Wright, Samar
| Paranas | |
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| Municipality | |
| Municipality of Paranas | |
Ulot River Rapids
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 Map of Samar with Paranas highlighted |
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.svg)
 Paranas
Location within the Philippines
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| Coordinates: 11°51′N 125°07′E / 11.85°N 125.12°ECoordinates: 11°51′N 125°07′E / 11.85°N 125.12°E | |
| Country |
 Philippines
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| Region | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) |
| Province | Samar |
| District | 2nd district of Samar |
| Barangays | 44 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Eunice Uy-Babalcon |
| • Vice Mayor | Yolanda Tan |
| • Electorate | 20,003 voters (2016) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 556.12 km2 (214.72 sq mi) |
| Population (2015 census) | |
| • Total | 30,557 |
| • Density | 55/km2 (140/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 6716 |
| PSGC | 086022000 |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)55 |
| Climate type | tropical rainforest climate |
| Income class | 2nd municipal income class |
| Website | elgu |
Paranas, officially the Municipality of Paranas, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 30,557 people.
It was formerly known as Wright named after American Governor General Luke E. Wright.
Many of the townsfolk work or attend school in nearby Catbalogan City. Trade is also prevalent with Calbayog City farther north.
A part of Paranas is devoted to a nature reserve watershed designated as such by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Paranas is politically subdivided into 44 barangays.
A strip of sand bordering along the coast of the Maqueda Bay, nestling at the foot of a hill which shields it from floods and storms was inhibited by a few natives who engaged in fishing and farming. As time went on, the number of people increased. More and better houses were built and a village was farming. So it attracted many people to trade with the natives and to dwell in it.
The trees along the line of sand were cut down and a street was laid. The increasing inhabitants built nipa houses on both side of the street. As the village expanded the people opened other streets toward the hill.
Shortly after the occupation of the Spaniards in Catbalogan some of them went to Wright, the newly made village. When they reached the village, the tide was low and many of the natives were along the stony coast picking and gathering shellfish and crabs. The banca headed toward the place where the people settled. One of the Spanish Officials asked for the name of the place or the village in Spanish language. The ignorant native looked boastfully at the over tall stranger. Thinking that the Spaniard was asking for the name of slippery rock which the Spaniard was apparently looking at, the native answered “Palanas”, name of the rock. The Spaniard then pronounced the word “Paranas” instead of palanas and recorded it as the name of the village. They went ashore and organized the village government and appointed its officials under the banner of Spain.
The Spanish sovereignty over the village had greatly inspired the natives. The doctrine of Christianity was introduced and the people willingly and readily accepted and believe it. Through the course of time, the village grew to the end and be one of the progressive towns along the shore of the Maqueda Bay. A Catholic church and a convent were erected and a thick high wall around the church site was constructed.
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Wikipedia