Samal, officially the Municipality of Samal (), is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
in the
province
A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Bataan
Bataan (, , , ; ) , officially the Province of Bataan, is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the entire Bataan Peninsula ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 38,302 people.
Etymology
Samal originated from ''samel'', a covering attached to a banca to protect the passengers from the sun and rain, made of nipa leaves and woven together.
History

Saint
Catherine of Sienna became the patron of Samal when it was founded as a municipality on April 20, 1641.
"Sea gypsies" of Mindanao settlers ("Badjaos" who resided for many years in Maubac, Lambayung, Tanjung, Pata, Tapul, Lugus, Bangos, Pagasinan, Parang, Maimbung, Karugdung and Talipaw, Mindanao) migrated to Luzon in the early 14th century and settled in Bataan. In Samal, they propagated the pearl and capiz culture.
Samal was the second town founded by the
Dominican friars in Bataan and is composed of four barrios: Calaguiman, Santa Lucia, Poblacion and Lalawigan.
Geography
Samal is located in the eastern part of
Bataan Peninsula
Bataan (, , , ; ) , officially the Province of Bataan, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines, region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga, Bataan, Balanga while Mariveles, ...
, bordering
Abucay to the south,
Orani to the north and northwest,
Morong to the west, and
Manila Bay
Manila Bay (; ) is a natural harbor that serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. Strategically located around the Manila, capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Philippines and ...
to the east. It is from
Balanga and from
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
.
According to the
Philippine Statistics Authority
The Philippine Statistics Authority (; PSA) is the central statistical authority of the Philippine government that collects, compiles, analyzes, and publishes statistical information on economic, social, demographic, political affairs, and gene ...
, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Bataan.
Climate
Barangays
Samal is politically subdivided into 14
barangay
The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...
s. Each barangay consists of
purok
A ''purok'' () is an informal division within a barangay in the Philippines. While not officially considered a local government unit (LGU), a ''purok'' often serves as a unit for delivering services and administration within a barangay. ''Pur ...
s and some have
sitios
A ''sitio'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "site") in the Philippines is a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay. Typically rural, a ''sitios location is usually far from the center of the barangay itself and could be its own bar ...
.
Demographics
In the 2020 census, Samal had a population of 38,302. The population density was .
Economy

Composed largely of uplands and hills with some lowlands and plains, Samal's main produce are ''palay'', corn, vegetable, fruits, root crops, coffee and cut flowers, including livestock, poultry and aquatic resources such as shellfish, crabs, prawns, shrimps and different species of fish.
Joaquin Ma. Joson of Bataan established the first ice plant. Wooden shoe (''bakya'') making, and pulp mills (Bataan Pulp and Paper Mills, Inc. in the scenic slope of
Mount Natib) are some of the industries of the natives. It also manufactures banana chips and arrow root flour through native processes, then made into cookies called ''araro'' as ''
pasalubong
''Pasalubong'' (Tagalog language, Tagalog, " omethingfor when you welcome me") is the Filipino people, Filipino tradition of travellers bringing gifts from their destination to people back home. ''Pasalubong'' can be any gift or souvenir br ...
''. Samal is also rich is marine aquatic resources and highly productive farmlands.
Garments manufacturing in Samal is engaged in by five (5) firms already engaged in exports.
In the Town Hall of Samal and along the streets,
Capiz shell
The windowpane oyster (''Placuna placenta'') is a bivalve marine mollusk in the family of Placunidae. It is edible, but valued more for its shell (and its rather small pearls). The oyster's shells have been used for thousands of years as a gla ...
s are displayed to show that the town residents manufacture this commodity.
Government
Local government
Pursuant to the
Local government in the Philippines
In the Philippines, local government is divided into three levels: provinces and independent cities, component cities and municipalities, and barangays, all of which are collectively known as local government units (LGUs). In some areas, abo ...
",
the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. In the
History of the Philippines (1521–1898)
The history of the Philippines dates from the earliest Hominini, hominin activity in the archipelago at least by 709,000 years ago. ''Homo luzonensis'', a species of archaic humans, was present on the island of Luzon at least by 134,000 years ...
, the ''Gobernadorcillo'' was the Chief Executive who held office in the ''Presidencia''. During the American rule (1898–1946) (
History of the Philippines (1898-1946)
The history of the Philippines dates from the earliest hominin activity in the archipelago at least by 709,000 years ago. '' Homo luzonensis'', a species of archaic humans, was present on the island of Luzon at least by 134,000 years ago.
The ...
), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones held office at the Municipal Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the
Sangguniang Bayan
The Sangguniang Bayan () is the local legislative branch of the municipal governments in the Philippines. It is responsible for passing ordinances and resolutions for the administration of a municipality. Its powers are defined by the Local Go ...
(Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, and are located in the Town Hall.
Elected officials
Samal's elected officials are - Mayor Alexander Carpio Acuzar (
Liberal) and Vice Mayor Ronald Medina Ortiguerra (
Liberal).
The Sangguniang Bayan Members are: Marjun Q. Bantay, Lolito S. Llanda, Erval V. Flores, Kathrina A. Saldaña, Dylan M. House, Evangeline G. Buensuceso, Edgardo I. De Leon and Jaime M. Manguiat.
They hold office at the second floor of the Town Hall, particularly the Office of the Mayor and Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall, respectively.
The 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court of
Orani-Samal MCTC Judge Ma. Cristina J. Mendoza-Pizzaro holds office in her sala located at the second floor of the MTC building at the back of the Orani Town hall.
Tourism
Samal's attractions, events and historical landmarks include:
* ''Senakulo sa Calaguiman'' during
Holy Week
Holy Week () commemorates the seven days leading up to Easter. It begins with the commemoration of Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, marks the betrayal of Jesus on Spy Wednesday (Holy Wednes ...
* Town Hall of Samal and Samal Square
* Samel festival
* Pilis falls
* Samal Capiz shell industry
* Fishponds, mangrove, mussels and seafoods in Samal bay
* St. Catherine of Siena church
Gallery
File:Samal,Bataanjf3547 04.JPG, Jose Rizal
Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph.
Given name Mishnaic and Talmudic periods
* Jose ben Abin
* Jose ben Akabya
*Jose the Galilean
* Jose ben Halaft ...
Samal Park and Plaza
SamalBataanjf3473 07.JPG, Post office, rear facade of Town hall
File:Samal,Bataanjf3558 01.JPG, Public market
File:SamalBataanjf3466 06.JPG, Capiz shells street lights surround downtown
File:Samal,Bataanjf3558 05.JPG, Banca transportation
References
External links
*
Philippine Standard Geographic Code The Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) is a systematic classification and coding for geographic areas in the Philippines. It classifies areas based on the country's four levels of administrative divisions: regions, provinces, municipalities ...
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Bataan
Populated places on Manila Bay