Zumarraga...not in Spain but in Samar

Let me start with my own hometown in Samar...Zumarraga.  It is one of the 25 cities and municipalities of my province.  Quaint it may be but it's home to a friendly population.  Around an hour motor boat ride from Catbalogan City, Zumarraga boasts of a circumferential coastline which makes the island-town a seabed of food coming the deep.  A side of the island is facing the Maqueda Bay which is the spawning ground of the country's fish and other bounties from the sea.

 

 
Zumarraga is a mixture of people from Samar and Leyte.  They have become residents of a proud Zumarraganhon race which is distinctly that of the island.  Though its population is minimal as compared to the other municipalities of Samar, it has given, in its own ways, to the heritage of the Samarnons.  Not only in politics, the town has contributed to the arts, culture, history, etc. of our country.  No need to name the people concerned but its townsfolk are truly proud of them.

Its patron saint is St. Anthony of Padua.  The parish church is named after the said saint and has a high school with the same name in the municipality.

Places of interest are the Buho Beach, Poro Island, Arteche Park and the Ruins of Sta. Barbara.

From Metro Manila, one can take a plane to either Tacloban City or Calbayog City.  From the airports of the said cities, you may hire vans going to Catbalogan City.  Tacloban to Catbalogan may take you 1 1/2 to 2 hours of land travel while Calbayog to Catbalogan is a shorter route of 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  Upon reaching Catbalogan, you just have to go to Pier 1 and take the boats plying the Catbalogan to Zumarraga route at mid-morning.  There are no trips in the afternoon but you may hire a boat all to yourself at a special fee.  No hotels have been built for tourism purposes but there are some families who are willing to accommodate tourists at a fee to be agreed by both parties.  A special visit trip can be arranged in Catbalogan so that one does not need to stay overnight in the island-town.

Feel free to google Zumarraga, Samar to know more about it.