Top Destinations

Featured article:

Discover Capul: An island of beauty, culture & history

Capul lies in the middle of the treacherous San Bernardino Strait, which divides the islands of Luzon and Samar. Despite its location, it is a very important island that is rich in history and culture.

Centuries ago, a group of people arrived and settled on the island. This group of people fled the South to escape being converted into Mohammedanism. They named the island Abak in honor of their ruler. Their language is called Inabaknon.

Today, their descendants still speak Inabaknon, a unique language that refused to be dominated by the Cebuano and Waray dialects of the neighboring islands and the mainland. They also preserved their songs and dances that date back to the Spanish time.

For example, residents would say in Inabaknon to departing visitors: "Mahaya salamat ti kaap dimuan” (Thank you very much to all of you). Or they would say to people they meet: Mahalap nalong si ka'am dimuan (Good morning to all of you) or Mahalap allaw/kuhap/sangom (Good day/afternoon/evening).

When the Spaniards arrived, the island was among the few places in Samar to be evangelized. As early as 1596, Jesuit priests had already been visiting the island. They built a church made out of hard wood and nipa roof on the island, but this was destroyed by Moro marauders. In 1715, they constructed a more permanent church made of stone. They also built a stone belfry and a stone wall around the church.

The St. Ignatius de Loyola church was at that time the most beautiful edifice in the whole Samar Island.

The stone church was not only a place of worship but also of refuge. Inhabitants would run into the safety of the church once they hear the blowing of a conch from a nearby stone watchtower, warning them of the arrival of Moro invaders.

When the Manila-Acapulco Trade was flourishing, galleons used to weigh anchor and get provisions in the island, which got its present name from the word Acapulco.

During the 19^th century, particularly 1848-1852, Capul was made the capital of the whole Samar province.

On November 8, 1879, the island mission became a parish by a decree of the Bishop of Cebu, which was in accordance with the Royal Decree Nov. 12, 1874. The St. Ignatius de Loyola church in Capul was then under the administration of the Franciscan Order.

Featured Destinations:

The Ulot Extreme Torpedo Boat Ride Adventure

The adventure is a 21-km boat ride in Samar's longest river, the Ulot River. It is managed by members of the Tenani boat Operators for River Protection and Environmental Development Organization (Torpedo), thus the name of the boats.The first leg of the boat ride is the 11.5-km downstream run from Sitio Campo Uno in Brgy. Tenani, Paranas, Samar, passing through some waterfalls, rapids and lush forests. It ends at a place called Deni Point, where people can eat, have a dip on a cool water and commune with nature. The second leg is in going back upstream to the starting point in sitio Campo Uno. It is a more exhilarating ride, shooting through rapids. This phase is called the "salmon run," with the boats without outriggers snaking its way through fast moving waters and boulders blocking the way. But the boatmen, having the skills to run the rapids, would bring the passengers safely. The area is within the 333,000 Samar Island Natural Park (SINP).

The Basey-Sohoton river cruise & cave exploration

This is a leisurely boat ride along the Golden River of Basey, Samar up to the entrance of the Sohoton Caves, which is inside the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, a protected area. The walk inside the cave is also leisurely -- a person won't have to climb high rocks or pass through small crevices, but he/she has to watch out for some low-lying stalactites.The cave boasts of sparkling stalactites, stalagmites and other rock formations. The area features a natural bridge, a network of caves, rock shelters, rivers, waterfalls and an array of wildlife.Traces of human habitation like bones and artifacts dating as far back as the Stone and Iron Ages were found in the caves. Equally fascinating is the experience of the river cruise on board a motorboat from below the Golden River Bridge, which is along the national highway in Barangay Binongtoan, to Barangay Inuntan, an upstream ride of about 20 kilometers.

On the trip to Barangay Inuntan, one can take a glimpse of the lives of the village people -- diving and taking a bath in the river, crossing the river on board native boats, taking motorboat trips to take their produce to the town center, etc.

In the late 19^th century, the Spaniards started to construct a lighthouse on the island. But work was discontinued when the Spanish-American War broke out. Construction, however, was resumed and completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The old lighthouse is located nine kilometers away from the poblacion, on a rock promontory overlooking San Bernardino Strait. It is 143 feet above sea level

During World War II, down below the lighthouse, the Japanese had mounted guns to thwart American ships that would be entering the San Bernardino Strait.

Aside from its historical past, Capul is also known for its natural wonders.

The island really has what many travelers would want – very fresh air; powdery white sand beaches with crystal blue-green waters for swimming; colorful coral gardens for snorkeling or diving; and caves with magnificent stalactites and stalagmite for spelunking.

The island is a 5^th class municipality composed of 12 barangays. It is inhabited by friendly and hospitable people.

Capul can be reached by about an hour boat ride from Allen town in the mainland. Allen is about 48 km from the capital town of Catarman, where flights from and to Manila are available. (VEN LABRO)

Those interested to have the adventure may contact the Samar Island Natural Park at its hotline: 0917-702-7467 and through email: sinp.tenani@yahoo.com. It also has its own website: www.samarislandnaturalpark.org.

Sitio Campo Uno can be reached by a two-hour land travel from Tacloban City, where flights to and from Manila or Cebu are available.

From Barangay Inuntan, one can go kayaking about five kilometers up to the cave entrance.

Basey is just some 30 kilometers from Tacloban City, where vans have a daily trip to Basey and other Samar towns in the south. Those interested to take the Sohoton river cruise can contact Ms. Evangelina O. Ritaga, municipal tourism officer, for more information, at the Municipal Tourism Office with tel.# 055-276-1471.