the balicuatro islands are a group of 18 small islands situated about northeast of balicuatro point, the northwestern tip of samar island. it is divided into two subgroups by the biri channel, with the main island of biri on the west composed of 7 islands, and the group of cabauan grande (cabaongon) on the east. the islands border the san bernardino strait and philippine sea and are separated from samar by the bani channel.