Capul

Capul
Abak
Municipality

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

Map of Northern Samar with Capul highlighted
Capul

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 12°25′N 124°11′E / 12.417°N 124.183°E / 12.417; 124.183Coordinates: 12°25′N 124°11′E / 12.417°N 124.183°E / 12.417; 124.183
Country Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province Northern Samar
Barangays 12
Government[1]
 • Mayor Isidro S. Bandal
 • Vice-Mayor Joselito Catucod
Area[2]
 • Total 35.56 km2 (13.73 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 12,659
 • Density 360/km2 (920/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6408
Dialing code 55

Capul is a fifth class island municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 12,659 people.[3] Prior to its founding as a town, Capul Island itself with its lighthouse built on the island, 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 Samar from 1848 to 1852. The name Capul came from the word Acapulco, an old trading post in Mexico.[4]

Capul is the only town in the province of Northern Samar with a distinct language, Inabaknon, instead of Waray-Waray, the native language spoken by the locals of Samar island.

Barangays

Capul is politically subdivided into 12 barangays.[2]

Demographics

Population census of Capul
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 9,510—    
1995 9,964+0.88%
2000 10,619+1.37%
2007 11,289+0.85%
2010 12,659+4.26%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][5]

Language

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 language related to the Sama languages of Mindanao, rather than a Visayan language. Nonetheless the Capul people understand the Waray language, as spoken by the majority of the people in Northern Samar.

Tourism

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.[6] 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.[7]

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

  1. ↑ "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Province: Northern Samar". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 1 January 1970. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  4. ↑ http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/44465/ancient-fortress-church-of-capul-northern-samar
  5. ↑ "Province of Northern Samar". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  6. ↑ Explore Capul Island Archived June 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Philippines & Cebu Real Estate
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Capul, Northern Samar.
 Matnog, Sorsogon / San Bernardino Strait San Bernardino Strait
Capul Pass / San Antonio
   Capul  
San Vicente / Samar Sea Samar Sea
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