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50-509: Lawaan is the historical hometown of the legendary sundang-wielding fighters in women's clothing during the 1901 Battle of Balangiga . Being a town adjacent to the Samar Island Natural Park - the country's largest terrestrial protected area - the land has vast natural landscapes and wildlife sanctuaries. Numerous waterfalls such as Amandaraga, Amanjuray, Pangi and Ban-awan dot the vast Bolusao Watershed Forest Reserve . Off

100-504: A component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9394 which sought to convert the municipality into a city. The law was ratified on June 21, 2007. However, the cityhood status was lost twice in the years 2008 and 2010 after the LCP questioned the validity of the cityhood law. The cityhood status was reaffirmed after the court finalized its ruling on February 15, 2011, declaring the cityhood law constitutional. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) , one of

150-459: A glass case but at the time were commonly enclosed in a wooden box. Between 6:20 and 6:45 in the morning of September 28, 1901, the villagers made their move. Abanador, who had been supervising the prisoners' communal labor in the town plaza, grabbed the rifle of Private Adolph Gamlin, one of the American sentries, and stunned him with a blow to the head. This served as the signal for the rest of

200-403: A hasty and meager breakfast of hot porridge, the small family looked askance of their surroundings and was deeply impressed by their new environment. The jungle growth even along the seashore bespoke fertility of the soil; the abundance of rattan and “hagnaya” vines was easy source of income and the shallow sea beside them was teeming with marine life of all kinds. All these offered suggestions that

250-627: Is politically subdivided into 16 barangays .   The population of Lawaan in the 2020 census was 13,003 people, with a density of 80 inhabitants per square kilometre or 210 inhabitants per square mile. Poverty incidence of Lawaan Source: Philippine Statistics Authority Lawaan's main product is copra . Many families rely on coastal and deep-sea fishing as well as lowland and upland farming as means of livelihood. Others have spouses, children, parents or other relatives working in Tacloban City, Metro Manila or in other places within

300-472: Is said to be the first Philippine landmass spotted by Magellan and his crew. In 1596, many names, such as Samal, Ibabao, and Tandaya, were given to Samar Island prior to the coming of the Spaniards in 1596. During the early days of Spanish occupation, Samar was under the jurisdiction of Cebu . Samar and Leyte were later separated from Cebu in 1735. They were split in 1747 but was reversed in 1762 with

350-487: Is strategically located in the central part of southern Samar Island. It is sandwiched between the town of Balangiga in the east and Marabut, Samar in the west. Barangay Bolusao, the town's largest settlement located right at the east–west Samar boundary, serves as the premier barangay of Eastern Samar for those people coming from Tacloban City or Province of Samar traversing Samar Circumferencial Road. Hence, being dubbed as 'The Gateway to Eastern Samar '. Lawaan

400-662: The liberation of the Philippines from Japan built in the town of Guiuan the largest military base in the Pacific. In the same town in 1949, approximately 5,000 Russian refugees escaping from communist China temporarily settled on Tubabao Island until 1951, when they were transferred to Australia and the United States . Eastern Samar, as a province, was created from Samar province through Republic Act No. 4221 on June 19, 1965. Approved by Congress in 1963, it

450-533: The 2020 census was 477,168 people, with a density of 100 inhabitants per square kilometre or 260 inhabitants per square mile. The predominant language is Waray and it is the main lingua franca of the entire island of Samar . In the 2000 Census, Warays comprised 97.78% (366,787) of the total provincial population of 375,124 at that time. Kapampangan came second at 0.55% (2,067), Bisaya / Binisaya 0.43% (1,613), Cebuano at 0.18% (680), and Tagalog at 0.17% (621). The people of

500-580: The American troops in Balangiga. Relations between the soldiers and the townspeople seemed amicable for the first month of the American presence in the town; indeed it was marked by extensive fraternization between the two parties. This took the form of tuba (palm wine) drinking among the soldiers and male villagers, baseball games, and arnis demonstrations. However, tensions rose due to several reasons: Captain Thomas W. Connell, commanding officer of

550-497: The American unit in Balangiga, ordered the town cleaned up in preparation for a visit by the US Army's inspector-general. However, in complying with his directive, the townspeople inadvertently cut down vegetation with food value, in violation of Lukbán's policies regarding food security . As a consequence, on September 18, 1901, around 400 guerrillas sent by Lukbán appeared in the vicinity of Balangiga. They were to mete sanctions upon

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600-598: The Balangiga incident. These include: Eastern Samar Eastern Samar ( Waray-Waray : Sinirangan Samar ; Tagalog : Silangang Samar ), officially the Province of Eastern Samar , is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region . Its capital is the city of Borongan , which is the most populous. Eastern Samar occupies the eastern portion of the island of Samar . Bordering

650-516: The Company C troopers were attacked and hacked to death before they could grab their rifles; the few who survived the initial onslaught fought almost bare-handed, using kitchen utensils, steak knives, and chairs. One private used a baseball bat to fend off the attackers before being overwhelmed. The men detained in the Sibley tents broke out and made their way to the municipal hall. Simultaneously,

700-832: The Philippine forces. With the initial surprise wearing off and the attack degrading, Abanador called for the attackers to break off and retreat. The surviving Company C soldiers, led by Sergeant Frank Betron, escaped by sea to Basey and Tanauan, Leyte . The townspeople buried their dead and abandoned the town. Of the 74 men in Company C, 36 were killed in action , including all its commissioned officers: Captain Thomas W. Connell, First Lieutenant Edward A. Bumpus and Major Richard S. Griswold. Twenty-two were wounded in action and four were missing in action . Eight died later of wounds received in combat; only four escaped unscathed. The villagers captured about 100 rifles and 25,000 rounds of ammunition and suffered 28 dead and 22 wounded. This

750-478: The Philippines or abroad either as professionals, contract workers or domestic helpers who regularly remit part of their earnings to their families back home. The single biggest employer of its local populace is the government. Lawaan is known for its waterfalls and wildlife. Being a coastal town, it overlooks Leyte Gulf in its southern shores. There are four waterfalls in the Bolusao watershed which lies within

800-405: The Philippines the and information about that has appeared elsewhere.. The asserted mutilations have been disputed by historiat George Borrinaga with a counter-assertion to the effect that Filipinos have respect for the dead, he says, and would do no such thing. Several asserted factual inaccuracies in early published accounts have surfaced over the years as historians continue to re-investigate

850-654: The Philippine–American War. The attack was led by Valeriano Abanador, who was the Jefe de la Policía (Chief of Police). Samar was a major center for the production of Manila hemp , the trade of which was financing Philippine forces on the island. At the same time United States interests were eager to secure control of the hemp trade, which was a vital material both for the United States Navy and American agro-industries such as cotton. Filipino forces in

900-493: The SINP Buffer Zone. These falls are Amandaraga, Pange, Amanjuray, and Ban-Awan Falls. Amandaraga and Ban-awan Falls are the main source of the municipality's water system. Meanwhile, Amanjuray Falls is the alternate hydro-electric power source of Lawaan wherein a mini-hydro power plant is existent nearby. Battle of Balangiga Philippine attack: 74 men Visayas Mindanao The Balangiga massacre

950-635: The approval of the King of Spain , following complaints from the Jesuits . The province of Samar was later established as a distinct province in 1768 after it got separated from the province of Leyte . In 1777, Samar and Leyte split for the last time when it was approved in Madrid in 1786 and had been effective in 1799. Maj. Eugenio Daza Area Commander of General Lukbán's forces for Southeastern Samar In 1944, combined Filipino-American troops involved in

1000-458: The area was infested with wild life. The presence of these predators posed quite a problem to his intended plan of growing a vegetable farm; nevertheless, Guingot presently started his clearing (caingin) and the making of traps to capture some wild hogs or monkeys for food. As was predictable in situations like this, Guingot reconstructed his sailboat, loaded it with rattan and hagnaya vines and sailed back to Guiuan where he sold his cargoes, telling

1050-669: The area were under the command of Captain General Vicente Lukbán who had been sent there in December 1898 to govern the island on behalf of the First Philippine Republic under Emilio Aguinaldo . Aguinaldo had been captured by American forces on March 23, 1901. On April 1, he had sworn allegiance to the US and told his followers to lay down their arms and give up the fight. On May 30, 1901, prior to

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1100-509: The attackers hidden in the church broke into the parish house and killed the three American officers there. An unarmed Company C soldier was ignored, as was Captain Connell's Philippine houseboy. The attackers initially occupied the parish house and the municipal hall; however, the attack at the mess tents and the barracks failed, with Pvt. Gamlin, recovering consciousness and managing to secure another rifle, caused considerable casualties among

1150-735: The capital city. Currently, only Leascor operates out of Borongan Airport with flights weekly to serve locals and tourists to and from Cebu . By land, mini buses and vans ply from the regional center in Tacloban , Catbalogan , and Calbayog in Samar province and to some towns in Eastern Samar. From Borongan , buses ply to Metro Manila . Motorized boats plies through Leyte Gulf ferrying passengers going to Tacloban City seaport. Poverty incidence of Eastern Samar Source: Philippine Statistics Authority Commercial activities in

1200-425: The coast, white-sand islets also abound the town's horizon. An enterprising young couple by the names of Juan (Guingot) Gabrillo and his wife Etifania Halbay, together with their children, set sail one day in a small sailboat from Guiuan, in search of a greener pasture of an ideal place to settle. On their westward journey along the wooded coastline of Southern Samar, they reached a small island known as “Monbon” which

1250-403: The communal laborers in the plaza to rush the other sentries and soldiers of Company C, who were mostly having breakfast in the mess area. Abanador then gave a shout, signaling the other Philippine men to the attack and fired Gamlin's rifle at the mess tent, hitting one of the soldiers. The pealing of the church bells and the sounds from conch shells being blown followed seconds later. Some of

1300-449: The congregation of men as a work force aimed at preparing the town for a local fiesta which, incidentally, also served to address Connell's preparations for his superior's visit. Abanador also brought in a group of " tax evaders " to bolster their numbers. Much palm wine was brought in to ensure that the American soldiers would be drunk the day after the fiesta . Hours before the attack, women and children were sent away to safety. To mask

1350-417: The disappearance of the women from the dawn service in the church, 34 men from Barrio Lawaan cross-dressed as women worshippers. These "women", carrying small coffins , were challenged by Sergeant Scharer of the sentry post about the town plaza near the church. Opening one of the coffins with his bayonet, he saw the body of a dead child who, he was told, was a victim of a cholera epidemic. Abashed, he let

1400-676: The east lies the Philippine Sea , part of the vast Pacific Ocean , while to the south lies Leyte Gulf . Because it faces the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, Eastern Samar suffers heavily from powerful typhoons . Eastern Samar comprises 22 municipalities and one city , all encompassed by an lone congressional district and two provincial districts that elect a representative and provincial board members, respectively. The population of Eastern Samar in

1450-494: The enemy in case they come in, we have agreed to have a fictitious policy with them, doing whatever they may like, and when the occasion comes the people will strategically rise against them. This I communicate to you for your superior knowledge, begging of you to make known all the army your favorable approval of the same, if you think it convenient. May God preserve you many years, Balangiga, 30th of May, 1901 P. ABAYAN, Local President However, this information never reached

1500-455: The island. The objective was to force the end of Philippine resistance. Part of his strategy was to close three key ports on the southern coast, Basey, Balangiga and Guiuan prevent supplies from reaching Lukban's forces in the interior. Company C was to close the port at Balangiga. On August 11, 1901, Company C of the 9th US Infantry Regiment , arrived in Balangiga—the third largest town on

1550-551: The men's bolos and the stored rice for their tables confiscated. These events sufficiently insulted and angered the townspeople, and they planned revenge against the Americans. A few days before the attack, Valeriano Abanador, the town's police chief, and Captain Daza met to plan the attack on the American unit. To address the issue of sufficient manpower to offset the Americans' advantage in firepower, Abanador and Daza disguised

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1600-545: The people and his friends along the way how he, with his family, was overtaken by a dreadful storm and escaped disaster behind the trunk of a giant Lawa-an tree. He emphasized to them the bright prospect of settling in the area partly as a token of gratitude and reverence to that haven of refuge - the enormous trunks of the twin Lawa-an trees; but most importantly, that the surrounding area was abundant and ideal for habitation. “Mamatay lak О-toy”, Juan Guingot would excitedly employ

1650-533: The place was ideal haven for habitation. So they abandoned their journey westward, instead, started building a makeshift hut at the foot of the same Lawa-an tree where they took refuge, at the same time, collecting whatever few belongings they could salvage from the wreckage of their boat. The days and weeks that followed were a series of trips inland by Juan Guingot - to cut rattan and hagnaya vines hereabouts or, perchance, he might find some edible fruits or root-crops nearby. Still further, he found unmistakable signs that

1700-456: The province are centered on the provincial capital of Borongan while tourism activities are centered in Guiuan town where Calicoan Island and the historical Homonhon Island are located. Generally, the province's major economic resource is fishery and agriculture which include production of coconut, copra, corn, rice, sugar, and vegetables. Tourism potential is untapped on the northern part of

1750-725: The province are devoted catholics where a majority adhere to Roman Catholicism . The dominant Catholic faith influences the events of the provincial education, politics and social functions of the people. Other Christians usually form the remaining groups of believers such as the Born-again Christians , Protestants, Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Aglipayan church, Jehovah's Witnesses , Iglesia ni Cristo , Baptists , Methodists , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and Seventh-day Adventists . Non Christians (mostly Muslims ) are also found. The province has one operational airport; Borongan Airport located in

1800-417: The province to the north is the province of Northern Samar and to the west is Samar province . To the east lies the Philippine Sea , part of the vast Pacific Ocean , while to the south lies Leyte Gulf . During his circumnavigation of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan had set foot on the tiny island of Homonhon in the southern part of the province. On March 16, 1521, the area of what is now Eastern Samar

1850-402: The roaring fury of the storm and a dire calamity was happily averted. When the typhoon subsided the next day the couple noticed that another tree of the same height and stature was also growing on the opposite bank of the river, twin sister to that of the other side - both so majestic and impressive in appearance, such that the branches up above completely overshadowed the river in-between. After

1900-416: The settlers this outstanding landmark conspicuous from the sea. That was how the present town of Lawa-an at first received its name. Ironically, five wide centuries have come and gone; people have lived and died along with generations in accordance with the short span of human life, but the name “LAWA-AN”, a former barrio of Balangiga, province of Eastern Samar, has remained, to this day, unchanged. The town

1950-488: The slang and flavor of the Guiuan vernacular, “mamatay lak, dadi okoy ha Lawa-an (naming the place Lawa-an for the first time), ayaw pag-alang. Di ka mawawara hit doro-ongan kay kita gud iton hita-as nga kahoy ha dagat.” (Boy, when I die, stay here in Lawa-an, don't hesitate. You will never get lost of the loading dock because the tall trees can be seen from the sea.) Indeed, there was no other point of reference more appealing to

2000-405: The southern coast of Samar island—to close its port and prevent supplies reaching Philippine forces in the interior, Abaya's letter to Lukban had been among papers captured by American troops on August 18; it read, in translation: As a representative of this town of Balangiga I have the honor to let you know, after having conferred with the principals of the town about the policy to be pursued with

2050-821: The sovereignty of the United States throughout the Philippines. Some Filipino historians have asserted that the term Balangiga Massacre more appropriately refers to actions ordered in retaliation by American General Jacob H. Smith during the pacification of Samar that resulted in an estimated 2,000 Filipino civilians killed and over 200 homes burned. The battle was a military operation planned by Captain Eugenio Daza (an area commander of Captain General Vicente Lukbán 's forces in southeastern Samar) and transpired in Balangiga in 1901 during

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2100-606: The stationing of any Americans in Balangiga, town mayor Pedro Abayan had written to Lukban pledging to "observe a deceptive policy with [Americans] doing whatever they may like, and when a favorable opportunity arises, the people will strategically rise against them." In the summer of 1901, Brigadier General Robert P. Hughes , who commanded the Department of the Visayas and was responsible for Samar, instigated an aggressive policy of food deprivation and property destruction on

2150-471: The strongest typhoons ever recorded, made its first landfall in the coastal town of Guiuan in November 2013. Eastern Samar covers a total area of 4,660.47 square kilometers (1,799.42 sq mi) occupying the eastern section and majority of southern Samar's coast of Samar Island in the Eastern Visayas region. The province is bordered to the north by Northern Samar and to the west by Samar . To

2200-535: The term Balangiga massacre properly refers to the burning of the town by US forces following the attack and to retaliatory acts during the March across Samar . Other Philippine sources also employ this usage. In US sources, however, the term massacre is used to refer to this attack. Mutilation of the bodies of the Americans who were killed was reported in testimony before the US Senate Committee on

2250-558: The town officials and local residents for violating Lukbán's orders regarding food security and for fraternizing with the Americans. The threat was probably defused by Captain Eugenio Daza, a member of Lukbán's staff, and by the parish priest, Father Donato Guimbaolibot. A few days later, Connell had the town's male residents rounded up and detained for the purpose of hastening his clean-up operations. Around 80 men were kept in two Sibley tents unfed overnight. In addition, Connell had

2300-438: The women pass on. Unbeknownst to the sentries, the other coffins hid the bolos and other weapons of the attackers. There is much conflict between accounts by members of Company C. That day, the 27th, was the 52nd anniversary of the founding of the parish, an occasion on which an image of a recumbent Christ known as a Santo Entierro would have been carried around the parish. In modern times these Santo Entierros are enclosed in

2350-551: Was an incident in which the residents of the town of Balangiga on the island of Samar conducted a surprise attack on an occupying unit of the US 9th Infantry , killing 54. The incident is also known as the Balangiga encounter , Balangiga incident , or Balangiga conflict . The incident occurred on September 28, 1901, over five months after the April 19 publication of a "Peace Manifesto" by Emilio Aguinaldo acknowledging and accepting

2400-504: Was authored by Samar congressmen Eladio T. Balite ( 1st district ), Fernando R. Veloso ( 2nd district ), and Felipe J. Abrigo ( 3rd district ). The law, ratified in a plebiscite on June 19, 1965, divided Samar into three: Northern Samar , Eastern Samar and (Western) Samar . The first provincial officials of Eastern Samar, aside from the lone district representative, were elected on November 14, 1967, and on January 1, 1968, they officially assumed office. The capital town of Borongan became

2450-408: Was bordering the mouth of what is now the Lawa-an river. It was just in time to see that a severe storm was brewing from the western horizon. They decided to move inland, hastening towards the coastal jungle in their immediate front, to seek shelter behind the trunk of a towering tree which was clearly visible from the sea. It was behind that great tree that the frantic family was divinely protected from

2500-645: Was described as the "worst defeat of United States Army soldiers since the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876" . The attack and subsequent actions on Samar have been some of the longest-running and most controversial issues between the Philippines and the United States . Conflicting interpretations by American and Philippine historians have confused the issue. The attack has been termed Balangiga Massacre in many English language sources. However, Philippine historian Teodoro Agoncillo has asserted that

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