the CHAMP

PARANAS

This town was founded by the Jesuits in 1596 who administered it until the year 1768. At that time, there were 310 tributes with 985 souls. Its first Cura parroco was Fr. Miguel Rico, OFM.

The town is located at 11.o 41’45” latitude, on a small plain between two rivers on the W. coast of the island and to the N. of a great bay. It is confined on the N. and E. with the mountains at the center of the island; on the SE with the town of Jiabon which was about a league.

Its climate is warm and little ventilated. The people were provided well with water of a bad quality. It had to bad horse shoe roads leading to the towns of Jiabon and Calbiga, although they generally communicate by water. The mails received from the cabecera in uncertain days.

The church was under the patronage of the Apostle Saints Peter and Paul. It was constructed of stone by the Jesuits which was later burned down. In 1835, it went to the flames again and rebuilt by Fr. Leon of Tembleque, OFM, who at the same time built the parochial house made of wood.

There were a wooden tribunal and a school of first letters, endowed by the Caja de Comunidad. Near this town there is a visita called Lukilukon, a distance of three leagues to the NE and located next to a river that runs to end to the Eastern coast of the island to the town of Parik, and it is navigable for crafts of little weight. In the region of this visita there is stone coal although of inferior quality. This town was served by the Fr. Fernando Martinez, OFM, 25 years in age.

Tributes 1,837

Souls 6,338

The land of this town did not have marked limits on the N and E and where there were extensive mountains and plains filled with good construction timber and wood for furniture, lianas, a diversity of palms, excellent pastures, wax, pitch, hunts of all classes and many nutritious roots. Its coast was plentiful in good fish, with a sardine specialty, but its port was very dirty and not very deep.

The cultivated land produced a sufficiency of palay, some abaka, kamuti and palawan. The people were devoted to agriculture, profited from abaka, hunt and fishing whose products with the surplus of rice went to the markets of Catbalogan and other towns.

CALBIGA

Calbiga was attached to that of Humawas when in the year of 1768 the Franciscan administered this island. When the first Franciscan was assigned as a Cura in the person of Fr. Miguel Rico de Jesus, OFM, it was transferred in 1772.

It is located in the 11.o 37’ latitude on a small plain on the margins of a river of the same name. It is confined at the N and E with the central mountains of the island; at SW with the town of Paranas, about a league away at the W with the sea, at the same distance as the previous town and at NW with the town of Paranas, at some five leagues.

The pueblo enjoyed a fresh, healthy and very well ventilated climate. The people were supplied with waters from its river which was of good quality. Navigability on the river must be caught at tide time in order to arrive to town. There were several very bad paths leading to the collateral towns, but generally the folks communicated by water. The mail was received from the cabecera.

The church under the invocation of the Anunciacion de Nuestra Señora, was constructed in the year 1803 by Fr. Juan Caballero de Brozas, OFM. However, shortly thereafter, this was destroyed by a furious bagyo and reconstructed in 1808 by the same P. Brozas. Again, when it became deteriorated greatly, it was rebuilt in 1840 by Fr. Francisco Moreno de Montalbanejo, OFM, who in 1853, prepared and left enough materials for a stone construction. The convento, the casa tribunal and a school of first letters endowed by the Caja de Comunidad were all made of wood.

Two visitas belonged to this town known as Muhankaw and Buluan both founded around the year 1840 with some fifty families of converts from paganism, converted by the zeal fervor of Fr. Francisco de Montalbanejo, OFM. These visitas were located on the NE of the town; the first with a distance of some four leagues and the other eight. The Cura parroco was Fr. Manual Benevente, OFM, a preacher 28 years in age.

Tributes 2,103

Souls 5,385

The boundary of this town had no limit marked out on the NE and E, due to the extensive mountain chain and where the infidels dwelt. There found an abundance of good timber, lianas, palms, wax, pitch and hunt of all classes. The river bathes the town and had its origin in a great lagoon whose margins form a kind of living puedra- a kind of a boiler. Although this lagoon was only some four leagues in distance from its river courses some twenty leagues along with a multitude of waterfalls or cascades, some of which were sixty feet in elevation. It ends in the sea in front of the islet of Buad forming a bar of two miles in extension which limits navigation on this river but only to smaller vessels during high tide.

The cultivated land produced sufficient rice, some cocoa, tobacco, coffee and abaka whose progress was admirable for the past few years in these regions. The people were devoted to the profitable agriculture of the abaka, hunt and fishing; and the women to the fabric of guimaras and cloth for their use. Their commerce was reduced to the exportation of surplus palay along with some abaka which were taken to the markets of Catbalogan.

CALBAYOG

This town was a visita of the pueblo of Capul. It was formed as a separate pueblo in the year 1785, and was administered by the Cura parroco of Bangahon until the year of 1788 when its first minister was assigned, Fr. Benito of the Carmen, OFM.

Formerly, it was known as Tiayban founded near a river of the same name, some six leagues. Then it was transferred nearer to the coast at the shores of the Jibatan River (should read Hibatang). The transfer was the result of a great flood in the year 1692, as it is inferred in the history of the Jesuits, and thus transferred the second time which place it occupied presently.

The town is located at the 12.o 4’25”latitude, in a beautiful plain. Confined at the N. with the mountains of the center of the island; at the E. with the Town of Bangahon, some eight leagues away; at SE with that of Dapdap, at six hours of sailing and S and W is the sea.

The town enjoyed a temperate and well ventilated climate. The people were provided with water from a beautiful well located at the center of the town whose waters were of good quality. It had a horse path leading to the town of Bangahon, although their communications were generally by means of water. The mail was received from the cabecera in uncertain days.

The church under the advocation of the Nativity of Our Lady was a camarin de nipa and provisional. There was a stone tribunal, roofed with nipa and a casa real also a stone at the first floor, and the remaining wood along with a school of first letters endowed by the Caja de Comunidad which was also constructed of masonry.

The remaining houses in the poblacion were made of nipa and wood. There were four streets formed from E to W 1,200 feet long by 30 feet wide each, and seven at N., at S. 600 feet long and 30 feet wide.

The visitas of this town were: Karayman, located on the E. beach at three leagues distance; another known as Magsuhon, a distance of five league also toward the E Sundara in the same direction about a league and half in distance: Limbankawayan, located on an islet with the same name to the S like four hours of sailing on the Jibatan, to the W near to the river of the same name, like a league and a half in the same place there formerly was a town; at the N there are known visitas that exist: Himunini which is located near a small river of the same name, flowing into the Jibatang river; Magubay at a distance of the previous one of about a day’s navigation and about league and half by land; to Jinagdanan, about a day of sailing up the river and half league by land to the interior. The present Cura parroco is Fr. Aniceto Carral, OFM, a great preacher, who is 27 years in age.

Tributes 2,165

Almas 8,789

The boundary of this town has no limits marked at the N. portion whose hilly land is plentiful with good timber, palms, bejucos, wax, pitch and hunt of all classes. These mountains are of little elevation and among them they extend to the plains providing excellent pasture and even produce for all sorts of agriculture. There where the Rivers Jiabatan and Himonini join we find hot springs at several points and also some coal here and there.

Its extensive coasts are plentiful with good fish, balate and tortoise shell or carey; also some amber and mother of pearl. Its beautiful port is protected from all the winds less from the S but its entrance needs some expertise to get in and to wait for the full tide because it has a bar of about nine feet of depth in high tide. There are also a good roadstead on island of Limbankawayan Islet ad another on Libukan Islet. The land cultivated produces sufficient rice and abaka. The people are devoted to agriculture, they profit from abaka, and some other ones in fishing whose, products are exported to the cabecera or the markets of Manila.

VILLAREAL

This town was formerly known as Humawas, which was founded and administered by the Jesuits. At that time it had some 349 tributes 1,466 souls, including the town of Calbiga which was its visita.

When it was given to the Franciscans for administration in the year 1768, its first Cura parroco was Fr. Jose Estrellez, OFM. Time came that Calbiga became a pueblo and it was separated by an ordinance on March 12, 1863 giving it the new name of Villa Real (after the pastor’s hometown in Spain).

The town is located at 11.o 30’ 45” latitude, in a low land, on the W. coast of the island, near of a shallow bay. It is confined on the NE with the town of Calbiga about a league away; on the E. with the central mountains of the island and on the S. with the pueblo of Santa Rita, situated on an islet with a distance of five leagues.

The climate is humid and unhealthy. The town was surrounded with swamps which caused floods. The people were provided with water from the mentioned river which is rather dirty and bad tasting. Due to the lack of roads, communicating with the bordering towns was by way of water. The mail came from the cabecera in undetermined ways and days.

The church was under the invocation of Santa Rosa de Lima and was of mamposteria (half stone; half wood) roofed with nipa. The parochial house built in the years 1849 and 1850 was made of wood, roofed with nipa and the same with the Casa real. There is a school of first tetras, supported by the Caja de Comunidad. To this town belong some seven visitillas, of which the most notable and promising was that of Talulura, located to the W. of the town at about two leagues, in a beautiful plain. Due to the great shortage of religious, this parish was served by the Cura from Calbiga.

Tributos 1,424

Almas 6,536

The boundary of this town did not have any marked limits on the E. portion whose hilly land was full of excellent timber, lianas, palms, good grasses/pastures, many nutritious roots, wax and bigger and smaller hunt.

Its coasts were full of exquisite fishes especially sardines. Its port was not deep, filled with reefs. It can handle only vessels of 50 tons.

The cultivated land produced rice, abaka and palawan. The folks were devoted to agriculture, profit from abaka, fishing; the women took to the fabric guinaras whose product were taken to Catbalogan and to other towns of the province.

ZUMARRAGA

During the year 1768, there existed a visita with the name of Buad. This was erected into a pueblo by a decree on March 13, 1863 with the name of Zumarraga.

It is located at 11.o 35’40”latitude in a flat land on the W. coast of the isle. It is situated at 131.o 14’40” and 131.o 19’43” of longitude with the meridian of Cadiz with 11.o 34’40” up to the 11.o 40’40” of latitude. This island has a triangular shape. It is surrounded by other islets and forms a small strait called Parasan. It is distanced from the mainland of Samar by some two hours of travel.

Its climate is rather hot and the islet is somewhat hilly. It lacks good ventilation, but it is very healthy. The people were provided of water of good quality. The mail was received from the cabecera in undetermined days.

The church was under the invocation of the prodigious San Antonio de Padua, and was made of wood. It was constructed under the direction of Fr. Martin de Yepes, OFM in the year 1845. There was a wooden tribunal and a primary school endowed by the Caja de Comunidad. The were few houses and most of them were spread out all over the islet. As a result of the shortage of religious, the Cura from Catbalogan came to do the ministry in Buad.

Tributos 1,013

Almas 4,089

The boundaries of this town include the entire island of Buad, which is quite hilly and in its forest there is fine timber and plentiful, many coconuts, lianas, wax and hunt of all classes. The cultivated land produced a minimal amount of rice, not enough for consumption. The people were devoted to wood-working, benefited from abaka and coconut oil, and fishing whose products were exported to the cabecera, other towns of the Province, and even in Leyte.

DAPDAP

Known as Tinago, one of the first two cabeceras in the island, was founded by the Jesuits in 1596. However, it came a time when it did not exist already for a long period of time. But due to the zealous missionary named Fr. Juan Salguero, OFM, this was founded again in 1769 as Dapdap.

On August 4, 1863, it was erected as an independent parish.

The town is located at the 11.o 51’35”latitude, in terrestrial plain, prone to floods, on the coast W of the island and to the left of the mighty river of Bangahon. It is confined on NE with the town of Bangahon, at some five leagues; for SE with that of Catbalogan, about six leagues; on the W with several isles that impede the view of the sea and on the NW with that of Calbayog, at six hours sailing.

The climate is warm, humid and not very healthy, since it is little ventilated although the church and the convento were located in a small hill which enjoyed a better temperament. They were provided with water of poor quality. There were some very rugged paths which served in urgent cases, because they generally communicate by water with the bordering towns. The mail arrived from the cabecra in uncertain days.

The church under the patronage N.S.P. San Francisco was equally made of wood along with the convento. The people in the region have a great devotion to our Holy Father Saint Francis of Assisi. A multitude of the faithful came daily even from the Province of Leyte to pay tribute and veneration to their benefactor who favors them with good health.

Tributos 364

Almas 1,375

The boundaries of this town extend to the N. at S. like five leagues and three on the E. to W. It includes several mountains thriving with fine timber, lianas, palms, and nutritious roots, with a lot of wax and bigger and smaller hunt.

Its coasts were full of good fish. In their port anchored smaller crafts only due to the bars that form in the different bocanas by the mighty Bangahon River. The cultivated region produced enough rice, some abaka and palawan. Their people were dedicated to agriculture, abaka, and fishing. The women were engaged in guinaras fabric whose products along with surplus palay and some mats and bayones were taken to the markets of Catbalogan.

SANTA RITA

The Augustinians founded this pueblo, which was a visita of Basay when the Franciscans received its administration in the year 1804. It was through the ordinance of the Superior Gobierno that made its separation from Basay on January 2, 1864, to form into a parish with the visita of Katungaan.

The town is located at 11.o 23’45” latitude, in an isle on the embocadura NW of the Strait of San Juanico. It is confined on the N. with the town of Villareal, located on the mainland of Samar, at five leagues distance; on the SE with that of Basay; and on the S and W with the island of Leyte and a town of Malubago, distance of some half league.

The climate is tempered and healthful with good ventilation. The people were provided with water from a well which was of inferior quality. The mail was received from the cabecera of Catbalogan in undetermined days.

The church was under the patronage of Santa Rita de Casia. Its church was a camarin of nipa same with the casa tribunal. On the mainland of Samar there were some barrios that belonged to this town. However, they became refuge of the evil doers from both Samar and Leyte. Due to a lack of religious, it was the Cura of Basay who came to visit this town.

Tributos 520

Almas 2,765

The boundary of this pueblo, aside from the isle where it was located is sufficiently extended to the continent of Samar. It includes several mountains with good timber, a lot of wax and bigger and smaller hunt. The cultivated region produced palay, abaka, coconuts and palawan. The people were devoted to agriculture, benefited from abaka, coconut oil and fishing whose products were taken to the markets of the cabecera and to the province of Leyte. However, these were always in short supply.

TUBIG [TAFT]

The Jesuits founded this town in 1596 and administered it until the year 1768, when it was assigned to the Franciscans. It then consisted of some 403 tributes and 2430 souls. Its first Franciscan parish priest was Fr. Joaquin Polo, OFM.

The town of Tubig is situated at 11.o 55’20” latitude, on the beach of a great bay on the E. coast of the island, on a flat land. Originally, it was on the Malinaw River. It lost its original name and took on the present name. It is confined on the N. with the town of Parik at two leagues distance; on the SSE with that of Sulat, almost four leagues and on the W. with the mountains at the center of the island, inhabited by some non-Christians yet.

The climate is warm but healthy and well ventilated, except for the N. winds. Drinking water was provided from the wells which was not very good. However, not very far from the town, were several exquisite springs. There were two bad paths in the direction toward the bordering towns, when in urgent cases, they made efforts to acquire the spring waters. The mail was received from the cabecera in undetermined times.

The church, was under the patronage of the Apostle Santiago and was constructed of stone, built by Jesuits and roofed anew in 1846 by Fr. Manuel Loano, OFM, who at the same time built a new choir, two tribunals and a beautiful sacristy. The cemetery was outside of the poblacion, which was well ventilated and with a stone wall. The parochial house was made also of stone and very spacious. There was a wooden tribunal with stone foundations and a primary school of instruction, supported by the Caja de Comunidad. Also, one for girls only endowed by interested individuals.

To the SSE of the town, there was the visita known as Mantang, located in a beautiful plain near the beach with a lovely stone church, built around 1839 and 1842 under the direction of the Fr. Manuel Valverde, OFM. Fr. Manuel Lozana, OFM, who was 52 years in age, also served in this town.

Estado de la Parroquia

Tributos 836

Almas 3,274

The boundary of this town did not have a limit marked at the part of the W., where there were extensive mountains with plentiful and all kinds of good timber, lianas, climbing plants, excellent pastos, many nutritious roots, wax, pitch and bigger and smaller hunt. The river that bathes the pueblo had its origin at Magtaon under the jurisdiction of Calbiga..

The river Danaw (from Parik) was navigable from the one referred cascade until it joins with the Malinaw which is also navigable for crafts of little tonnage. Its port is qite dangerous due to its shallowness and reefs that it has. Light veseles can make it through. Also, the rier has plentiful fish, balaate and tortoise shell.

The cultivated terrain produced a lot of palay, coconut oil, palawan and kamuti, with some abaka. The people were devoted to agriculture, profited from abaka and coconut oil, gathering of wax and pitch, hunting and the fishing. The women were engaged in the guinaras fabric which products along with the surplus of agriculture were exported to the cabecera and other pueblos in the province.

SULAT

In 1768, there were six hundred eighty nine tributes with 3,687 souls were counted in this town, a town founded by Jesuits in 1596. The first to be assigned was Fr. Melchor Claver, OFM.

It is located at 11.0 49’ latitude in a beautiful E. coast of the island to the right of a river of the same name, on the beach of a very clean and secured bay. It is confined on NNW with the town of Tubig, some four leagues away; on the S. with the town of Libas [Hernani] at two leagues and on the W. with the central mountains of the island.

The town enjoys a temperate, healthy and a well ventilated climate. The dominant illnesses were asthma and cutaneous eruptions. The people were supplied with water from several springs and from the river, which were all of good quality. It was very difficult to communicate by land with the nearby towns. The mail was received from the cabecera when occasion present itself.

The church, dedicated to San Ignacio of Loyola, was made of stone built by Jesuits and repaired in 1814 by Fr. Enrique of Barcelona, OFM, who at the same time build new steeple, a beautiful bautisterio. He also constructed a new cemetery with a stone wall away from the poblacion and very well situated. The convento was made also of stone, strong and spacious. There was wooden tribunal and a primary school. Only twelve houses were built of wood while all others were of the traditional bamboo and nipa according to the style of the nation.

This town had a visita called Katalahan to the NNW of the town whose island was in the embocadura of the bay. Here a hermitage dedicated to S. Antonio de Padua. It also had another visita named Maytigbaw, located a league to the N. from the town on the beach on the bocana of the referred bay. Here a hermitage under the patronage of San Isidro Labarador was also found. This parish was served now by Fr. Jose Mata, OFM, who was 27 years in age.

Tributos 1,307

Souls 4,353

The boundaries of this town extend N. to S. like five leagues. To its W, its boundaries had no limit. In the mountains, there can be found excellent timbers for construction and making cabinet, a diversity of palms, lianas, many nutritious roots, wax and hunt of all classes.

Water coming from the rivers Kaybuburaw and Sulat, streams and springs were all good. The bay or port that took the name of the town was secured from winds. The ships of two hundred tons can anchor in this port. It was separated from the mouth/emboca so as to avoid the depth waters.

BORONGAN

The town is situated at 11.o 41’5” latitude, in a flat land among the outlets of two rivers, on the beach of a great bay which forms the E. coast of the island. It is confined on the N. with the town of Libas, some of four leagues in distance. On the S. with that of Lanang like seven leagues, on the W. with the mountains at the center of the island.

The pueblo enjoys a fresh climate from November until March and quite temperate for the remaining months. The common illnesses were asthma and a kind of leprosy, which was not difficult to cure.

The people were provided with water from an exquisite spring next to the church. In distant neighborhood, there were several streams whose waters were also very good.

Their communications were generally by water. Although in urgent cases there were several treacherous paths. The mail was received from the cabecera in uncertain days.

The church was dedicated to Nuestra Señora en el Misterio de su Natividad. It was of a very small masonry for the growing town. The year 1773, it was burned and it was rebuilt in 1781 by Fr. Roque de San Jose, OFM or de Osma. Around 1843, it was newly renewed and roofed under the direction of the Fr. Juan Navarrete, OFM, who in 1853 erected a good tower from his modest savings.

The cemetery fence was a wall six feet high, and was outside of the poblacion, very well located and ventilated. The parochial house was made of stone, quite roomy, as well as the Casa real. In the lower floor was the prison built under Cura’s zeal as already mentioned by P. Navarrete who also directed the construction of the tribunal that was made of stone.

There is a school of primary instruction, endowed by the Caja de Comunidad. The construction was of wood, some 108 feet long by 30 wide. This was built at the expense and under the direction of the same P. Navarette. It also served as a girl’s school and similar to the previous one. The houses in the poblacion were made of wood and nipa.

There were no streets laid out, only mere spaces. The town had four visitas: the first one was called Bugas, which was about three leagues to the NE. of the town, located on the coastal bay, in which can anchor ships of a hundred tons. There was a wooden church dedicated to San Roque.

The second visita called Maydulong was erected with the infidels whom the zealous Fr. Vicente Merida, OFM, converted during the years 1820. They began to pay tribute in 1844. This visita is located in the 11’38 latitude to the SE of the town, in a plain on the beach of a bay, in which ships of medium tonnage can anchor. There was a small church under the invocation of San Jose with a distance of four leagues from the town.

The third visita began their conversion during the year 1845 under the indefatigable zeal of Fr. Juan Navarrete, OFM, and they began to pay tribute in 1849. This visita is located in the outlet of the mighty Suribaw River. The people here were converted by Fr. Navarrete, OFM, around 1845, and the converts began to pay tribute in 1850. This visita finds itself on the riverbanks of the mentioned Suribaw at some two leagues W of the previous one and had its small church dedicated to San Domingo de Guzman. This town was under Fr. Salustiano Bus, OFM, who was 47 years in age.

Estado of the Parroquia

Tributes 2,315

Souls 7,671

The boundaries of this town extends N to S about ten leagues and to the W which it did not have marked limits. It included several abundant mountains with excellent timber for construction and furniture; a diversity of palms, liana, wax, pitch and a lot of hunt of all classes. They were also extensive plains fertilized by several streams, especially by the rivers Laan and Ginbarangani or Burungan, both navigable some three leagues. In these plains there were plentiful pastures which were promoted by P. Navarrete, OFM. He provided expense for the breeding of bovine livestock that progressed quickly.

Fishes like balate and tortoise shell/carey were plentiful. The port was very safe and well preserved, but its entrance was dangerous due to several reefs. It was also very respuesta for sailing from October until March.

The cultivated land produced many coconuts, sufficient palay, palawan and kamuti, with some abaka. Profits grew to enormous proportions. The people were devoted to agriculture, profit from coconut oil which was the prime thrust; abaka plantations, firewood, livestock, deer, chicken, pigs, hunt and fishing. The women, of course, were engaged in the guinaras fabrics whose products were exported to the Island of Cebu, Negros and Leyte and more frequently to Manila. All produce had doubled and tripled due to Fr. Navarete’s zeal, interest and dedication for the good and welfare of the people. He also wrote a Catechism of doctrine which never undermine his apostolic ministry. He had brought in over one thousand souls which today form two visitas.