The Province of Eastern Samar, one of the six provinces ofEastern Visayas, boasts of its natural and historic splendor. Twenty-three municipalities encompass the territory of which Borongan is the capital.

The province is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea that forms part of the Pacific Ocean; on the north by the Province of Northern Samar; on the west by the Province of Samar; and on the south by the Leyte Gulf that merges farther with Surigao Strait.

Before it became an independent province in 1965, places which form part of Eastern Samar played important roles in the history of our country. On March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan first set foot in the island of Homonhon in Guiuan on his way to discover the Philippines for the Western world.

On September 28, 1901, Filipino rebels in the town of Balangiga attacked and annihilated American garrison troops billeted in the municipal building and church convent. Now known in history books as the "Balangiga Massacre Day", the incident triggered a ruthless pacification campaign by US forces aimed at turning the entire island of Samar into a "howling wilderness". It was during this campaign that American soldiers took the Balangiga Bells from the Balangiga church as war trophies.

On October 17, 1944, US army rangers landed on the island of Suluan in Guiuan. They fought their first battle on the Philippine territory three days before Gen. Douglas MacArthur stormed the beaches of Leyte.

Coconut farming is the primary source of income in the province. Fishing and farming are the two other major economic activities. The province is also known for shellcraft, abaca handicrafts, rattan products and edibles made of rice and homegrown root crops.

Most Estehanons, as the people of this province are called, are devout Catholics. Waray is the common dialect, while the business and official languages are Tagalog and English.

Also, beautiful beaches surround the province. Ngulos Beach, in the town of Guiuan is the most popular one.