Editing Northern Samar (section)

==History==
{{further|Samar (historical province)}}

===Spanish colonial era===
Historian William Henry Scott wrote that a "Samar datu by the name of Iberein was rowed out to a Spanish vessel anchored in his harbor in 1543 by oarsmen collared in gold; while wearing on his own person earrings and chains." In the local epic called ''siday'' entitled Bingi of Lawan as written in the article of Scott, Lawan is a prosperous settlement in Samar.<ref>{{cite book|last=Scott|first=William Henry|title=Cracks in the parchment curtain and other essays in Philippine history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dKvtAAAAMAAJ|year=1985|publisher=New Day Publishers|isbn=978-971-10-0073-8|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dKvtAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Samar+chieftain%22 93]}}</ref>

In 1596, many names, such as Samal, Ibabao, and Tandaya, were given to [[Samar|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]].

In 1614, the [[Jesuits]] established a [[mission (station)|mission residence]] in [[Palapag, Northern Samar|Palapag]] among the Ibabao populace. These missionaries stayed until the late 17th century when they were [[Suppression of the Society of Jesus|expelled from the Philippines]] in 1768 and were replaced by the [[Franciscans]].

As the San Bernardino Strait was along the route of the Spanish [[Manila galleon|galleons]] plying between Manila and [[Acapulco, Mexico]], a royal port was established in Palapag where the richly laden [[Manila Galleons]] were protected from unfavorable winds and troubled seas.

In the early years of the 16th century, shipbuilders were drafted from Palapag to the [[Cavite]] shipyards for the construction of galleons and vessels for the conservation of defense of the island. It was also at this time that these recruits ignited the [[Sumoroy insurrection]], which signaled a general uprising against Spain in the [[Visayas]] and [[Mindanao]]. The insurrection simultaneously flared northward to [[Albay]] and southward to the northern coasts of Mindanao and then [[Cebu]]. It took over a year before the Spaniards were able to subdue the rebellion.

Samar and [[Leyte (province)|Leyte]] were separated from Cebu in 1735. They were split in 1747 but was reversed in 1762 with the approval of the [[King of Spain]], following complaints from the [[Jesuits]]. The province of [[Samar (historical province)|Samar]] was later established as a distinct province in 1768 after it got separated from the province of [[Leyte (province)|Leyte]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://samar.lgu-ph.com/history.htm|title=Samar History and Information|website=lgu-ph.com|accessdate=October 15, 2024}}</ref>  In 1777, Samar and Leyte split for the last time when it was approved in [[Madrid]] in 1786 and had been effective in 1799.

===American invasion era===
Later in 1898, when the Americans landed on the beach of [[Catarman, Northern Samar|Catarman]], they organized a revolutionary army led by General [[Vicente Lukban]] who fought the invaders armed with cannons and rifles with only [[Bolo knife|bolo]]s and ''paltik''s. Although defeated, they, however, continued to harass the Americans through [[guerrilla]] warfare.

===Japanese occupation era===
During [[Pacific War|World War II]], the people of Northern Samar organized a platoon of volunteers supported by voluntary contributions. The contingent became a part of the [[Philippine National Guard]] in Manila. The province also helped the government by purchasing a considerable amount of bonds floated to finance the [[National Commission for Independence]], then organized by [[Manuel L. Quezon]] after a coalition of the [[Nacionalista Party|Nacionalista]] and Democrata parties were formed.

===Philippine independence===
Samar Congressmen Eladio T. Balite ([[Samar's 1st congressional district|1st district]]), Fernando R. Veloso ([[Samar's 2nd congressional district|2nd district]]), and Felipe J. Abrigo ([[Samar's 3rd congressional district|3rd district]]), authored ''[[Republic Act]] No. 4221'' which was approved by [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]] in 1963. The law, ratified in a [[1965 Samar division plebiscite|plebiscite]] on June 19, 1965, divided Samar into three: [[Northern Samar]], [[Eastern Samar]] and (Western) [[Samar (province)|Samar]].<ref name="ChanRobles-RA4221">{{cite web|title=Republic Act No. 4221 - An Act Creating the Provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Western Samar|url=http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno4221.html|website=Chan Robles Virtual Law Library|access-date=April 16, 2016|date=June 19, 1965}}</ref> The first provincial officials of Northern Samar, aside from the lone district congressman, were elected on November 14, 1967, and on January 1, 1968, they officially assumed office.