EXPLORE LEYTE: CARIGARA

CARIGARA
•The Holy Cross
•July 15-16



It was first called Kangara (Kan Gara), meaning "that of Gara". Gara was said to have come from Borneo, one of the unnamed companions of the ten datus who landed in Panay and purchased that island from the Ati (Asta) chief Marikudo. Later, for phonetic convenience, Kangara became Kalgara and when the Spaniards came, they called the place Carigara until now.

1580. Augustinians Friars led by Fr. Alonso Velasquez came to Carigara.



1595. July 16, Jesuit missionaries arrived in the persons of Fr. Pedro Chirino, Fr. Juan del Campo, Cosme Flores, Br. Gaspay Garay and Martin. This period was also called the Golden Age of Carigara, making Carigara the religious capitan of half of the Visayas and the whole Mindanao.

Carigara becames Leyte's capital twice. 1770 and early years and 1824-1830.

_______
#jakku

REF.
•Photo:
(Datu Gara Shrine) DwaineWoolley
(Carigara Church) fb/CarigaraLeyte
•Leyte Town Histories and Legends. 1980. Francisco Tantuico Jr.

TACLOBAN : CANCABATO BAY

Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City is named after Kabato (Kan Kabato; belonging to Kabato), Tacloban's famous chieftain.

TACLOBAN : CAPITOLIO

The "PAMUNUAN SAN LALAWIGAN SAN LEYTE" or CAPITOLIO, the office of the Province of Leyte Government is a neoclassical building built in early 1900s.

This site is historically the proclamation site of the commonwealth govt of the Philippines where Tacloban City was declared a temporary capital of the Philippines during WWII.

The sides of the building has its recent installations with walls depicting two of the greatest events in Eastern Visayas. The First Mass in Limasawa and the Liberation.

**********
Phonography:
Taken with Samsung J7Prime (Arix)

TACLOBAN : A BIT OF VIGAN

A bite of Vigan's famous Calle Crisologo can be found in Tacloban La Esquina Zamora en Juan Luna.

The Spanish inspired house/foodspot is Esquina Rose. I remember this place as a carenderia in late 90s.

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.

_____________________

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

WWW.FLICKR.COM

WWW.BACKPACKINGPHILIPPINES.COM

WWW.TOURISMINTHEPHILIPPINES.COM

VISIT TACLOBAN: STO NINO SHRINE MUSEUM

who says you could only find castles and dream rooms in EUROPE?

The Santo Niño Shrine, one of the 29 presidential rest houses that the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos had built. There is an Olympic sized swimming pool behind the building.

The entrance to the Santo Niño Shrine. The Santo Niño is at the far end of the entrance. On both sides are a number of guest rooms with various themes.

Santo Niño, a representation of the infant Jesus Christ, is the patron saint of Leyte.

It is located in Real Street, Tacloban City. Paintings of the 14 stations of the Cross done by Filipino artists, wooden bas-relief of the legend of the First Filipino man-woman (Si Malakas at si Maganda); tastefully decorated guestrooms of varied Filipino motifs; image of the Holy Child; a collection of original paintings by Fernando Amorsolo; spacious ballroom; priceless. collector's.

some of the must see things inside are the antiques which was brought from different places. the mirrors, the statues, the furnitures, chandeliers, and the paintings.

13-room first floor has different unique themes that is on both sides and on the center is the magnificent SHRINE, which has religious statues on it. another painting that will attract you most is the family tree of the Romualdezes.

the daughters' room

IMELDA's room

FERDINAND'S room

at the back is the OLYMPIC size swimming pool and a gazebo. and on it's right is a huge LIBRARY and a function area, not just a simple function are, but a HUGE. now known as THE PEOPLE'S CENTER LIBRARY , it could accommodate large concerts and gatherings, and even GRADUATIONS and bazaars. between the two big buildings is an empty grass covered area where you will see the statue of a woman and a man (well, some folks told me it was the malakas at maganda, whose faces were copied from the couple IMELDA and FERNDINAND)

Tacloban City, is the province where the acclaimed MOST BEAUTIFUL FIRST LADY in the Republic of The Phillipines was born and raised. she became an instant celebrity during her husband's tenure in the Philippine Government serving in almost 20 years of Presidency. She lived in the most luxurious quality of living that almost all Filipina envies and was even tagged as a QUEEN.

no wonder that the whole STO NINO SHRINE, it's authenticity and beauty was taken from the owner herself, MADAM IMELDA.

now, it is owned by the city government and serves a simple history. everyone is welcome to visit the shrine and entrance fee is being collected for the EXTRAORDINARY maintenance of an EXTRA BEAUTIFULLY mansion of the MARCOSES.

visit TACLOBAN and enter the mansion of FERDINAND MARCOS.

____________________

WWW.TOURISMINTHEPHILIPPINES.COM

WWW.TRIPADVISOR.COM

WWW.DISCOVER-TACLOBAN.COM

VISIT TACLOBAN: SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

SAN JUANICO BRIDGE, a 2.16 kilometer bridge connects SAMAR and LEYTE stretching above the SAN JUANICO STRAIT was the most promising structure in the PHILIPPINES and was known as the country's longest connecting bridge.

designed by Juanito Isko Balunbalunan, the 21.9 million dollar bridge was opened to the public in 1973 which began on 1969.

if you are going to travel from MANILA to TACLOBAN via bus, you will be traversing the bridge before entering the city. from STA RITA, SAMAR, upon reaching the bridge, a "WELCOME TO LEYTE" banner will definitely make you feel you are already in LEYTE, plus not to mention 'when you're already on the bridge'.

on the other hand, if you have arrived in TACLOBAN via air, you could still visit the bridge through public vehicles which takes 10 - 15 mins from the city proper, and upon reaching the bridge, you could have a nice 2-kilometer walk if you want and feel the cold breeze of the SAN JUANICO STRAIT. enjoy the thousand whirpools and islets of the strait. and from there you could see the VIEW of TACLOBAN CITY.

this bridge was not only designed to entertain visitors and tourists but it's main purpose was the access between two giant islands. TACLOBAN CITY, as the region's capital invites all the marketers from nearby towns and do the trading in it. the people from SAMAR sells their native products and delicacies in TACLOBAN, while the transportation from SAMAR was made accessible by the bridge too.

instead of using BANGKA or boats, they could travel using heavy equipped vehicles without worries of overloading on the waters because it could be brought safe from the place of origin to it's destination without hassles on transferring of goods.

by night, the SAN JUANICO BRIDGE is very elegant with it's lights that could made you think of a FLOATING DRAGON over the seas from afar.

a proud pinoy structure, a proud TACLOBANON bridge.

____________________

WIKIPEDIA

FLICKR.COM

VISIT TACLOBAN: LEYTE LANDING

RED BEACH, PALO, LEYTE. a 15-minute ride from TACLOBAN CITY through TACLOBAN-BARAS jeepneys will lead you to the one of the PHILIPPINES most HISTORICAL Place that all Leyteños are proud of. THE LEYTE LANDING MEMORIAL PARK.

During the height of the Japanese attack in the Philippines, Gen. MacArthur had to leave the country. Gen. MacArthur vowed, upon reaching Australia, “I shall return“. Contrary to some misconceptions, these famous lines were uttered not when Gen. MacArthur left the Philippines, from his headquarters in Corregidor.

The Leyte Landing Memorial commemorates the historic return of the flamboyant general, together with hundreds of thousands of men and hundreds of ships, on October 20, 1944. It was the start of the end of Japanese occupation in the Philippines. October 20 is celebrated every year, as the anniversary date of the Leyte Landing.

the whole place is crowded with Filipinos and Americans during the celebration and it's festive aura is added with concerts and party that will really invite you to visit the whole event.

on the 20th, the President really had it as a must to visit the event and honor the WAR VETERANS who with the famous MacArthur fought against the JAPANESE.

during ordinary days, the place is calm and silent. there are families who do picnics here and enjoys capturing the momentous stone figure of the GENERAL. you could go near and had a handshake on the 12-foot tall golden statue of GEN. MacArthur and had a picture with him and the rest of his giant gang.

the wide and long area of the park entertains those health conscious individuals which invites them to do the jogging, stretching or morning and after dawn exercise. or simply had a walk with the bay with your love one and enjoy the fresh, calm and away from the city noise ambiance of the park.

once you visit LEYTE? MacArthur's park is a must visit place. and take it from the GENERAL.. once you see LEYTE. "YOU SHALL RETURN"

___________________________

VISITPINAS.COM

WIKIPEDIA.COM