardo B. Nachura {{!}} Senate Electoral Tribunal|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-19}}— former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from Catbalogan, Samar. He took his oath of office as Associate Justice on February 7, 2007, and occupied the position until his mandatory retirement on June 13, 2011. Previously, Nachura had been Solicitor-General of the Philippines at the time his appointment to the Court was announced on January 31, 2007, by then-Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
• Romero Federico Saenz Quimbo{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/17/18/bayan-bago-sarili-miro-quimbo-drops-mayoral-bid-in-marikina|title='Bayan bago sarili': Miro Quimbo drops mayoral bid in Marikina|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=2019-09-24}} — (born December 12, 1969), also known as Miro Quimbo, is a Filipino politician who currently represents Marikina's 2nd Legislative District in the House of Representatives of the Philippines. He succeeded then-Rep. Del R. De Guzman who won as mayor. Quimbo spent the first two years of elementary school at the Sacred Heart College (now Saint Mary’s College of Catbalogan) in Catbalogan, Samar. He moved to the Marist School in Marikina where he eventually finished his elementary and secondary education.{{Cite web|url=http://www.inquirer.net/videos/images/corona-impeachment/profile-prosecutors-bio/Quimbo,%20Romero%20Federico%20'Miro'%20S..doc|title=Romero Federico "Miro" S. Quimbo|website=Daily Inquirer|access-date=September 24, 2019}}
• Joel Porlares — (born January 1, 1961) the fourteenth Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church, officially the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and informally the "Aglipayan Church". The supreme bishop serves as the spiritual head, chief pastor, and chief executive officer of the said church. Porlares is the 14th in a line of succession that goes back from the first Supreme Bishop and prolific revolutionary figure, Gregorio Aglipay. He has been the incumbent supreme bishop since June 2023. Although born in Tacloban, Porlares was raised in the municipality of Basey in the province of Samar.
• Tom Rodriguez{{Cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/kapusomojessicasoho/225214/tom-rodriguez-returns-to-hometown-in-samar/video//|title=Tom Rodriguez returns to hometown in Samar|website=GMA News Online|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}} — a TV host, singer and actor from Catbalogan, Samar. He was born in Subic Naval Base in Zambales to an American serviceman father and a Filipina mother. One of six siblings, he moved with his two brothers and three sisters with their mother to Pinabacdao, Samar (where their mother hails from). But they grew up in nearby Catbalogan, also in Samar, where Rodriguez studied at Saint Mary's College of Catbalogan (formerly Sacred Heart College) from kindergarten to elementary.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/spotlight/41695-tom-rodriguez-spotlight|title=Tom Rodriguez' education in showbiz|last=Tariman|first=Pablo A.|website=Rappler|date=19 October 2013 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}} He popularized the OPM song “Ikaw Ang Sagot”.{{Citation|title=Ikaw Ang Sagot {{!}} Tom Rodriguez {{!}} Lyrics {{!}} 100-Year Legacy OST|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBn9KRw8uOM|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.lyrics.az/tom-rodriguez/-/ikaw-ang-sagot.html|title=AZ Lyrics.az {{!}} Tom Rodriguez - Ikaw Ang Sagot lyrics|website=m.lyrics.az|access-date=2019-09-24}}
• Mel Senen Sarmiento{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/09/09/1498049/new-dilg-chief-who-senen-sarmiento|title=New DILG chief: Who is Senen Sarmiento?|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-09-24}} — a Calbayognon politician who was a former member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the 1st Legislative District of Samar from 2010 to 2016. He also served as Secretary General of the Liberal Party. He served as the Vice Mayor of Calbayog from 1992 to 1995 and Mayor from 2001 to 2010. He was also the Secretary General of the League of Cities of the Philippines from 2004 to 2010. He also served as the final Secretary of the Interior and Local Government under President Benigno Aquino III after Jesse Robredo and Mar Roxas.{{Cite web|url=http://region5.dilg.gov.ph/dilg-v-family-welcomes-silg-mel-sarmiento/|title=DILG Secretary Mel Sarmiento in DILG Bicol Region|website=DILG Region V|access-date=September 24, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/09/22/comission-on-appointments-confirms-sarmiento-new-dilg-chief.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929212459/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/09/22/comission-on-appointments-confirms-sarmiento-new-dilg-chief.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2015|title=CA confirms appointment of Sarmiento as new DILG chief|website=cnn|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}{{Cite web|url=http://bfp.gov.ph/the-bfp-welcomes-the-new-dilg-secretary-honorable-mel-senen-sarmiento/|title=The BFP Welcomes the New DILG Secretary, MEL SENEN SARMIENTO {{!}} BFP : Bureau of Fire Protection|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}}

{{reflist}}

{{GeoGroup}}

• {{wikivoyage inline|Samar}}
• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{OSM relation|1506416}}
• [http://www.samarnews.com Samar News.com]—based in Catbalogan, it is a source of news and information on Eastern Visayas.
• [http://www.samar.lgu-ph.com Province of Samar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122142129/http://samar.lgu-ph.com/ |date=2022-01-22 }}—Profile of the Samar province
• [http://www.blgs.gov.ph/lgpmsv2/cmshome/index.php?pageID=23&frmIdDcfCode=7&fLguType=P&frmIdRegion=11&frmIdProvince=&frmIdLgu=65 Local Governance Performance Management System] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923191909/http://www.blgs.gov.ph/lgpmsv2/cmshome/index.php?pageID=23&frmIdDcfCode=7&fLguType=P&frmIdRegion=11&frmIdProvince=&frmIdLgu=65 |date=2015-09-23 }}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Samar

| North = Northern Samar

| East = Eastern Samar

| South = Leyte Gulf

| Southwest = Leyte / San Juanico Strait

| West = Masbate{{pad|6em}}
Biliran / Samar Sea

}}

{{Samar|state=expanded}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Articles related to Samar

|list1 =

{{Eastern Visayas}}

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{{Philippines topics}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Provinces of the Philippines

Category:Provinces of Eastern Visayas

Category:States and territories established in 1965

Category:1965 establishments in the Philippines