As the city continues to rise again after the devastation brought by Typhoon Yolanda, Tacloban City is a must visit destination. It is a primary tourism hub in the Eastern Visayas region and the main gateway to Leyte and Samar islands. Before Typhoon Yolanda wrecked havoc the city, Tacloban is one of the fastest growing cities of the country.
If you want to have a truly worthwhile visit to Tacloban City, here are five things to do when you visit the "Rising Phoenix of the Philippines", Tacloban:
1. Reminisce World War II
Tacloban City during World War II became the capital of the Philippines for a short period of time. When it became the capital of the Philippines, the late President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. and General MacArthur resided in the city. In 1944, the former took refuge at Redoña Residence until the Philippine Commonwealth was re-established in Manila while the latter set up a headquarters in the Price Mansion.
Redoña Residence is located in T. Claudio Street and it’s one of the remaining houses built at the turn of the 19th century. The Price Mansion is located on the present site of the Cap Building at Sto. Niño Street. The white mansion was an example of American colonial homes built in the 1900s.
2. Spectacular sightseeing at City hall
The Tacloban City Hall (also Kanhuraw, metonym for the city hall) is located on the Kanhuraw Hill overlooking the panoramic Cataisan Point, San Pedro Bay, Cancabato Bay, San Juanico Strait and Samar Island. It is also near the Madonna of Japan Memorial Park. With its ideal surroundings, the City hall is a perfect place for a family trip where they can have a picnic while enjoying the fascinating sceneries around it.
3. Witness Pintados and Sangyaw festivals
There are two festivities that are celebrated in Tacloban, the city-sponsored Sangyaw Festival and the Leyte provincial government-sponsored Pintados Festival. Both are held in the month of June. The Sangyaw Festival invites contingents of different groups performing various festivals in the country while Pintados Festival performers are painted with tattoos all over their bodies to honor the ancient tattooed “pintados” warriors of the region.
4. Visit the longest bridge of the Philippines
As the longest bridge of the Philippines, San Juanico Bridge offers picture-perfect views, especially of the whirlpools and the islets that can be seen in the San Juanico Strait. The bridge connects the Leyte and Samar islands. It is approximately 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, motorcab, bus or private vehicle.
5. Swim at the best beaches near the city
There are two beaches that are very near to the city, namely, the White and Red beach. The Red Beach was the beachfront where Gen. MacArthur and his men made a dramatic entrance upon their return to the Philippines. Presently, there are several hotels and beach resorts in the Red Beach that made it into a tourist haven. Both beaches are ideal for skiing, boating, and other water-sports activities.