Saturday, January 23, 2010

Selling home decor changes couple’s lives (continued..)

By Aileen Garcia-Yap
Cebu Daily News

Worst year

Business, however, is not always the same according to the Vidas saying this year was the worst ever in terms of sales.

“We are renting two slots at P30,000 each and our sales are barely paying for the rental alone. We think this year is the worst, although we have felt it coming already with previous years sales slowly decreasing,” she said.

The Vidas said they are however hoping for the best come January 17 when more people will be coming to the area to witness the street dances and then take a look at what they are selling and eventually buying from them.

The Vidas said that they had the best sales in from 2001 to 2006. It, however, started to decline in 2007 until now.

“We used to earn at least P400,000 net profits then. And we were able to make renovations at home and helped our relatives because of that,” she said.

With the future thrust of the Department of Tourism to focus on marketing Cebu as a good destination for meetings, incentive travels, conventions, and exhibition shows, the Vidas said they are hoping it will make things favorable for them.

“Of course our target buyers are really the tourists and if they will do that then we expect more people coming here which could also mean sales for us.”

Perla said that her ultimate plan is to have her own permanent outlet where people will just come to them anytime.

“We want to have a place where we can stay for a very long time. That way we can minimize travel expenses and if DOT will really do their plan then the more it will benefit us,” she said.

Her husband Vicente is in Laguna for the Jamboree event and will have to spend at least P20,000 for travel expenses alone.

“We're getting old and soon too old to travel and our child is getting older who needs more attention now so a permanent location would be best,” Vidas said, saying her daughter Veron is already in second year high school and would need them to be near her now more than ever for proper guidance.

SOURCE

COMMENT:
As long as one doesn't lose his faith and trust in God, he can surely make it through, no matter how worse the storm may be.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Selling home decor changes couple’s lives

By Aileen Garcia-Yap
Cebu Daily News


Perla Vidas and her husband were ordinary employees.

Perla was a store helper and her husband a security guard, before they started to make things different in 1991.

Starting a family with a child, Perla recalled life was no longer easy back in early 80s. They had to make ends meet and one day they finally realized that employment was not the best solution to augment their family's earnings.

“I was working for my aunt then who was selling different food items near the port area and also near Sto. Niño church. My husband's income and mine combined was not enough for us so we decided to start our own small business which could give us income based on how hard we work,” she said.

So when they noticed more and more tourists coming to Cebu in the early 90s, they decided to venture into the business of selling native home decorations and accessories.

“We don't have to prepare any capital investment as we only get stocks from a supplier and then sell them at higher prices as our way of earning income.”

Eventually, the business started to grow and the couple slowly earned and put aside enough savings to serve as additional capital for the business.

“We were able to put up P50,000 which we used to buy more goods not only from Cebu, but also from other places like Bicol, Baguio, and Negros,” she said.

The couple also started traveling and joining bazaars at festivals in other provinces and cities like the Pintados festival in Tacloban and the Jamboree event in Laguna.

“We go to every city that we think will have many people visiting during festivals and get a share of the market,” she said.

One of the biggest events that they never failed to attend every year is the Sinulog festival, during which they rent two slots along Jones Avenue near Abellana National High School – right where most of the tourists are expected to gather even before the grand parade on Sunday.

“We've been displaying here since the early 90s. And until now, we are still renting slots to sell a wide selection of accessories, home decoration and handicrafts from different areas in the country,” she said.

The couple hired only two helpers when they started. Now, they employ five people and get more help when there are several events happening at the same time in different locations.

“We have five regular helpers right now who are also our relatives and some friends,” she said.

The Vidas said that they are proud to have helped create employment for their relatives, saying they are just returning the favor they were given before by her aunt who employed her as a store helper.

The couple also helped their parents by having them live in their house and taking care of their needs.

SOURCE


COMMENT:
There is nothing sweeter than savoring your own fruits of labor, rather than working for other people. Building your own business and working hard and smart through it is one of the best ways to be successful..

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Easy on pocket thrills in Leyte (continued..)

BY MINNIE ADVINCULA

Back in Tacloban, another stop is Rafael’s Farm where one can enjoy a beautifully-landscaped garden with a restaurant. There is a man-made lake where one can hire a boat to take you around for P50 for 30 minutes.

Visit the Palo Cathedral and tour some of the old houses nearby. The cathedral is on the way to the MacArthur National Park. Traveling with children, it took longer for us to visit the place as we had to explain every personality involved in the Leyte landing.

The Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, to our surprise was the favorite among the children. It was built by Imelda Marcos as a Romualdez ancestral house but as in most things historical in this country, it has since fallen into a sad state of decay.

The museum charges P250 for five persons and P30 for every person in excess of five. There is additional charge for the use of camera and video camera.

Considering the vast collection of treasures given to the Marcos family during their 20-year in power, what a waste to see the government neglecting this part of history merely on the basis of its being a part of the Marcos memory. Some of the wood furniture, including bed posts, religious images and the 32-seater dining table had been eaten by termites.

The museum survives on the entrance fees, which are barely enough for the salary of the museum staff and payment of electricity bill. As it is, the museum is poorly lighted and maintenance of the whole place is clearly wanting.

Despite this, we were held in awe at the opulence this place once was and marveled at the value of every piece of foreign gift given to Imelda by such people as Mao Zedong.

To cap the night, we went to Balyuhan, across the city hall where the ampitheater is. Feasting on P5 per stick barbecue and "pinuso" rice beside the Leyte Gulf, it was such a delight to be eating street food in a non-threatening environment.

If this is not enough, walk to the nearby Lion’s Den restaurant for a proper meal.

Finally, ride the Spider taxi to get to the airport—or wherever you want to go. It’s Tacloban’s version of Metro Manila’s FX taxi. At P10 per person with an additional P5 for every succeeding kilometer, this vehicle provides the amenities and services of a taxi. But before leaving, drop by at Aida’s in downtown to buy "pasalubong." Highly recommended is the pili hopia and special pastillas from carabao milk. Binagol, moron, and sagmani can also be bought along the sidewalks.

SOURCE

COMMENT:
I'm so glad Minnie enjoyed her trip to my province, Leyte. She and other tourists could also visit Tacloban City around the last week of June, and enjoy celebrating the Pintados Festival with us. There are so many fun-filled activities that people would always go out to the main city everyday during this time to enjoy these festivties.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Easy on pocket thrills in Leyte

BY MINNIE ADVINCULA

Taking advantage of a promo fare by Zest Air, our family hied to Tacloban in what we planned to be an educational trip to historical places in Leyte. The plan sounded subdued enough so it was a pleasant surprise to find out in the end that the children enjoyed the trip a lot and did not resent our mixing the "educational" with pure pleasure.

First in the list is San Juanico Bridge, touted to be the longest in the country. The 2.16-km bridge is convincingly one of the most beautiful bridges in the country. Built during the martial law years, we told the children of the tales and popular belief that have gone into the bridge construction such as its being a gift of Ferdinand Marcos to Imelda Marcos. Nowadays, police have banned picture taking along the bridge so one has to get off at either end of the bridge if one wishes to have a souvenir shot.

Upon crossing from Leyte to Samar, the search for a good beachfront begins. We ended up in a beach in Barangay Tingib. The sand may look like mud but the beach, being dotted with islands, offers a breathtaking view. Barangay Tingib is less developed with just a few cottages and simple facilities for local tourists. Its rusticity, however, is a welcome treat for those running away from the crowded cities. We even took time to see all the rare flowers and plants near the beachfront.

Farther into Samar, there is Caluwayan which has facilities for overnight stay and other outdoor activities such as boating and mountain climbing. Caluwayan hosts trainings for corporate functions and the package is priced reasonably.

SOURCE

COMMENT:
There are other beautiful and breath-taking spots in Samar! These include.....

Calbiga Whitewater River

For Filipino travelers and foreigners who prefer to visit natural attractions, they can always take a look at the pristine and luring Calbiga Whitewater River. With a length of about 18 kilometers, tourists will have sufficient time to admire water species in the river. Surrounding the river is a forest where people can also see various plant and wildlife species. Meanwhile, for those who are in search for adventure, some tourist guides and local residents offer water-rafting activities. Hence, other outdoor activity that everyone can do at Calbiga Whitewater River is kayaking.

Sohotan Cave

An inviting, renowned, and enticing tourist destination in Eastern Samar, Sohotan Cave ranks second in the top 5 tourist spots in Samar Philippines. This cave provides a relaxing and safe place for travelers to do interesting activities such as trekking, hiking, and rock climbing. With the attractive formation of rocks inside Sohotan Cave, people can also learn useful knowledge related to rock collections. Aside from these, locals in Samar give importance to this tourist destination for its historical value since many agree that the cave served as shelter to native people in the province in the early times.
Marabut Marine Park

One of the well-maintained and beautiful manmade tourist attractions in Southern Samar, Marabut Marine Park is found near the popular San Bernardino Strait. Because of its location, many people did not experience hassles in finding the park. Inside the marine park, tourists can find various species of fish, different corals, as well as beautiful reefs. Hence, for the convenience of all its guests, Marabut Marine Park features a restaurant where they can taste several delectable seafood dishes.
Samar Archaeological Museum and Research Cente

Another fascinating tourist destination to see in the province, Samar Archaeological Museum and Research Center features collections of relics that are important to the history, heritage, and culture of Samar group of islands. Within the premises of the museum, everyone can see priceless artifacts that are recovered from the Spanish period like jars, paintings, and sculptures. In addition, devotees like to visit the research center for it also plays home to holy images of several saints and Christian martyrs.

Homonhon Island

Above all, travelers, vacationers, and tourists in Samar, should not forget to visit one of the historical places not just in the province, but also in the Philippines, Homonhon Island. Even if this is not as alluring and attractive as other tourist spots in the province, it is still valuable to locals for it is the place where Spanish wanderer Ferdinand Magellan landed when he discovered the country. To encourage people to visit this place, the provincial government provided a landmark in the site to inform them about the historical value of the island.

SOURCE

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Local tourists urged to spend long weekend holidays in RP

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - While the domestic tourism has saved the country’s entire tourism industry from experiencing the worst in 2009 due to the global economic turmoil, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is once again calling on Filipinos to further spend their money here as several long-weekend holidays have been declared for 2010.

“Spending your vacation here is a great pledge to love your own and do your part in boosting our country’s growth,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

Durano made emphasis on other tourism sites in the Philippines that have strong tourism value, aside from country’s eight anchor spots, such as Boracay, Palawan, Davao, Cebu, Bohol, Vigan, Baguio, and Manila.

DOT is now strongly promoting the unexplored sites to benefit the communities in remote areas.

“We enjoin people to visit tucked-away destinations as well for economic gains to trickle down to the grassroots level,” Durano said.

These alternative spots are readily available and highly accessible for tourists who prefer to immerse themselves with the local life, enjoy the flavor of home-grown leisure, and stay in accommodations such as homestays and inns, added the tourism chief.

Already, the DOT has launched some alternative sites like the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Leyte and the Danao Adventure Park in Bohol.

“While beaches of Boracay and Palawan are still top-drawers, Camiguin, Leyte, Mindoro, Occidental and Oriental Negros, Siquijor, Quezon also have pristine waters and stunning coastlines,” he stressed.

Nature-lovers may head off to Bataan, Batanes, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Marinduque, and Romblon, while heritage hunters may seek the old historical charm of Bacolod and Iloilo, aside from Ilocos.

Tourists who plan to troop to the cities of Manila, Makati, Cebu and Davao have a range of options laid out for them.

“On top of shopping, food trips, night-time entertainment and theme park activities, we have huge theater performances and concerts lined up for the year,” said DOT Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr.

Jarque who heads planning and promotions, also noted the travel trends that the public should look out for.

“Extreme outdoor activities are big this year. The range is more expansive now, with tourists who are open-minded and raring to experience something new,” Jarque said.

The department has been relentlessly supporting adventure activities such as plunges, zipline rides, wakeboarding, skimboarding, kayaking and cylotourism among others.

The young-at-heart on the other hand may try other activities, as the country caters to a broad spectrum of different preferences of travelers.

“A beach lover can enjoy a relaxing spa retreat in Palawan, a festive party in Boracay, or a surfing-break in La Union. Our islands offer a unique plethora of things to do for all kinds of tourists,” continued Jarque.

Spiritual pilgrimages, cultural festivities and colorful ethnic celebrations are some other highlights that tourists may also wish to join.

“It’s ideal to plan ahead, and avail of value-for-money packages offered by hotels, restaurants, malls, theme parks, and entertainment venues,” Durano concluded.

SOURCE

COMMENT:
The Department of Tourism is doing a great job in fostering the Filipino spirit by encouraging local tourists to spend their vacations in local tourist spots. Well done! Filipinos can indeed show their love and concern for their own country by patronizing not only Filipino-made products, but also by spending vacations in our own tourist spots.

Monday, January 18, 2010

DTI calls on people to aspire being businessmen, not job seekers

By Bong Pedalino


Maasin City -- The key to prosperity and wealth is to become an entrepreneur, not an office worker.
Mike Nunez, Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), floated this challenging call this morning during the DYSL Kapihan sa PIA, the first kapihan forum of the new year held at the PIA office and aired live over DYSL-Sogod, where Nunez was the maiden guest.
"Instead of giving fare money for their sons and daughters to go to urban centers to look for work, how much would it be better if Parents encourage their children to be entrepreneurs," Nunez said.
He issued the same advice to students, urging them to be their own boss in a business venture that they are passionate enough to pursue, rather than join the long line of job hunters looking for office work.
Worse, the intense desire to have office-oriented postings has led many to ask for recommendations from political leaders, Nunez added.
The local DTI chief, however, admitted it is not easy to go into one’s own business, since many factors have to be seriously considered, such as the aspiration or willingness of the individual, financial capital, kind or type of business, and target market, among others.
Asked what kind of business he could recommend in the province for potential investors or business-minded local people, Nunez readily recited several options in the tourism industry and in the field of environment.
For tourism-related undertaking, Nunez said there is still a high demand for accommodation facilities like a ten-room lodging inn, sea or land transportation for whistlestop tour along sight-seeing routes, and souvenir shops that sell T-shirts, delicacies, or novelty items.
He cited the natural forest in Silago, in which some 5,000 hectares of natural grown trees -- whose trunks have to be encircled by five persons on outstretched arms -- as a sure hit among nature lovers, or any visitors to wonder in awe and shock.
In agriculture, there are plenty of economic possibilities, although he was not able to elaborate for lack of time. (PIA-Southern Leyte)

SOURCE

COMMENT:
The key to prosperity and wealth is to become an entrepreneur, not an office worker. This is indeed a fact in itself. I NEVER knew anyone who became rich by becoming an employee. ALL of the rich people are EITHER investors or business owners.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Local tourist spots endorsed, for looong holidays!

In view of the long-weekends declared by Malacañang for the year 2010, the Department of Tourism is urging the public to spend their holidays in the country and help contribute to the growth of the local economy, a government press release said.

“Spending your vacation here is a great pledge to love your own and do your part in boosting our country’s growth,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph 'Ace' Durano.

Aside from the country’s eight anchor spots – Boracay, Palawan, Davao, Cebu, Bohol, Vigan, Baguio, and Manila -- the department is also actively promoting unexplored sites to benefit the communities in remote areas.

“We enjoin people to visit tucked-away destinations as well for economic gains to trickle down to the grassroots level,” Durano said.

These alternative spots are readily available and highly accessible for tourists who prefer to immerse themselves with the local life, enjoy the flavor of home-grown leisure, and stay in accommodations such as homestays and inns, the tourism chief added.

In the past year, the DOT has launched some alternative sites like the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Leyte and the Danao Adventure Park in Bohol.

Nature lovers may head off to Bataan, Batanes, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Marinduque, and Romblon, while heritage hunters may seek the old historical charm of Bacolod and Iloilo, aside from the Ilocos.

Tourists who plan to troop to the cities of Manila, Makati, Cebu and Davao have a range of options laid out for them.

“On top of shopping, food trips, nighttime entertainment and theme park activities, we have huge theater performances and concerts lined up for the year,” said DOT Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr.

The DOT's head of Planning and Promotions also noted the travel trends that the public should look out for.

“Extreme outdoor activities are big this year. The range is more expansive now, with tourists who are open-minded and raring to experience something new,” Jarque said.

The department has been relentlessly supporting adventure activities such as plunges, zipline rides, wakeboarding, skimboarding, kayaking and cyclotourism among others.

The young-at-heart, on the other hand, may try other activities, as the country caters to a broad spectrum of different preferences of travelers.

Spiritual pilgrimages, cultural festivities and colorful ethnic celebrations are some of the other highlights that tourists may also wish to join.

The DOT reminds the public to book early. “It’s ideal to plan ahead, and avail of value-for-money packages offered by hotels, restaurants, malls, theme parks, and entertainment venues,” Durano said.

The department said Malacañang has declared a set of long weekends for 2010 by moving regular and special holidays to the nearest Monday or Friday of the week as provided for in Republic Act No. 9492 and Proclamation No. 1841, the press release said.*

SOURCE

COMMENT:
It is so much better to spend the holidays in the country side. Not only is it cheaper, but one could also spend healthier holidays, away from all pollution in the cities.

Filipinos and foreigners alike must visit the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Samar. I've been there and it was one of my most unforgettable visits in the country side of Samar. It is just less than an hour ride from Tacloban City.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

DTI presents investments potentials of Sogod Bay to Taiwanese businessmen

By Bong Pedalino

Southern Leyte -- The trade and investment possibilities in the sprawling Sogod bay area of this province, particularly on aquamarine development among others, were already presented to top businessmen of Taiwan, according to Mike Nunez, Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The presentation was made during the Visayas Trade and Investment Mission to Taiwan conducted in the first week of November last year, Nunez said at the DYSL Kapihan sa PIA forum yesterday.

"Our focus in the presentation was the potential of Sogod bay, on aquamarine industry and information communication technology (ICT). We zeroed on Sogod for tourism and vast prospects for agriculture," said Nunez.

He cited a Taiwanese businessman they met who was successful in his Lapu-lapu culture and breeding which was sold to China, a ready market.

This guy had come to the Philippines to gather his initial Lapu-lapu stock and since then he was breeding on his own using appropriate technology, a disclosure that shocked the Filipino visitors.

The business trip to Taiwan was footed by the provincial government. Participants came from the three regions in the Visayas, Regions 6, 7, and 8.

For Region 8, Nunez said five came from Southern Leyte and two from Eastern Samar, the Mayor and the Manager of the Water District there.

Delegates from Southern Leyte included Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Albert Esclamado representing the province, two businessmen from the private sector -- Dr. Glenn Gerona and Arthur Marte -- Dominador Clavejo, the provincial head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Nunez.

The Taiwanese businessmen were very receptive to the presentation and were even eager and keenly interested to come to Southern Leyte in person anytime this year in order to consider the specific area where they can invest, Nunez revealed. (PIA-Southern Leyte)

SOURCE

COMMENT:
Indeed, Leyte is full of economic potential. People are just not keen enough to look and spot opportunities. Most of the time, these opportunities are under their noses. But when others grab these opportunities, especially if they're foreigners, that's when they feel bad about it. That's the only time that they recognize these unclaimed opportunities - a sad fact among Filipinos. We really don't have to go to other countries for greener pastures. Our country has already provided us with 'GREENER' ones. Filipinos are simply NOT recognizing them.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Fun, Fun Festivities!

Palo’s Holy Week Traditions (Good Friday; Palo, Leyte)
Palo, Leyte was declared in the Diocesan Synod of 1910 as a center of faith and religiousity in Eastern Visayas. Oldest of Palo’s Holy Week traditions is the Penitentes, a penitential fraternity of cassocked, barefoot, and hooded members organized by Fray Pantaleon de le Fuente, OFM in 1984 supposedly to replace the flagellants, fanatics who whipped themselves or have themselves whipped to atone for wrong doings, whose cult of fanatics was gaining momentum among the faithful.


Turugpo (Black Saturday; Brgy. Camansi, Carigara, Leyte)
Traditional jousts of native carabaos (pasungay) and horses (paaway). Cockfight (karambola) is another attraction.


Sunduan ha Carigara (Easter Sunday; Carigara, Leyte)
Easter Sunday celebrations with songs and dances and a colourful parade of floats depicting the rich history of the town of Carigara, once a capital of Leyte.

Sanggutan Festival
(May 18; Barugo, Leyte)

The Barugo Sanggutan Festival honors the age-old process of coconut wine (tuba) making that has been and will always be a part of the life of the Barugueño. Sanggutan, the festival, is a dance of celebration. It is dance of men (the managgetes) and women (their wives, sisters, daughters) involved in the production of the red wine. It is also a dance of men and women enjoying the spirit of this gift from, literally, up high. The costumes are the everyday wear of the mananggete and his family, which is to say the dominant color is red, because the tuba dyes everything and everyone that it touches.

Lingganay Festival
(June 18; Alang-alang, Leyte)

Street pageant depicting the legendary and mythical story of the bells.


Subiran Regatta (June 28; Tacloban City)
An exciting race of one-man native sailboats with outriggers locally called “subiran” along scenic and historic Leyte Gulf. The race is done without using a paddle but only skills and techniques to maneuver the sail.


Pintados Festival (June 29; Tacloban City)
A dance festival of painted dancers celebrating important events like exploits of war, nature worship in narrative dance movements depicting their own folk practices and beliefs. The custom of tattooing earned for the Leyteños the name of Pintados. From ancient history, Roman conquests mentioned tattooed people in Briton, Saitas, Oriental Tartar, and other parts of the world.


Balyuan (June 29; Balyuan Tower, Tacloban City)
The Feast of Sto. Niño, the revered patron saint of Tacloban, is celebrated with a pageant re-enacting the historical exchange of images between Barrio Buscada of Basey, Samar and Sitio Kankabatok, now Tacloban City. The Basey Flotilla bearing the church and government leaders goes on a fluvial procession along San Pedro Bay. A budyong (shell) call announces the sight of the flotilla off Kankabatok Bay.


Sto. Niño de Leyte Fiesta (June 30; Tacloban City)
Grand fiesta of Tacloban celebrated with the traditional turn-over ceremonies of the “Teniente” made by the immediate past Hermano Mayor to the incoming Hermano Mayor. This is accompanied by the ritual of giving the medallion containing the names of all Hermanos Pasados and the Standartes.


Hulatan Festival (August 11; Julita, Leyte)
Depicts the historical events which led to the creation of the municipality.


Pasaka Festival (August 14; Tanauan, Leyte)
A dance parade and street pageantry showing the culture of the town of Tanauan as it honors its patron saint, Our Lady of the Assumption. Pasaka connotes warm welcome, progress, and religious homage, and is the native word for assumption. A symbolic send-off of Our Lady of the Assumption where dancers in native costumes carry offerings to the town’s patroness as she is assured into heaven.


Lubi-Lubi Festival (August 15; Calubian, Leyte)
A dance festival extolling the many uses of the coconut parts as costumes, props, and accessories. The dance is in homage to the town’s patron saints, Our Lady of Fatima and St. Roque. This street dance and merrymaking depicts the origin of the town’s name, which means abundance of coconuts (lubi) which is considered as the “tree of life.”


Buyogan Festival (August 19; Abuyog, Leyte)
Adjudged as one of the ten best festivals of the Philippines, Buyogan’s artistic choreography and realistic costumes focus on the appearance and movement of the honeybee locally called “buyog” from where the town’s name originated.

Regional Tourism Quiz
(September, on World Tourism Day; Tacloban City).

Inter-high school quiz on domestic and international tourism topics to create tourism awareness and encourage the active participation of the studentry in the promotion of Eastern Visayas as a tourist destination.


Parayaw han mga Kada-An / Linggo ng Kasuotang Pilipino (September, movable; Tacloban City)
The attire is an eloquent manifestation of national heritage and culture. Thus, the observance of the “Linggo ng Kasuotang Pilipino” has been implemented by the Department of Tourism to project the unique Filipino identity; create a sense of pride in being Filipino; and give due respect to Filipino heritage and culture. The exhibit features baro’t saya, binabaye, cayab, sando, salico, lo-on, enaqua, condonga, and panuelo of women who willingly agree to show their period gowns and dresses for young generations to have a glimpse into our local culture and heritage.

Leyte Gulf Landing’s Anniversary
(October 20; Palo and Dulag, Leyte)

A commemorative program which marks the anniversary of the Ocotber 20, 1944 landing on Leyte of the Allied Forces of Liberation. General Douglas MacArthur and his men waded ashore at Red Beach in the town of Palo where statues of the liberators now stand. The historic event is usually attended by national government officials and dignitaries from embassies of United States, Japan, and Australia as well as World War II veterans who come on a sentimental journey.


Karisyohan han Pasko ha Palo (December 6 – January 6; Palo, Leyte)
The town of Palo, which is the religious center of Eastern Visayas, is transformed into a veritable ”Christmas Village” wherein the whole community participates in the beautiful Filipino traditions of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. In 1989, Enrico M. Saboren, a tenor based in California, started to decorate his family ancestral house with artistic Christmas decor from abroad. This “House of Fantasy” fascinate people from all walks of life who make it a point to visit Palo to enjoy the unique sights. As part of its annual entertainment, community competitions like best decorated barangay, best belen, best parol (lantern), old traditions of pastores and Christmas carol singing, drum and bugle corps, and other festivities make Christmas in Palo truly enjoyable.


Kasadya-an Festival (Movable date; Tacloban City)
Leyte’s festival of festivals, participated in by various municipalities in order to preserve cultural traditions thus enhancing the town’s touristic appeal.


Come one and all and experience these festivals like no other. You'll surely have fun and adventure here in Leyte.

Source

Friday, January 8, 2010

Leyte: Island of Beauty and Adventure

Leyte is among the country’s most historic provinces, proud of its rich and significant past. It was the site not only of a major uprising against the Spaniards but also of the famous landing of US forces during World War II, marking its place in history as the point of entry for the American forces of liberation.

This historical consciousness is reflected on Leyte’s provincial seal. The stars symbolize the 49 towns of the province. The alphabet on the cross indicates its second phase of development, when Magellan passed through the province en route to Cebu. And the upper portion commemorates the landing of General Douglas MacArthur, through a perspective of the National Freedom Park.

Leyte is traversed by many low mountain ranges just like the Samar and Visayan islands. From the northwestern section to the southeastern extremities extends a very rugged, almost impassable ridge. There are also many extinct volcanoes, the most important of which is Mahagnao.

Its capital city, Tacloban, is the most important seaport on the eastern coast while Ormoc City is the primary outlet on the western coast.

Geography
Comprising a total land area of 5,712.8 sq. km., Leyte is bounded on the north by Carigara Bay, on the east by the San Juanico Strait and Leyte Gulf, on the west by the Visayan Sea and Ormoc Sea, and on the south by Southern Leyte.

The terrain of the province is relatively flat to gently rolling and becoming mountainous and rough towards the center where a mountain range begins.

Language/Dialect
Waray-waray and Cebuano are the major dialects spoken. Tagalog and English are also used.

Political Subdivision
The province is composed of 49 towns and two cities, namely, Tacloban, the capital city, and Ormoc.

Climate
Heavy rains occur between November and February while March to April and August to September are the driest months.


Brief History

In 1595, the Jesuits established the first mission in Leyte. At this time, there were only 19 pueblos with 70,000 people whom the missionaries converted to Christianity, easing the settlement of the province by Spanish conquestadores. The Jesuit mission was abandoned when the Order was expelled from the Philippines in 1768.

Politically, Leyte seems to have existed as early as 1622. The simple structure of government by encomenderos gave way to alcalde mayores, corregidores, and tenientes. In 1735, Leyte was a politico-military province with jurisdiction over Samar. The two provinces were politically separated in 1768 by the Royal Decree of July 31, 1860, which ordered the reorganization of the provincial governments of the Visayas.

The capital site of Leyte changed several times before Tacloban City became the permanent capital in 1787. The first capital was Carigara, then successively, Palo and Tanauan.

The civil government under the Americans was organized on April 22, 1901. The second World War hit the Philippines in 1941; the Japanese occupation followed. In 1944, Leyte became world-famous as the point of entry for the American forces of liberation. Leyte, specifically Tacloban, assumed historical significance as the temporary seat of the Philippine Commonwealth from October 23, 1944 to February 27, 1945.

My beloved province of Leyte is truly rich in culture and history.

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