The island of Samar and northern Leyte are inhabited by the Waray (Waray-waray), a hardy people who have attuned their lives to the fact that their homes lie in the paths of Pacific typhoons. The core areas are Leyte (700,634) and Samar (829,249 NSO 1990), with a total national population of about 2,423,761 (NSO 1990).

       The land is rugged with narrow coastal areas and a mature karst spine. Wet rice intensive cultivation, production of copra, and domestic fishing economy sustain the basic population. Fishing industry is particularly intensive in the southern part of the island. The culture is basically Visayan. The Waray weave beautiful mats from palm fronds found in the vicinities of Basey in the southern tip of Samar.