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The Waray-Waray are an ethnoliguistic group located in Samar and Leyte. Geographically, they are located in the Visayas, although they are not Bisaya.
Waray-Waray sometimes shortened to Waray, is the term used to refer to the people who inhabit the islands of Samar and Biliran and the eastern section of Leyte. Those who come from Samar are called Samareños, while those from Leyte are Leyteños. They speak the language called Waray.
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Area
The Waray-Waray form the majority in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, while they form a significant population in Leyte and Sorsogon. Some Warays live in Mindanao.
Traditions
Many Waray-Waray traditions can be traced to pre-colonial times. For example, the Kuratsa dance is a very popular traditional dance of the Waray-Waray at many social gatherings, especially weddings. It is very common throughout Samar. The couple who dances the Kuratsa are showered with money by the people around them. The belief is that the more money showered upon them, the more blessings will come their way.
Universities
Tacloban City in Leyte is home to a campus of the University of the Philippines. Leyte Normal University is also located in Tacloban. There are numerous state universities serving the community, including Eastern Visayas State University, and Eastern Samar State University.
Perceptions in other parts of the Philippines
The Waray-Waray are often stereotyped as brave warriors, as popularized in the tagline, "basta ang Waray, hindi uurong sa away" (Waray never back down from a fight.)
Crops
The most important crop and major source of income for many is the coconut. Other major agricultural products include rice and corn, whie sugarcane, abaca, and tobacco are also grown. Cassava and camote (yam) are grown as supplementary staple crops. Pineapple, banana, mangoes, and other fruit are grown year round, as are many vegetables and peanuts. In Eastern Samar, a root crop known as palawan is grown. It is not common outside of that area. Leyte is a big producer of bananas.
Farming/Fishing
Farming and fishing provide much of the livelihood of the Waray-Waray. There is an impressive variety of seafood available.
Native Wines
Native wines are produced in the area, as in many places in the Philippines. The most common of these wines are tuba, extracted from the coconut palm, and pangasi, made from fermented rice.
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