Tacloban Accommodations: Welcome Home Pensionne
27 September 2010
An officemate of Tutubi asked him for his recommendations on "where to stay in Tacloban" where he mentioned two places: Luxury Suites and Welcome Home Pensionne, two places he stayed at in Tacloban but upon checking this blog, he found out he's yet to provide an entry on Welcome Home Pension...so here's a quick post on the Tacloban pension house.
Pension houses are small hotels favored by budget travelers like Tutubi. In this case, he only opted to stay here just to try something different rather than stay again at the Luxury Suites. This pension house fits his budget so much that he can afford to rent the largest room available but why bother? He only checked it, dropped his bag, returned late at night and left the next day. He doesn't need the frills of luxury hotels like the overrated Leyte Park Hotel (please avoid the place like a plague).
Tutubi's backpack on the bed with the refrigerator and TV visible.
the color theme may not appeal to you but Tutubi doesn't mind. He merely wanted to rest well for the night then check out the following day
Brief review of Welcome Home Pension House:
Cheap hotel with clean rooms though a bit old yet homey. Tutubi's room is actually too big for him though. TV turned on only for company late at night after dinner at Calle Z (for pakdol, Leyte's version of bulalo) and a few bottles of beer for a taste of Tacloban night life. Location is at the city center just across the Duptours van terminal). No meals available for your room though so you have to eat some place else.
Room rates: starts at P250.00/person for shared rooms up to P1200.00 for family room with 2 queen size beds. Extra beds at P150.00
Welcome Home Pensione
Address: 161 Sto. Nino St.
Tacloban City 6500
Telephone Number: +63.53.321.2739
please call Welcome Home Pensione contact number for the latest room rates and/or promos.
Related Posts:
Luxury Suites (Tacloban Hotel)
Tacloban City Tour
Tacloban Delicacies
Tacloban Airport Guide
Pension houses are small hotels favored by budget travelers like Tutubi. In this case, he only opted to stay here just to try something different rather than stay again at the Luxury Suites. This pension house fits his budget so much that he can afford to rent the largest room available but why bother? He only checked it, dropped his bag, returned late at night and left the next day. He doesn't need the frills of luxury hotels like the overrated Leyte Park Hotel (please avoid the place like a plague).
Tutubi's backpack on the bed with the refrigerator and TV visible.
the color theme may not appeal to you but Tutubi doesn't mind. He merely wanted to rest well for the night then check out the following dayBrief review of Welcome Home Pension House:
Cheap hotel with clean rooms though a bit old yet homey. Tutubi's room is actually too big for him though. TV turned on only for company late at night after dinner at Calle Z (for pakdol, Leyte's version of bulalo) and a few bottles of beer for a taste of Tacloban night life. Location is at the city center just across the Duptours van terminal). No meals available for your room though so you have to eat some place else.
Room rates: starts at P250.00/person for shared rooms up to P1200.00 for family room with 2 queen size beds. Extra beds at P150.00
Welcome Home Pensione
Address: 161 Sto. Nino St.
Tacloban City 6500
Telephone Number: +63.53.321.2739
please call Welcome Home Pensione contact number for the latest room rates and/or promos.
Related Posts:
Luxury Suites (Tacloban Hotel)
Tacloban City Tour
Tacloban Delicacies
Tacloban Airport Guide
Labels: Accommodations, Leyte Accommodations, Tacloban City
posted by GingGoy @ 9:31 PM,
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Review: The Luxury Suite (Tacloban Hotel)
07 February 2010
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.
---
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
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.
---
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
posted by GingGoy @ 9:41 PM,
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Tacloban Restaurants: Ocho Seafood and Grill
31 January 2010
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.
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 scallopsBrief 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
posted by GingGoy @ 8:27 PM,
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Leyte Tacloban Delicacies: Binagol and Moron
13 December 2008
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.
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
posted by GingGoy @ 11:17 PM,
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Crossing San Juanico Bridge Unhampered by Heavy Rain
29 November 2008
With heavy rains offering near zero visibility in Tacloban hardly dampened Tutubi's will to travel and explore places, he was able to cross the famous San Juanico bridge, the Philippines' longest bridge connecting Leyte island to neighboring Samar separated by San Juanico Strait
San Juanico Bridge has a length of 2.16 kilometers with an arch at midspan allowing ample vertical clearance for ships to pass and visit the port of Tacloban.
the approach to San Juanico Bridge from Tacloban
The Welcome to Samar Arch: Tutubi conquered Samar :P
The shape of the other half of the bridge is visible here
If one end of the bridge is in Tacloban City, the other end is in Sta. Rita town of Samar.
What most people remember about San Juanico Bridge is the stunt pulled off by stuntman/actor Dante Varona where he jumped on the span unto the water below. What most people don't know, however, is that the bridge, when viewed from the sky, is a combination of the letters L and S to represent Leyte and Samar.
The lower part shaped like the letter L for Leyte and the upper part like an S for Samar (picture from Wikimapia)
Unconfirmed reports claims former president Ferdinand Marcos had the bridge constructed in 1973 as a gift to her imeldific wife, Imelda Marcos, who hails from Tacloban.
---
How to get there:
San Juanico Bridge is about 10-20 minutes away by jeep or van from Tacloban Airport. You may ride buses/jeepneys going to Samar (e.g. Basey or Marabut or Guian) at Tacloban Bus terminal.
San Juanico Bridge is also one stop of Leyte Provincial Government-organized Icot-icot tour
Upcoming posts:
Braving Samar's notorious bad roads to stunning rock formations in a secluded beach and a town of the Banig Festival :P
San Juanico Bridge has a length of 2.16 kilometers with an arch at midspan allowing ample vertical clearance for ships to pass and visit the port of Tacloban.
the approach to San Juanico Bridge from Tacloban
The Welcome to Samar Arch: Tutubi conquered Samar :P
The shape of the other half of the bridge is visible here
If one end of the bridge is in Tacloban City, the other end is in Sta. Rita town of Samar.What most people remember about San Juanico Bridge is the stunt pulled off by stuntman/actor Dante Varona where he jumped on the span unto the water below. What most people don't know, however, is that the bridge, when viewed from the sky, is a combination of the letters L and S to represent Leyte and Samar.
The lower part shaped like the letter L for Leyte and the upper part like an S for Samar (picture from Wikimapia)Unconfirmed reports claims former president Ferdinand Marcos had the bridge constructed in 1973 as a gift to her imeldific wife, Imelda Marcos, who hails from Tacloban.
---
How to get there:
San Juanico Bridge is about 10-20 minutes away by jeep or van from Tacloban Airport. You may ride buses/jeepneys going to Samar (e.g. Basey or Marabut or Guian) at Tacloban Bus terminal.
San Juanico Bridge is also one stop of Leyte Provincial Government-organized Icot-icot tour
Upcoming posts:
Braving Samar's notorious bad roads to stunning rock formations in a secluded beach and a town of the Banig Festival :P
Labels: Bridges, Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Samar, Tacloban City
posted by GingGoy @ 9:55 PM,
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Suroy-suroy Leyte: Tacloban City DIY Tour
24 November 2008
Still sleepy after spending the night in Ormoc, Tutubi woke up at 5:30am, took a quick shower and breakfast and flagged a tricycle that took him to the Duptours terminal to catch the shuttle to Tacloban...
He needed to be at RTR Plaza in Tacloban by 9am to join the Icot-icot tour, but sadly, with usual planned trips, it didn't materialize. Duptours van arrived late and it was raining heavily in Tacloban thus canceled Tutubi's hope for the guided tour of Tacloban City.
But just the same, even with the rain, there's still plan B and a plan C...with a service car courtesy of a friend, plan B did materialize. He went around Tacloban City in the middle of a pouring rain with brief lull or a slight drizzle in between managed to take pictures inside the car:
Leyte Provincial Capitol, a historical neo-classical building where General MacArthur and President Osmeña announced that Tacloban was the temporary seat of the Commonwealth government.
CAP building, formerly called Price Mansion, on Justice Romualdez Street: the official residence and headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur during the liberation of the Philippines in 1944. Now owned by College Assurance Plan (CAP)
The Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, where you can see on display the different priceless art objects said to be gifts to the former first lady Imelda Marcos during her trips abroad.
Several government buildings line Magsaysay Boulevard e.g. Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Bulwagan ng Katarungan and University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Tacloban campus. There's also the Family Park; statue of the Image of the Crucified Christ; statue of Maria Kannon, the Madonna of Japan that symbolizes peace at the foot of Kanhuraw Hill; the Philippine-Japan Peace Park and the Balyu-an Tower.
Sto. Niño Church on On Real Street is the the main Catholic Church in the city (there's also the Redemptorist Church nearby). Beside it is the People’s Center and Library and the Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum.
Redoña Residence on Sen. Enage Street corner T. Claudio Street, is a two-story wooden heritage house with capiz windows.
Maria Kanon Madonna of Peace Shrine, foot of Kanhuraw Hill, (madonna of japan) made from single slab of rare miyagi stone
Buddhist Temple in Anibong District, Tacloban City at the foot of a hill. A beautiful 2-storey pagoda where monks and Buddhists make their worship, prayers, and offerings.
Did you know where Tutubi went after the Tacloban City Tour eve if it's raining?
wait for the next posts :P
---
Tacloban Travel Tip:
If you need a guided tour of Tacloban City that includes in their itinerary the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Palo town (no mention of the Palo Cathedral) and a brief stop over at San Juanico Bridge, you may join the so called Icot-icot tour organized by the Leyte Tourism Office:
City Tour Fee (includes the ride, tour guide and the entrance fees at the Sto. Niño Shrine)
PhP100 for the morning trip
PhP150 for the afternoon trip (inclusive of entrance fee a visit to a bucolic farm resort in Babatngon, Leyte)
Where to catch it:
RTR Plaza in Tacloban City
Trip Schedule:
Daily at 9am and 2pm
They have a minimum number of persons joining for a trip to take place or if less than that, you can pay for six persons i.e. PhP900.00 and you'll have the multicab and driver/guide all for yourself for three hours.
He needed to be at RTR Plaza in Tacloban by 9am to join the Icot-icot tour, but sadly, with usual planned trips, it didn't materialize. Duptours van arrived late and it was raining heavily in Tacloban thus canceled Tutubi's hope for the guided tour of Tacloban City.
But just the same, even with the rain, there's still plan B and a plan C...with a service car courtesy of a friend, plan B did materialize. He went around Tacloban City in the middle of a pouring rain with brief lull or a slight drizzle in between managed to take pictures inside the car:
Leyte Provincial Capitol, a historical neo-classical building where General MacArthur and President Osmeña announced that Tacloban was the temporary seat of the Commonwealth government.
CAP building, formerly called Price Mansion, on Justice Romualdez Street: the official residence and headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur during the liberation of the Philippines in 1944. Now owned by College Assurance Plan (CAP)
The Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, where you can see on display the different priceless art objects said to be gifts to the former first lady Imelda Marcos during her trips abroad.Several government buildings line Magsaysay Boulevard e.g. Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Bulwagan ng Katarungan and University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Tacloban campus. There's also the Family Park; statue of the Image of the Crucified Christ; statue of Maria Kannon, the Madonna of Japan that symbolizes peace at the foot of Kanhuraw Hill; the Philippine-Japan Peace Park and the Balyu-an Tower.
Sto. Niño Church on On Real Street is the the main Catholic Church in the city (there's also the Redemptorist Church nearby). Beside it is the People’s Center and Library and the Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum.
Redoña Residence on Sen. Enage Street corner T. Claudio Street, is a two-story wooden heritage house with capiz windows.
Maria Kanon Madonna of Peace Shrine, foot of Kanhuraw Hill, (madonna of japan) made from single slab of rare miyagi stone
Buddhist Temple in Anibong District, Tacloban City at the foot of a hill. A beautiful 2-storey pagoda where monks and Buddhists make their worship, prayers, and offerings.Did you know where Tutubi went after the Tacloban City Tour eve if it's raining?
wait for the next posts :P
---
Tacloban Travel Tip:
If you need a guided tour of Tacloban City that includes in their itinerary the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Palo town (no mention of the Palo Cathedral) and a brief stop over at San Juanico Bridge, you may join the so called Icot-icot tour organized by the Leyte Tourism Office:
City Tour Fee (includes the ride, tour guide and the entrance fees at the Sto. Niño Shrine)
PhP100 for the morning trip
PhP150 for the afternoon trip (inclusive of entrance fee a visit to a bucolic farm resort in Babatngon, Leyte)
Where to catch it:
RTR Plaza in Tacloban City
Trip Schedule:
Daily at 9am and 2pm
They have a minimum number of persons joining for a trip to take place or if less than that, you can pay for six persons i.e. PhP900.00 and you'll have the multicab and driver/guide all for yourself for three hours.
Labels: Churches, Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Museums, Tacloban City, Temples
posted by GingGoy @ 9:18 PM,
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The Neo-Classical Leyte Provincial Capitol
21 November 2008
The first destination of Tutubi's DIY tour of Tacloban took him to the Leyte Provincial Capitol, an almost immaculate white neo-classical building that once served as Capitol Building of the Commonwealth of the Philippines during the period dubbed as days of liberation of World War II that began with the historic Battle of Leyte Gulf and Leyte invasion.
The capitol building sports a neo-classical architectural style typical of American-era government edifices.
NHI Historical Marker reads:
"Capitol Building of the Philippines, 1944-1945
On the steps of this Capitol Building of Leyte was formally installed, 23 October 1944, Sergio Osmena as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the presence of cabinetmen, liberation forces and many other grateful people. Henceforth, until 27 February 1945, this edifice served as the Capitol Building of the Philippines."
After the bloody and disastrous Battle of Manila, the seat of the national government moved to its home in Manila.
Two bas reliefs can be found on both sides of the capitol: a depiction of the "first mass" on Limasawa Island and the landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Red Beach, Palo, Leyte.
Inside the capitol was an exhibit on the 64th anniversary of the Leyte landing celebration last month including photographs and memoirs other historic events in Leyte and Samar including the Balangiga massacre during the Philippine-American War.
Notes:
Then Vice President Sergio Osmena, whose face you see featured on the P50 bill, was installed president of the Commonwealth due to the death of President Manuel Quezon on August 1, 1944 in New York, after a long fight against tuberculosis (a highly-cureable disease these days). He was with President Quezon on Corregidor Island and left the island for the United States to establish the Philippine government in exile. After the war, he lost the presidential elections of 1946 to Manuel Roxas (the face on the P100 bill), the first president of the new independent Republic of the Philippines. He retired in Cebu, his home province, died in 1961 and buried at Manila North Cemetery.
The site of the first mass in the Philippines and second anchorage of Ferdinand Magellan, after Homonhon, in 1521 is still disputed. It's historically recorded as Mazaua by Antonio Figafetta, Magellan's chronicler who was able to return to Spain after Magellan was killed in The Battle of Mactan against Lapu-lapu. The "official" stand of the NHI shot down arguments that Limasawa has no anchorage for large boats and disregarded the accounts of Gines de Mafra, the only person to have visited Mazaua twice, first with Magellan and the second time with the ill-fated expedition of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, who pointed Mazaua to an island not Limasawa, but somewhere in Butuan in northern Mindanao. More of this in future posts...
The capitol building sports a neo-classical architectural style typical of American-era government edifices.NHI Historical Marker reads:
"Capitol Building of the Philippines, 1944-1945
On the steps of this Capitol Building of Leyte was formally installed, 23 October 1944, Sergio Osmena as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the presence of cabinetmen, liberation forces and many other grateful people. Henceforth, until 27 February 1945, this edifice served as the Capitol Building of the Philippines."
After the bloody and disastrous Battle of Manila, the seat of the national government moved to its home in Manila.
Two bas reliefs can be found on both sides of the capitol: a depiction of the "first mass" on Limasawa Island and the landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Red Beach, Palo, Leyte.
Inside the capitol was an exhibit on the 64th anniversary of the Leyte landing celebration last month including photographs and memoirs other historic events in Leyte and Samar including the Balangiga massacre during the Philippine-American War.
Notes:
Then Vice President Sergio Osmena, whose face you see featured on the P50 bill, was installed president of the Commonwealth due to the death of President Manuel Quezon on August 1, 1944 in New York, after a long fight against tuberculosis (a highly-cureable disease these days). He was with President Quezon on Corregidor Island and left the island for the United States to establish the Philippine government in exile. After the war, he lost the presidential elections of 1946 to Manuel Roxas (the face on the P100 bill), the first president of the new independent Republic of the Philippines. He retired in Cebu, his home province, died in 1961 and buried at Manila North Cemetery.
The site of the first mass in the Philippines and second anchorage of Ferdinand Magellan, after Homonhon, in 1521 is still disputed. It's historically recorded as Mazaua by Antonio Figafetta, Magellan's chronicler who was able to return to Spain after Magellan was killed in The Battle of Mactan against Lapu-lapu. The "official" stand of the NHI shot down arguments that Limasawa has no anchorage for large boats and disregarded the accounts of Gines de Mafra, the only person to have visited Mazaua twice, first with Magellan and the second time with the ill-fated expedition of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, who pointed Mazaua to an island not Limasawa, but somewhere in Butuan in northern Mindanao. More of this in future posts...
Labels: Architecture, Leyte, Tacloban City, World War II
posted by GingGoy @ 8:57 PM,
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A Highly Urbanized City of Tacloban?
18 November 2008
Tacloban, the booming capital of Leyte province and the gateway to Eastern Visayas region is now on the verge of joining the "elite" group of highly-urbanized cities of the Philippines.
Tacloban’s population exceeded the required total population and much more that the minimum required income as mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991.
To start the bid to be a HUC, the President needs to declare a city highly urbanized followed by ratification by the city’s voters in a plebiscite to be held within 120 days after it is issued before the proclamation takes effect.
Tacloban City's plebiscite will be on December 18, 2008.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a highly-urbanized city?
Economic progress may be faster there, but taxes, particularly real property taxes or amelyar can be increased by the city government anytime they want to without intervention by Leyte Capitol.
Tacloban City government will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the provincial government of Leyte and will stop sharing tax revenue with Leyte province.
Meanwhile, just to share photos of booming Tacloban taken in a cruising car :P
The soon to be open Robinsons Mall, just in time for Christmas shopping...there is said to be an SM in the works as well as Gaisano mall
Giant shopping malls are sign of progress in a city...and also a sign of horrendous traffic jams during mall-wide sale. There is also a Gaisano mall being constructed plus a rumored land acquisition by SM to be developed into a shopping mall. (Just hope that Tacloban city downtown's economic life don't get suck out by the malls like what happened in Manila)
The site of the old Tacloban bus terminal is now a McDonald's. Can you see the profile of Tutubi on the dashboard?
If Ormoc City has a famous resident in Lucy Torres-Gomez, Tacloban has a gorgeous first-lady in Cristina Gonzales who owns a salon and spa in Tacloban downtown is a neo-classical style building.
Coming Up: Suroy-suroy Tacloban and pasalubong shopping
Related post:
Highly-urbanized Cities in the Philippines
Tacloban’s population exceeded the required total population and much more that the minimum required income as mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991.
To start the bid to be a HUC, the President needs to declare a city highly urbanized followed by ratification by the city’s voters in a plebiscite to be held within 120 days after it is issued before the proclamation takes effect.
Tacloban City's plebiscite will be on December 18, 2008.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a highly-urbanized city?
Economic progress may be faster there, but taxes, particularly real property taxes or amelyar can be increased by the city government anytime they want to without intervention by Leyte Capitol.
Tacloban City government will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the provincial government of Leyte and will stop sharing tax revenue with Leyte province.
Meanwhile, just to share photos of booming Tacloban taken in a cruising car :P
The soon to be open Robinsons Mall, just in time for Christmas shopping...there is said to be an SM in the works as well as Gaisano mallGiant shopping malls are sign of progress in a city...and also a sign of horrendous traffic jams during mall-wide sale. There is also a Gaisano mall being constructed plus a rumored land acquisition by SM to be developed into a shopping mall. (Just hope that Tacloban city downtown's economic life don't get suck out by the malls like what happened in Manila)
The site of the old Tacloban bus terminal is now a McDonald's. Can you see the profile of Tutubi on the dashboard?
If Ormoc City has a famous resident in Lucy Torres-Gomez, Tacloban has a gorgeous first-lady in Cristina Gonzales who owns a salon and spa in Tacloban downtown is a neo-classical style building.Coming Up: Suroy-suroy Tacloban and pasalubong shopping
Related post:
Highly-urbanized Cities in the Philippines
Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Tacloban City
posted by GingGoy @ 8:33 PM,
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Tacloban Airport Guide: Terminal Fee, How to Get there via Jeepney, Taxi
11 November 2008
Now named Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, Tacloban Domestic airport is the gateway to Eastern Visayas serving flights to Tacloban City.
From this airport, you can then venture out and explore other towns and cities of Leyte and Samar. This airport was destroyed by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in December 2013 and currently is state of disrepair
UPDATED: June 2014
Tacloban Airport before Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. People waiting for passengers of a Cebu Pacific flight. Tutubi hang out at the arrival while waiting for the opening of check-in counters
Carriers servicing Tacloban Domestic Airport:
Philippine Airlines with regular daily flights to other destinations
Cebu Pacific with regular daily flights from Manila, Cebu, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Kalibo
Tacloban Airport Terminal Fee: PhP100.00 (as of June 2014, sometimes called airport tax/departure tax/airport users tax)
A baggage carousel is present eliminating the need for porters at the arrival hall.
Double layer of X-Ray machines plus guards for body frisking and sifting through your hand-carried bags for security.
There's a small store inside the passengers lounge selling snacks and last minute pasalubong stuff like binagol, pastillas and chocolate moron. No restaurant inside the terminal.
No tubes to board the aircraft, you need to walk and use the stairs to the airplane doors like in most other domestic airports.
Hotels near Tacloban Airport:
Walking distance: None
There are many hotels and other accommodations in downtown Tacloban
From Tacloban Aiport to your destination:
Taxis are available to take you to Tacloban City downtown for PhP250.00 (travel time is about 30 minutes). They can also be hired for P2,500.00 12-hour city tour besides other V-hire (van for hire) there with people offering you their vehicles at the exit gate.
For backpackers and budget travelers, jeepneys ply the route going to the New Tacloban Bus Terminal (where buses, shuttle service (GT Express) and jeepneys are waiting for passengers), downtown and even Duptours terminals (beside a gas station). If you're in a hurry, don't ride the waiting jeepneys at the exit if it's not full, head straight to the airport gate and flag a jeep going to Tacloban.
Commuting to Tacloban Airport:
If you took the bus or shuttle (e.g. Duptours) from anywhere in Leyte (e.g. Ormoc) or Samar (Basey, Marabut, Guian, Borongan), drop off at Tacloban rotonda and transfer to a jeepney with signboard San Jose-Airport. The same jeepney can be found in downtown Tacloban. There are no taxis in the city center, only tricycles, and the airport is quite far for tricycles so expect an expensive fare.
WARNING:
Don't even think of cracking a bomb joke at the airport. Filipinos may have a sense of humor but bomb jokes can make you miss your flight and get you in serious trouble with the police and airport security people.
Note: Tutubi is posting updated information on these things. He noticed guide books about the Philippines, including Lonely Planet and Jens Peters, are churning out new editions yet information has not been fully updated and verified and it seems the authors have not really been to some destinations and probably got the information from someone else :(
From this airport, you can then venture out and explore other towns and cities of Leyte and Samar. This airport was destroyed by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in December 2013 and currently is state of disrepair
UPDATED: June 2014
Tacloban Airport before Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. People waiting for passengers of a Cebu Pacific flight. Tutubi hang out at the arrival while waiting for the opening of check-in countersCarriers servicing Tacloban Domestic Airport:
Philippine Airlines with regular daily flights to other destinations
Cebu Pacific with regular daily flights from Manila, Cebu, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Kalibo
Tacloban Airport Terminal Fee: PhP100.00 (as of June 2014, sometimes called airport tax/departure tax/airport users tax)
A baggage carousel is present eliminating the need for porters at the arrival hall.
Double layer of X-Ray machines plus guards for body frisking and sifting through your hand-carried bags for security.
There's a small store inside the passengers lounge selling snacks and last minute pasalubong stuff like binagol, pastillas and chocolate moron. No restaurant inside the terminal.
No tubes to board the aircraft, you need to walk and use the stairs to the airplane doors like in most other domestic airports.
Hotels near Tacloban Airport:
Walking distance: None
There are many hotels and other accommodations in downtown Tacloban
From Tacloban Aiport to your destination:
Taxis are available to take you to Tacloban City downtown for PhP250.00 (travel time is about 30 minutes). They can also be hired for P2,500.00 12-hour city tour besides other V-hire (van for hire) there with people offering you their vehicles at the exit gate.
For backpackers and budget travelers, jeepneys ply the route going to the New Tacloban Bus Terminal (where buses, shuttle service (GT Express) and jeepneys are waiting for passengers), downtown and even Duptours terminals (beside a gas station). If you're in a hurry, don't ride the waiting jeepneys at the exit if it's not full, head straight to the airport gate and flag a jeep going to Tacloban.
Commuting to Tacloban Airport:
If you took the bus or shuttle (e.g. Duptours) from anywhere in Leyte (e.g. Ormoc) or Samar (Basey, Marabut, Guian, Borongan), drop off at Tacloban rotonda and transfer to a jeepney with signboard San Jose-Airport. The same jeepney can be found in downtown Tacloban. There are no taxis in the city center, only tricycles, and the airport is quite far for tricycles so expect an expensive fare.
WARNING:
Don't even think of cracking a bomb joke at the airport. Filipinos may have a sense of humor but bomb jokes can make you miss your flight and get you in serious trouble with the police and airport security people.
Note: Tutubi is posting updated information on these things. He noticed guide books about the Philippines, including Lonely Planet and Jens Peters, are churning out new editions yet information has not been fully updated and verified and it seems the authors have not really been to some destinations and probably got the information from someone else :(
Labels: Airports, Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Tacloban City
posted by GingGoy @ 9:20 PM,
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Leyte: Ormoc to Tacloban Sojourn
05 November 2008
Last week, Tutubi set out on a journey to the island of Leyte in the Eastern Visayas region, his first time to set foot on the island as well the neighboring Samar, the third largest island of the country after Luzon ang Mindanao.
The following series of posts will provide pictures, stories, World War II history, on Tacloban City, the regional gateway to Eastern Visayas and a booming metropolis soon to become a de jure highly-urbanized city, the 34th in the Philippines.
A tour of Ormoc, 17 years after the flash flood, and a crossover to nearby Samar's Basey and Marabut towns after crossing San Juanico Bridge on a rainy day.
Stay tuned...
On going to Ormoc from Tacloban, Tutubi took Duptours shuttle services for a two and a half hour ride (Fare: Php120.00) that passed by the towns of Palo, Sta. Fe, Jaro, Carigara, Capoocan, Culasian among other towns on the way.
Buses, V-Hires (van for hire, GT Express) and jeepneys to other parts of Leyte and Samar are available at the New Tacloban City Bus Terminal waiting for commuters.
The following series of posts will provide pictures, stories, World War II history, on Tacloban City, the regional gateway to Eastern Visayas and a booming metropolis soon to become a de jure highly-urbanized city, the 34th in the Philippines.
A tour of Ormoc, 17 years after the flash flood, and a crossover to nearby Samar's Basey and Marabut towns after crossing San Juanico Bridge on a rainy day.
Stay tuned...
On going to Ormoc from Tacloban, Tutubi took Duptours shuttle services for a two and a half hour ride (Fare: Php120.00) that passed by the towns of Palo, Sta. Fe, Jaro, Carigara, Capoocan, Culasian among other towns on the way. Buses, V-Hires (van for hire, GT Express) and jeepneys to other parts of Leyte and Samar are available at the New Tacloban City Bus Terminal waiting for commuters.
Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Ormoc, Public Transportation, Tacloban City
posted by GingGoy @ 8:40 PM,
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