Tacloban City

I exhausted so much time writing about my Tacloban trip. This is going to be the last post about it, promise, hahaha. I did enjoy touring the city, so much, that I want to share the sights and places. It’s no biggie, I must say, but my mantra have been: huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan.

People's Center

 

I dropped by People’s Center along Real St., which is just beside the Santo Nino Shrine. It is a 2-storey building, the 2^nd floor of which is a public library. I never got inside the library as it was closed. It was a Saturday, and the library is open to the public only during weekdays.

I don’t know if this is a permanent thing or just for the fiesta, but the ground floor has been turned into a bazaar.

Inside, other than the bazaar, you can find a huge stage, draped in heavy curtain. 

The library at the second floor:

I went to visit 2 churches, the Redemptorist Church and the Sto. Nino Church:

Redemptorist Church, along Real St.

Sto. Nino Church, also in Real St.

I walked along the Boulevard, where festivities were going on. I passed by the Legislative Building and City Hall:

 

 

The City Hall is sitting on top of Kanhuraw Hill. Within its compound, a lot of monuments were established. I found this one, but there were no inscriptions to describe its significance:

At the foot of the hill, the monument of Madonna Maria Kannon can be found. It is a symbol of friendship between Japan and Philippines after the World War II.

It stands on a rock, set in a well-manicured garden.

Madonna of Japan is also known as the Goddess of Peace.

On the other side of the hill, there stood the statue of the Crucified Christ: 

During this 4-day vacation, I stayed in the only hotel that was available that time. We went from one hotel to another, but they were fully booked. I sooo wanted to stay at Hotel Alejandro, and I was just perpetually waitlisted.

Hotel Alejandro in Paterno St.

 

I ended up staying here:

GV Hotel, Juan Luna St.

 

For only 800p/night, I was not impressed. There was only one socket. So I cannot watch TV while charging my phone, and vice versa. How inconvenient!

There were cockroaches! A lot! Wall, bed, floor, ceiling…they were everywhere! They even feasted on my grapes!

 

So not recommended. GV Hotel is EPIC FAIL.

Parade of Lights, Tacloban City

Tacloban is definitely a Romualdez country. There's a Congressman Romualdez, Mayor Romualdez, Councilor Romualdez...

Very young Congressman.

Kring-Kring is a Councilor.

 

 Every street, streamers and tarpaulins were screaming the surname. 

It was Tacloban's Sangyaw festival during my visit. They celebrate it every last week of June, in honor of their patron saint, Sto. Nino de Tacloban.  I was right on time for the Parade of Lights. 

People were already lining the streets as early as 3pm, when in fact the parade will start at sundown.

Along Real St.

Just outside the Legislative Building.

I couldn't find a spot to watch the parade. It was just too crowded. I just stayed in my hotel room to watch from my window.

The view from  my window.

By 6:30 pm.

At 6:45, the mood became more festive, the music became louder, and the people were howling...signs that the parade was starting. First in line was the dragon dance:

Rendered by the city's Chinese community.

Floats embellished with lights, in all colors, followed:

The colorful lights symbolized the transformation of Tacloban, now being tagged as the most progressive city in the region. 20 floats were showcased, depicting the city's flora and fauna, history, landmarks and progress.

 

There was also a lot of street dancing, complete with costume and props:

This was nice. They were so graceful.

Butterflies!

Ala Juanita Banana =)

The float with politicians on board:

Man in black is Sen. Bongbong Marcos, while the lady beside him is Cynthia Villar.

That's Kring-Kring, in pink top and jeans.

The float of GMA 7:

Stars of Faithfully.

This float was loaded with GMA stars. The crowd was at its noisiest as people were screaming for their idols. I didn't recognize any of them, nor do I know any of them, except for Maxene Magalona *LOL*.

After the parade, these floats were displayed in the park, across Sto. Nino church. Here's a closer look:

This parade is one of a kind. Must be very expensive, considering all the LED lights that were used to brighten the 20 floats.

Good job, Tacloban!

What to See in Tacloban City

Tacloban is such a small city. One may be able to cover it in one whole day. I got to know the downtown area quickly, and went around from street to street, by foot. Although everything is accessible by jeep, I preferred to walk.

My first destination was the Landing Site of General MacArthur in Palo. This is just 2 jeepney rides away from my hotel. I took the jeep from Real St. to Robinson’s.

If you grew up in the 80's, you definitely know Cristina. She's a Councilor of Tacloban City now.

From Robinson’s, I took another jeep going to rotunda, and went down right across the Philippine Science High School.

You can choose to walk all the way to the park, or take the pedicab.

Pedicab = bicycle with a side car.

I made a quick stop at the Boy Scout Monument. This was erected in 1941, making it the first Boy Scout monument in the world in human form.

The boy scout is holding a bamboo patrol staff and a tree seedling.

Up ahead, I was greeted by the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park.

Hello, General Douglas MacArthur!

This has been declared as a National Historical Landmark.

On this spot, General MacArthur returned to the Philippines on 20 October 1944, and personally led the swift drive against the Japanese forces. President Sergio Osmena and some members of the government-in-exile arrived with General MacArthur and proceeded to reorganize, restore and administer the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

One shouldn't leave the site without joining these brave men in the water. Yes, it is allowed (you have to remove your footwear of course!). The water is clean and regularly maintained, and there were no tadpoles and wrigglers swimming (just so you know).

The park is huge. There were several tourists and some students enjoying the afternoon breeze.

Within the park, there's this piece of artwork erected in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings.

This artwork is surrounded with plaques, bearing the messages of different presidents and dignitaries from various countries. These plaques are enclosed in a glass case, arranged in a circular manner.

My last stop in this part of town is The Filipino Soldier Monument.

I further went to the other side of Tacloban, just to catch a glimpse of the Philippines' longest bridge.

Built during the Marcos administration, the San Juanico Bridge crosses the San Juanico Strait, bridging the islands of Samar and Leyte. It connects Tacloban City on the Leyte side and the town of Santa Rita on the Samar side. This is also known as the Marcos Bridge (wiki).

I passed by the Price Mansion, now CAP Building, which used to be the former headquarters of Gen. MacArthur.

There's so much to see, so much to learn. I'm saving the best part of this trip on a separate entry. One place that took my breath away.



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Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan.