San Juanico Bridge – Samar, Philippines

Photo Credits to Joseph Gaw. No copyright infringement intended.

San Juanico Bridge – Samar, Philippines

San Juanico Bridge connects the third largest island in the Philippines which is Samar to the island of Leyte. The bridge is 2.16 kilometers or 1.34 miles, and considered the longest bridge in the Philippines. The bridge has an arch-shaped design made up majorly of steel. San Juanico Bridge has 43 spans and large boats can pass beneath the largest and highest arch which is up to 41 meters above sea level. 

The bridge is considered as one of the most beautiful bridge not only in the Philippines but also in Asia because of its unique architectural design.

Image from google.com search. No copyright infringement intended.

The construction of the bridge started in 1969 from Cabalawan, Tacloban City (Leyte) to the municipality of Sta. Rita (Samar), and was completed in the year 1973. The construction is worth 21.9 Million Dollars and was made by the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines which is now called the Philippines National Construction Corporation in coordination with skilled and experts engineers from Japan who conducted the studies and designed and engineered the project.

People believed that the San Juanico Bridge or the Marcos Bridge was built to present as a Gift and “Testimonial of Love” by the late President Ferdinand Marcos to the first lady, Madame Imelda Marcos who is a native of Leyte.

Image from google.com search. No copyright infringement intended.

The bridge is not only a tourist destination because of its architectural design and historical value but at the same time, crossing the bridge offers a stunning view of both Islands and the San Juanico Straight. The bridge offers picturesque views like the thousand whirlpools and different islets scattered within San Juanico Straight.

The bridge is just 10 minutes away from Tacloban City by jeepney, bus, van and other land public utility vehicles or private vehicles.

Image from google.com search. No copyright infringement intended.

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Basey6720

Name Origin of Basey

People are wondering on how Basey got its name. The word “Basey” comes from the vernacular word “Baysay” which means beauty. This is in docility to the most beautiful quondam inhabitant Bungansakit.

A competition in honor of Bungansakit on adoption of name for the new town so the original village of Balud was renamed to “Guibaysayi” which means most beautiful.

There is a presumption that the word “Basay” was pronounced by the Americans, when we were colonized, as “Basey”. The last syllable “say” was pronounced “sey” because the Americans have difficulty in pronouncing “ah”. Say means “to utter” in the English language. The locals trying to mimic or ridicule the way foreigners speak the word so Basay is popularly pronounced as Basey. People from generations to generations passed this way of reading the word Basay to Basey unwittingly.

The people of Basey decided to use Basay rather than Baysay for the convenience in conversation, in addition to, the Spanish corrupted Basay to Basey in their documentation to suit in their formal writings.“Basey” is always found in Spanish records relationg to town from early maps of the Philippines to the Church bells of St. Michael Arcangel which date back as early as 1858.

Photo Credits to : Joseph Gaw- no copyright infringement intended

 People now in Basey still tends to use Basay when conversing to others in regular chit-chats but basically, the word Basey is more predominant and more formal to use in daily operations and serviceability.

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Basey 6720

Basey in Yahoo News!

I was really happy to read an article from Yahoo and it was about my hometown, Basey in Samar.

Photo Credits to : www.warayclub.com - no copyright infringement intended

Though the article focus more on the trip to Calbiga it is still overlwhelming as a Basaynon that people from other places appreciate the beauty of our culture and Basey per se as an eco-tourism destination.

The article gives emphasis on the creativeness of Basey’s banig weavers. It is a fact that the quality of mats that the town is offering is really world class.  The writer of the article went to Barangay Basiao which is in the southern point in Samar. Going to Barangay Basia is an hour and half travel from Tacloban City.

It would be very great to see how the mats are made because the location of making the mats itself is greatly atypical because they are making it inside a cave. Under the cool shelter, women from the barangay come together to weave mats and they are using dried and dyed tikog grass for the mat. Tikog grass should be weaved in a cool place because it turns brittle and breaks easily in warm temperature.

Photo Credits to : www.warayclub.com - no copyright infringement intended

Weaving indeed entails patience and attention to details, as the traveller said “The weavers deftly intertwine every strand of grass, following established patterns to craft intricate designs. As the work is repetitive and tiresome, the weavers in all likelihood gather and interact to break the monotony.”

People from Basey are really hospitable and loved to help people who want to learn their tradition just like weaving. The craftsmanship of the weavers is commendable and praiseworthy.

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Yahoo Article: http://sg.travel.yahoo.com/inspirations/526-tripping-around-calbiga

51 Barangays of Basey

The town of Basey is politically subdivided into 51 barangays as of the date of this post.

The latest sitio declared as a barangay is Sitio Cancoral which is called Bgy. Roxas today. The declaration was published in the year 1957.

There are actually 7 poblacion barangays in Basey namely Sulod, Mercado, Lawa-an, Loyo, Baybay, Buscada and Palaypay.

The following are the list of 51 barangays of Basey

Amandayehan                           Anglit                                Bacubac

Baloog                                         Basiao                               Buenavista

Burgos                                        Cambayan                        Can-abay

Cancaiyas                                   Canmanila                        Catadman

Cogon                                          Dolongan                          Guintigui-an

Guirang                                       Balante                              Iba
Inuntan                                       Loog                                   Mabini

Magallanes                                 Manlilinab                        Del Pilar

May-it                                         Mongabong                       New San Agustin

Nouvelas Occidental                 Nouvelas Oriental           Old San Agustin

Panugmonon                              Pelit                                   Baybay (Pob.)

Buscada (Pob.)                           Lawa-an (Pob.)                Loyo (Pob.)

Mercado (Pob.)                          Palaypay (Pob.)               Sulod (Pob.) 
Roxas                                           Salvacion                           San Antonio

Sawa                                            Serum                                Sugca

Sugponon                                    Tinaogan                            Tingib

Villa Aurora                                 Binongtu-an                      Bulao






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Basey6720

History of Basey : The Legend of Bungansakit

Every now and then, people would always ask and wonder about the history of Basey especially the Basaynon, people from Basey.

Generation to generations have passed but the legend of the beautiful Bungansakit will always be a part of the history. The Legend of Bungansakit is truly a story that reflects the origin of Basey. A book written by Mr. Wilmo C. Orejola was published entitled 

“A Mat Weaver’s Story: the Legend of Bungansakit” manifests the stronghold of the history of Basey through its writings and research.

The story begins to the childless couple Kadiko and Guilanda in the village of Omit which is presently called Bgy. Magallanes. This couple had been praying and dreaming of having a child for so many years but unfortunately they were not blessed even by just one. But one day in the woods, the couple finds a very beautiful baby and as what others said, the baby was an unwanted white baby or probably an albino. 

The couple was very very happy because their prayers have been answered. They name the baby, Bungansakit which means “fruit of sorrow or sacrifices”.  The couple have been praying for a child for around twenty years and that day was the answer for their sacrifices and devotion.

The baby grows unusually very beautiful and possesses distinct foreign features that the villagers think the child as an offspring of a fairy and a mortal parentage. That idea about bungansakit brings much attention because of her atypical and extraordinary features that people of power and influence try to subdue or capitalize on her. 

Bungansakit falls in love with Suguihon, a consciencious and skillful bachelor living near to the village. They were married in a Christian wedlock.  The story ends tragically when a envious and covetous Moro suitor plunders the Christian villages of Omit and Balud and abducts Bungansakit to Moroland.