Eastern Visayas

Eastern Visayas(Waray:Sinirangan Kabisay-an;Cebuano:Sidlakang Kabisay-an;Tagalog:Silangang Kabisayaan;Filipino:Silangang Visayas) is anadministrative regionin thePhilippines, designated asRegion VIII. It consists of three main islands:Samar,Leyte, andBiliran. The region has sixprovinces:Biliran,Leyte,Northern Samar,Samar,Eastern Samar,Southern Leyte, oneindependent city,Ormoc, and onehighly urbanized city,Tacloban(its regional center and largest city).The highly urbanized city of Tacloban is the sole regional center. These provinces and cities occupy the easternmost islands of theVisayasgroup of islands, hence the region's name. Some historians believe that the oldest ancient kingdom in the Philippines is found in this region, the Lakanate of Lawan, which plays a significant  role in the Polynesian and Austronesian intermigration.
Eastern Visayas faces thePhilippine Seato the east. The region's most famous landmark is theSan Juanico Bridge, which links the islands ofSamarandLeyte. As of 2020, the Eastern Visayas region has a population of 4,547,150 inhabitants,making it the least populous region in the Visayas.
The current name of the region was derived from the position of its islands, which are all situated in the easternmost part of theVisayas.
Eastern Visayas lies on the east-central section of the Philippine archipelago. It consists of three main islands, Leyte, Biliran, and Samar, which form the easternmost coasts of the archipelago. It is bounded on the east and north by thePhilippine Seawith theSan Bernardino Straitseparating Samar from southeasternLuzon; on the west by theCamotesandVisayanseas, and on the south by theBohol Seawith theSurigao Straitseparating Leyte from northeasternMindanao. It has a total land area of 2,156,285 hectares (5,328,300 acres) or 7.2% of the country's total land area.52% of its total land area is classified as forestland and 48% as alienable and disposable land.
There are two types of climate prevailing in the region under theCoronas system of classification: Type II and Type IV. Type II climate is characterized by having no dry season but a pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January. Samar Island and the eastern part of Leyte Island fall under this type of climate. Type IV, on the other hand, has an even distribution of rainfall year-round and a short period of dry season that can be observed starting in February up to May. This type of climate is well exhibited in the western half of Leyte Island and in some portions of Samar, which covers the municipality ofMotiongup toSan Isidroin Northern Samar.
As the region directly faces the Philippine Sea,typhoonscoming from the east frequently strike the region, often at their peak intensities. This, along with theBicol Region, are the most typhoon-prone areas in the Philippines. In 2013, the region was struck byTyphoon Haiyan, locally known as Super Typhoon Yolanda, which later became the deadliest and most destructive typhoon to hit the Philippines in the satellite era.
The region's sea and inland waters are rich sources of salt, freshwater fish, and other marine products. It is one of the main fish-exporting regions of the country. There are substantial forest reserves in the interiors of the islands. Its mineral deposits includechromite,uranium(in Samar),gold,silver,manganese,magnesium,bronze,nickel,clay,coal,limestone,pyriteandsandandgravel. It also has abundant geothermal energy and water resources to support the needs of medium and heavy industries.
Eastern Visayas consists of 6provinces, 1highly urbanizedcity, 1independent componentcity, 5componentcities, 136municipalitiesand 4,390barangays.
The native languages of Eastern Visayas are:
Eastern Visayas is primarily an agricultural region withrice,corn,coconut,sugarcaneandbananaas its major crops.
Primary sources of revenue are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and services. Mining, farming, fishing andtourismcontribute significantly to the economy. Manufacturing firms include mining companies, fertilizer plants, sugar central, rice and corn mills and other food processing plants. Tacloban is the hub of investment, trade and development in the region.
Other industries include coconut oil extraction, alcohol distilling, beverage manufacture and forest products. Home industries include hat and basket weaving, metal craft, needlecraft, pottery, ceramics, woodcraft, shell craft and bamboo craft.
Tinikling, the Philippines' national dance is folkdance that originated from the region. But the most popular cultural dance amongWaraynons is theKuratsa, danced during feast celebrations and special gatherings. TheLeyte Kalipayan Dance Company, a local cultural group, held highly successful performances around the world.
Waray peopleare music lovers whose folkloric music are mostly ballads in form, famous of which isIroy nga Tuna(Motherland), a patriotic song.
Since 2018, Eastern Visayas has held the 'Oktubafest' every October to showcase the best local wine made from coconut palm calledtuba.
The region'sLeyteandSamarislands serve as main link between Luzon and Mindanao by land transport. A total of nine airports, are strategically located in different parts of the six provinces that define the region.Daniel Z. Romualdez Airportin Tacloban is the main gateway by air to the region. There are seaports inTacloban,Baybay,Laoang,Catbalogan,Calbayog,Borongan,Allen,Ormoc,Bato,Hilongos,Maasin,Sogod, andNaval.
ThePan-Philippine Highwaypasses through the entire province, starting from Allen in Northern Samar untilLiloanin Southern Leyte, where it continues in Mindanao through a ferry service. ThePalo-Carigara-Ormocroad is a spur of the aforementioned highway, connectingCebu Cityto the network through a ferry ride from Ormoc.
Bridges connect all the islands in the region. Apart from the famed San Juanico Bridge, which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte, the Biliran Bridge, constructed in 1975, connects Biliran to the island of Leyte. The Wawa Bridge also connectsPanaon Islandto the island of Leyte.
The region is the top producer of geothermal energy supply in the country. The province ofLeytehosts the biggest geothermal plant in the Philippines. Still, geothermal exploration is ongoing in the nearby province ofBiliran. With abundance of river system, the region has potential in hydroelectric production. Thestrait of San Juanicobetween Leyte and Samar islands has been declared as potential source for water current and tidal energy sources.
Eastern Visayas is home to several state universities, including the prestigiousUniversity of the Philippines Tacloban College. The region is also home to theUniversity of Eastern Philippines(UEP), located inCatarman,Northern Samar, which holds the most number of baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate courses among universities in the region.
The Zonal Agricultural University for the Visayas under the National Agriculture Education System concept,Visayas State University(VSU) is also in the region, located inBaybay. Also, the region is home toPalompon Institute of Technology, a maritime school in the Philippines providing deck and engine cadet. Its main campus is located in the municipality ofPalompon,Leyteprovince.
TheEastern Visayas State UniversityisLeyte's state university with five extension campuses.Southern Leyte State Universitywith five extension campuses, is the only state university in the province ofSouthern Leyte. InBiliran,Naval State Universityis the province state university. ForEastern Samar, theEastern Samar State Universityis the only state university of the province with four extension campus whileSamar State Universityis Samar's state university with two extension campuses.Northwest Samar State Universityserves Samar Province's first district. For teacher education, theLeyte Normal Universityspecializes in education courses.