Marabut, Samar

Before the construction of the Mabaysay Church (now known as Basey Church) in 1846, the area was inhabited by the Umhanan people, also referred to as the Tinawagan people.

In 1868, some settlers moved toward the shoreline, while others remained inland to avoid forced labor by the Guardia Civil during the church's construction. After the Balangiga massacre on September 28, 1901, additional settlers from Balangiga migrated inland to escape fears of American retaliation, increasing the local population.^{[citation needed]}

During the Spanish period, Ysidro Ferreras encouraged Engracio Amantillo and Mauricio Amantillo to change the name from Umhanan to Tinawagan, and later to Sitio Lipata, in reference to the abundance of Lipata trees in the area.^{[citation needed]} Local accounts stated that Bicario Amantillo organized residents for community protection during the revolutionary period, and leadership later passed on to Ysidro Ferreras.^{[citation needed]}

Under American rule,^{[citation needed]} the population of Sitio Lipata grew significantly. Under Ysidro's leadership, residents once considered relocating to Hilaba (with its larger area and a hill suitable for a church), but the plan was abandoned due to problems with shoreline access at low tides.^{[citation needed]}

Ysidro Ferreras later transformed Sitio Lipata into Barrio Santo Niño of Basey, Samar. Ysidro Ferreras served as Mayor of Basey, Engracio Amantillo as Vice Mayor, and Mauricio Amantillo as Cabeza del Barrio Santo Niño.^{[citation needed]} During World War II elementary education in Barrio Santo Niño was suspended until the liberation of Samar in 1944.^{[citation needed]}

In early 1949, Ysidro Ferreras submitted a proposal to President Elpidio Quirino to convert Barrio Santo Niño into a municipality. On July 22, 1949, Executive Order No. 247 was signed, creating the Municipality of Marabut, named in honor of Congressman Serafin Marabut of Basey, Samar. Ysidro Ferreras became the municipality's first mayor, and Engracio Amantillo the first vice mayor.^{[5][AI-retrieved source]}

Under the original organization, Marabut included 14 barangays: San Roque, Tag-Alag, Legaspi, Caluayan, Tinabanan, Osmeña, Canyoyo, Binocyahan, Odoc, Pinana-an, Santo Niño (Poblacion), Lipata, Amambucale, and Pinamitinan.^{[citation needed]}

During the administration of Mayor Macario Ferreras, Poblacion Marabut was subdivided into four barangays: Amantillo, Sto. Niño, Catato, and Lipata. Other barangays were similarly divided (Pinamitinan into Sta. Rita, Malobago; Odoc into Ferreras; Binocyahan into Logero; Osmeña into Mabuhay, Roño, Panan-awan, etc.; Legaspi into Veloso), resulting in the present total of 24 barangays.^[6]

The municipality of Marabut is politically subdivided into 24 barangays, each consisting of Puroks, with some also containing Sitios.^[7]

In 1957, the sitio of Pinana-an was converted into the barrio Pinalangga.^[8]

Marabut has a tropical rainforest climate, characterized by high humidity, warm temperatures, and significant rainfall throughout the year. The wettest month is December, and the driest month is April.^[10]

According to the 2024 Philippine census, the population of Marabut was 18,168 people^[16], with a density of 130 inhabitants per square kilometre or 340 inhabitants per square mile.