What would you do with three hours to spare in a place where you have to leave and probably not re-visit again in the near future?

Well, maximize the stay, go out and explore, of course! This was what Tutubi did when he visited Bato, Leyte, having heard of the Cuatro Islas, part of the towns of Inopacan and Hindang, north of Bato town, one late afternoon.

Tutubi asked around Inopacan Barangay Poblacion where people let him to the barangay hall where friendly locals assisted him and pointed him fishermen who rented out their boats for PhP1,500.00 to do the island hopping tour of Cuatro Islas, literally meaning four islands consisting of Apid Island, Mahaba Island, Digyo Island and Himokilan Island touted as Leyte's "Hidden Gem" or Secret Hideaway.

Is there any truth to the claim?

Boat launching bayanihan-style on the beach of Inopacan, Leyte

Images of Cuatro Islas, Inopacan, Leyte:
(pictures taken early dusk at low light thus you can't see how white is white here like the sand)

Digyo Island "beach resort": you can pitch a tent to camp overnight here if you're looking for a place to stay

The most popular due to the most picturesque among the four islands is Digyo Island. It's also the smallest, you can actually circle the island on foot for about 30 minutes. It has a long beach tail that looks like a sandbar during low tide, with white sand a bit coarse but still something very good as it's not
developed (there's no entrance fee/environmental fee to be paid on the island (or the collectors were no longer around when Tutubi got there as it's already late)

the white sand of Digyo Island is a bit coarse (shown here is Tutubi's hand, rare appearance)

Late afternoon on Digyo Island white sand beach, no other people as it's getting dark

Mahaba island features a long beach and island form, thus the name which means long in Tagalog (Tagalog visitors named the island). There you can see white sand beaches fringed by limestone cliffs while under the water live colorful corals and fishes worthy good for snorkeling, and diving

Boats docked on the beach of Mahaba Island where several families live

Himokilan Island, is the fourth and last island visited, the nearest of the four to Inopacan town but is politically part of Hindang town. Quite a number of families live on the island, mostly fishermen. The beach here is surrounded with images of saints, perched on poles, and sort of take the role of guardians of the fishing village on the island.

Himokilan Island, part of Hindang town, has images of saints guarding the beach

Tutubi would love to re-visit these islands in the future, should the waves or the wind take him to that part of the world again. But next time, he wants to explore the underwater citizens around the islands

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Notes:

there are numerous dive sites near Cuatro Islas that can be explored by divers/snorkelers. No beach resorts but you can try asking local fishermen for homestays or you can pitch your tents for overnight camping. For hotels, there are some in Inopacan town, Hindang, Hilongos or Bato

The following day, Tutubi visited Canigao Island for lunch before going back to Tacloban to catch his flight back to Manila. He was also told about Calanggaman Island (Kalanggaman) further north in but it's too far to be visited, someday maybe, someday.

Boat rental rates start at PhP1,500.00 up depending on the size of the boat, how many you are in the group and, of course, how good your haggling skills are.

These islands are sometimes spelled as Quatro Islas, Digyo Island as Digjo Island.

Apid Island is not featured on pictures here as Tutubi didn't realy land there, farthest from the four and there's just no time left before the sunset. Pictures were blurry due to the shaky boat and low light conditions.


How to Get to Cuatro Islas, Inopacan, Leyte:

map of Cuatro Islas in the Camotes Sea between the islands of Cebu and Leyte (map via OpenStreetMap)

It's basically a flight to Tacloban Airport, or ferry to the Port of Tacloban, then a jeepney to Tacloban Transport Terminal, followed by a van/jeepney/bus to Inopacan (Duptours and Van Van comes to mind).

From Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, there are also overnight RORO bus to Leyte (CUL Transport, Ultrabus, Eagle Star etc.) if you don't have the moolah but lots of time and your butt can endure long bus trips. (Fare is around PhP1,200.00 travel time about 24 hours)

You can also take the overnight ferry from Cebu to Bato Leyte then board a jeepney to Inopacan or alternatively take the fast craft from Cebu to Ormoc, Leyte then take a jeepney to Baybay City followed by another jeepney to Inopacan town.

Labels: Beaches, Eastern Visayas, Islands, Leyte

Canigao Island is a small island with fish sanctuary, surrounded by white sand beach and beach resort run by the local government of Matalom, Leyte. The island was visited by Tutubi as a sidetrip, where his friends from nearby town of Bato took him just to have lunch.

The island can be reached from the town of Bato by short southbound jeepney ride from Bato transport terminal then a short boat ride to the island.

The "welcome arch" and lifeguard station on Canigao Island where you can also see the resort telephone numbers

the main beach with Matalom locals, facing the seashore of Matalom Town of Leyte Island

The small island, surrounded by white sand beach (with a small segment rocky coral stones), can be circled on foot for about fifteen minutes. there's also a nearby fish sanctuary where you can snorkel, freedive, if not SCUBA dive at the site

Canigao Island Review:

The island is worth the visit by backpackers for a cheap place to stay, meet locals and eat seafood at low prices. The beach has fine white sand (though not as fine as you other famous beaches) it's actually good enough to stay a day or camp out overnight. There is barangay tanod (security) at the place, the beachfront is clean, even crystal clear water without any sign of pollution.

From Canigao Island, you can also do some sort of Leyte Island-Hopping by visiting Calanggaman Island in Palompon or the Quatro Islas (four islands) of Inopacan town: Digyo Island, Apid Island, Mahaba Island, and Himokilan Island


Canigao Island Resort:
Contact Number: +63.949.913.7893; +63.908.682.5781
Telephone Number: +63.53.569.9077
For reservation: +63.919.495.8961

The are no private rooms on Canigao Island, you can only find a camp site and a tent rental facility if you want an overnight camping stay. There's a small canteen serving snacks and softdrinks, water, juices but most of your food like fresh seafood, fishes can be ordered at the nearby pier (like the fish locally called mulmul and balyong sea shell, and bolinao fish)

Canigao Island Rates:

Canigao Island Resort rates/entrance fee/price for cottage/overnight, chair/table rental, camping tent posted This is also where you pay your entrance fee

How to get to Canigao Island, Matalom, Leyte:

For a map of Canigao Island via OpenStreetMap, please click here (map was updated by Tutubi when he visited the place, do help out in updating the best online map of the Philippines)

1. Book a flight to Tacloban (either ZestAir, Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines/PAL Express) or a ferry (2Go Travel) or an overnight ferry to Bato, Leyte (from Cebu or Ubay Bohol)
2. At Tacbloban Airport, ride the San Jose jeepney to Tacloban Transport terminal
3. At the terminal, take the shuttle/van/fx to Bato
4. at Bato terminal, ride the jeepney that goes to Matalom town and request the driver to drop you off to the road of Canigao Island (fare: minimum), travel time is about fifteen minutes
5. Walk to the pier or take a tricycle (minimum fare)
6. Take the short banca ride to Can Island

Labels: Beaches, Eastern Visayas, Islands, Leyte, Leyte Resorts

UPDATE: this Imelda Marcos Olot Mansion in Tolosa Leyte, near Tacloban City was badly damaged by storm surge brought by super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) on November 8, 2013.

While passing by the Leyte town of Tolosa from Tacloban en route to Dulag and Agas-agas Bridge, Tutubi readily noticed the high walls on the long stretch of highway that piqued his interest and prodded him to ask a question to his companion what's inside those walls.

It turned out the property enclosed by the walls is the controversial Olot Beach Club, part of the huge property of the imeldific one -- Imelda Marcos -- sequestered by the government through the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

On entering the "walled resort" you can only imagine the splendor that once enveloped the place. You'll just notice the decaying clubhouse, no people except a few hanging out on the nearby beach.

this ain't Olot Mansion, the birthplace of Imelda Marcos, that was not visited by Tutubi

Olot Beach Club's clubhouse

The beach is of fine gray sand with a few bahay kubo (native huts) dotting the beach front and said to be off-limits to the locals of Olot, Tolosa back in those days when the Marcoses were in power in these islands (though the Romualdez clan, where Imelda Romualdez Marcos belongs, still calls the shots in Tacloban and Leyte politics up to this day)

the fine gray sand beach of Olot Beach Resort sans the beach bums of the rainy day



There's a nine-hole golf course of San Juanico Golf Club currently leased out (which can give you an idea of the expanse of the property) while Olot Beach Resort rents out swimming pool, bathhouse and beach front.

Tutubi initially planned taking pictures of the swimming pool if it's still well-maintained but the rain, for the nth time, made him leave the resort in a hurry. No time too to visit the Kalipayan or the Olot Mansion, the Presidential Mansion of late President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos and called the true Malacañang of the South...perhaps on Tutubi's next trip to Leyte.

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Information on Olot Beach Resort:

Address: National highway of Olot, Tolosa, Leyte

No Contact Number, room rates and rentals for Olot Beach Resort. It's a popular place though for reunions and other events in Tolosa. No entrance fee required to visit the beach facility.

Labels: Beaches, Eastern Visayas, Hotels and Resorts, Leyte

A farm and restaurant he only heard from his friends in Tacloban and mere 30 minutes drive from Tacloban City center, Rafael Farm and Restaurant was visited by Tutubi on his way back from his visits to Caluwayan Beach Resort in Samar before heading to the Tacloban Airport to catch his return flight to Manila.

Pictures of Rafael Farm and Restaurant, Babatngon, Leyte:

the souvenir shop of rafael farm where you can buy t-shirts, mugs and other mementoes
the main restaurant of Rafael Farm with the reflections of the placid man-made lake where you can also ride boats for rent

Tutubi can't give you a full-blown review of Rafael Farm for he merely stayed there for about thirty minutes to take a few pictures and briefly enjoyed the view of the farm in the tree house that overlooks the man-made lake and lush greenery of the garden hideaway.

there's a bridge across the lake resembling San Juanico Bridge and the distinctive S and L forms symbolizing Samar and Leyte
another look at the lake and bridge with Tutubi's friend, that he later learned, is also a photographer

When the guard at the gate noticed that he and his group didn't order from the restaurant, even the halo-halo as recommended by his friend, the guard asked for P20 entrance fee to the farm that they were able to haggle to be gratis since on the premise that they're in a hurry and will come back someday.

Tutubi will be back at Rafael Farm indeed and will surely order their set meal claimed to be good and reasonably priced as well. He foresees another trip to Leyte in the coming months, that's for sure. Much better if they can offer overnight accommodations at their relaxing place.

the toilet and washroom with refreshing color

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Rafael Farm and Restaurant
Address: Brgy. Pagsulhugon
Babatngon, Leyte Province

Telephone Numbers: +63.53.325.0729; +63.53.325.0729
Mobile No.: +63.918.669.9909; +63.915.920.0325

Email: inquiry@rafaelfarm.com; reservation@rafaelfarm.com

For reservations and inquiries, menu prices, events (weddings, baptism, and other parties), and promos, please call their published contact numbers or send an email inquiry. Rafael Farm apparently has no working official website.

Related Leyte Links (or click the Leyte category on the navigation pane:

Ocho Seafood and Grill
Tacloban Delicacies: Binagol and Moron
San Juanico Bridge

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Leyte Restaurants

While re-tracing his earlier trip to the town of Basey and again failing to explore Sohoton Cave due to inclement weather and lack of time, Tutubi wandered past Basey and Marabut and stopped for late lunch at an eponymous resort he found in Barangay Caluwayan, Marabut town famous for it's magnificent rock formations.

Formally named, Caluwayan Palm Island Beach Resort and Restaurant, the beach resort has a nice view of Marabut Rock Formations on the beach where you can also kayak on the serene bay with fine gray sand (and lots of jelly fishes) with the rock formations acting as natural breakwater. A restaurant and grill serves usual menu of fresh seafood (and a "shortage" of meat at that time) while an infinity pool beckons for people looking for a dip.

Photos of Caluwayan Beach resort:

a green lagoon on the resort facility leads to the restaurant and grill near the beachfront beside the infinity pool

dining at Caluwayan restaurant and grill's cottage with a great view of Marabut Rock Formations


the gray sand of Caluwayan, Marabut with the rock formations in view

Caluwayan Palm Island Beach Resort's infinity pool sans people...
the swimming pool area beside the restaurant grill

Review of Caluwayan Palm Island Beach Resort:

Tutubi doesn't have a full review of Caluwayan resort for he merely passed by the place in search of a place to eat late lunch before hurrying to another interesting place in Leyte and catching his return flight to Manila later in the day. For the food, his companions ordered sinigang na hipon (with souring ingredient from a leaf, not the usual tamarind), sizzling squid and vegetables with prices about P200/head. Service was fast, as expected, for they were the only guests at the beach resort at that time.

Resort facilities and activities as claimed include scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, caving/spelunking, rappelling, beach bumming, eating, sleeping...Did you notice the dark skies showing signs of impending rain? It's just because Tutubi took these photos of Caluwayan last December 2009 :P

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Caluwayan Palm Island Beach Resort and Restaurant
Address: Barangay Caluwayan, Marabut, Samar
Tel. No.: +63.55.276.5206; +63.920.938.2510
Official Website: http://www.caluwayanresort.com
Email: inquiry@caluwayanresort.com

Overnight Accommodations Rooms Rates (Source: Caluwayan Beach Resort's Official Website)

Our Room Types:

1. Open Cottage - Php 1,600
2. Beach Villa- Php 5,200
3. Beach Villa Suite - Php 5,900

On low season* the following prices applies:

1. Open Cottage Php 1,300 with breakfast for 2 pax
2. Beach Villa Php 4,200 with breakfast for 2 pax
3. Beach Villa Suite Php 4,800 with breakfast for 2 pax

low season dates are:

* 13 January - 14 March
* 1 June - 30 September
* 10 November - 14 December

For updated resort room rates, day tours, entrance fees, reservations and other inquiries, please call Caluwayan resort's published contact numbers, visit their official website or email them directly. As always, Tutubi has nothing to do with the resort nor received anything in exchange for this, he just happened to pass by the place for late lunch.


How to get to Caluwayan Beach Resort, Marabut, Samar:

From Tacloban Airport, you can hire a JEGA Spider taxi :P
board a jeepney going to Tacloban terminal then take a bus going to Marabut for about an hour travel time. If you have your own van rental, it's just a straight drive to Marabut town after crossing San Juanico Bridge


Related Posts on Samar:
Marabut Rock Formations
Basey Church

Labels: Beaches, Eastern Visayas, Resorts, Samar

If you ask an Ormocanon on where's the best place to stay in Ormoc, the usual answer would be Sabin Resort Hotel, a beachfront facility a few minutes drive (or jeepney ride) away from Ormoc City proper.

Tutubi was able to visit the place recently and offers a few pictures of the place as well as his observations and impressions of Sabin Resort Hotel but no full-blown review on food, staff and service as he did not actually stay there.

Photos of Sabin Resort Hotel:

Sabin Resort Hotel's swimming pool, really nice, well-lit at night and surrounds the main building where overnight accommodations at the resort lie.


One of the "living rooms" with native furniture in use

Sabin Resort Hotel is a beach front resort, nice sunset but the beach is actually rocky, so don't get your hopes up for a nice beach resort in Ormoc



Review of Sabin Resort Hotel:

Note: Tutubi only inspected the place and didn't actually stay there (he stayed at OCCCI Hostel in the middle of Ormoc). All he can say is that the swimming pool looks really nice, snakes around the resort facility but the beach, being a beach front resort, is far from being good, no white sand beaches in this part of the world called Ormoc Bay, probably why Sabin is a resort but not a beach resort.

Room Rates: With 60 rooms available, a Superior room start at P1600.00/room while on the upper end is the Presidential Suite at P3800/room. Extra bed at P400/person.

Sabin Resort Hotel
Telephone Numbers: +63.53.255.3801; +63.53.255.3802; +63.53.255.3803

Official Website: http://www.sabinresort.com

Please call Sabin Resort Hotel contact numbers for updated room rates, ballroom for events (weddings, baptisms, conferences) or visit their official website.

For related posts on Ormoc City, you may click the Ormoc Category/Label below.

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Hotels and Resorts, Leyte, Ormoc, Resorts

A relatively new hotel in Tacloban City downtown where Tutubi stayed at for a night and very near major schools and places in the booming city.

From The Luxury Suite Hotel Review:

The Double Room where Tutubi stayed at, located in the annex building and not on the 3rd floor of TCS Bldg.

The Double room, with a double size bed, comes at a price of PhP750.00 (about $16.00) a night, is already cheap by any standard in a city (you won't find anything like this in Manila but that's another story). Though there's hardly any space left to move around the room as it's almost occupied by the bed, space constraints posed no problem to Tutubi who just needed a place to doze off for the night after watching the day's news on the 14" television (there's no minibar on the double room, available only in a suite)

Toilet and shower room are clean and almost immaculate (probably due to it's really being new) with water heater available.

Downside: the hotel lobby is on the third floor, no elevators available so you're forced to take the stairs. Good for those who want to exercise but bad for people "gifted" with arthritis.

Breakfast is not included in the room rates but there's Gerry's Grill Tacloban branch on the ground floor of the same building where you can order meals for about PhP120.00 (typical Filipino meals).

Ample and secure parking space located behind TCS building with 24 hour security guard.

Internet rentals available at the 3rd floor lobby. No information on "free wifi Internet" as Tutubi doesn't bring his laptop while traveling and prefers to be offline when wandering.

All in all, The Luxury Suite really has value for money for it's clean facilities, price and proximity to your "where the action is" in Tacloban City.

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From The Luxury Suite Hotel Official Website:

THE LUXURY SUITE HOTEL
Address: 3rd Floor TCS Building
P. Burgos St., Tacloban City
Tel. No.: +63.53.321.8844; +63.53.321.8855

The hotel has 14 Air-conditioned Rooms & Suites, each having a private bathroom with hot and cold shower, Cable TV, PABX telephone system and minibar (Suites only).
SINGLE P650.00 $14
DOUBLE P750.00 $16
SUITE P1,000.00 $20
Extra Person P150.00 $3
GROUP PACKAGES

~CHECK OUT TIME is 12 noon.
~Children 12 Years and below occupying the same room as parents/guardians are free of charge.
~Major Credit Cards are honored."

Please call The Luxury Suite Contact Number, visit their official website, email address for updated room rates, inquiries, bookings, reservations and promos.

Related Posts
Welcome Home Pensione
Tacloban City Tour
Tacloban Delicacies
Tacloban Airport guide

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Hotels and Resorts, Leyte, Tacloban City

Tutubi visited Tacloban City and parts of Leyte province three times in a span of three years and was treated by his three different hosts to this restaurant thrice making it probably the most recommended restaurant in Tacloban for visitors to the new highly-urbanized city of Eastern Visayas.

Ocho Seafood & Grill is themed like Cebu's famous sutukil though there's a "stupid" policy of prohibiting taking of pictures at the counter where seafood are to be ordered and cooked according to your preferences. Picture taking of the dining area and of course the food is however allowed.

Sample photos of the restaurant in downtown Tacloban taken by a hungry Tutubi eager to eat rather than taking better photos.

the interior in typical dim-light setting

lapu-lapu (grouper) in sweet and sour sauce
kilaw/kilawin/kinilaw na may gata

grilled squid

baked scallops

Brief review and comments:

Ocho's claim to fame probably is the speed of delivering your orders without compromising quality. The usual orders came in about 15 minutes in all times Tutubi visited the place. Budget for each person is about P400/meal (typical, no menu, just point the main ingredients, sutukil-style, and the way to cook it). Reservations are needed if you plan to go on Friday night dinners and weekends.

The toilet, during Tutubi's initial visit, needs a little cleaning due to urinal drippings but squeaky clean during his second and last visits.

It's also here that Tutubi encountered tuna skin chicharon, healthier alternative to the evil pork skin kind.

Should you ever find yourself in Tacloban City, this restaurant is sure to be the one first to be recommended "where to eat in Tacloban" list. Tutubi however loves the pakdol (bulalo) of Calle Z (Calle Zaragoza Cafe) and the homey ambiance and budget-friendly price of Yolanda's Seafood near Tacloban Airport. For coffee addicts, there's no Starbucks branch in the big city (thank goodness) but there's Jose Karlo's cafe downtown near Sto. Nino Church.

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Leyte Restaurants, Tacloban City

One of World War II's most iconic images was taken on Iwo Jima with the US Marines planting the American flag on the blood-drenched island of Iwo Jima in southern Japan after a hard-fought and costly battle.

In the Philippines, the first raising of the American flag on Philippine soil after the fall of Bataan was made on top of Hill 120 in Dulag Leyte facing Red Beach, a few hours after Gen. Douglas macArthur waded ashore nearby on Red Beach, Palo, Leyte, area now called Leyte Landing Memorial

the not so noticeable depiction of the flag-raising on Hill 120 where a US soldier climbing a coconut tree

Facing the main highway of Dulag is a historical marker narrating the historic significance of the place and reads:"Atop the height of this hill 120, Blue beach, Dulag Leyte, Philippines at 10:42 a.m. 20 October 1944, only 42 minutes had elapsed since the first assault troops of the 3rd BN of 382D Infantry, 96th Division of the American forces of liberation had landed 1st Lt. Clifford W. Mills raised the American flag in Philippine soil after it had been lowered at Bataan on 9 April 1942. Floating high and proud was tangible proof that the Americans had made good their promise to the Filipinos."

"In grateful memory of the unknown American soldiers who with untold magnanimity and valiance fought and paid the supreme sacrifice on this foreign shore to liberate a people foreign to them."

Japanese Memorial and Cenotaph of the bloody encounter

"Cenotaph

Dedicated to console all souls of Filipinos, Japanese, American who
passed away in Leyte during World War II.

Sworn that the same tragedy and mistake should never be repeated. Prayer
for the true world peace and friendship forever"

There's a trail of concrete steps up to the top of Hill 120 require a five minute trek upwards.



On top of the hill, the view is obstructed by tall trees mostly coconuts plus a limited view of what seemed to be a construction or cement factory. Badges and logos of 96th Infantry Division who stormed the hill, the Deadeyes, are displayed on the memorial.



World War II monuments are regularly featured on this blog, not to glorify a war but to remind people of the lives lost and folly of a senseless war.

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How to get to Dulag, Leyte:

the town of Dulag can be reached by two jeepney rides from Tacloban Airport, first the jeep from San Jose to Tacloban City transport terminal then another jeep to Dulag, Leyte about an hour away.

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, World War II

The most famous landmark and tourist attraction of Tacloban, though not really a part of the now highly-urbanized city, is MacArthur Park, now known as Leyte Landing Memorial. It dramatizes the landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Read Beach with larger-than-life bronze statues of the general long with his entourage.

It was on October 20, 1944 when Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore accompanied by then Philippine President Sergio Osmeña, Brig. Gen. Carlos P. Romulo (who'd become president of United Nations General Assembly) and Pres. Osmena's Aide-de-Camp Tony Madrigal (Don Antonio, the father of Senator Jamby Madrigal), to begin the liberation of Leyte Island and of the whole archipelago from the clutches of Imperial Japan.

MacArthur Landing Park on Red Beach, Palo, Leyte

The beachhead in Palo town, a few minutes from Tacloban City, is not really colored red per se nor called as such due to red color of the blood-drenched sand, but a designation of the beach in planning by the US military. There's also Blue Beach in nearby Dulag town and similar conventions of beaches in La Union and Pangasinan in Lingayen Gulf during the landing in Luzon island and Yellow Beach in Zamboanga City.

the MacArthur "shrine" with historical markers in view

the markers on the "shrine" reads:

"On this spot, Palo, Leyte, General Douglas MacArthur returned to the
Philippines on 20 October 1944 and personally led the swift drive
against the Japanese forces in the Philippines. President Sergio
Osmena arrived with General MacArthur and proceeded to reorganize, restore and administer the government of the commonwealth of the Philippines. Declared and National Historical Landmark 2004."

Alternate reports from actual observers and historians narrated how the dogmatic general spent five hours and three takes before the (in)famous video clip was recorded with him wading on Red Beach of Palo, Leyte, while the boats and his men on the shore were exposed to the blistering attacks of Kamikaze pilots from Pampanga that gravely put his men in danger because of his landing rehearsals typical of politicians for self-aggrandizement.

MacArthur Park (Leyte Landing Memorial) with a person in view to add scale to the larger-than-life bronze statues inside a man-made lagoon on Red Beach

Three days after the historic Leyte landing, began the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of World War II and one of the largest naval battles in history, that ended with the crushing defeat of the Imperial Japanese Navy at the hands of the Americans aided by the Royal Australian Navy.

Lastly, does anybody know why MacArthur chose to land on the beaches of Leyte and not anywhere else? Historians know MacArthur initially planned to invade Mindanao particularly Sarangani Bay on December 20, 1944 but was diverted to Leyte two months ahead of schedule. It has something to do with guerillas (the unsung heroes) from Cebu. More on this on a future post.

How to get to MacArthur Park (Leyte Landing Memorial):

Commuting to MacArthur Shrine takes just two rides from Tacloban airport. First, ride a Tacloban bound jeep outside the Tacloban Aiport arrival area. Alight on the area known to the locals as Coca Cola (a park with a Coke factory with prominent Coke, Sprite and Royal giant cans as landmarks), cross the street then transfer to a jeepney bound for Baras (not Marasbaras) that passes by the park.

Those who took RORO buses or ferries to Tacloban can go there by taking a jeepney to Tacloban City center and transfer to Baras-bound jeeps near Tacloban Market, even Robinsons Tacloban mall.

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Landmarks, Leyte, World War II

An engineer and avid fan of megastructures, Tutubi was able to cross San Juanico Bridge, the longest bridge in the country connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte, even in the middle of heavy rains.

This time, he went off to check for himself the newly-opened bridge in Leyte Island in the town of Sogod. This he did by canceling an earlier planned trip to Sohoton Cave in Basey, Samar across Leyte Gulf.

Agas-agas Bridge from one end of the viaduct. Note the bahay kubo (native huts) below to add scale
The two piers supporting the bridge with a height of 292 feet visible on this photo. The platform on the sides of the bridge made available another bungee jumping in the Philippines' Eastern Visayas region

Recently inaugurated by PGMA, Agas-agas bridge was constructed to address the safety issues of frequent landslides and erosion in the area particularly during heavy rains and typhoons. I was funded by the Japanese government through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) fund and construction supervised by Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. of Japan.

a "side view" of the bridge taken from the old dangerous road it replaced
The tallest Bridge in the Philippines lies at kilometer 1007 marker and only habal-habal (motorcycle taxis) are available as public transportation from Mahaplag, Leyte or Sogod, Southern Leyte

With huge potential as an adventure tourism destination, made a part of the 350 meter long viaduct is a platform specifically for bungee jumping enthusiasts. Aficionados of other extreme sports like paramotor, downhill skateboarding zipline and rapelling are also expected to visit the Philippines highest bridge.

DPWH Agas-agas Bridge Field Office with ample parking space for possible adventurers to park their vehicles

(right picture: the two huts in the green valley below the bridge with a small waterfall in view, part of the Leyte Mountain Trail)

Tutubi wasn't able to see or experience any extreme sports at Agas-agas but on his return to Dulag, Leyte that he realized that he was able to set foot on the province of Southern Leyte.

How to get there:

Don't even think of commuting to Agas-agas bridge for for there's no public transportation that pass by the route except the hardy habal-habal. Mahaplag is a town of Southern Leyte and can be reached after about two hours travel from Tacloban City, about 70 kilometers away via zig-zag roads cutting through the beautiful landscapes of the so-called Leyte Mountain Trail. The bridge is located at the kilometer 1007 marker.

Related Posts:

The Longest Bridge of the Philippines

Labels: Adventure Tourism, Bridges, Eastern Visayas, Southern Leyte

A trip to a place for Tutubi won't be complete without him sampling what the locals are proud of like delicacies, food for his own consumption as well as pasalubong, a part of Filipino custom to take home something for his friends, family and office mates.

This time, Tutubi "met" Leyte's delicacies with the binagol of Dagami , chocolate moron (how he loves the name) and pastillas of Carigara town.

a pile of binagol sold on the sidewalk of Tacloban City public market. Binagol costs P25.00 each (about $0.50)

binagol without the banana leaf cover exposing the sweet stuff inside on a coconut shell (picture taken using Canon Ixus 30)


the chocolate moron, similar to suman but with chocolate flavor.

How to make binagol? If you're looking for binagol recipe, look for those people who has been making them for generations in Dagami town. Binagol is sweetened taro (locals call the gabi species as talyan endemic in Palapag, Northern Samar) pudding with nuts Leyte. The talyan is first grounded then mixed with eggs, gata ng niyog (coconut milk), sugar, butter, nuts and chocolate. The mixture is placed in receptacles of coconut shells, called bagol (hence the name binagol), wrapped in banana leaves then steamed.

Where to buy them? Tacloban market or from the towns who make them: Dagami for binagol, Carigara for pastillas, hubhob, and moron.

No information yet on where to buy binagol in Manila. Tutubi has yet to see them in malls, even at weekend markets.

Labels: Delicacies, Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Pasalubong, Tacloban City