Capul

Municipality in Northern Samar, Philippines

Municipality in Eastern Visayas, Philippines

Capul

Municipality

Municipality of Capul

USS Essex passes Capul Island while passing through the San Bernardino Strait

Flag

Map of Northern Samar with Capul highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Capul

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 12°25′23″N 124°10′55″E﻿ / ﻿12.423°N 124.182°E﻿ / 12.423; 124.182
Country| Philippines
Region| Eastern Visayas
Province| Northern Samar
District|  1st district
Barangays| 12 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Teresita S. Bandal
• Vice Mayor| Joselito C. Catucod
• Representative| Paul R. Daza
• Councilors|

List

* • Leonora F. Alfaro
* • Isidro S. Bandal
* • Jerome E. Encina
* • Danilo D. Ampuan
* • Mark Eric T. Magdaraog
* • Alfredo P. Castillo
* • Zeto C. Tan
* • Clodualdo B. Bayabay
* DILG Masterlist of Officials

• Electorate| 11,013 voters (2022)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 35.56 km2 (13.73 sq mi)
Elevation

[3]

| 73 m (240 ft)
Highest elevation

| 585 m (1,919 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2020 census)[4]

• Total

| 12,323
• Density| 350/km2 (900/sq mi)
• Households

| 2,712
Demonym(s)| Abaknon, Capuleño
Economy

• Income class| 5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

17.91

% (2021)[5]
• Revenue| ₱ 97.8 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 207.6 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 79.7 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 22.65 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (NORSAMELCO)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

6408

PSGC|

0804804000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)55
Native languages| Abaknon
Waray
Tagalog
Website| www.capul-nsamar.gov.ph

Capul, officially the Municipality of Capul (Waray: Bungto han Capul; Tagalog: Bayan ng Capul), is an island municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 12,323 people.[4]

The natives of Capul are known as the Abaknon or the Capuleño people. It is the only town in the province of Northern Samar with a distinct language, Inabaknon (also known as Capuleño, Abaknon Sama, or Capul Sinama), instead of Waray, the native language spoken by the locals of Samar island. Inabaknon is unique in it being only distantly related to the languages spoken in the entire Visayas and Luzon regions. Instead, it is classified by linguists as a Sama-Bajaw language.

A lighthouse was built on the island which served as a guidepost for the Acapulco-Manila galleon trade vessels passing through the treacherous waters of San Bernardino Strait. It also served as the capital of the former province of Samar from 1848 to 1852.

## Etymology

[edit]

According to folklore, the name Capul is said to be derived from the word Acapulco, an old trading post in Mexico.[6]

## History

[edit]

According to oral folk history, the native Abaknon people of the island of Capul were originally from the island of Balabac, off the southern coast of Palawan. They were originally a Sama-Bajau group. In the 1300s, their island was annexed by the Sultanate of Sulu. The people who refused to submit to the Sultanate and convert to Islam fled Balabac under the leadership of a datu named Abak. They sailed northwards until reaching the island of Capul.[7] Here, they established a settlement which they called Abak. By 1610, Spanish Jesuits arrived in the island and construction of the first church began around this period. The Inabaknon language of the Abaknon people are still classified by linguists as a Sama-Bajaw language, though the Abaknon people have converted to Christianity and have become culturally Visayan due to proximity with Visayan groups.[8][9]

On June 18, 1966, barrios Mahaba, Maragat, Mongolbongol, Panganoron, Sila, Ternate, and Sang-putan were excised from Capul to form the new municipality of San Vicente.[10]

## Geography

[edit]

The municipality is contiguous with Capul Island, located at the southern entrance to the San Bernardino Strait.

### Barangays

[edit]

Capul is politically subdivided into 12 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

* Aguin
* Jubang
* Landusan
* Oson
* Poblacion Barangay 1
* Poblacion Barangay 2
* Poblacion Barangay 3
* Poblacion Barangay 4
* Poblacion Barangay 5
* Sagaosawan
* San Luis
* Sawang

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Capul, Northern Samar

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 27
(81)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 31
(88)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 22
(72)  | 22
(72)  | 22
(72)  | 22
(72)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 84
(3.3)  | 59
(2.3)  | 58
(2.3)  | 55
(2.2)  | 93
(3.7)  | 133
(5.2)  | 149
(5.9)  | 125
(4.9)  | 155
(6.1)  | 165
(6.5)  | 140
(5.5)  | 136
(5.4)  | 1,352
(53.3)
Average rainy days  | 18.1  | 13.6  | 15.8  | 16.1  | 21.7  | 25.5  | 26.6  | 25.1  | 24.8  | 25.8  | 22.7  | 20.1  | 255.9
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[11]

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of CapulYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1903 | 3,969| —
1918 | 4,257| +0.47%
1939 | 7,488| +2.73%
1948 | 9,257| +2.38%
1960 | 10,678| +1.20%
1970 | 8,648| −2.08%
1975 | 9,386| +1.66%
1980 | 10,237| +1.75%
1990 | 9,510| −0.73%
1995 | 9,964| +0.88%
2000 | 10,619| +1.37%
2007 | 11,289| +0.85%
2010 | 12,659| +4.26%
2015 | 12,679| +0.03%
2020 | 12,323| −0.56%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15]

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Capul

2000
46.85

2003
38.11

2006
38.50

2009
41.62

2012
45.23

2015
51.15

2018
37.35

2021
17.91

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

### Language

[edit]

Capul has a different language from the rest of Northern Samar and the rest of Eastern Visayas. The native language in the island-municipality is Inabaknon. Inabaknon has been classified by linguists as a Sama-Bajaw language closely related to those found in Mindanao, rather than a Visayan language. Nonetheless, the Capul people can speak and understand the Waray language as it is spoken by the majority of the people in Northern Samar.

## Tourism

[edit]

The Capul Church, the main church-fortification of Capul island and the capital of the central trading route of the historic Manila-Acapulco galleon trade route. The property, along with the entire municipality, is being pushed to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Capul Church and Fortress

The Capul Church, built during the Spanish colonial period, is dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola and is surrounded by a square fort with bulwarks of dissimilar designs.[24] The church structure was actually the third that was built on the site. The first two structures, made of hard wood and nipa roofs, were razed when Moro pirates plundered the island in 1615 and 1768. In 1781, Fr. Mariano Valero, a Spanish architect-priest led the restoration of the church and built the stonewall fortress similar to that in Intramuros, Manila that would fortify it against Moro attacks.[25]

Capul Watchtower

Located on a hill near the Capul fort overlooking the town harbor, a stone watchtower was erected to serve as a sentry or warning system and a refuge for indigents during Moro raids.

Bitō Cave

Bitō Cave, also known as Beto Cave, is a popular natural attraction located in Sawang.

Timon-timon Rock

Timon-timon is a rudder-shaped rock formation located near the southern point of the island.

Capul Island Lighthouse

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Capul |  (DILG)
2. ^ "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.
3. ^ "Elevation of Municipality of Capul, Northern Samar, Philippines".
4. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
5. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
6. ^ Labro, Vicente S. (August 19, 2011). "Ancient fortress church of Capul, Northern Samar". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
7. ^ Summer Institute of Linguistics (1983)
8. ^ Ampuan, Regina B.; Andarino, Nilda S.; Bometivo, Rosario S.; Cabacang, Mansueto M.; Castillo, Domingo F.; Magdaraog, Guido A.; Magdaraog, Marlita P.; Manalo, Teresita C.; Pasco, Sallud B.; Pelito, Angeles M.; Sauro, Rebecca C.; Flores, Forencia B. (1983). I Capul: Siray Pati' Ina'anto (PDF) (in Abaknon abx). Summer Institute of Linguistics - Philippines Inc.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
9. ^ "Capul Island trip, discovering culture and history". Langyaw. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
10. ^ Republic Act No. 4761 (June 18, 1966), An Act Creating the Municipality of San Vicente in the Province of Samar, retrieved September 11, 2022
11. ^ "Capul, Northern Samar : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
12. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
13. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
14. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
15. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
16. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
17. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
18. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
19. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
20. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
21. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
22. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
24. ^ Explore Capul Island Archived June 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
25. ^ "Philippines & Cebu Real Estate". Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2010-05-18.

* I Capul, siray patiʼ inaʼanto / Capul, noon at ngayon: Ang kasaysayan ng palo ng Capul / Capul, before and now: a history of Capul Island. Manila: Summer Institute of Linguistics. 1983.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capul, Northern Samar.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Capul, Northern Samar.

* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
* Philippine Census Information
* Local Governance Performance Management System

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Capul

| Matnog, Sorsogon / San Bernardino Strait | San Bernardino Strait |

|
|

|  |

Capul

| Capul Pass / San Antonio
|  |
San Vicente / Samar Sea | Samar Sea |

* v
* t
* e

Province of Northern Samar

Catarman (capital and largest municipality)

Municipalities|

* Allen
* Biri
* Bobon
* Capul
* Catarman
* Catubig
* Gamay
* Laoang
* Lapinig
* Las Navas
* Lavezares
* Lope de Vega
* Mapanas
* Mondragon
* Palapag
* Pambujan
* Rosario
* San Antonio
* San Isidro
* San Jose
* San Roque
* San Vicente
* Silvino Lobos
* Victoria

*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
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