Guiuan ([ˈgiˌwan] (listen)ⓘ; Waray: Bungto han Guiuan, Filipino: Bayan ng Guiuan), officially the Municipality of Guiuan, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. It constitutes the southeastern extremity of Samar Island and some adjacent islands, surrounded by Leyte Gulf and the Philippine Sea (which a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean), two major bodies of water that makes the town the surfing capital of the Visayas. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,361 people, making it the most populous municipality in Eastern Samar (followed by Dolores) and the second most populous administrative division in the entire province after the capital city Borongan.[4]
Guiuan played a significant part in Philippine history. Historical accounts attested that Ferdinand Magellan's 16th century expedition first landed on the island of Homonhon, which lies within the municipality, after their Pacific crossing. The Immaculate Conception Parish Church in the Guiuan poblacion was established in the 18th century by Jesuits and is one of the oldest in the country.
During the Second World War, the islands of Suluan and Homonhon, both in Guiuan, became the American forces' first landing points, along with Dinagat Island, for the start of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.[6][7] After the victory of Leyte Gulf operation, the entire town served as one of the naval bases for the Allies.[8][7] In 1949, the Guiuan island of Tubabao hosted thousands of White Russian refugees fleeing from the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War.[9]
In November 2013, Guiuan was nearly levelled after Typhoon Haiyan, one of the deadliest and strongest tropical cyclones in the Philippines, made its first landfall in the town.[10][11] Local and international aid helped Guiuan recover from the typhoon's catastrophic impact, and the town's economy has since flourished.[12] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the town saw border restrictions and multiple lockdowns that affected the local economy and way of life.
As well as a rich historical background, Guiuan has many scenic spots. Being a coastal town on the Pacific side, the town has many white-sand beaches that are suitable for swimming and surfing. The Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Guiuan is currently in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension).
^"DIY Budget Travel Guide to Guiuan, Eastern Samar".
^Municipality of Guiuan | (DILG)
^"2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ abCensus of Population (2020). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
^"PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
^MacArthur, Douglas (1966). "Chapter VIII: The Leyte Operation". Reports of General MacArthur: The Campaigns of MacArthur in the Pacific. Vol. I. United States Army. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ abAmazona, Roel (October 19, 2021). "Eastern Samar town re-emphasizes role in World War II". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^"Chapter XXIX: Bases in the Philippines". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^Amazona, Roel (December 17, 2019). "Further study on 'White Russian' refugees in E. Samar pushed". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^Coren, Anna; Botelho, Greg (November 12, 2013). "'Everything is gone' in Guiuan, tropical paradise forever transformed by typhoon". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^"Severe Weather Bulletin #6 for Typhoon 'Yolanda' (Haiyan), issued at 5:00AM, 08 November 2013". Facebook. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. November 8, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^Lim, Lance (November 8, 2021). "Eight years after Yolanda: Guiuan town shows improved economic muscle". Rappler. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
Guiuan ([ˈgiˌwan] (listen); Waray: Bungto han Guiuan, Filipino: Bayan ng Guiuan), officially the Municipality of Guiuan, is a 2nd class municipality in...
Inmaculada Concepción), commonly known as Guiuan Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines, within the...
Guiuan Airport (Filipino: Paliparan ng Guiuan, Waray-Waray: Luparan han Guiuan) (ICAO: RPVG) is an airport located in the municipality of Guiuan, in the...
The Guiuan Protected Landscape and Seascape, also known as the Guiuan Marine Reserve, is a protected area associated with the Guiuan Island Group which...
Gulf. The 20-kilometre (12 mi) long island is part of the municipality of Guiuan, encompassing eight barangays: Bitaugan, Cagusu-an, Canawayon, Casuguran...
involved in 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...
Samar (/ˈsɑːmɑːr/ SAH-mar) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020...
Suluan is an island barangay in the Philippines, in the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It lies east of Leyte Gulf and west of Emden Deep. The inhabitants...
southeastern point of Samar. It is one of the islands comprising the town of Guiuan in the province of Eastern Samar, in east central Philippines. The island...
municipalities are situated on the coast of the gulf: Balangiga, Giporlos, Guiuan, Lawaan, Mercedes, Quinapondan and Salcedo. There are also eleven marine...
Bonifacio Park at Palaris (Poblacion), San Carlos, Pangasinan Plaza at Guiuan, Eastern Samar with the church in the background Plaza Rizal at Zamboanga...
7, the eye of the typhoon made its first landfall in the Philippines at Guiuan, Eastern Samar at peak strength. Gradually weakening, the storm made five...
Churches of the Philippines (Extension) together with the churches of Boljoon, Guiuan, Loboc and Tumauini. In 2014, the government announced its plan to nominate...
base Jinamoc Seaplane Base Calicoan Naval Base Guiuan Naval Base Tubabao Base Salcedo PT Boat Base Guiuan Naval hospital Manicani Base Manicani Island Base...
Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, which landed in Homonhon Island, now part of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, on March 17, 1521. They lost a battle against the army of...
Panganiban, Camarines Norte Visayas Benito Ebuen Air Base Mactan, Cebu Guiuan Airfield Guiuan, Eastern Samar Antonio Bautista Air Base Puerto Princesa, Palawan...
Philippines. It is one of the islands that are part of the municipality of Guiuan, in the province of Eastern Samar. The island can be reached from Tacloban...
Catholic Diocese of Calbayog. He became known for his efforts in building up Guiuan, Eastern Samar. He is also called as The Saintly Priest of Balangiga and...
Borongan, Eastern Samar. It has a satellite campus in Salcedo, Maydolong, Guiuan and Can-avid. Founded On February 14, 1960 as the Eastern Samar National...
National Museum of the Philippines. Together with the churches of Boljoon, Guiuan, Loboc and Lazi, the Tumauini Church has been considered for the UNESCO...
has opened in 2018 and 2021, respectively, while the unutilized Guiuan Airport in Guiuan, Eastern Samar is being planned to be converted into an international...
School 1997-11-22 8400 Converting a High School into a National High School: Guiuan National High School 1997-11-22 8401 Converting a High School into a National...
group of sailors from the Caroline Islands were stranded on Samar, near Guiuan, when they met European missionary Paul Klein. Using pebbles, the sailors...
of the Philippines. Together with the churches of Maragondon, Loboc and Guiuan, the Baclayon Church was formerly included for the UNESCO World Heritage...
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