Northern Samar is a province of the Philippines located in Eastern Visayas Region. It occupies the northern part of Samar Island. Its neighbors to the south are Eastern Samar and western Samar. Its topography is mostly plain with some scattered hills. Climate is of Type II, no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January. Lying under the typhoon belt. it is often the victim of strong and destructive typhoons.

The province is accessible by land through the Maharlika Highway using ferry services from Matnog, Sorsogon to the port town of Allen crossing the St. Bernardino Strait. The trip from Manila using this route is about 14 hours by bus. The province is also accessible by air transportation from manila to the capital town of Catarman.

Northern Samar Provincial Capitol

Waray-Warays are the majority of the population with Bicolanos and other migrants forming the minority. The province celebrates every third week of June the Northern Samar founding anniversary. The Manoglaya Festival of San Antonio town showcases the towns cultural heritage and the fishing skills of the people. The town of Pambujan holds the Kadayaw Festival featuring the town's folklore through dances. The Bangkulis Festival is a thanksgiving celebration in the town of Palapag while the Feast of the Sto. Nino in Las Navas town features fluvial parade and colorful street dancing.

The province was first called Ibabao during the Spanish Period. It was one of the first areas to stage a rebellion against the oppressive Spanish Rule. The coastal town of Palapag in the eastern part of the province was the site of the famous Sumoroy Rebellion which occured from 1605 to 1650. During the 18th century, Palapag became the port of call of the Galleon Trade and the island of Capul located in the San Bernardino Strait is believed to have been derived from "Acapulco", the Mexican destination of ships coming from Manila.

Northern Samar has the highest poverty incidence in the Eastern Visayas region. It stood at 61.1% in 2006, the 5th highest among all the provinces. Agriculture is the main activity. Farm and fishery production in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand metric tons, rank among 79 provinces)

Animal inventory of Samar in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand, rank among 79 provinces)

Other farm products are abaca, rootcrops and vegetables. Among the products produced by its cottage industries include handicrafts, virgin coconut oil, boneless bangus, tuna sardines, dried pusit, and pili delicacies. A total of 8 banks were operating in the province in 2007 with total deposits amounting to 1.7 billion pesos.

Commercial cattle raising is a good industry to develop in northern Samar to complement those in nearby Masbate Province. Being a pathway of typhoons, commercial production and processing of rootcrops such as cassava, sweet potato, and yam are the best alternative businesses to establish. A modern cold storage terminal should be put up. The port town of Allen which is the entry point of travellers from the Bicol region can be developed further as an international gateway for the whole island of Samar. The development of the tourism industry would require the establishment of tourism-related projects.

1. Biri Island - a marine sanctuary
2. Beaches in Balicuatro Island
3. Pinipiskan Falls in Las Navas
4. Onay Beach in Laoang
5. Wayang-Wayang beach in Allen
6. Palapag - a historic town where the Sumoroy Rebellion against Spain occurred.
7. Capul Lighthouse - 12-meter high, constructed in 1886
8. KM3 Cave contains a labyrinth of underground passages - located in Las Navas town
9. Scout City
10. Batag Lighthouse - constructed in 1907, located in Laong town
11. Catubig Church -

Capitol photo credit to skyscrapercity.com

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