Province of Samar

Many names (Samal, Ibabao, Tandaya) were given to Samar Island prior to the coming of the Spaniards in 1596.  The name Samar was derived from the local dialect “samad”, meaning wound or cut, which aptly describes the rough physical features of the island that is rugged and deeply dissected by streams.

During the early days of Spanish occupation, Samar was under the jurisdiction of Cebu.  In 1735, Samar and Leyte were united into one province with Carigara, Leyte as the capital town and again Samar became a separate province in 1768.

Samar island occupies the eastern portion of the Philippines.  It lies southeast of Luzon and occupies the northernmost section of Eastern Visayas.  It is separated from Luzon on the north by San Bernardino Strait and from Leyte on the southwest by the narrow San Juanico Strait.  It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by Leyte Gulf and on the west by the Samar Sea.

Map of Samar Island

WARAY PEOPLE

The word Waray literally means “nothing”, which for most linguist could not explain why and how. Some people even say Waray-Waray meaning “double nothing” or “nothing nothing” which the meaning is highly confusing. It is unfair to note Waray as a difficult dialect to learn, However unlike Tagalog that is taught nationwide, Waray can become confusing but challenging especially when you get to listen to the native speakers who speak fast and fluent.


The Waray are part of the wider Bisaya ethnic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnic group.The Waray-Waray are an ethnoliguistic group located in Samar and Leyte. Geographically, they are located in the Visayas.

Waray-Waray sometimes shortened to Warai, is the term used to refer to the people who inhabit the islands of Samar and Biliran and the eastern section of Leyte. Those who come from Samar are called Samareños, while those from Leyte are Leyteños. They speak the language called Warai.