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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did capul say to its friend? Capul-atively yours.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Capul
Municipality
Municipality of Capul
USS Essex passes Capul Island while passing through the San Bernardino Strait
USS Essex passes Capul Island while passing through the San Bernardino Strait
Flag of Capul
Flag
Map of Northern Samar with Capul highlighted
Map of Northern Samar with Capul highlighted
Map
Interactive map of Capul
Capul is located in Philippines
Capul
Capul
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°25′23″N 124°10′55″E / 12.423°N 124.182°E / 12.423; 124.182
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceNorthern Samar
District 1st district
Named forAcapulco, Mexico[1]
Barangays12 (see Barangays)
Government
 [2]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorIsidro S. Bandal
 • Vice MayorLeonora F. Alfaro
 • RepresentativePaul R. Daza
 • Councilors
Members
  • Danilo D. Ampuan
  • Asuncion C. Bonabon
  • Renato E. Pasco
  • Lito B. Cabacang
  • Ian B. Castillo
  • Julian G. Ortego Jr.
  • Mark Eric T. Magdaraog
  • Arnold C. Garrote
 • Electorate10,333 voters (2025)
Area
[3]
 • Total
35.56 km2 (13.73 sq mi)
Elevation
[4]
73 m (240 ft)
Highest elevation
585 m (1,919 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[5]
 • Total
12,127
 • Density341.0/km2 (883.3/sq mi)
 • Households
2,712
Demonym(s)Abaknon, Capuleño
Economy
 • Income class5th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
24.17
% (2023)[6]
 • Revenue₱ 88.5 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 228.2 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 82.47 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 32.34 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricityNorthern Samar Electric Cooperative (NORSAMELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6408
PSGC
0804804000
IDD : area code +63 (0)55
Native languagesAbaknon
Waray
Tagalog
Websitewww.capul-nsamar.gov.ph

Capul, officially the Municipality of Capul (Inabaknon: Bungto si Capul; Waray: Bungto han Capul; Tagalog: Bayan ng Capul), is an island municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 12,127 people.[7]

The natives of Capul are known as the Abaknon or the Capuleño people. It is the only town in the province of Northern Samar with a distinct language, Inabaknon (also known as Capuleño, Abaknon Sama, or Capul Sinama), instead of Waray, the native language spoken by the locals of Samar island. Inabaknon is unique in it being only distantly related to the languages spoken in the entire Visayas and Luzon regions. Instead, it is classified by linguists as a Sama-Bajaw language.

A lighthouse was built on the island which 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 the former province of Samar from 1848 to 1852.

Etymology

[edit]

According to folklore, the name Capul is said to be derived from the word Acapulco, an old trading post in Mexico.[1]

History

[edit]

According to oral folk history, the native Abaknon people of the island of Capul were originally from the island of Balabac, off the southern coast of Palawan. They were originally a Sama-Bajau group. In the 1300s, their island was annexed by the Sultanate of Sulu. The people who refused to submit to the Sultanate and convert to Islam fled Balabac under the leadership of a datu named Abak. They sailed northwards until reaching the island of Capul.[8] Here, they established a settlement which they called Abak. By 1610, Spanish Jesuits arrived in the island and construction of the first church began around this period. The Inabaknon language of the Abaknon people are still classified by linguists as a Sama-Bajaw language, though the Abaknon people have converted to Christianity and have become culturally Visayan due to proximity with Visayan groups.[9][10]

On June 18, 1966, barrios Mahaba, Maragat, Mongolbongol, Panganoron, Sila, Ternate, and Sang-putan were excised from Capul to form the new municipality of San Vicente.[11]

Geography

[edit]

The municipality is contiguous with Capul Island, located at the southern entrance to the San Bernardino Strait.

Barangays

[edit]

Capul is politically subdivided into 12 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Aguin
  • Jubang
  • Landusan
  • Oson
  • Poblacion Barangay 1
  • Poblacion Barangay 2
  • Poblacion Barangay 3
  • Poblacion Barangay 4
  • Poblacion Barangay 5
  • Sagaosawan
  • San Luis
  • Sawang

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Capul, Northern Samar
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72)		 22
(72)		 22
(72)		 22
(72)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 84
(3.3)		 59
(2.3)		 58
(2.3)		 55
(2.2)		 93
(3.7)		 133
(5.2)		 149
(5.9)		 125
(4.9)		 155
(6.1)		 165
(6.5)		 140
(5.5)		 136
(5.4)		 1,352
(53.3)
Average rainy days 18.1 13.6 15.8 16.1 21.7 25.5 26.6 25.1 24.8 25.8 22.7 20.1 255.9
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[12]

Demographics

[edit]
Population census of Capul
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 3,969—    
1918 4,257+0.47%
1939 7,488+2.73%
1948 9,257+2.38%
1960 10,678+1.20%
1970 8,648−2.08%
1975 9,386+1.66%
1980 10,237+1.75%
1990 9,510−0.73%
1995 9,964+0.88%
2000 10,619+1.37%
2007 11,289+0.85%
2010 12,659+4.26%
2015 12,679+0.03%
2020 12,323−0.60%
2024 12,127−0.38%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17]

Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Capul (%)

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
46.85
2003
38.11
2006
38.50
2009
41.62
2012
45.23
2015
51.15
2018
37.35
2021
17.91
2023
24.17

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

Language

[edit]

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-Bajaw language closely related to those found in Mindanao, rather than a Visayan language. Nonetheless, the Capul people can speak and understand the Waray language as it is spoken by the majority of the people in Northern Samar.

Tourism

[edit]
The Capul Church, the main church-fortification of Capul island and the capital of the central trading route of the historic Manila-Acapulco galleon trade route. The property, along with the entire municipality, is being pushed to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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.[27] 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.[28]

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

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Labro, Vicente S. (August 19, 2011). "Ancient fortress church of Capul, Northern Samar". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  2. ↑  Municipality of Capul | (DILG)
  3. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Elevation of Municipality of Capul, Northern Samar, Philippines".
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. February 6, 2026. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  8. ↑ Summer Institute of Linguistics (1983)
  9. ↑ Ampuan, Regina B.; Andarino, Nilda S.; Bometivo, Rosario S.; Cabacang, Mansueto M.; Castillo, Domingo F.; Magdaraog, Guido A.; Magdaraog, Marlita P.; Manalo, Teresita C.; Pasco, Sallud B.; Pelito, Angeles M.; Sauro, Rebecca C.; Flores, Forencia B. (1983). I Capul: Siray Pati' Ina'anto (PDF) (in Abaknon abx). Summer Institute of Linguistics - Philippines Inc.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  10. ↑ "Capul Island trip, discovering culture and history". Langyaw. September 24, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  11. ↑ Republic Act No. 4761 (June 18, 1966), An Act Creating the Municipality of San Vicente in the Province of Samar, retrieved September 11, 2022
  12. ↑ "Capul, Northern Samar : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  13. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  15. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  16. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  17. ↑ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  20. ↑ "2003 Small Area Estimates of Poverty (Full Report)" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 11, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  21. ↑ "2006 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 21, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  22. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  23. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  24. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  25. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  26. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. February 6, 2026. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  27. ↑ Explore Capul Island Archived June 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ "Philippines & Cebu Real Estate". Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capul&oldid=1376076952"