TACLOBAN CITY’S SURVIVING PLACES OF HISTORICAL INTEREST
We
are all familiar with the man who uttered “I shall return.” With his role in the Philippine history
making the Province of Leyte in the forefront, specifically the municipality of
Palo, surely, its neighboring city of Tacloban provides a fair share of the
historical era that was.
There
are structures in Tacloban City that withstood and spanned centuries for
existence while others were newly built to mark recent happenings.
LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL
Location: Corner Sen. Enage Street and
Magsaysay Boulevard
This
neoclassical building built in 1907 is the seat of the provincial government of
Leyte and was also the seat of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines
when President Sergio Osmena Sr. came in 1944 with the World War II Liberation
Forces.
My
recent visit was the first time I was able to take photos of myself with the
edifice and its unique architectural features including murals depicting The
First Christian Mass and other historical moments in Philippine history like
the Leyte Landing.
Setting
aside biases, this is by far one of the beautifully-constructed Provincial
Capitols’ in the Philippines.
The
white painted structure looks grand even from a distance. At times, it becomes the venue of social
gatherings, public events and even just a rendezvous for friends.
STO. NINO SHRINE AND
HERITAGE MUSEUM
Location:
Real Street (beside People’s Center)
Former
First Lady Imelda Marcos built the Shrine as the First Family’s Residence in
Tacloban City. The main highlights of
the shrine, also known as the Romualdez Museum are the wooden bas-relief of the
legend of the First Filipino man-woman (Si
Malakas at si Maganda), spacious ballroom, original paintings by Fernando
Amorsolo and the countless collector’s items.
PEOPLE’S CENTER AND LIBRARY
Location:
Real Street
Another
neoclassical structure in the city is the People’s Center and Library. The ground floor is a huge social hall place
while the second floor is the library. I
remember that the ground floor has been a venue of varied social gatherings,
concerts and important events when I was in high school and for a time was made
a shopping center.
I
have never been to the second floor, which as they say has a vast collection of
historical documents, a collection of dioramas of the 82 ethnic tribes of the
Philippines, a compilation of books on the humanities and award-winning novels
and writings housed with antique tables and chairs along the hallways.
Today,
as it is nearly abandoned, the same is being subject of a rehabilitation and I
heard a group of booklovers from Tacloban City has started a clean-up campaign
for the restoration of its nearly dilapidated and worn-out library.
The
library is believed to contain more than 55,000 hardbound books from renowned
authors like William Shakespeare, James Joyce, Leo Tolstoy, Mark Twaine,
Stephen Hawking and even the original Noli
Me Tangere by Jose Rizal.
REDONA RESIDENCE
Location: T. Claudio Street
This
is one of the remaining houses built in the turn of the 19th
century. The Redona Residence is the
official residence of President Sergio Osmena Sr. in 1944 when Leyte was the
seat of the Philippine government during the liberation from the Japanese
campaign until Philippine Commonwealth was re-established in Manila.
The
historic mansion is in need of serious restoration.
PRICE MANSION
Location: Real Street
As
we passed by the structure, it is no longer functioning and is completely
abandoned after Typhoon Yolanda hit the province. The mansion used to be the official residence
and headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur during the liberation period in
1944. It is also an example of an American
colonial home built in 1900s.
It
was known as the CAP Building to local residents.
But
today, it becomes a nuisance along the main thoroughfare of Tacloban City,
Leyte.
MADONNA OF JAPAN
Location: Magsaysay Boulevard
Though
the vicinity from where the statue of Madonna of Japan stands has a bad image
actually for some local residents and I must say that includes me; through
time, the site has been cleaned-up and maintained by the local government. It has gradually changed my perception of
what to expect at Madonna of Japan.
Madonna Maria Kannon, also known as Madonna of
Japan, is a symbol of friendship between the Japanese and the Filipinos. It is located at the Kanhuraw Hill near City
Hall facing Kankabato Bay. It is said
that during the World War II, the place became a campground for the Japanese
soldiers.
YOLANDA MEMORIAL
Location: Anibong
On
November 8, 2013 at 7 in the morning, M/V Eva Jocelyn which was anchored in the
city harbor, ran aground and killed residents of Barangay Anibong. It was pushed by a 7-meter high storm surge
caused by winds in excess of 370km/h brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
The
shipwreck stands as a remembrance of the countless lives that perished
throughout the City of Tacloban on that day.
It marks the genesis of our advocacy for resiliency and adaptation to a
new life that continue for generations to come.
The
memorial was unveiled on the eve of the second year commemoration last November
7, 2015.
Here are the actual photos of the boats that ran aground Anibong on my last visit to the said area.
Here are the actual photos of the boats that ran aground Anibong on my last visit to the said area.
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These
are just but some of the historical places of interest that I am aware of, that
my hometown, Tacloban City can offer to visitors for viewing purposes.
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