Contemporary arts of Region

VIII

Eastern Visayas (Waray: Sinirangan Kabisay-an; Filipino: Silangang

Kabisayaan) is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated
as Region VIII. It consists of three main islands, Samar, Leyte and Biliran.
The region has six provinces, one independent city and one highly
urbanized city [3] namely, Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern
Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc and Tacloban. The highly urbanized
city of Tacloban is the sole regional center. These provinces and cities
occupy the easternmost islands of the Visayas group of islands.
Eastern Visayas faces the Philippine Sea to the east. The region is
known for its famous landmark, the San Juanico Bridge, dubbed as the
"Most Beautifully Designed and Longest Bridge in the Philippines". As of
2015, the Eastern Visayas region has a population of 4,440,150
inhabitants,[2] making it the third most populous region in the Visayas .

Provinces
Biliran
Biliran has a total land area of 536.01 square kilometres (206.95 sq mi), making it the fourth
smallest province in the Philippines. The island lies off the northern coast of Leyte island across
Biliran Strait. To the southeast is Carigara Bay, to the northeast is the Samar Sea, and across this
sea is Samar. To the west is the Visayan Sea and Masbate lies 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the
northwest. The province is composed of two major volcanic islands: the main island also named
Biliran and Maripipi, a smaller island to the northwest. Other smaller islands include Higatangan
and Dalutan. The economy of Biliran is largely based on fishing. Most of its towns, especially
Naval and Biliran, have excellent seaports. There are 95 hectares (230 acres) of brackish water
fish ponds which produce prawns, shrimps and milkfish. Another 30 hectares (74 acres) of
seawater are suitable for seaweed farming and 10 more hectares for fishcage culture. The
principal raw material produced is copra and coconut oil. Processed goods include white clay
ceramics, dried fish, raw gulaman, and citronella oil. The untapped natural resources of the
island include geothermal power and the abundant sulfur and gypsum deposits.

Eastern Samar
Eastern Samar covers a total area of 4,660.47 square kilometres (1,799.42 sq mi)  occupying the
eastern section of Samar island in the Eastern Visayas region. The province is bordered to the
north by Northern Samar and to the west by Samar. To the east lies the Philippine Sea, part of the
vast Pacific Ocean, while to the south lies the Leyte Gulf. Because it faces the Philippine Sea of
the Pacific Ocean, Eastern Samar suffers heavily from powerful typhoons. Commercial activities
in the province are centered on the provincial capital of Borongan City while tourism activities
are centered in Guiuan town where Calicoan Island and the historical Homonhon Island are
located. Generally, the province's major economic resource is fishery and agriculture which
include production of coconut, copra, corn, rice, sugar, and vegetables. Tourism potential is
untapped on the northern part of the province.

Leyte
Leyte covers a total area of 6,313.33 square kilometres (2,437.59 sq mi)   occupying the northern
and central sections of Leyte in the Eastern Visayas region. The province is situated west of
Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte, south of Biliran, and east of the Camotes Sea. The
economy of Leyte is a mixed agriculture, fishing, industrial, energy and mining. Rice is farmed
in the lowland plains areas specifically those around Tacloban, while coconut farming, is the
main cash crop in upland and mountainous areas. Sugarcane plantation is no. 1 produce in
Ormoc City. Since Leyte is an island province, fishing is a major source of livelihood among coastal
residents

Northern Samar
Northern Samar covers a total area of 3,692.93 square kilometres (1,425.85 sq mi)  occupying
the northern section of Samar Island in the Eastern Visayas region. The province is bounded by
north by the San Bernardino Strait, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by the Samar
Sea, on the southwest by Samar and on the southeast by Eastern Samar. Its major industries are
agriculture, fishery and handicraft production. The agriculture includes rice and vegetable
farming, cattle raising, banana and peanut plantation and oil manufacturing. The fishery consists
of deep sea fishing, prawn and agar culture and fresh water fish culture. The handicraft
production comprises furniture manufacturing, hat and mat weaving, brick making and soap
processing.

Samar
Samar province covers a total area of 6,048.03 square kilometres (2,335.16 sq mi) occupying the
central-western sections of the Samar island in the Eastern Visayas region. The province is
bordered on the north by Northern Samar, east by Eastern Samar, south by Leyte and the Leyte
Gulf, and west by the Samar Sea. The inhabitants of this province rely mainly on agriculture and
fishing as a means of livelihood. The major agricultural products are copra, abaca and a coconut
wine known as "uba" in the local dialect.

Southern Leyte
Southern Leyte occupies the southern quarter of the island of Leyte. It is bounded by the
province of Leyte to the north, by Surigao Strait to the east, Bohol Sea to the south, and Canigao
Channel, across from Bohol, to the west. Its total land area is 1,798.61 square kilometres (694.45
sq mi). The central portion of the province is dominated by the Sogod Bay, a long bay that cuts
deep into the island. The province economic activities is farming that is why people usually
plants more coconut trees and they plant abaca. Southern Leyte is recognized as one of the best
quality in abaca fiber.
 Dialects / Language
The main languages spoken are Cebuano and Waray-Waray (speakers of these languages also
call their languages "Visayan"). A third language known as Inabaknon is spoken in the island of
Capul in Northern Samar. Some claim the existence of another speech variety known as Sagul
spoken on the island of Biliran and is in actuality a mix of both Cebuano and Waray. However,
others claim that 'Sagul' is just codeswitching rather than a separate language. The word 'sagul'
means mixed in the Waray-Waray language and may simply refer to the practice of mixing up
both Waray-Waray and Cebuano which are spoken in Biliran.

Natural Resources
The region's sea and inland waters are rich sources of salt and fresh water fish and other
marine products. It is one of the fish exporting regions of the country. There are substantial
forest reserves in the interiors of the islands. Its mineral deposits include chromite, uranium(in
Samar), gold, silver, manganese, magnesium, bronze, nickel, clay, coal, limestone, pyrite and
sand and gravel. It has abundant geothermal energy and water resources to support the needs
of medium and heavy industries.

Culture
 Dances

Tinikling, the Philippines' national dance is folkdance that originated from the region,
but the most popular cultural dance among Warays is the Curacha, danced during
feast celebrations and special gatherings. The Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company, a local
cultural group, held highly successful performances around the world.

 Music
Waray people are music lovers whose folkloric music are mostly ballads in form,
famous of which is "Dandansoy" while "Iroy nga Tuna" (Motherland) is a patriotic
song.

Economy
Primary sources of revenue are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and services.
Mining, farming, fishing and tourism contribute significantly to the economy
Manufacturing firms include mining companies, fertilizer plants, sugar central, rice and
corn mills and other food processing plants. Tacloban is the hub of investment, trade
and development in the region.

Other industries include mining, rice, corn and sugar milling, coconut oil extraction,
alcohol distilling, beverage manufacture and forest products. Home industries include
hat and basket weaving, metal craft, needlecraft, pottery, ceramics, woodcraft, shell
craft and bamboo craft.

Education
Eastern Visayas is home to several state universities, including the prominent
University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV Tacloban College). The region is also home
to the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), located in Catarman, Northern Samar,
which holds the most number of baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate courses among
universities in the region.

The Zonal Agricultural University for the Visayas under the National Agriculture
Education System concept, Visayas State University (VSU) is also in the region, located
in Baybay City. Also, the region is home to Palompon Institute of Technology, a
maritime school in the Philippines providing deck and engine cadet. Its main campus is
located in the municipality of Palompon, Leyte province.

Transportation
The region's Leyte and Samar islands serve as main link between Luzon and Mindanao by land
transport. A total of nine airports, are strategically located in different parts of the six provinces that
define the region. Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban is the main gateway by air to the region.
There are seaports
in Tacloban, Catbalogan, Calbayog, Borongan, Allen, Ormoc, Bato, Hilongos, Maasin, Sogod and Na
val.
 Power and energy
The region is the top producer of geothermal energy supply in the country. The province
of Leyte hosts the biggest geothermal plant in the Philippines. Still, geothermal exploration is
ongoing in the nearby province of Biliran. With abundance of river system, the region has potential in
hydroelectric production. The strait of San Juanico between Leyte and Samar islands has been
declared as potential source for water current and tidal energy sources.

Instrument

Kudyapi (guitar of flute) A kudyapi is a stringed instrument similar to a

lute; it features two strings that are manipulated when the instrument is
played. The kudyapi is made of wood, and most measure between four and
six feet long. The instrument is native to the Philippines, where many
residents learn to play the traditional instrument. Traditionally, a man with
the plan of proposing to a woman would firstly have to impress her with his
musical skills on the kudyapi. Of course, these practices are no longer
widespread, but the kudyapi remains a part of the local culture in the
Philippines.

Litguit (violins) A litguit instrument is a traditional Filipino

instrument that is used to make percussion sounds that resemble
those of maracas. The instrument has a long, thin wooden
handle, and, when it is played, it is struck with another long, slim
piece of wood to produce the distinctive sound. Traditional
musical instruments evoke the spirit of their "home" countries,
adding beauty and uniqueness to traditional folk music or more
modern musical compositions. Today, many musicians use
traditional Filipino musical instruments to add special elements
to rock, jazz, or pop music.