The Mine Documents Shall Be

The Waray Region

The coasts of Samar and Leyte are the most easterly of the Philippine islands.  It is no accident that these islands were the first to be sighted by Magellan's fleet when it floundered in the Pacific seas.  The first Catholic Mass on Philippine soil was celebrated on Limasawa Island on the southern tip of Leyte.   Later in history, Leyte would become  the site of the landing by American forces under General Douglas MacArthur during the liberation campaign for the Philippines. |

Waray-waray, 

or simply 

Waray, 

is the term used 

to refer to the people 

who inhabit the islands of 

Samar and Biliran 

and the eastern section of 

Leyte. 

Those who come from 

Samar are called 

Samareños, 

while those from 

Leyte are 

Leyteños. 

They speak the language 

called Waray.

San Juanico Bridge

Connects the islands of Leyte and Samar |

Farming and fishing 

are the major industries 

of the Warays. 

The most important crop 

and major source of income 

for many is the 

coconut. 

The other principal 

agricultural products 

are rice and corn. 

Sugarcane, abaca,  and tobacco 

are also grown. 

Cassava and camote (yam) 

are grown as supplementary 

staple food. 

Fruits, nuts, and vegetables 

are grown all year round. 

Leyte is a big producer of 

bananas.

Samar and Leyte 

have good fishing ground, 

providing the people of these provinces 

and other neighboring towns 

with a variety of fish 

and other seafood.

Native wines 

are produced in the area, too. The most common 

of these wines are 

tuba, extracted from the coconut palm, 

and pangasi, 

made from fermented rice.

Colorful handicrafts, 

such as woven mats and hats made of buri 

or plant strips, 

are some of the more distinctive Waray products. |

Imelda Marcos,

born in Leyte province,

and a well-known Waray

Banana, 

an important produce

of Leyte

Coconut,

an important 

agricultural

product of Warays |