Villareal is a coastal town located in the southwestern part of Samar island. It is bounded in the north by Villareal Bay, in the east by Pinabacdao, in the west by Talalora and in the south by Sta. Rita.
History
Of the eighteen settlements in the island when the Jesuits arrived in 1596, Umauas was made one of their first mission stations. Umauas is the original name of Villareal – a name taken from the stream gently “flowing” through the place down into the sea. Umauas became a pueblo in 1768, and in 1863 its name was changed to the hispanic “Villareal”.
Villareal, now more than two hundred years old, has become a big flourishing town with lots of enterprising professionals. From about six hundred families in 1768, its population has grown to more than twenty – three thousand people in 4,473 households according to the 2000 census. Many Villahanons have travelled to distant shores in quest of a better quality of life.But nostalgic memories of home — like the celebration of the town fiesta in honor of their beloved St. Rose of Lima – always remain with them. Somehow, deep down in their hearts, a voice keeps saying: Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.
The municipality of Villareal is estimated to be 65 kilometers southwest of Catbalogan, the provincial capital. It has a total land area of 239.4 square kilometers or 10, 432.9 hectares.
It is classified as a fourth class municipality belonging to the second political district of Samar with 38 barangays.
Barangays covered
1. Central 2. Mercado 3. Villarosa 4. Miramar 5. Tayud
6. Soledad 7. Banquil 8. Bino – ongan 9. Burabod
10. Cambaguio 11. Canmocat 12. Conant 13. Guintarcan
14. Himyangan 15. Igot 16. Inarumbacan 17. Inasudlan
18. Lam – awan 19. Lamingao 20. Lawa – an
21. Macopa 22. Mahayag 23. Malonoy 24. Nagcaduga
25. Pacao 26. Pacoyoy 27. Pangpang 28. Patag
29. Plaridel 30. Polangi 31. San Andres
32. San Fernando 33. San Rafael 34. San Roque
35. Sta. Rosa 36. Sto. Niño 37. Tomabe
38. Ulayan
Economic Activity
Agriculture is the basic economic activity, with rice, coconut, corn and banana as their primary products. An agriculture tenant earns as much as P1,000.00 to P2,000.00 per harvest time. Average yield per hectare is from 20 to 40 sacks of rice. Planting time is June, September and December.
Majority of the farmers own their farms. Average income of P5,000.00 to P10,000 is realized every harvest time. Traditional method of farming is still practiced by most farmers. Barangay Igot is the only barangay where Operation Land Transfer (OLT) program of the CARP has been implemented.
Other sources of livelihood are office employment, merchandising and cottage or home industries such as mat weaving and firewood production. Fishing is another source of livelihood, engaged in by most residents of the coastal barangays. Sources of their capital is privately owned.
Electric power
The electric power of Villareal comes from SAMELCO II or Samar Cooperative II. There are 22 barangays with electric power connections, while there are 16 barangays without power.
Employment
Farming and fishing are the most common livelihood activities engaged in by the both fathers and mothers in almost all barangays.
Government employment is another source of livelihood, with few people employed in most barangays. There are many people who are engaged in merchandising or buy – and – sell in the poblacion barangays. Some families are engaged in home industries or cottage industries aside from farming and fishing.