Welcome to Eastern Visayas!
Eastern Visayas is one of the three administrative regions in the Visayas group of islands and is designated Region VIII out of the 17 regions of the entire Philippines.
The region is also a destination for marine adventures like scuba diving, snorkeling, and surfing. At the southern end of Leyte island, Sogod Bay boasts massive underwater coral gardens ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling. The smaller island of Biliran is popular with beachcombers with its pristine white sand beaches.
For geological wonders, along its shores at the northern part of Samar island are towering rock formations in Biri and Capul, Northern Samar, and in the Leyte Gulf side of Marabut, Samar. There are volcanic lakes located in the various islands of the region, the most notable of which is Lake Danao in Ormoc City.
For road trip adventure, the three major island of the region is encircled by a coastal highway end to end. Countryside driving can be a relaxing experience with views of the ocean and seas atop the mountains of Samar. San Juanico Bridge connects Leyte and Samar islands between Tacloban City and Sta. Rita, Samar. Biliran Bridge connects Leyte and Biliran islands.
Historical sites such as Homonhon and Limasawa islands, two of the stops Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan made during the first recorded voyage around the world, are located in the region. Homonhon Island is at the southern end of Samar Island while Limasawa Island is at the southern end of Leyte Island.
The region is home to the Pintados and Sangyaw festivals. In the month of June each year, Pintados and Sangyaw festivals are held in the region's capital Tacloban City. These festivals are the region's biggest crowd-drawing events coinciding with the religious festivities of Tacloban City honoring Señor Sto. Niño, the Patron Saint of Tacloban. Other smaller festivals and festivities are held in every town annually on different dates.
Eastern Visayas (Waray: Sinirangan Kabisay-an, Cebuano: Sidlakang Kabisay-an, Tagalog: Silangang Kabisayaan or Silangang Visayas) is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region VIII. It consists of three main islands, Samar, Leyte, and Biliran. The region has six provinces, one independent city, and one highly urbanized city namely, Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc, and Tacloban. The highly urbanized city of Tacloban is the sole regional center. These provinces and cities occupy the easternmost islands of the Visayas group of islands.
Eastern Visayas faces the Philippine Sea to the east. The region's most famous landmark is the San Juanico Bridge, which links the provinces of Samar and Leyte. As of 2020, the Eastern Visayas region has a population of 4,547,150 inhabitants, making it the third most populous region in the Visayas.