Calicoan Island is envisioned to become the surfing capital and a top tourist destination in the Philippines. This island is situated in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, located at the southernmost tip of the third largest island (Samar) in the Philippines archipelago. It is where Calicoan Island lays, also known as the “Surfer’s Paradise”. With its rugged landscape, tropical forest, wonderful lagoons, breathtaking white beaches, crystal clear water, and magnificent sunlight, Calicoan is a must see for nature lover, adventurous travelers, deep-sea fisherman, and intrepid surfer.

Getting There

Calicoan island is readily accessible by land, sea and air. Chartered flights can land in Guiuan’s airport, a 5-minute drive from Calicoan. The nearby regional capital of Tacloban City is two to three hours away. Several buses and vans on regular schedules shuttle passengers to Guiuan via a scenic two-lane coastal highway which runs past mountains, steep cliff, distant rock islands and boat-filled bays. Tacloban is regularly serviced by scheduled flights from Manila. Alternatively, several bus companies have daily trips to Guiuan from Manila. Travel time is approximately twenty-one hours.

Location

Bounded by The Pacific Ocean on the east and Leyte Gulf on the west, this 1,600 hectare island is considered the Jewel of the Pacific coast. Miles of white sand beaches, dramatic coralline landscapes, cathedral caves, and powerful surfing waves characterize the Pacific side of Calicoan, while the Leyte Gulf side features calm and clear water ideal for swimming and watersports. There are 6 saltwater lagoons ringed by forest along the interior of Calicoan. Half of the island is covered by lush tropical forest containing exotic species of flora and fauna, such as rare birds, civet cats, and curious Macaque monkeys. The forest has been declared a protected area by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.

The surrounding waters are some of the most abundant in natural resources anywhere. Big gamefish such as tuna, marlin, swordfish and mahi-mahi are caught regularly in the waters between Calicoan and Sulu-an island. Large mangrove crabs can be found on the island’s northern tip. Lobsters are known to be caught off the waters of Ngolos Beach, right in front of the Ocean Villas!

In the calmer waters of the Leyte Gulf, sea cucumbers, sea grapes, and tropical reef fish abound. A pearl and giant clam farm is nearby.

History

In 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first made landfall in nearby Homonhon island when he discovered the Philippines for Spain. The island’s strategic location and bountiful resources made it a major staging area for American forces during the second world war.

Close to 100,000 U.S servicement were assigned in Calicoan and its surrounding areas. In October 1944, hundreds of U.S and Japanese warships clashed off the shores of Calicoan in what became known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval engagement in world history.

 

Geography

The municipality of Guiuan is located at the southernmost tip of Samar Island. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Mercedes, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Surigao Strait, on the west by the Leyte Gulf. Clustered around the municipality are numerous islands and islet, like Tibabao, Calicoan, Sulangan, Homonhon and Suluan.

Guiuan is 109 kilometers south of Borongan and 154 kilometers from Tacloban. It has a total land area of 175.49 square kilometers. It is composed of sixty (60) barangays and the only town in the province with the biggest number of island barangays.

 

Demography

Guiuan recorded a total population of 38,694 in 2000, the second largest population in Eastern Samar with the highest population density of 220 persons per sq. km. among the twenty-three (23) municipalities. Majority or 97.7% of the Guiuananons speak the “waray” dialect. Less than 3% speak Cebuano, Tagalog, Boholano. A large percentage though can converse in the English language.

Socio-economic Activities

Being a fishing community and the only municipality with the most number of island barangays, the town is rich in fishery and aquatic resources. It is considered by the fisheries authority as the best fishing belt in the region. The coastal waters offer almost all species of marine life: euchuema, abalone, ornamental fish, lobster and the Golden Cowry (known for its extraordinary golden sheen). They also offer delicacies, shell craft products as well as fresh processed marine products.

Existing land use indicated a predominance of agriculture use which covers 38.2% of the total land area. Most of the agricultural land are dominantly planted with coconut trees.

Other major crops include vegetables, root crops, palay, corn, banana, and other fruit trees, coffee and pineapple.

The municipality is likewise rich in miniral resources. It has an estimated mineral reserve of bauxite, nickel and titaferous magnitie of more that 26.7 million metric tons.

Facilities

Guiuan’s airport has a 2.8 km runway which could service light private planes, chartered cargo and military planes.

It also has a municipal and national seaport throughout the year.

Telephone companies operating in the municipalities include TELECOM, Globelines and Bayantel. Smart and Globe cellular phone companies are also operational.

In 2004, Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO) was able to energize Guiuan, Calicoan Island up to Sulangan covering 37 out of 60 barangays. Island barangays are served with electricity through generator sets either privately-owned or operated by the barangay council.

Adventure Spots

Calicoan Island boast of miles of white sand beaches. With powerful swells rolling in from the Pacific over the 10,000 meters Philippine Deep. Calicoan is a surfer’s paradise. The season for the best waves is generally from October to March.

In the middle of the island are six lagoons ringed by forest, the largest being 30 hectares in size. At the Cliffside margin of Calicoan’s forest are dozens of caves.

On the northern tip of Calicoan are wetlands like Everglades, teeming with fish, shrimps and crabs.

The rich diversity of the area is evident when one sees the exotic species being sold. The surrounding waters support several marine based industries such as fish, seaweeds and pearl farming.