Northern Samar Provincial Planning and Development Office

As part of this year’s 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 celebration and the Ibabao Festival 2026, the Provincial Government of Northern Samar, in partnership with the Philippine Astronomical Society, Inc. (PAS), invites everyone to an evening of celestial discovery.

Bring family members and friends and experience a night where heritage meets science, curiosity, and the cosmos through 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, on June 3, 2026 (Wednesday), at 6:00 PM, at the Rooftop of the Northern Samar Provincial Capitol.

Witness the wonders of the night sky through telescopes and learn more about the stars, planets, and other celestial objects from astronomy enthusiasts and experts.

Together, let’s explore the universe, and discover the beauty beyond our atmosphere!

See you there, Ibabaonon and Nortehanon!

Makasaysayang araw po! It's Xiao Time!

Isang makasaysayang araw ang magaganap sa pagbisita ng isa sa mga kinikilalang public historian ng bansa na si Prof. Xiao Chua.

Inaanyayahan na makiisa sa “𝙋𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖: 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙗á𝙗𝙖𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚” sa darating na Hunyo 4, 2026, sa Ibabao Hall, Provincial Capitol, Catarman, Northern Samar.

Kilala si 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 “𝐗𝐢𝐚𝐨” 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐚 ng De La Salle University Department of History sa pagpapalaganap ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas sa mas malawak na publiko sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga talakayan, telebisyon, at social media platforms.

Sa kaniyang “It’s Xiao Time” heritage talk, inaasahang tatalakayin niya ang kahalagahan ng kasaysayan, kultura, at pamana ng mga Ibabaonon at Nortehanon bilang bahagi ng ating pagkakakilanlan bilang mga Pilipino.

Sama-sama nating ipagdiwang at ikarangal hindi lang ngayong National Heritage Month (NHM) ang ating kasaysayan at kultura sa pamamagitan ng mga heritage talks, cultural performances, at exhibits.

𝙇𝙊𝙊𝙆 || 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝟴-𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿; 𝗚𝗼𝘃. 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹

A multidisciplinary archaeological team from the University of the Philippines School of Archaeology (UPSA) is currently conducting explorations in Batag Island in Laoang, Northern Samar, as part of the ongoing efforts to study the province’s ancient human history and environmental past.

The archaeological studies are led by 𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐑. 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬, together with a team of archaeologist-experts on ancient DNA, plants, animals, and human bones. The collaborative project brings together specialists working on different aspects of archaeology to better understand long-term patterns of human life, diet, and environment in the area.

Among the 8-member archaeology team is a Canadian archaeologist 𝐃𝐫. 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐩 currently serving as a full-time professor at UPSA. The group is engaged in systematic investigations that aim to uncover biological and cultural evidence from past communities in Northern Samar.

Along with Dr. Robles and Dr. Plomp, the team includes: 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐳 (BioArchaeologist); 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐚 (ZooArchaeologist); 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐝 (GeoArchaeologist); 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 (BioArchaeologist); 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐨 (BioArchaeologist); and 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐳 𝐁. 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧 (Ancient DNA/ Archaeologist).

Officials welcomed the visiting scholars during a courtesy call on May 26, 2026, led by Governor Harris Christopher M. Ongchuan and Laoang Mayor Charlene Ongchuan, expressing support for the research initiative and its potential contribution to the province’s cultural heritage and historical identity. The team was also welcomed by Vice Governor Atty. Clarence E. Dato, Mapanas Mayor Atty. Ronn Michael L. Tejano, and EnP Jay Keenson C. Acebuche of the Provincial Planning and Development Office in separate courtesy visits.

The archaeological activities in Mapanas and Batag Island form part of broader academic collaborations aimed at strengthening scientific research in Northern Samar archaeology while fostering partnerships in heritage studies.