', officially the ', is a of the Philippines| in the province of,. According to the, it has a population of people. Samal is situated in the north-eastern portion of Bataan, away from Manila. It has a total land area of.
Etymology and history
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. Saint Catherine of Sienna became the patron of Samal, which was founded as a municipality on April 20, 1641. "Sea gypsies" of Mindanao settlers 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.
Samal is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.
Demographics
In the, had a population of. The population density was.
Local government
Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines", the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. In the History of the Philippines, the Gobernadorcillo was the Chief Executive who held office in the Presidencia. During the American rule , 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 and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, and are located in the Town Hall. Samal's incumbent elected officials are - Mayor Mayor Generosa "Gene" Malibiran Dela Fuente and Vice Mayor Emmanuel R. Cortez. The Sangguniang Bayan Members are: Aida De Guia Macalinao, Madell Tagorio Bathan, Amelia Yabut Dela Rosa, Roman, Jr. Estrella Lazarte, Eduardo Alipio De Castro, Ricky Bugay Santos, John Samson Mateo and Eduardo Bugay De Leon. 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.
Economy
Composed largely of uplands and hills with some lowlands and plains, Samal's main produce are palay, corn, vegetable, fruits rootcrops, coffee and cutflowers, 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 making, and pulp mills 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. Samal is also rich is marine aquatic resources and highly productive farmlands. Garments manufacturing in Samal is engaged in by five firms already engaged in exports. In the Town Hall of Samal and along the streets, Capiz shells are displayed to show that the town residents manufacture this commodity.
Attractions
Samal's attractions, events and historical landmarks include:
The 1596 Parish Church of Saint Catherine of Siena belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga (Dioecesis Balangensis - Suffragan of San Fernando, Pampanga. The Parish has a Catholic population of 11,581, under Titular of St. Catherine of Siena, with Feast day on April 30. Its former Parish Priest is Monsignor Edilfredo Cruz of the Vicariate of St. Dominic de Guzman. As of June 2011, Fr. Antonio David Bernaldo was assigned as new Parish Priest of the church. The Dominicans in 1596 directed the spirituality of Samal. Attacked by Dutch invaders in April 1647, the local garrison of Pampanga under Alejo Aguas ousted the Dutch forces. Rev. Jeromino Belen, O.P. rebuilt the ruined church and the convent. In 1896 the Katipuneros burned the church and convent which were rebuilt by Rev. Justo Quesada in 1903.
