2 provinces in less than a day!

My friend’s mom was going to buy some woven mats (banig) in Basey, Samar for her friends. Of course we tagged along to see more of Eastern Visayas. This also gives us a free ride to San Juanico Bridge.

Pronounced as “Basai” by the locals, some sources say that the current name “Basey” was because the American soldiers during the colonial era had difficulty in pronouncing the original word. The changed spelling was carried over to written documents, but people still pronounce it as “basai” in day to day conversations.

St. Michael the Archangel church

A beautifully preserved church, dating back to 17^th century! Amazing how this church is made of coral rock. The structure and the stained glass looked picturesque outside. Too bad it was closed on Mondays so we didn’t have a chance to get to see the murals and view the stained glass from the inside.

Since the church stood on a hill, it became a place of refuge during the storm surge caused by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Basey is also known for their women weavers. You could shop for woven goods and local snacks at the nearby DTI Tourist Center. The price of a woven mat varies depending on the complexity of the patterns and colors used. There are also bags, wallets, magnets, slippers, and other products to take home as a souvenir.

Sohoton is also located in the area, known for its caves and rick formations. Recommended for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Lacking time, we ended our trip to Basey with shopping at the tourist center.