Capul
Municipality in Northern Samar, Philippines
title: "Capul" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["municipalities-of-northern-samar", "islands-of-northern-samar", "island-municipalities-in-the-philippines"] description: "Municipality in Northern Samar, Philippines" topic_path: "geography/philippines" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capul" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Municipality in Northern Samar, Philippines ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | |
| image_skyline | US Navy 061104-N-5067K-055 USS Essex (LHD 2) passes the Capul Island Lighthouse as it transits through the San Bernardino Straits.jpg |
| image_caption | USS Essex passes Capul Island while passing through the San Bernardino Strait |
| image_flag | Flag_of_Capul,_Northern_Samar.png |
| flag_size | 120x80px |
| seal_size | 100x80px |
| image_map | |
| map_caption | |
| mapframe | yes |
| pushpin_map | Philippines |
| pushpin_label_position | right |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location within the |
| coordinates | |
| settlement_type | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Philippines |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_name1 | |
| subdivision_type2 | Province |
| subdivision_name2 | |
| official_name | |
| etymology | |
| named_for | |
| subdivision_type3 | District |
| subdivision_name3 | |
| established_title | Founded |
| established_date | |
| parts_type | Barangays |
| parts_style | para |
| p1 | (see Barangays) |
| leader_title | Mayor |
| leader_name | Isidro S. Bandal |
| leader_title1 | Vice Mayor |
| leader_name1 | Leonora F. Alfaro |
| leader_title2 | Representative |
| leader_name2 | Paul R. Daza |
| leader_title3 | Councilors |
| leader_name3 | {{PH Town Council |
| 1 | |
| 2 | Danilo D. Ampuan |
| 3 | Asuncion C. Bonabon |
| 4 | Renato E. Pasco |
| 5 | Lito B. Cabacang |
| 6 | Ian B. Castillo |
| 7 | Julian G. Ortego Jr. |
| 8 | Mark Eric T. Magdaraog |
| 9 | Arnold C. Garrote |
| leader_title4 | Electorate |
| leader_name4 | voters ([electorate_point_in_time}} |
| government_type | |
| government_footnotes | |
| elevation_m | |
| elevation_max_m | 585 |
| elevation_min_m | 0 |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | |
| population_as_of | |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| population_blank1_title | Households |
| population_blank1 | |
| population_demonym | Abaknon, Capuleño |
| timezone | PST |
| utc_offset | +8 |
| postal_code_type | ZIP code |
| postal_code | |
| postal2_code_type | |
| postal2_code | |
| area_code_type | |
| area_code | |
| website | |
| demographics_type1 | Economy |
| demographics1_title1 | |
| demographics1_info1 | |
| demographics1_title2 | Poverty incidence |
| demographics1_info2 | % () |
| demographics1_title3 | Revenue |
| demographics1_info3 | |
| demographics1_title4 | Revenue rank |
| demographics1_title5 | Assets |
| demographics1_info5 | |
| demographics1_title6 | Assets rank |
| demographics1_title7 | IRA |
| demographics1_title8 | IRA rank |
| demographics1_title9 | Expenditure |
| demographics1_info9 | |
| demographics1_title10 | Liabilities |
| demographics1_info10 | |
| demographics_type2 | Service provider |
| demographics2_title1 | Electricity |
| demographics2_info1 | |
| demographics2_title2 | Water |
| demographics2_title3 | Telecommunications |
| demographics2_title4 | Cable TV |
| blank_name_sec1 | |
| blank_info_sec1 | |
| blank1_name_sec1 | Native languages |
| blank1_info_sec1 | |
| blank2_name_sec1 | Crime index |
| blank1_name_sec2 | Major religions |
| blank2_name_sec2 | Feast date |
| blank3_name_sec2 | Catholic diocese |
| blank4_name_sec2 | Patron saint |
| :: |
| name =
| image_skyline = US Navy 061104-N-5067K-055 USS Essex (LHD 2) passes the Capul Island Lighthouse as it transits through the San Bernardino Straits.jpg
| image_caption = USS Essex passes Capul Island while passing through the San Bernardino Strait
| image_flag = Flag_of_Capul,_Northern_Samar.png
| flag_size = 120x80px
| image_seal =
| seal_size = 100x80px
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| mapframe = yes
| pushpin_map = Philippines
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the
| coordinates =
| settlement_type =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Philippines
| subdivision_type1 = Region
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| subdivision_type2 = Province
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| subdivision_type3 = District
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| established_title = Founded
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| parts_type = Barangays
| parts_style = para
| p1 = (see Barangays)
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Isidro S. Bandal
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = Leonora F. Alfaro
| leader_title2 = Representative
| leader_name2 = Paul R. Daza
| leader_title3 = Councilors
| leader_name3 = {{PH Town Council
| 1 =
| 2=Danilo D. Ampuan
| 3=Asuncion C. Bonabon
| 4=Renato E. Pasco
| 5=Lito B. Cabacang
| 6=Ian B. Castillo
| 7=Julian G. Ortego Jr.
| 8=Mark Eric T. Magdaraog
| 9=Arnold C. Garrote
| leader_title4 = Electorate
| leader_name4 = voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
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| elevation_min_m = 0
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| population_blank1_title= Households
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| population_demonym = Abaknon, Capuleño
| population_rank =
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| timezone = PST
| utc_offset = +8
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
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| demographics1_title7 = IRA
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| demographics1_title8 = IRA rank
| demographics1_info8 =
| demographics1_title9 = Expenditure
| demographics1_info9 =
| demographics1_title10 = Liabilities
| demographics1_info10 =
| demographics_type2 = Service provider
| demographics2_title1 = Electricity
| demographics2_info1 =
| demographics2_title2 = Water
| demographics2_info2 =
| demographics2_title3 = Telecommunications
| demographics2_info3 =
| demographics2_title4 = Cable TV
| demographics2_info4 =
| demographics2_title5 =
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| blank1_name_sec1 = Native languages
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| blank2_name_sec1 = Crime index
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| blank1_name_sec2 = Major religions
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| blank2_name_sec2 = Feast date
| blank2_info_sec2 =
| blank3_name_sec2 = Catholic diocese
| blank3_info_sec2 =
| blank4_name_sec2 = Patron saint
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| short_description =
| footnotes =
Capul, officially the Municipality of Capul (; ; ), is an island municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 12,323 people.
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
According to folklore, the name Capul is said to be derived from the word Acapulco, an old trading post in Mexico.
History
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. 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.
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.
Geography
The municipality is contiguous with Capul Island, located at the southern entrance to the San Bernardino Strait.
Barangays
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
| location = Capul, Northern Samar | width = auto | metric first = Yes | single line = Yes | Jan high C = 27 | Jan low C = 22 | Feb high C = 28 | Feb low C = 22 | Mar high C = 29 | Mar low C = 22 | Apr high C = 30 | Apr low C = 22 | May high C = 31 | May low C = 24 | Jun high C = 30 | Jun low C = 24 | Jul high C = 29 | Jul low C = 24 | Aug high C = 29 | Aug low C = 24 | Sep high C = 29 | Sep low C = 24 | Oct high C = 29 | Oct low C = 24 | Nov high C = 29 | Nov low C = 23 | Dec high C = 28 | Dec low C = 23 | Jan precipitation mm = 84 | Feb precipitation mm = 59 | Mar precipitation mm = 58 | Apr precipitation mm = 55 | May precipitation mm = 93 | Jun precipitation mm = 133 | Jul precipitation mm = 149 | Aug precipitation mm = 125 | Sep precipitation mm = 155 | Oct precipitation mm = 165 | Nov precipitation mm = 140 | Dec precipitation mm = 136 | Jan rain days = 18.1 | Feb rain days = 13.6 | Mar rain days = 15.8 | Apr rain days = 16.1 | May rain days = 21.7 | Jun rain days = 25.5 | Jul rain days = 26.6 | Aug rain days = 25.1 | Sep rain days = 24.8 | Oct rain days = 25.8 | Nov rain days = 22.7 | Dec rain days = 20.1 | source 1 = Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally) | url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/forecast/modelclimate/capul_philippines_1718594 | title = Capul, Northern Samar : Average Temperatures and Rainfall | publisher = Meteoblue | access-date = 6 January 2019 }} | date = 6 January 2019
Demographics
| align= none | title= Population census of | 1903 = | 1918 = | 1939 = | 1948 = | 1960 = | 1970 = | 1975 = | 1980 = | 1990 = | 1995 = | 2000 = | 2007 = | 2010 = | 2015 = | 2020 = | 2024 = | 2030 = | footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Economy
Language
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
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Capul_Church,_Northern_Samar.JPG" caption="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. 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.
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.
References
References
- {{DILG detail
- Labro, Vicente S.. (August 19, 2011). "Ancient fortress church of Capul, Northern Samar". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- {{harvp. Summer Institute of Linguistics. 1983
- (1983). "I Capul: Siray Pati' Ina'anto". Summer Institute of Linguistics - Philippines Inc..
- (24 September 2018). "Capul Island trip, discovering culture and history".
- (June 18, 1966). "An Act Creating the Municipality of San Vicente in the Province of Samar".
- [http://samartrexplore.multiply.com/photos/album/17/EXPLORE_CAPUL_ISLAND Explore Capul Island] {{webarchive. link. (June 6, 2010)
- "Philippines & Cebu Real Estate".
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