Allen National High School

Senior High School

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

Traditions & Beliefs in Victoria

Its History, People and Culture

Submitted to:

Mrs. April Ramosa

Submitted by:

Mr. Joshua Dampog

Mr. Roy John Centino

Ms. Lyka Atamosa

Ms. Jenny Rose Calosor

Ms. Aica Cabahug

 ITS HISTORY, PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Located on the western coastal part of Northern Samar lies a rural, peaceful
place where serenity and humble abode can be felt. It is a fertile valley dissected with a
long river called after its historical name. The place is blessed with natural resources
and in the interior; we can witness its virgin forests and untouched jungles. It is
perhaps a home, a place for everyone to see, a haven on earth… a paradise, it is
Victoria.

The Municipality was formerly called the Mawo, after its legendary nickname
which was “Mao” which means “it is”. The municipality was once a barangay of Allen
then became municipality on 1960s. After its establishment as a town, it boasts to
become a pioneering town that gets its way to be classified as a Fifth Class municipality
according to the DILG. The Victoriahanons were the people living in the town, they are
also called Mawonians. They are humble and hospitable individuals, with sense of
professionalism and practices good values portraying the Filipino characteristics. The
municipality is also a rural area; it is approximately 18,000 hectares and seemingly
covered with lush forest. Almost 80% of its area is vegetation and 20% are utilized for
housing and commercial area. It is composed of 16 barangays, 8 of them are located in
the interior of the municipality and another 8 are coastal barangays. The 3 barangays
comprises the Poblacion, named Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3. The names of the
barangays are Acedillo, Buenos Aires, Colab-og, San Lazaro, Libertad, Erenas, San
Roman, Maxvilla, Pasabuena, Buenasuerte, Luisita, Lungib and the Three Zones in the
Poblacion.

Victoria is rich in agricultural resources and can be considered as an agri-

fishery town. Perhaps according to a magazine, the municipality is hailed to as the
“Tilapia Capital of the Province” because of the large scale production of Tilapia fishes
in the municipality which can be observed from its hectare fishponds located on
different areas within the municipality. The municipality also houses a mini-forest with
varieties of fruit trees being planted for commercial purposes. Being a town near the
marine waters, it is also rich in fishes and other marine products, some examples are
anchovy, tamban, sardines, tuna and “lato”, which is a seaweed eated raw as a salad.
The industry of pili and taro in the town is also making its way to be promoted as
delicacy special that could be offered to tourist visiting the town.
 As tourism became the trend of every town in any place today, Victoria will
not be just out there. The town offers a breathtaking views and spots that cannot be
compared to any scenery in the province or in the country. Some of them are:

Steel Bridge with a design inspired to that of the San Juanico is present in the
town. Built in 1970s, it is considered as the landmark of the municipality. The bridge
itself has a dual rainbow arc forming an “M” shape that reflects the water of the river. It
is currently under maintenance due to some rusts in its steel framework, but still the
beauty of the bridge are pretty observable from afar and while passing on its pavement.

The Mawo River of approximately 25 km long stretches from the mountains of

Calbayog to the Dalupiri Strait in Samar Sea. The mouth of the river is just beside the
town and teemed with freshwater fishes. It also holds the Bangon Rapids which is a
potential source of hydroelectricity if developed. Kayaking and Torpedo can be a major
adventure when visting the spot.

Buenos Aires Beaches can be hailed to as “Little Boracay” because of its fine
white sand and prestine waters with a nice sunset view in the twilight. It faces the San
Bernardino Strait and the Bulusan Volcano can be observed in clear days. The resorts
managing the beach can accommodate tourists. The shots you may get there is pretty
instagramable.

Bodoy Waterfalls is three layer falls hidden in the forests of San Lazaro is
still waiting to be discovered. This waterfall has lagoon which is as large as 3 swimming
pools combined. The place is good for picnic and was so peaceful.

Candomenga Cave can be a place to be if you are want thrills. It is a cave

system of unfathomable depth. The cave is still partially discovered. It has amazing
array of stalactites and stalagmites with guanos and bats. There are also species of
faunas living in the cave that still unidentified.

Overflow Bridge is perhaps a one of its kind in the province. With its name,
it is a connecting concrete road bridge wherein the water in the river passes by its
pavements if flooding exists. It has a picturesque view of rolling hills and mini rapids
and also a nice swimming spot for if you are to have picnic and camps.

Victoria town is also rich in history. Being one of the early settlements in
the province, it has some historical things in the past but not already present in the
current time due to some human interventions and sieges. The old bell tower of the
village is located before on the peak facing the sea. It serves as the warning
headquarters for the people when some Moros will invade the village. According to
folks, they used bamboo drums as instruments in giving of signals. Unfortunately the
tower did not stand the ravages of time and its ruins are cannot be determined today.
Another historical figure in the past of the town is its Bronze bell believed to be the
oldest in the province if only it is present in our time. It is said to have an old Spanish
design will some facets of old texts that will describe how artistic the people of Victoria
before. The bell is said to be dropped in the deep waters of the Bangon River and never
been recovered since then. The only treasure remained in the past of the town today is
the old image of Saint Anne, its patron saint which is housed in the newly constructed
church in the town. As part of its history, it is believed that the town is named after the
child of the Former President Elpidio Quirino, his daughter – Maria Victoria Seqiua
Quirino.

Today the town is a bustling rural area with a population of over 19,000. It is
still thriving to be the best in the province by producing best quality manpower,
products and other things it can offer to the world. Among the best cultures and
tradition in the town is the its festivities such as the Annual Town Fiesta Celebration on
every August 7 of the year, to celebrate the feast of Saint Anne, there is a weeklong
activities of different causes to witness including pageants, talent searches and best
performances. On every January of the year, the town also held its local festival to
honor the child Jesus or the Sto. Nino with presentation of colorful dances. And every
April, the town celebrates its founding anniversary also exhibits various programs of
activities including the search for the Bituon San Victoria.

The town of Victoria, although small in area is densely populated in the

Poblacion. The town has six main streets, and the two of them are named before its
Saints Joachim and Anna. The two streets are also the longest of the six. It has a
functional market, an approximately 1,000 capacity Stardome Arena, a park and an
executive as well a legislative hall. The town also houses the Central Elementary School
and a Stand Alone Senior High School as well as the National High School carrying the
name of the municipality. It has also an old port serving the past cargoes dropping their
products in the town, and also a port for the pump boat traveling from the islands of
San Antonio and nearby towns. The recent infrastructure in the town is its beautiful
church inspired by European Gothic Design and displays a remarkable dome- one of its
kind in the province.

When in terms of commercial businesses, there are only few groceries found
in the town and the rest are all small scale businesses. The town is still far from its
dream to become a fully pledge city in the future but keeping on its way there. The
town according to the latest 2019 National Competitiveness Index ranks 1,027 out of
1,363 municipalities in the entire country. The survey ranks the towns by its economic
competitiveness through understanding its government, infrastructures, water, people
and other aspects. This only means that the town is way ahead of other towns in the
entire nation.

The dream of the Victoriahanons to become an economically stable and

competitive place in the future starts and the road towards it is achievable. With its
people uniting, its resources being utilized for good and without encompassing its
history and culture, truly it can deserve a better place to be called a bustling society.
But even Victoria is not there yet, the town already wanted you to visit and
EXPERIENCE what it got through its history, people, culture and traditions.
Three in One Aerial Shot!

📍All situated at Poblacion Zone-3, the iconic Mawo Steel Bridge, Victoria "Victory" Park
and the Victoria Stardome. Mawo River is visible with its turbid water due to heavy
rains.
Blue and Pristine!

The brackishwater of Mawo River as it silhouettes the Iconic Steel Bridge, one of it's
kind in the province!

📍Located at Pob. Zone-3 along Daang Maharlika (AH-26) National Highway

BUDOY FALLS | Sitio Kalawihawan, San Lazaro, Victoria, Northern Samar

👉 Located Northwest of San Lazaro Highway going to Sitio Bunglasan of Poblacion

Zone-III

👉 Can be reached by trekking about an hour from the jump-off point which is East side
of the farm to market road bounding to Lungib

👉 It is a Tri-Layered waterfall with beautiful water cascading from rocks to rocks

forming a hair-like waterdrops

👉 The height is approximately 15-20 meters high and at the foot of the waterfall is a
lagoon of about 300 square meters, a natural pool

👉 The middle teir of the waterfall has the most beautiful lagoon forming like a basin
and good for instagramable shots
👉 According to locals, it was named after the owner of the land,Budoy
SAN ABNER "BUSAY" FALLS | Luisita, Victoria, Northern Samar

👉 Located approximately 3 km. east of Barangay Luisita

👉 A multi-layered falls each with different heights ranging from 5-15 meters but
measured approximately 50 meters combined height

👉 A natural lagoon is present at the middle and at the foot of the waterfalls

👉 Can be reached by walking and trekking about an hour from the barangay proper

👉 The water is fresh, clear and unspoiled were you can enjoy nature's serene beauty
BANGON RAPIDS | Poblacion Zone-III, Victoria, Northern Samar

👉 Located at the foot of Mount Benindetajan (Libertad) and Mount Bermudo (Zone-III)

👉 A stretch of rocks with cascading waters usually at a height of 2-3 meters

👉 It is the exit point of Mawo River

👉 Serves as source of water in early years of Mawo and the location for laundry works
of the community

👉 Potential source of hydroelectricity that could support power consumption

👉 Perfect spot for kayaking and torpedo

"Mangangawil"

📍Location: Salog, Zone 3 Poblacion

A fisherman father having a shoreline jig with his 2 sons as their bonding moment at
the same time teaching his sons how to catch fish...
Look!

📍Aerial Shot of Victoria Poblacion with the Majestic Mawo River

#teamVICTORIA

✍️Joshua P. Dampog

✍️Roy John Centino

✍️Lyka Atamosa

✍️Jenny Rose Calosor

✍️Aica Cabahug