Nurture your Mind with the History of Northern Samar: Memories of Capul Lighthouse

by Jane Dacumos on June 18, 2012

The Philippine archipelago has the fifth-longest coastline in the world, comprising over 7,100 islands with numerous bays, gulfs, and islets. With more than 5,000 nautical miles which is equivalent to 9,300 km of coasting routes and tortuous channels regularly navigated by vessels trading among some 300 separate ports, lighthouses help mariners against misnavigation and guide them to safety and out of danger from grounding on its treacherous reef and shoals.

We have a lot of lighthouses throughout the country. Most of the lighthouses are declared historical landmarks by the province not only by its importance during navigation, but because of its great contributions during colonial period.

Capul is a rich island in Northern Samar that is well known for its lighthouse. Capul Lighthouse or the Faro de Isla Capul is just several kilometers towards the northern tip of the island.

Memories of Capul Lighthouse

One historical landmark that denotes Capul’s rich history is the Lighthouse in San Luis. The pavilion and tower were built  by the Spaniards in 1896 and only finished during the American period by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It was built to complement the lighthouses of Isla de San Bernardino and the proposed lighthouse in Isla de Viri. The pavilion was designed by Guillermo Brockman and was made conform to the narrow and deep topography of the site where it was built. Like other lighthouses in the Philippines, it is positioned on an elevated area overlooking the San Bernardino Strait. It sends warning to ships entering the narrow treacherous waters between Port of Matnog and Capul.

Capul Lighthouse's great contributions go beyond the Spanish and American times. It became a witness of Japanese World War II where a few meters further down the slope from the main building are three circular gun emplacements of the Japanese Imperial Navy. These big guns used to be mounted there and were intended to be used against the Americans.

A Bird’s Eye View from Capul Lighthouse

The lighthouse is 143 feet above sea level. A view from the top of the lighthouse will give you a breathtaking view of the place. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon and the Naranjos Islands of Masbate.

There are guard railings built along the periphery of the 7-hectare complex and along the foot trails to make the area safer to tourists.

A Trip to Capul Lighthouse

You have to get to Capul Island by boat. The island can be reached by a one-hour motorboat trip from Allen. The easiest way to go to Capul is to fly aboard the Asian Spirit from Manila to either Calbayog or Catarman. Travel by land to Allen, and then take the 11AM boat to Capul. Another option is to take a bus from Manila to Matnog, then ride a ferry boat to Allen, and catch the 11AM boat to Capul.

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Bring home Capul as you look back on its historical lighthouse – Faro de Isla Capul. It might be the sweetest thing that will happen to your life, and you will have an appreciation of the compelling stories that signify our rich history.