THE HOMECOMING- TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE


taken while we were experiencing temporary turbulence




























They say homecoming unites the past and present and I totally agree.  

Two days before 2010 ends, I woke up late (1PM) and belatedly prepared for my luggage.  Realizing the strict policy of airlines of not allowing late passengers to be admitted for boarding despite the confirmed ticket on peak seasons, I felt a sudden adrenaline rush and immediately went out to look for a cab.  Adding to the tension, there were no taxi cabs available and the rain fell so hard.  I was telling myself at that moment: "by all means, I should go home!". Quezon City after all is quite a distance to the airport.

My flight was scheduled at 530PM.  Luckily, I made it on time at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. I will basically spend only two days in my hometown, Tacloban City, Leyte.

I was born and raised in Tacloban City.  As a tribute to this highly urbanized city, where my childhood years were spent and life-long dreams formed, I intended to delay the posting of all my travel blogs and share with you first the place that I consider my home. The estimated travel time is one hour and 15 minutes by plane.  Land transportation thru bus is also available but will take almost 24 hours of travel time.

aerial view of Tacloban City at night
 
It was my first time to travel at night back to Tacloban City which gave me the chance to experience an aerial night view of the city with a  a bonus random fireworks display.

While we were about to land at around 645PM, I was praying that the weather would favor the activities, reunions and coffee dates that were lined up for me.  Luck must have been by my side.


warm greetings from the Romualdez 
at the Daniel Z. Romualdez National Airport
Tacloban City has been proclaimed as a highly-urbanized city by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on 4 October  2008 and ratified by the people on 18 December 2008 .  Honestly, I have no idea why the city has been classified as such.  This, I have to discover.

According to my friends, a lot of has changed in the city.  But the influence of the Romualdez clan remains in the city and is visible on any part of it.  Thanks to the former President Marcos and its first lady, for the various notable architectural sites and well-developed infrastructures in the city, which shall be the subject of my upcoming blogs regarding the city.

For those travelers and tourists who will arrive at the city at night, as historical sites and museums can be appreciated on daytime, fret not as various entertainment venues and restaurants are still available, at your respective convenience and preferences. As for myself, I met up with friends and stayed at a coffee shop named Cafe Lucia, giving us a view of the Kankabato Bay, until it closed at around 2PM.  The Tacloban City Convention Center popularly known as the Tacloban City Astrodome is also near the place, where choices of restaurants is at everyone's perusal.  

a view of the Kankabato Bay at night and the Tacloban City Astrodome



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