The datus who ruled the bayside settlements or alongside deep harbors were the most richest and powerful.
By the 17th century, Spanish colonists numbered only a few thousand throughout the Philippines and had few incentives to settle and carve out the land in the provinces.
On the Island of Samar, the land and people were distributed among the Spanish colonists under the encomienda system.
He was tasked to collect tributes, recruit able-bodied males for public services or polo and ensure the physical and spiritual well-being of the inhabitants.
He assumed office on 1830 as the first military governor of Samar and the number of government personnel was increased.
In order to perform his task efficiently he had to work closely with the priest for support and visto bueno of documents.
His subordinates were called cabeza de barangay who was in charge of collecting tributes and other taxes of each family.
Its physical features are characterized by mountainous part on the east and a relatively plain on the north-western side of the municipality.
This climate type in Palapag plays an important rule to its agricultural economy.
Although the agricultural land area is wide enough for the farmers, mostly the cultivation is being limited by the excessive rainfall and the regular sweeping of the typhoon on Samar Islands.