Marabut, Samar

Marabut, officially theMunicipality of Marabut(Waray:Bungto han Marabut;Tagalog:Bayan ng Marabut), is a municipality on the Leyte Gulf in theprovinceofSamar,Philippines.
Before the construction of Mabaysay Church (now known as Basey Church) in 1846 A.D., Marabut was inhabited by the Umhanan people, also known as the Tinawgan people.
Among the first recorded inhabitants were the families of Agustin Grefiel, Logero Ferreras, and Catato Amantillo.These families intermarried. In 1868, before the birth ofDr. Jose Rizal, some settlers moved to the shoreline. Fearing forced labor by the <<<guardia civil>>> for the construction of the Mabaysay Church (now known as Basey Church), others settled in the hinterlands. Following theBalangiga massacreon September 28, 1901, some settlers from Balangiga relocated to the community due to fears of American retaliation, which steadily increased the population. Singoy Amantillo had five children: Bicario, Mauricio Enrique or "Iking,"Jacobo Alyasor "Ka Buta," and Lami. The family of Ysidro Mista Ferreras later settled there as well.
During Spanish rule, Ysidro encouraged Engracio Amantillo and Mauricio Amantillo to change the name from Umhanan to Tinawgan, and then to Sitio Lipata, named after the numerous Lipata trees in the area. Bicario Amantillo was known throughout the Province of Samar as a revolutionary leader during theFilipino-AmericanRevolution. He organized the residents of Sitio Lipata to defend against Muslim bandits and other enemies. Ysidro M. Ferreras succeeded him and worked to improve the site.
The population of Sitio Lipata rapidly increased during U.S. rule of the Philippines. Under the leadership of Ysidro, residents considered settling in a barrio called Hilaba instead of Sitio Lipata, due to its wider land area and a hill suitable for church construction. However, most residents retracted the proposal, citing concerns about accessibility to the shore at low tide, especially for banks.
Ultimately, Ysidro converted Sitio Lipata into the barrio Sto Niño of Basey, Samar. Ysidro was elected Mayor of Basey, while Engracio was elected Municipal Vice Mayor; likewise, Mauricio was elected Cabeza del Barrio Sto. Niño. When World War II broke out on December 7, 1941, elementary education in Barrio Sto. Niño was temporarily closed until the end of the war in Samar in 1944.
In early 1949, Ysidro submitted a proposal to PresidentElpidio Quirinofor the conversion of Barrio Sto. Niño into a municipality. On July 22, 1949, with the help of the late speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lorenzo Perez, Executive Order No. 247 was issued and signed by the President, creating the Municipality of Marabut, Samar, in honour of the late Congressman Serafin Marabut, a native of Basey, Samar. Ysidro M. Ferreras was elected as the first municipal mayor, and Engracio Amantillo was elected as the vice mayor. The Municipality of Marabut is composed of 14 barangays: San Roque, Tag-Alag, Legaspi, Caluayan, Tinabanan, Osmena, Canyoyo, Binocyahan, Odoc, Pinana-an, and Sto. Nino (Pobl), Lipata, Amambucale, and Pinamitinan.
A year later, during the term of Mayor Macario Ferreras, Poblacion Marabut was divided into four barangays: Amantillo, Sto. Nino, Catato, and Lipata, through a Municipal Ordinance. Barangay Pinamitinan was divided into three barangays: Sta. Rita and Malobago. Barangay Odoc was divided into two barangays, Barangay Ferreras. Barangay Binocyahan was divided into two barangays, Barangay Logero. Osmenia was divided into four brigades: Mabuhay, Rono, and Panan-awan. Legaspi was divided into two brigades: Veloso. Marabut now has 24 barangays.
The first barangay captain of Barangay Amantillo was Amado A. Opena.
Marabut is politically subdivided into 24barangays, each consisting ofpuroks, and some containingsitios.
In 1957, the sitio of Pinana-and was converted into barrio Pinalangga.
Poverty Incidence of Marabut