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TACLOBAN, LEYTE


San Juanico Bridge


Welcome to Leyte's San Juanico Bridge!


San Juanico bridge was said to be one of the longest bridge in the Philippines.


It connects the islands of Samar and Leyte across San Juanico Strait.



MacArthur's Park
(I Shall Return)


The MacArthurs Park commemorates the historic return of General Douglas MacArthur in Palo, Leyte on 20 October 1944 and personally led the swift drive against the Japanese forces in the Philippines.



Sto. Nino Shrine


In 1979, Sto. Nino Shrine is one of the 29 Presidential rest houses that the late President Ferdinand Marcos has built for his wife, First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos who was born in Tacloban City.

To take a glimpse of the past, click - Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum to showcase what is inside the mansion.

Yolanda Shrine
(Liwasang Barko ni Yolanda)


The original mast of a stranded boat during super typhoon Yolanda was made a memorial marker called the Yolanda Shrine or the Liwasang Barko ni Yolanda.


A monument to remember all those who died from strong winds, hurricanes, heavy rains, floods and those who was hit and killed by sea vans (shipping cargo containers) carried by the storm surge.


I learned from my trike driver that all dead bodies were placed inside the sea vans and was burned altogether.



Visiting Tacloban and being able to set foot to this very town which was literally washed away by storm surge brings mixed emotions. Remembering the Yolanda tragedy and knowing that every person i see, every person i talked to and every person walking on the streets are considered survivors who had lost a family member, lost a home and lost everything they had during the typhoon Haiyan last November 2013. But I also felt happy seeing the town rising back with hope and relieved by their smiles with no trace of their dark yesterday.



HOW I GOT THERE:
  • I took Roble Shipping for 400php from Cebu to Ormoc. See ferry schedules.


  • From Ormoc Pier, I took Van-Vans (Shuttle Van) to Tacloban for 130php. There are also other Vans and Buses traveling from Ormoc to Tacloban.

  • In Tacloban, I contracted a trike to take me for a City Tour for 600php. Places to visit:
    1. MacArthur's Park
    2. San Juanico Bridge
    3. Yolanda Shrine
    4. Sto. Nino Shrine

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