Paranas, Samar

Barangays

Paranas is politically subdivided into 44 barangays.

History

A strip of sand bordering along the coast of the Maqueda Bay, nestling at the foot of a hill which shields it from floods and storms was inhibited by a few natives who engaged in fishing and farming. As time went on, the number of people increased. More and better houses were built and a village was farming. So it attracted many people to trade with the natives and to dwell in it.

The trees along the line of sand were cut down and a street was laid. The increasing inhabitants built nipa houses on both side of the street. As the village expanded the people opened other streets toward the hill.

Shortly after the occupation of the Spaniards in Catbalogan some of them went to Wright, the newly made village. When they reached the village, the tide was low and many of the natives were along the stony coast picking and gathering shellfish and crabs. The banca headed toward the place where the people settled. One of the Spanish Officials asked for the name of the place or the village in Spanish language. The ignorant native looked boastfully at the over tall stranger. Thinking that the Spaniard was asking for the name of slippery rock which the Spaniard was apparently looking at, the native answered “Palanas”, name of the rock. The Spaniard then pronounced the word “Paranas” instead of palanas and recorded it as the name of the village. They went ashore and organized the village government and appointed its officials under the banner of Spain.

The Spanish sovereignty over the village had greatly inspired the natives. The doctrine of Christianity was introduced and the people willingly and readily accepted and believe it. Through the course of time, the village grew to the end and be one of the progressive towns along the shore of the Maqueda Bay. A Catholic church and a convent were erected and a thick high wall around the church site was constructed.

When America succeeded in overthrowing Spain during the Spanish–American War, the Philippines was ceded to her. Paranas was at the height of her glory at that time. In 1890 during the Philippine–American War the Paranasnon were one of these who showed strong resistance against the American Forces. American troops headed by General Curry came sudden and subdue the Revolutionist here in Paranas. Most of the native fled to the mountain. The revolutionist fought hard and bravely. Many American lives were lost here. In one of these encounters General Curry was lost I the midst of the forest where they were the old people of Paranas or Wright.

General Curry had been in the wilderness for three days and the man who saved him was taken to the United States with him. Due to the hospitality and kindness of the people of Paranas one of General Curry’s savior. General Curry recommended the changed of the name of the town Paranas to Wright in honor of the governor General of the Philippines at that time. Because of its location the town of Wright engage in two main industries:

1. 1. Farming
2. 2. Fishing

They engage in farming because on the eastern part of the areas to town are wide vast of land on the western part in a fertile ground for fishing. The wide of land are converted into rice fields both for upland and lowland rice. One unique kind of rice that is so anosmatic and palatable to the town to town to eat is the famous “Kalinayan” an upload rice that is favorable to most of the town folks. Aside from rice, fruits, vegetables; root cops are so cheap and abundant that people of Wright used to sell to other places. The biggest and surest market of these products are the capital town of Catbalogan and Bagacay, the set of the copper mine is Samar

From the Maqueda bay, fish fresh of different kinds are so plentiful that people who engaged in fishing earned enough for the family support. Aside from the fish sea shells can also be gathered from there. The famous bahong, sabuad, baliad, ponao, saringa, bocawil, and others so plentiful and more than enough for the town’s consumption.

The people of Wright are lovers of socials and they love dance the Curracha. The Summer time Club is a town organization composed of both the married and single group that usually hold its annual affair very beginning of the summer vacation.

During the American period, Paranas was renamed by the new administrators to Wright, in honour of General Wright. However, locals retained and still use the name Paranas. It absorbed the former town of San Sebastian. In 1950, the barrios of San Sebastian, Jitaasan, Dolores, Camanjagay, Bontod, Campidasa, Campiyak, Maslog, Balogo, Maropangpang, Binongtoan, and Bolwan was re-created as a town.

In 1955 the sitio of Madalanot was converted into a barrio.

The First Settlers of the Town of Paranas

Past Municipal Mayors of the Town of Paranas

Bruna Fabrigar

Bruna Fabrigar - (locally knowns as Bunang) is a local hero in Paranas, Samar and one of brave and courageous leaders of the famous Pulajanes Movement during the Philippine–American War.

Transportation

The Pan-Philippine Highway traverses Paranas.

Domestic air travelers prefer to return to Paranas via dominant Tacloban's Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport due to the length of the runway and the accessibility of land transportation. Other options include the improved Calbayog Airport and the less utilized Catbalogan Airport (which is only ideal for smaller aircraft). International air travelers may also reach Paranas via Manila, Cebu or Davao en route to Tacloban. In the next few months, Tacloban's airport is being readied for direct international flights.

Local Beliefs

Townspeople living off the coast of Paranas believe turtles that come to die ashore are omens of danger, harbingers of typhoons and ocean-related accidents. The old fisherfolk dare not touch nor disturb these docile creatures because of this superstition. Green sea turtles and Loggerhead turtles frequent some coves off Samar to lay eggs or wade near the shallow areas to explore. Gigantic Loggerhead turtles are especially rare visitors even in the yesteryears. When they come ashore and do not lay eggs, tears flow from their eyes like humans. They would then die as the blazing sun rises and their bodies are scorched. Afterwards, fishermen go missing at sea, typhoons arrive, bancas capsize or cargo ships sink. Residents attest turtles came to die on their shores when M/V Dona Paz sank causing thousands of people to drown to their deaths.