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.

Labels: Churches, Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Museums, Tacloban City, Temples

One of Baguio's newest and unknown attractions, near Benguet's capital town La Trinidad and just a short jeepney ride away from the City of Pines lies Bell Church, a Taoist temple.

Bell church looks so much like typical Chinese temples (like the Taoist Temple in Cebu) but it's location is hidden by lush garden surrounding it. Red color dominates the landscaping with dragons even at the gates.

A building inside the temple houses a queer fusion of Chinese images with familiar Catholic symbols. Incense sticks and saying your prayers as well as consulting Chinese people of your luck is available.

picture of Bell Church courtesy of Novie and Gheng taken with Nokia Cellphone

How to get to Bell Church:

Commute to Bell Church is easy, just board a jeepney bound for La Trinidad at Baguio Plaza and alight in front of the place. There's no entrance fee at Bell Church, donations are welcome as admission prices. You are free to take picture of the place, photography and video taking allowed except for commercial purposes. please get in touch with Bell Church for rates and other inquiries by visiting their official website or calling contact number.


Related Posts:
Driving Directions to Baguio
The Manor Camp John Hay
Flights to Baguio
Cemetery of Negativism
Panagbenga Flower Festival

Labels: Baguio City, Benguet, Cordillera, Cordillera Administrative Region, Temples