Calapi Samar

Fiesta in Calapi, Samar

Calapi is not on the tourist trail but it is an interesting place to get a feel for rural Samar.

To get there from highway passing through the Taft National Forest, take the dirt road heading north. Calapi is only 25 kilometers distant but the road is quite rough in a few areas, especially after the driving rains they get in this area

There are no hotels so we stayed at a friend”s place.

I didn’t take any pictures along the way because we were in rain most of the time and it was a bit difficult navigating the trail. The road was flooded so hidden ruts under the water became a problem but we got there in less than 2 hours.

The fiesta is the big event in every small town in the Philippines.

People come from miles around to participate, sometimes walking for half a day.

There are buses and trucks and some motorbikes but tricycles can not make it to this area because of rough road conditions.

Central Samar is a politically sensitive area but there are a lot of opportunities for the serious photographer interested in rural Filipino traditions.

I am merely a point and click guy just trying to capture the atmosphere. I did not feel like pushing it too much and was more reserved than usual.

I have only been to Calapi 2 times so far and really enjoy the place.

Note: Some people from Samar feel that it is not a safe place to travel.

Local kid.

I got the nickname habal-habal from the locals and they kind of respect that I was able to get in there with 3 passengers and our gear and a small bag of rice and eggs. They know how difficult it is.

The rivers are used for bathing and washing clothes. Most of the people in this province do not have running water.

It rains a lot and buckets are strategically placed under the edge of the roof to catch run off. I did not see anyone use gutters to improve efficiency but this is the Philippines.

Often small things that would really help just are not done.

Working on the feast. We ate pretty good!

Lovely smile.

I’ve been invited back during the Christmas break and hope to make it back there in December. I took some pictures of the people of the Mamanwa tribe and want to bring them some photos after I get them developed in Cebu.

The gang!

Hinabangan Samar – video of a different small town in Samar – it kind of gives a feel for what life in the provinces is all about

Calapi Samar