VISIT TACLOBAN: LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL

the LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING, Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City. before the City was proclaimed as HUC, this is where the Governor of Leyte is being sheltered. all the transactions of the Province were done here.

Historically, this is also where the Commonwealth came to reality when during 1917, the President of the Republic Sergio Osmeña led the construction of the building and was done on 1924 under the terms of Gov. Salvador Demetrio and Gov. Honorio Lopez.

October 23, 1944, a simple ceremony headed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur was done on the very stairs of the Building with Pres. Osmeña and boasted the newly established government, and awarded several soldiers with 5th calvary honors while a DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS honor was awarded to Col. Ruperto Kangleon, who later on became the Governor of Leyte.

The original design of the Capitol is simple and has a sense of bravery using strong and sturdy looking pillars. the greek design made the whole facade of the building look more powerful and strong.

40 years after when the structure was improved and placed with historical carved details which was witnessed by the building. as project of Governor Norberto B. Romualdez Jr., the whole building was set into a more attractive and a must see place in the CITY.

on both sides installed were the carvings of the Leyte Landing with Gen MacArthur and Pres. Diosadao Macapagal and the rest of his colleagues on October 20, 1964, while on the other side was the first mass held in Tacloban headed by Ambassador Fernando Lobao de Carvalbo of Portugal and Marquis de Aumon, representative from the Spanish Government. while enormous flagpoles were installed, statues of the soldiers awarded with honors, lions; an icon of power and governance, and mock canyons.

the whole place is a picture perfect scene and the green surroundings made the whole cool and comfortable. at night, spot lights were installed to enhance the beauty of the structure at night.

when you'll step on it's case, you'll feel the what the building had experienced during its childhood years, the war it witnessed, the bombs and the guns that deafen him and the smell of bloods that were brought in front for medication after being hit from the war.

the last Governor who homed the famous LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL was Gov. Jericho Petilla, son of once Leyte's Governor, Hon. Remedios Petilla.

so, a glimpse from the past could be experienced in TACLOBAN.

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VISIT TACLOBAN: STO NINO CHURCH

the tall tan-colored SANTO NIÑO CHURCH will take your eyes from the busy street of REAL near the MAGSAYSAY-JUSTICE junction.

the CHURCH shelters the CITY's PATRON SAINT the Child Jesus or popularly known as SENIOR SANTO NIÑO. the honoring of the Saint is held on the 30th of June, with the so-called BALYUAN rites at the BALYUAN PARK, now known as the TACLOBAN AMPHITHEATER.

The tall tanned belfry shows the religious dominance of CATHOLICS in the city. the whole church can accommodate thousands of CATHOLICS. the new facade of the structure could be seen with modern designs and creative carvings. inside is a marble flooring and chairs made of wood. the altar stage has podiums and mass tables which has fine touch of gold shades. the main altar where the hundred old child Jesus made of ivory is placed in the most center part of a tall pure gold plated altar, and on the sides are the paintings of Angels with realistic colors and hues.

on the ceilings are old chandeliers which where i could still remember those were still the same chandeliers 20 years ago when we used to attend a mass in STO. NIÑO CHURCH.

here's a brief history of TACLOBAN's strength. The SANTO NIÑO CHURCH.

Tacloban which came under the patronage of Dulce Nombre de Jesus was founded as a visita by the Jesuits under the jurisdiction of Palo in 1596. Sometime later, Tacloban was entrusted to the parish of Basey in Samar. It cannot yet be ascertained when Tacloban finally became a parish. Certainly, when Tacloban was made as the capital of the province of Leyte in 1768, it could have been a parish for quite a time already. That year Tacloban was turned over by the Jesuits to the Agustinians. In 1804 the secular clergy took over the parish which was later on handed to the Franciscans in 1843. Finally in 1990, the parish was given to the care of the secular clergy.

Early Church structure was made up of Nipa and light materials. It was only in 1860 that a new Church in a Romanesque style was constructed. It had a massive appearance with round-headed arches on small windows. The walls were thick supported by buttresses. It had two belfries and with a top having a four-cornered roof with turrets. This was destroyed by a strong typhoon few years after. When the Church was rebulit, they decided to have only one belfry. A big earthquake during the Japanese time destroyed a large part of the Church. When it was reconstructed in the late 1940's a bigger church was made to accomodate the burgeoning population.

The present structure of the main body of the Church goes back to this time. In 1983, the Church flooring was mounted with marble, a retablo wade of synthetic mirror-like panels was placed on the main altar to enshrine the image of the Sto. Nino, and wooden retablos were placed on the side altars. The belfry had undergone several structural changes until it obtained its present form in 1986. The side-wings expansion in 1988 was a project of Bp. Filomeno bactol.

In 1994, during the time of Msgr. Estanislao Abarca stained glass panels representing the mysteries of the Holy Rosary were put up. Under the care of Msgr. Cesar Petilla, the construction of a new gold-leafed retablo on the main altar and the gold leafing of the side altars were undertaken. This was inaugurated during the Jubilee year on April 15, 2000.

until now, the church, continuously serves it's beloved TACLOBANONs and serves as an inspiration on how God loves his people.

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VISIT TACLOBAN: MADONNA OF JAPAN

when you pass along Magsaysay Boulevard, a lady erected in the middle of Kanhuraw will take your eyes, the MADONNA OF JAPAN or MADONNA MARIA KANNON (its official name) is a monument in the heart of the city. it is located at the KANHURAW HILL, near Tacloban City Hall, facing Kankabato Bay.

the monument stood up as a symbol of friendship between the JAPANESE and the FILIPINOS. the fact that it is built in Tacloban City is that because the city was able to play a big role in World War 2. from the arrival of the US Troops to the defeat of the JAPANESE.

here's a brief history:

During the Second World War, the place became a campground both for the American and Japanese soldiers. Many of the folks here gave their lives at stake just to help in liberating the subjugated Philippine islands. Young men were forced to become soldiers in favor of the Americans. Women were also enjoined to look after and take care of the young men in the battlefield. Those years indeed brought dreadful experiences to the people of Leyte.

During those years, the Japanese soldiers were considered enemies. They were the subject of revulsion among Filipino people. Anybody who sees Japanese would yell out in disdain. However, as years pass by, the Japanese government and its people tried to establish comradeship with the Filipinos. Thus, Japan and the Philippines became friends and started to support each other for progress.

As a symbol of peace between the Filipino and Japanese people thirty three (33) years after the Second World War, this stone monument of the Madonna Maria Kannon (populary know as Madonna of Japan) is erected in memory of the brave soldiers who fought and died in the battlefield.

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Every time some Japanese went to Tacloban, they at least take a chance to visit the monument and offer flowers on it.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: MARSMONTE WOW TACLOBAN