MANILA -- When one thinks of vacation, Samar isn't exactly a top of mind. While the province has some beautiful tourist attractions, people see Samar in a negative way.

Even its current governor, Sharee Ann Tan, knows her province's negative perception in a national scale.

“There's really a stigma that when you mention Samar, people are immediately repulsed of the idea of the NPA that we are supposedly infiltrated. Secondly, Filipinos know that storms frequent our area; and thirdly, we're poor. So, everything you would hear is negative,” Tan said.

But through her initiative, people are seeing Samar in a different light. She started the Spark Samar tourism campaign, a program that aims to highlight the province as a tourist destination. This covers only Samar province or Western Samar, not the entire island, however. The third largest island in the Philippines is divided into three provinces—Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.

And although there are conflict areas in Samar, the province is generally safe for tourists.

“I don't want people to see the province negatively forever. I want something beautiful. So, I convinced the board members that we need to re-brand the province into something positive. At first they were hesitant, but eventually they came on board. I told them, what is there to be afraid of? We're already at the bottom, the only way to go is up,” she shared.

Launched in 2015, the provincial government was able to get funding from the national government with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as well as Department of Tourism (DoT). In just two years, they were able to get around P500 million in funding to build highways and access roads.

Because of the campaign, tourist numbers has been picking up recently, albeit slowly. But domestic tourists and even locals are realizing the huge potential of tourism in the province. Firstly, the largest cave system can be found in Samar, the Langon-Gobingob Caves in Calbiga. One of its caverns is the second largest cave in Asia and the third largest karst formation in the world.

Samar is also proud of its clean river systems and breathtaking waterfalls. As a protected area, the province has one of the largest protected virgin forests in the country. The forests of Samar is home to some of the country's rarest and most exotic animals including the Philippine tarsier and the Philippine eagle. The province is currently under a 50-year moratorium against mining.

Just recently, the Tourism Infrastructure and Zone Authority (TIEZA) approved the province's proposal to light the iconic San Juanico Bridge, the structure that links the provinces of Leyte and Samar. Sometime this year, the bridge will be artistically lighted to highlight its architectural and engineering features, which would potentially draw visitors to the island province.

“We use tourism and agriculture as fuel for our growth. The Spark Samar Development Agenda cuts across the value chain, including different agencies and departments. We know our potential in tourism and we need to shout it out to the world that we have tourist attractions,” Tan said.

And the attractions in Samar are not for the faint-hearted. Thrill seekers are welcome to enjoy white water boating, extreme caving, nature treks, and more. The best part, the communities or people's organizations operate each attraction, knowing the areas well and are already trained for tourist engagement.

Here are some of Samar's best destinations.

1. SOHOTON CAVE AND NATURAL BRIDGE

This national park covers 800 hectares in the municipality of Basey. The area has a large cave system including 32 discovered caverns but only one is open to the public, the Pinahulugan Cave. It's accessible through the Sohoton River a few minutes away from the jump off point. It's a relatively small cave that can be explored in just a few minutes. The cave has beautiful rock formations and pristine and sparkling calcites. There's a guide available for guests and safety gear like helmets and LED lamps are provided during the tour.

After exploring the cave, the main attraction of the park is the Natural Bridge. It can be accessed again through the river but instead of boat, kayaks are only allowed in this section of the river. The natural bridge is a rock formation that's likened to a bridge, thus the name.

But the most spectacular part is when the kayaks go under and through the bridge. A huge open cavern will greet visitors, which is an impressive sight.

Sohoton Natural Bridge. Photo by author

2. LULUGAYAN FALLS

The town of Calbiga is home to the country's largest cave system but it is also home to the spectacular Lulugayan Falls.

The jump-off point is at Barangay Literon. There's about a 30-minute trek going to the falls. To help tourists, concrete slabs line the path going to the falls but it gets slippery at certain points.

At 50 meters wide, the falls is the best feature of Calbiga river. During summer, the falls is quite tame featuring gentle cascades and the rock formations are visible. But during the rainy season or if it has been raining in the area for a few days, the falls shows it powers with roars that can be heard from the distance.

Due to the recent storm, the infrastructure in the viewing area was destroyed. The local government is currently repairing this area because the river is famous among locals and a favorite spot for swimming and family picnics.

The powerful Lulugayan Falls. Photo by author

3. ULOT TORPEDO BOAT RIDE

Ulot River in the town of Paranas used to be the main “highway” of Samar province before the national road was built. It used to be the main thoroughfare locals use to go from one town to the next. It's a beautiful river flanked on both sides by virgin forests that is home to beautiful endemic wildlife.

The main activity for tourists here is the Torpedo Boat Ride. The boats, which are made of wood, are shaped like torpedo missiles. It's specifically designed for white water rapids.

The first part of the ride is a 45-minute trip downstream covering a mix of calm waters and white water rapids. Each boat can only accommodate eight passengers, five seats are reserved for guests while three boatmen operate the vessel because the ride can be rough and passengers will get wet.

Torpedo Boat Ride in Ulot River. Photo by author

At the end of the ride is the main rapids. Guests can actually jump in the rapids for an exhilarating experience. The boatmen give necessary guidelines when doing this. Each guest that decides to do this must always wear the full safety gear.

After this activity, it's the salmon run back to the jump off point. The upstream ride is about an hour.

Ulot River rapids. Photo by author

4. EXTREME CAVING

Lobo Cave in the town of Jiabong is a newly opened cavern for spelunkers and tourists. It's an impressive cave system that has several features like an underground waterfall, underground river, beautiful rock formations, and even thriving underground wildlife.

The jump-off point is in Catbalogan, at one of its hills. Then a one-hour hike going to the mouth of the cave. The trek alone can be dangerous especially during wet season. The paths are narrow, steep descents, and rocky grounds. Although the view from the peak is quite beautiful.

For the actual caving, guests are briefed on what and what not to do inside the cave. Full safety gear are provided like life vest, helmet, and head lamps. It is advised to wear proper clothing like hiking boots.

Trek going to Lobo Cave. Photo by author

One of the extreme features of the cave is this narrow rabbit hole where guests have to rappel down in order to reach the underground waterfall. The expert guides assist guests during this activity, especially if they're beginners. The hole leads to a deep ravine but there's a narrow path that leads to a small opening going to the falls.

The most tiring part of the caving experience is swimming in the underground river. It's about two to three kilometers long. The end of this tunnel is the source of the water, a strong freshwater spring. Those looking for adventure needs a whole day to explore the cave because it can take several hours.

'Angel Wings' rock formation inside Lobo Cave. Photo by author