Tubabao Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar
Unbeknownst to many Filipinos, Eastern Samar is a province where many events that have become significant to our history took place. It's majestic and sometimes mysterious islands are witnesses to the changing of the times, events that have left their mark in the annals of national history.
Homonhon Island
About 20 kilometers long, Homonhon Island is located on the east side of Leyte Gulf. During the first circumnavigation of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan's three surviving vessels passed the Marianas, but did not land even though he was out of food after crossing the Pacific Ocean. After landing on Homonhon, his crew managed to gather some food. He landed on the island of Homonhon on March 16, 1521, when Homonhon was uninhabited. However, he was detected by the boats of Rajah Culambu of Limasawa, an ally of the Rajah of Cebu, who guided him to Cebu, on April 7.
Suluan Island
Suluan Island is a small island that lies east of Leyte Gulf, near Homonhon Island and Calicoan Island. Suluan Island was the first-ever landing place of Ferdinand Magellan's armada after their 98-day Pacific crossing although Samar was their first land sighting. They then next dropped anchor at Homonhon Island, where they spent a week with the natives, and then to Limasawa, where the first ever Christian mass was held March 31, 1521. The name of the Suluan Island might have been derived from the Sulu people, from the word Suluan or Suan meaning to light the lamp or candle. Suluan is also name to the people living in the Sulu Archipelago, the Tausug together with the ethnic tribes here. The term "sulu" means a torch, the one used to give light since the island of "Suluan" functions as a lighthouse island in that part of the Pacific Ocean.
Tubabao Island
Tubabao was used by the International Refugee Organization (IRO) in 1949 and 1950 to provide a temporary refuge for 5,000 Russian refugees escaping from China. The Russians were survivors of the Bolshevik Russian Revolution of 1917 and Russian Civil War of 1919-1920, when the Tsarist autocracy was overthrown by the socialists. Some Russians managed to escape and took refuge in foreign lands.
Many of them moved to China, especially Harbin and Shanghai. Most of these refugees survived the Second World War but the communists took power in China, and thus the IRO requested all countries around the world to provide accommodation to the Russians.
The Philippines volunteered and offered Tubabao Island. The Russian refugees later were granted to stay in the United States, Australia, Canada and South American countries. Most refugees became citizens of the countries in which they settled.
How to get there
A trip to Eastern Samar usually will start in Borongan, the provincial capital.
• By Land: There are various bus companies like Philtranco and Eagle Star bound directly for Borongan, Oras and Guiuan and takes about a day.
• By plane: There are flights from Manila to Tacloban. From the airport take a jeepney to town.
• By boat: Travelling by sea to Eastern Samar is via Cebu City. 2GO Travel is serving the route Manila - Cebu City. From Cebu City you can take either the 2Go ferry or the Supercat (also a 2GO company) to Ormoc, from there on to Tacloban and Borongan.
Accommodations:
GV Hotel Borongan (Eastern Samar) - National Highway cor. Circumferential Road, Borongan, Samar/Leyte, Philippines