Samar

WHY GO NOW?

 It’s a good time to surf in Borongan, with stronger waves coming in from the Pacific Ocean. And even if you’re not into surfing, it’s still a good time to observe rural life at Christmas and partake of the capital town’s specialty, spit-roasted pig or lechon stuffed with aromatic herbs, salted and basted with secret sauces. Like most small towns in the country, Borongan observes Simbang Gabi, nine days of dawn masses at 4am that culminates in a midnight mass on Christmas Eve and a burst of fireworks as locals call out, “Maupay na Pasko!” (Merry Christmas). In January, there’s the big town festival, Ati- Atihan, a parade of locals in religious and tribal costumes, and some dancing in the streets.

Samar,  Borongan

Samar,  Borongan

GET YOUR Bearings

The capital of Eastern Samar, Borongan lies almost midway on the coast of the elongated stretch of Eastern Samar in the island group of the Visayas. Sprawled across 58,289 hectares, it has the biggest land area among the 23 municipalities of Eastern Samar. With around 55,000 residents, it is also the most populated. Borongan, also called The City of the Golden Sunshine, lies 196 kilometers from Tacloban City, and 586 kilometers southeast from Manila. The city gets its name from the word “borong” which means fog. Once inhabited by Negritos driven to the hinterlands by interlopers from nearby Indonesia and Malay, Borongan was organized into a pueblo by the Spanish missionaries from 1595 to 1620. They gathered the early Boronganons into communities. A church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was erected in 1710 and stands to this day, sadly modernized beyond historical recognition.

CHECK-IN

Mabaroca Beach Resort, located at the southern tip of Cabong Beach, just about four kilometers from downtown Borongan, has three air-conditioned rooms and three fan rooms. It has no-frills, compact rooms that are spanking new, with the resort having only opened in October. An air-conditioned room includes a queen-size bed, cable TV, and a DVD player, and a chaise lounge. There is no dresser, desk or closet, and no mirrors. The resort has two swimming pools, a karaoke TV room (P500 for two hours) and four cottages for rent for tourists on day trips (P1,500) with a free use of the pool. Air-conditioned rooms cost P2,000 a day, with one of the larger rooms going for P2,500. Fan rooms are P500 a day. Contact owners Romeo and Margarita Castillo at tel: 055/ 560 9377, 560 9809 or mobile: 0928/ 622-0699 or e-mail: roncast_well@yahoo.com. You can also view the facilities of Mabaroca at uRl: www. youtube.com/estehanon. Pebbles & Tides Beach Bar and Cottages

Photo and Article Source: Inflight Magazine (Seair)