Region VIII
.Biliran

.Eastern Samar

.Leyte

.Northern Samar

.Samar

.Southern Leyte

Leyte has hosted some of the turning points in the history of the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur, accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmena and Carlos P. Romulo, landed in Palo, Leyte to reclaim the country from the Japanese forces. A historical marker in Palo marks the spot in Leyte where General Douglas MacArthur and his army landed on October 20, 1944. The provincial capitol building (second picture above), was the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government from October 23, 1944 to February 27, 1945.

The picturesque San Juanico Bridge (third picture) connects the Leyte and Samar islands and is a vital component of the road network that spans the whole country. It is the longest and best aesthetically designed bridge in the Philippines.

Industrious, cooperative, and very hospitable, whatever your business is, you will find that doing business with the people is a pleasure and a treat.



Land Area
5,712.80 square kilometers or 571,280 hectares

Population
1.57 million (2000 census)

Average Annual Growth Rate
0.85%

Local Languages
Lineyte-Samarnon (Waray-waray) and Cebuano

Other Major Languages
English, Chinese and Filipino

Political Subdivisions
5- Congressional Districts
2- Cities
41- Municipalities
1,641- Barangays


Governor
Carlos Jericho L. Petilla

Provincial Capital
Tacloban City

Literacy Rate
91.1%

Total Labor Force
1.022 million

87.8%- Employment Rate
8.2%- Unemployment Rate
11.1%- Underemployment Rate


Income Derived in
53% - Agriculture
36% - Trade & Services
11% - Industry


Climate
There are two types of climate in the province. The eastern part has Type II climate characterized by a very pronounced rainfall from November to January. The western portion has Type IV climate with a rainfall that is more or less distributed throughout the year.

Peace and Order
Peaceful and Safe Environment for Investment. With a very low crime rate and the absence of armed conflicts, Leyte is among the safest and peaceful provinces in the country. Our police force was awarded the Best Police Provincial Office and the Best Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee for two consecutive years.

According to folklore, Biliran derived its name from the native grass - Borobiliran - which was abundant on the plains during the Pre-Spanish period. Long before this era, seafearers passing through the narrow straits of Biliran, separating mainland of Leyte and the island of Biliran, had noticed the fertile plains and the lush green hills of the island.

In the early 18th century, a group of settlers, led by Fr. Gaspar settled in Albacia (now a sitio of Barangay Hugpa in the municipality of Biliran). Years later, this same group of settlers now led by Fr. Lorenzo Rivera transferred to Magsanoc. Unfortunately, Magsanoc, (now sitio Nasunugan) was burned to the ground. These settlers finally settled on the plains of Biliran. This settlement developed and grew that by 1878, it was formally declared a municipality of Leyte by the Spanish authorities - the first town in the island of Biliran. This significant event led virtually to the naming of the whole island as Biliran
Biliran became a regular province on May 11, 1992 after a plebiscite was conducted in accordance with R.A. 7160. The island province, which was formerly a sub-province of Leyte, belongs to the Eastern Visayas region (Region 8). It is bounded on the north by the Visayas Sea, on the south by the Carigara Bay, on the east by the Samar Sea, and on the west by the Strait of Biliran.

The province of Biliran consists of 8 municipalities and 132 barangays. It is a lone congressional district. The seat of government is in Naval, the capital town.

The main island has slightly flat to rolling and rough terrain. It has narrow coastal areas or lowlands with mountainous interiors except for the municipalities of Naval and Caibiran that have wider plains and rolling terrain extending about 7 km from the coast. Mountain ranges occupy the major portion of the island municipality of Maripipi.

Biliran has a combination of warm and cool climatic zones, thus the prevailing climate is ideal for the cultivation of a wide range of agricultural crops. There is no distinct dry season but the heavy wet season generally occurs in December.

Demography
In 2000 Census, Biliran had a total population of 140,274 of which 71,259 were males and 69,015 were females. Population density was 252 persons per square kilometer. Annual population growth rate was 1.28 %. Dialects spoken are the Waray-waray, which is spoken by 43.3% of the total population, and the Cebuano dialect, which accounts for 55.9%. [up]

Land Area

Based on the Bureau of Soils and Water Management's report, the province has a total land area of 555.42 square kilometers (55,542 hectares) of which 12,879 hectares are forestlands and 42,663 ha. are A & D lands. The alienable and disposable lands are utilized as follows: agricultural lands 30,628 ha., fishpond/mangrove and inland water area 598 hectare, built-up area 1,855 hectare, and open and grasslands 9,582 hectare. [up]

Agriculture

Biliran's economy is predominantly agricultural. The total agricultural production area is 30,628 ha. or roughly 55% of the total land area of the province. In 1998, approximately 100 mt. of various agricultural products were produced.

Palay is planted to 13,581.75 ha. by 9,042 farmers. Total palay production is 61,117.87 mt. per year for two cropping seasons. Average production per cropping is 102 cavans or 4.5 mt. per hectare. Available post harvest facilities include 74 rice mills, 44 warehouses and 3 mechanical dryers. Production in 1995 of locally grown vegetables (e.g. eggplant, carrots, cabbage, pechay) totaled 1,002 mt.

Coconut is also widely planted in the province. This crop is grown in about 21,100 ha. by 12,783 farmers. Total copra production in 1998 was estimated at 15,242 mt. There are around 91 registered copra buyers. Coconut lumber as by-product is an alternative source of lumber for the province; there are 53 registered coco lumber processors and 21 coco lumber dealers.

For rootcrops such as camote, cassava and gabi, the annual production is estimated to be 3,692 mt. These crops are cultivated in 568 has. Additionally, some 260 ha. are planted to various fruit trees (e.g. mango, jackfruit, guava); the average production is 5 mt. per hectare. Banana is another major fruit grown in the province. Production areas for bananas cover almost 3,109.54 ha.

Fishery. Municipal fishing accounted for 4,730 mt. of fish produced in 1998. There are 105 ha. available for brackishwater fishponds but only 50 ha. are developed. Total fishpond production was 87.6 mt. of prawns, shrimps and milkfish. Some 55 commercial and 2,712 municipal fishing boats operate in the territorial waters of the island province. About 30 hectares may be used for seaweed farming and 10 hectares for fish-cage culture. [up]

Trade and Commerce

There are major areas where trade and commerce is active in the province. There is the municipality of Biliran where a bridge connects the province to Leyte. It is the gateway to Ormoc City, Tacloban City and other parts of the country that are accessible by land transport. Also, ferryboats regularly ply the Naval-Cebu City route. In the Naval commercial port, major inflows and outflows of goods are observed. On the other side of the main island, marine products from Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba and Kawayan are sold directly to the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban in Leyte, and Calbayog City and Catbalogan in the province of Samar.

Principal goods shipped out of the province are copra, rice, bananas and dried fish. The major markets are Cebu, Tacloban, Samar and Manila. Goods that come from Cebu, Tacloban and Ormoc include canned goods, garments, construction materials, metal products, pharmaceuticals, electronic appliances, school and office supplies, petrochemicals, plastic wares and consumer items.

During the year 2000, 243 establishments were registered, which generated employment to 501 persons and had a declared total capitalization of 26 million pesos. [up]

Employment

The labor force numbers 77,714 of which 73,595 persons or 94.7 % are employed and 4,119 (5.3 %) are unemployed. Labor force participation rate is 69.3%. Employment is distributed as follows: agriculture, hunting and forestry - 49.5%; fishing - 12.7%; manufacturing - 3.1%; construction - 4.6%; trade - 8%; services - 21.7%; and others - 0.4%. [up]

Health

Among children the malnutrition status is 1.71% severe and 25.84% moderate. The crude birth rate is 24.68 per thousand people, crude death rate is 5.23 ptp, infant mortality rate stands at 13.85 ptp, and the maternal mortality rate is 1.13 ptp. Average life expectancy is 64 and 68 years for men and women, respectively. Biliran lacks supply in the following food items: dairy, meat and fruits. [up]

Utilities

Power. The Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant through the Biliran Electric Cooperative supplies electricity in the main island; a power generation set is operated by BILECO in the island municipality of Maripipi. Almost all of the barangays are already energized. Average rate per kilowatt-hour is P5.22, maybe the highest power rate in Eastern Visayas.

Water. Presently, 10% of the households are being served by Level 1 systems (wells, rain collectors, springs), 39% by Level 2 systems (communal faucets), and 44% by Level 3 systems (individual household connections). Other water supply sources account for 7%. The Naval Water District provides potable water in the provincial capital.

Communications. Biliran has 8 postal offices located in each municipality, 1 FM radio station and 3 cable television firms. Globe and Smart operate cellular sites in the area; the former also operates a local phone exchange. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and the Radio Communications of the Philippines, Inc. (RCPI/BayanTel) have public calling offices in Naval. [up]

Financial Institutions

Three financial institutions operate in the province: the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine National Bank, and the Rural Bank of Naval. In addition, three lending investors and five credit cooperatives extend financial services. [up]

Education

In providing good quality education, the province has one state college (Naval Institute of Technology), one agricultural college (BNAC), and 2 vocational schools (CNSAT and MNVS). The most popular college courses are engineering, agriculture and education. Total elementary enrollment is 26,170 while secondary enrollment is 7,289. Graduation rate is 97.55% and the dropout rate is 5.56%. Teacher to pupil ratio is 1:29. Total number of classrooms is 833 for the elementary and 97 for the secondary. [up]

Peace and Order

Biliran is generally a peaceful province and there is no known incidence of insurgency in recent times. Crime rate is 15.56% and crime solution efficiency is 94.72%. There are a total of 192 policemen and 25 firemen. The provincial command center is stationed in Naval. [up]

Infrastructure

The province is 123 km. from Tacloban City. Land access into the province is via Tacloban City and Ormoc City. Road quality from these two cities to Naval is concrete-paved throughout. The total length of roads is 444.006 km. (167 km. national highways, 56.656 km. provincial roads, 25.71 km. municipal roads and 194.64 km. barangay roads). Road density is 0.775 km/sq. km.

Sea Transportation. The major seaport is the Naval Port. Ships calling into the port include small- and medium-sized vessels from Cebu. Other municipal ports are located in Kawayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Biliran and Maripipi. [up]

Tourism

Biliran Province is endowed with natural tourist attractions that lure both local and foreign tourists: coral reef gardens, scenic waterways, white sand beaches, natural hot and cold water springs.

White Sand Beaches. The island takes pride in its white sand beaches: the Agta Beach resort in Almeria, the Banderahan Beach in Naval, the exotic island of Dalutan with its sculptured rock formations, the Sambawan Island with its rich marine life and coral gardens, the Higatangan Island, famous for its moving white sand bar, the Cogon Beach in Kawayan which is ideal for edible shellfish hunting, and the Genuruan Island in Kawayan which is ideal for water skiing and deep sea diving. There is also the Tingkasan Island, famous for its mysterious bat caves and edible shellfishes. The panoramic island of Maripipi has a beautiful marine seascape.

Waterfalls. The clear and sweet tasting water that flows from the Tomalistis falls is believed to be one of the best in the world. Other falls include the Kasabangan Falls and Casiawan Falls in Cabucgayan, the Kinaraha and Pundol Falls in Almeria, and the newly discovered falls in Pulang Yuta in Caibiran which resembles the Pagsangjan Falls.

Water Springs. The Libtong Hotspring is located in Naval while the Mainit Hotspring can be found in the municipality of Caibiran.

The more popular swimming pools are the Masagongsong Swimming Pool in Kawayan and the San Bernardino Swimming Pool in Caibiran. These pools never run dry nor require chlorination because their waters flow freely from their cool underground natural spring source. Both have amenities like kiosks, conference halls, dressing rooms and rest houses. [up]

Development Plans

As a new province, Biliran is strengthening its organizational development program to build up its capabilities for local governance both at the provincial and municipal levels. Biliran has also set in place necessary mechanisms for a more participative constituency, promoting its own culture and identity and evolving a model for local administration. Moreover, the province is moving to expand its traditional role in the Eastern Visayas. From being the rice granary, the province is aiming to become the food basket of the region.

The island province aims, as part of its overall vision, to propagate high market value crops; establish seed nurseries and demonstration farms to showcase new technologies; encourage aquaculture production; intensify its reforestation and environmental protection programs; accelerate its integrated livestock and poultry programs; develop its ports, roads, power, communications and waterworks systems, irrigation network and post harvest facilities; enhance its people development programs; promote eco-tourism development; and improve its service delivery.

Private Investment Opportunities

1. Eco-tourism
2. Mineral/spring water packaging
3. Industrial tree plantation
4. Integrated coco processing
5. Livestock production and processing
6. Post harvest facilities
7. Sea weed processing
8. Ceramics and terra-cotta manufacturing
9. Communications

Incentives to Investors

1. Skilled and literate labor force
2. Favorable peace and order condition
3. Rich fishing grounds
4. Favorable climate
5. Tourist attractions
6. A development oriented, strong-willed and committed Provincial Government leadership.

Land Area : 3,498 square kilometers (349,800 hectares)
General Land Use by Vegetative Cover

Population : 500,639 Population and Household

Labor Force and Employment As of April 2000
In Labor Force (15 years and over)
381,000.00

Not in Labor Force
29,865.00

Labor Force Participation Rate
71.4%

Employment Rate
91.84%

Unemployment Rate
20.6%

Leyte deserves having its own thread here :D hope someone can share photos of the cities :D

Glad to see a new thread for these underrated provinces. Please post a picture of Tacloban City and the famous San Juanico Bridge.

Yes, I'm glad you started this thread, too, Michael S. If you have pictures, can you please post some of Catbalogan City, too? Of course, San Juanico Bridge is a must. I see the demographics of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar up there. What about Western Samar? Is this the same as just Samar? :)

salamat sa google!

heres san juanico bridge:

http://victorian.fortunecity.com/crescent/469/images/snjuanb.jpg

http://www.easternsamar.de/files/grafik/phils/san%20juanico%20bridge%202.jpg

di pa ako napadpad sa birthplace ng nanay ko. she was born in leyte.

Maganda pa rin ang San Juanico Bridge. :)

how long actually is San Juanico Bridge in kilometres? Hinde ko pa alam :)

I'll try to post pics for these provinces.

Biliran Bridge (facing Biliran Island)
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Biliran%20Bridge%20(facing%20Biliran%20Island)1.jpg
Caibiran Falls
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Caibiran%20Falls%20(wide%20shot).jpg
Casiawan Falls
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Casiawan%20Falls,%20Brgy%20Casiawan,%20Caibiran.jpg


Did you think that only Ifugao has rice terraces?!? That's a big no-no!
Biliran has...
Iyusan Rice Terraces
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Iyusan%20Rice%20Terraces.jpg
The Shifting Sandbar
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Shifting%20Sandbar%20of%20Higatangan%20Island,%20Naval1.jpg
Agta Beach @ Sunset
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Sunset%20at%20Agta%20Beach.jpg
Tingkasan Bat Cave
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Tingkasan%20Island%20Bat%20Cave,%20Kawayan.jpg
Ruins of Nasunugan Watch Tower
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Ruins%20of%20Nasunugan%20Watch%20Tower,%20Brgy%20San%20Roque,%20Biliran.jpg
Ruins of Maripipi Watch Tower
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Ruins%20of%20Maripipi%20Island%20Watch%20Tower.jpg
Kinarahan Cascades
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Kinarahan%20Cascades,%20Brgy%20Sampao,%20Almeria.jpg
Rock Formations at Higatangan Island
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Rock%20Formations%20at%20Higatangan%20Island,%20Naval1.jpg
Pondol Falls
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Pondol%20Falls,%20Brgy%20Iyosan,%20Almeria.jpg


Visit www.biliran.gov.ph for more pics and info on Biliran!

Ginalutan Festival
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Ginalutan%20Festival%20of%20the%20Island%20Municipality%20of%20Maripipi.jpg

Concrete Roads
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/concrete%20roads1.jpg
Globelines
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/Globelines.jpg
Pier Area
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/pier%20area.jpg
Tree-lined Highway
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/tree-lined%20highway.jpg
Downtown area
http://www.biliran.gov.ph/images2/downtown%20area1.jpg

How about pics of Ormoc?

salamat sa google!

heres san juanico bridge:

http://victorian.fortunecity.com/crescent/469/images/snjuanb.jpg

http://www.easternsamar.de/files/grafik/phils/san%20juanico%20bridge%202.jpg

di pa ako napadpad sa birthplace ng nanay ko. she was born in leyte.
I was born in Tacloban City, Leyte but I never went there again since I was 3 years old...sad .... my ninongs and ninangs are all there :(

Leyte has hosted some of the turning points in the history of the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur, accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmena and Carlos P. Romulo, landed in Palo, Leyte to reclaim the country from the Japanese forces. A historical marker in Palo marks the spot in Leyte where General Douglas MacArthur and his army landed on October 20, 1944. The provincial capitol building (second picture above), was the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government from October 23, 1944 to February 27, 1945.

Dont forget Limasawa,where the first mass (in the Philippines) was held

According to my RESEARCH:

Biliran has only 1 FM Station! Amazing! :D Monopoly ba? Hehe...

Another picture of San-Juanico-Bridge
http://gdr.callezaragosa.com/images/San-Juanico-Bridge.jpg

approximately, how long is San Juanico Bridge?

Just a thought.

The main problem that is hampering the development of these provinces is the proliferation of the CPP-NPA in the hinterlands. Until these group is anihilated, don't expect a windfall in development on these sites.

According to my RESEARCH:

Biliran has only 1 FM Station! Amazing! :D Monopoly ba? Hehe...


I guess they don't need even one. We (western part of Leyte) have a good signal reception both on TV and radio from Cebu City. Maybe for some local news or something they really need it but for music, broadcasts coming from Cebu is okay.

I guess they don't need even one. We (western part of Leyte) have a good signal reception both on TV and radio from Cebu City. Maybe for some local news or something they really need it but for music, broadcasts coming from Cebu is okay.

really? So do you mean that the Cebu signal is so strong or has a large scope? :)

yeah, it's loud and clear, most if not all major stations. Talk about happenings in Cebu and we're up to date. Talk about Tacloban our capital city kids know nothing about it, except it's up north and they speak Waray.

Radio signals travel in a straight path or line of sight. We could get signals coming from Cagayan de Oro City, Bohol, Dumaguete and Cebu.

Even cellphone signals could reach our shoreline, it's weak though.

approximately, how long is San Juanico Bridge?

san juanico bridge is approximately 2.2 kilometers...


by the way... i heard rumors about robinsons mall in tacloban? is this true?

yeah, it's loud and clear, most if not all major stations. Talk about happenings in Cebu and we're up to date. Talk about Tacloban our capital city kids know nothing about it, except it's up north and they speak Waray.

Radio signals travel in a straight path or line of sight. We could get signals coming from Cagayan de Oro City, Bohol, Dumaguete and Cebu.

Even cellphone signals could reach our shoreline, it's weak though.

ABS CBN radio here in Cebu is always monitoring Leyte and Samar infact a lot of Leyteños and from Samar always interacts with the commentator through Cellphones, landlines and YM... I think they included Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Negros Oriental for their news routines coz aside from Cebu, these provinces also is their biggest market.

san juanico bridge is approximately 2.2 kilometers...


by the way... i heard rumors about robinsons mall in tacloban? is this true?

Yes, I think this is true. Same also for SM

http://img94.exs.cx/img94/1053/IMG_9736.th.jpg (http://img94.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img94&image=IMG_9736.jpg)http://img94.exs.cx/img94/3335/IMG_9737.th.jpg (http://img94.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img94&image=IMG_9737.jpg)http://img94.exs.cx/img94/2351/IMG_9738.th.jpg (http://img94.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img94&image=IMG_9738.jpg)http://img94.exs.cx/img94/5497/IMG_9739.th.jpg (http://img94.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img94&image=IMG_9739.jpg)http://img94.exs.cx/img94/5209/IMG_9740.th.jpg (http://img94.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img94&image=IMG_9740.jpg)http://img94.exs.cx/img94/148/IMG_9744.th.jpg (http://img94.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img94&image=IMG_9744.jpg)

From Left to Right: Tacloban City Hall, a Church (forgot the name), burned down house (looked interesting at the time) and the university formerly known as Divine Word University.

Click on the images below for a bigger picture

The view of Tacloban Harbor from inside the only McDo on the island of Leyte
http://img76.exs.cx/img76/7569/IMG_9397.th.jpg (http://img76.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img76&image=IMG_9397.jpg)

Leyte National High School
http://img76.exs.cx/img76/9384/IMG_9403.th.jpg (http://img76.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img76&image=IMG_9403.jpg)http://img76.exs.cx/img76/6710/IMG_9435.th.jpg (http://img76.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img76&image=IMG_9435.jpg)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt3.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/pnas8.jpg

IN THE WORDS of Eastern Samar folk, "ga-ud" refers to the flotsam that drifted toward the sea from several large rivers in the province but which clog the mouths of their tributary creeks and streams.

Elsewhere in the Waray-speaking areas of Leyte-Samar, ga-ud refers to a piece of rope used to bind something to a fixed position or an obstacle to one's freedom of movement.

Both definitions apply to Barangay Bantayan in Oras town, Eastern Samar. Floating garbage often clogs the mouth of its waterway connecting to the Oras River and obstructs river traffic.

As a result, sampans often get stuck with thick volumes of ga-ud within view of the scenic Oras Bridge linking the poblacion to the south of the province. The engine-driven small boats without outriggers are the only passenger and cargo vehicles that ply to and from the village along a narrow 3-kilometer stream winding through nipa and mangrove swamps.

"Bantayan presented the worst plight among the barangays whose
health committee members had attended our trainings," Prof. Mae Florence D. Nierras said. Nierras led a team of professors from the University of the Philippines' School of Health Sciences in Leyte that held eight community health planning trainings for more than 200 leaders from 26 barangays in four towns in Eastern Samar from February to April.

The trainings were funded by the Eastern Samar Program Unit of Plan Philippines, a nongovernment organization working with local partners to build child-friendly communities.

With a population of 140 households, Bantayan has only one Jetmatic pump as source of potable drinking water.

Electricity comes from solar energy. The technology was introduced sometime ago as part of Australian government assistance. But this amenity mainly serves the barangay proper and does not reach all households.

Three sampans service the barangay, but with only one daily round-trip to town and only during high tide because the stream is shallow and silted. Fare is P10 per passenger.

Action on 'ga-ud'

"The other [means of] access to the barangay from the highway is by hiking through a footpath and improvised foot bridges across three kilometers of swamps and fields," said Amador Libanan, 24, a schoolteacher and one of very few locals who have completed college. He teaches Grades 1 and 2 in the barangay school.

Bantayan produces rice, root crops, abaca and bananas, which are transported to the town on sampans.

Samuel Libanan, 40, the barangay chair, owns one of the sampans. He lamented the frequent clogging of the waterway's mouth with ga-ud-banana trunks, leaf-stripped nipa stalks, branches and twigs of trees and bamboos, plastic bags and fibers-that often got entangled with the boat's propeller, causing its engine to conk out.

Libanan has occasionally organized pintakasi teams (communal labor) from his barangay to remove the ga-ud, for which he had solicited funds and food donations from the municipal council.

So far, he has not tapped higher-level officials to help address the ecological problem that further isolates his barangay. He said he did not know whom to approach.

A training facilitator sent a text message to Gov. Ben Evardone to ask for possible action. The governor replied that he would refer the matter to the Provincial Tourism and Environment Office.

Ga-ud are usually taken by the river water to the Pacific Ocean when the tide ebbs. But when the tide rises, some drift back and fill the mouth of Bantayan's waterway.

"Ga-ud also litter the beach of three zones of our barangay at ebb tide and have to be cleaned up regularly," said Helen Balagasay, 29, a civic leader in the equally affected Barangay Tawagan, just across the poblacion. She attended the training together with the Bantayan residents in April.

Problem priority

During the three-day training, the participants were taught not only to identify their community problems but also to prioritize them.

"The participants often listed only those problems that they perceived would get funding from agencies and top officials. These were not necessarily their urgent problems," said Prof. Elvira L. Prejula, one of the trainers.

"The priorities often altered after the listed problems were subjected to the criteria of urgency, seriousness and scope introduced during the workshops."

Bantayan's ga-ud problem went down to third priority after child malnutrition, which affects one-fifth of children aged not more than 5 years old, and the lack of potable water supply.

"I hope we will get outside support this time," said Laura Montallana, 42, the local day care worker who looks after 26 preschool children.

"In formulating action plans for the prioritized problems, we advised the participants to think about support systems, not only from the government but also from the community and from nongovernment sources," said Prof. Evangeline C. Pasagui, who lectured on the planning process.

"We encouraged them to choose courses of action that are most comfortable to them, based on their past experience," she added.

Participants from 18 of the 26 villages represented in the training mentioned child malnutrition among their top three problems.

Eleven villages highlighted poverty or lack of income among their priorities while nine mentioned lack of potable drinking supply. Eight lamented the lack of essential medicines for their residents, and seven worried about the lack of sanitary toilets.

The problems bind a combined population of some 15,000 to difficult circumstances in the province. These are compounded by such ecological concerns as floating garbage and coastal erosion.

Last pic is awesome. low tide ba yan?

ABS CBN radio here in Cebu is always monitoring Leyte and Samar infact a lot of Leyteños and from Samar always interacts with the commentator through Cellphones, landlines and YM... I think they included Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Negros Oriental for their news routines coz aside from Cebu, these provinces also is their biggest market.
Does this mean that relations between Central and Eastern Visayas is close? So possibly merging together to form a Federal State, is very feasible?

Feasible indeed. A little adjustments and they're on the go.

sinjin, ive seen those pics before wherd u get them at

from the Tacloban Leyte thread :D

^from who:dunno:

@tigidig14: from tiltshift

^that guy so :cool:

:okay:

:eek2:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt3.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/pnas8.jpg

WOW! Thanks for reposting @Tigidig's photos @Sinjin. I missed those before. :)

I just want to give credit to where credit is due. These are incredible photos Tigidig. Beautiful!!! :)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/f8074634_1_.jpg

pintados festival...

one of marabut's island-rock formation..



http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/marabut_012.jpg

some pintados festival pictures....see... pintados is a very colorful festival in tacloban.... heheh... hope you'll like this... :P

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/pintrados.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/pintados2.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/pintados.jpg

Wow great pics...I like that unusually-shaped rock! By the way, does anyone have any pics of the Calbayog to Allen coastal road? It's supposed to be very scenic.

thanks... hehehe :) .... sori, ala ako nung mga pics na hinahanap mo....

waray upay. :( But thanks for those that you've posted. :)

thank you for those pintados pictures! does anyone have any pictures of Samar?

ok la iton lili... mangingita nala ako hin iba...hehehe... something about samar or leyte... hehehe

Hige, please xXxcarlosxXx. Karuyag ko man more Samar and Leyte pictures. Salamat. :)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt3.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/leyt.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/pnas8.jpg

WOW :eek2:

^^ Amazing!!! great photos!

Wow Philippines :cool:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/san-juanico-bridge1.jpg

an aerial view of the san juanico bridge and straight

somewhere in leyte

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/philippines14pic11.jpg

Northern Samar sunset

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/philippines14pic21.jpg
:banana2:

plundered google for this:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/Samar_Capitol.jpg

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7229/a14sh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

samar: surfing capital of the philippines

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/8982/a27xf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sohoton caves of basey, samar

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7596/a47au.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

majestic stalactites of sohoton cave

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/223/a32zm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

steamed banagan (lobsters), medium-sized: a daily fete in guiuan, eastern samar

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/9008/a51kq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

eastern samar: one of the last natural paradises in the philippines

Beautiful pictures @carlos, @drfeelgood, and @sugbuanon ! :applause:

I'm now enticed to visit my father's roots in Samar and Leyte. I'll egg him now for us to go there while we're on our Philippine holiday sojourn. Truly majestic sights.

wow... absulutely superb!

So natural, so pure

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/81/a13zh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/596/a20se.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/9576/a54ak.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/8593/a63bz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/5018/a74hu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/7404/a95je.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/1127/a89jz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/9115/a33et.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/7008/a44yt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/3638/a107vf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4776/s10gx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img494.imageshack.us/img494/637/s31hm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


About the Cruiser's Name, about the Battle of Leyte Gulf:

LEYTE GULF commemorates the naval battle fought 23 - 26 October 1944 in the Philippines, virtually ending the Japanese Navy's capacity to fight as an organized force. The battle marked the end of centuries of naval warfare tradition, in that it was the last sea battle between forces employing battleships. It also marked the last time surface ships employed the classic maneuver of "crossing the T," when the Japanese ships attempted to enter the Gulf through Surigao Strait early on 23 October.

The battle was showcased by three separate primary engagements, the Battle of Surigao Straits, the Battle of Samar Island, and the Battle of Cape Engano. Called the last of the great sea battles, the Battle of Leyte Gulf used every known weapon of naval warfare, with the exception of mines, and in sheer destruction, the battle has no rival in naval history.

Especially noteworthy of the battle was the battle off Samar, which lasted two hours and thirteen minutes, and was one of the most remarkable displays of absolute bravery in the U.S. Navy's history. In this encounter, U.S. Naval Forces fought against overwhelming odds, from which survival was not expected. Through extraordinary courage and gallantry from air crews and ship's crews, a small task force of destroyers, escorts, and torpedo bombers turned away the Imperial Japanese Center Battleship Force.

wow, nice pics there @sugbuanon!

:eek2: whoa!!!!

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/9150/a16es.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

wonderful pics sugbuanon! I like the fact that those pics give us a glimpse of Leyte's history :cheers:

thanx sista..:D

beautiful pictures

Bejo opposes plan to put up Robinson’s mall in Tacloban
By: Miriam Garcia Desacada


TACLOBAN CITY - Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez yesterday expressed his strong opposition to the plan of the Gokongweis to put up a Robinson’s mall in this city.

Mayor Romualdez revealed his opposition after knowing that the establishment of Robinson’s mall is almost certain, as announced by Gov. Jericho Petilla.

In an exclusive interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, Bejo confirmed his stand, saying that as long as he is still the local chief executive of this city he cannot give any business permit for Robinson’s mall to put up their business in the heart of the city.

Romualdez further explained that he has worries and fears that if this happens, sidewalk vendors and those who engage in small trading within the city would definitely shut down and lost their livelihood.

“I cannot allow this to happen; definitely, I cannot give them a business permit while I’m still the mayor of this city... mamamatay iton gudti nga magneregosyo,” he said.

He, however, suggested that maybe the owner of the Robinson’s should try to find another possible location some six to 8 kilometers away from the heart of the city, as what other prime cities have done in establishing malls.

This is also one way to help decongest traffic in the downtown area, as he learned that the provincial government agreed that Robinson’s could use the old Children’s Park which is located just across the Leyte provincial capitol.

“This time I would like to emphasize to the people that I am more in progress and not in politics... malls is only beneficial for the rich people and that will only give a better chance for the rich Chinese businessmen to become more wealthy,” he added.

Last week, the son of the owner of Robinson’s, Lance Gokongwei, visited Tacloban City for final identification of the location of the proposed mall and other business ventures.

It was learned that the Gokongweis are more than interested to place the mall between Palo and Tacloban which has a bigger area for mall construction.

Governor Petilla said earlier that if some big businessmen in the country have decided to invest in a particular city or province, it means that there is already a better economic activity and development like in the city of Tacloban.

"We should be proud about this. I hope all this will be pushed through in my efforts to bring investors to the province of Leyte, and I hope other elected officials would support me,” Petilla said.

^^ Mayor Romaualdez is just tying to gain more "pogi points" from the vendors.. TRAPO talaga!!!

yah... i think so too... this is our first major mall... and he's trying to stop them... i hope the gokongwei's will not be discourages about this and i hope they'll push through with this plan....

here are some photos of tacloban which i took my self

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity001.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity002.jpg
u/c natasha building
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity003.jpg

u/c tacloban coliseum

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity005.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity004.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity006.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity007.jpg

the sto.nino church

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity008.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity015.jpg

plaza rizal
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity010.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity009.jpg

city hall
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity012.jpg

^^ sorry... some of the pictures are not clear and i dont know how to decrease it size.... sorry

^^ Wow ang ganda! I never thought Tacloban that pretty!!

^^hehehe... thanks

^^ May potential din yung lugar. I hope madevelop pa. Maganda ring historical site ang Leyte particularly nung dumating si mcarthur doon. Do you know the Tancinco's?

i think so... our family doctor is tancinco...:)

Oh really? Yeah, coz I know Tancinco's are hailed from Leyte. I used to have a highschool friend too and that is his last name.

:D

a view from the city hall... i forgot to post this earlier... the photo is nice but mayroong sablay... may sira ung floor
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/taclobancity011.jpg

Condolences to anyone affected by the floods/mudlslides, earthquakes.

kaya nga eh.... dami ng namatay... no less than 3000 daw.... imagine kung ikaw or family ung nandun

Trivia:

Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor were once part of Eastern Visayas. There were only two Visayas before (Western and Eastern).

wow ha.....
ngaun ko lang nalaman yan.... hehehehe

leytenos (royalty) used to dress like this before the spaniards invaded our place..
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/foranhadi1.jpg

leyte like you've never seen before!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/foranhadi11.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/AnHadimainpicframe1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/ormoc.jpg

http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/img/phe/20-01.jpg
IDYLLIC Happy Dove along Sogod Bay

Ecological showpiece

LIMASAWA is the ecological showpiece of Southern Leyte.

In this island town, the records state, on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, the Portuguese explorer Fernando de Magallanes, flying the flag of Spain, led the first Mass to be celebrated in what was later named Filipinas, after the Spanish monarch Felipe el Segundo.

The Mass was said by Fr. Pedro de Valderrama, a 1950 Philippine Historical Committee marker notes. A modern National Shrine now stands on the site, and nearby are the 450 steps that lead to the hilltop First Cross monument.

Now, the people of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, are contesting the claim that the First Mass was celebrated in Limasawa.

During a trip to Butuan, my host Edilberto Buiser, provincial officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, called my attention to an 1872 marker that pays tribute to Magellan and commemorates his celebration of the First Mass in the "pueblo" of Butuan on April 8, 1521.

To complicate matters, the people of Eastern Samar are claiming the same honor.

The first place in the Philippines where Magellan and his men landed was in Homonhon Island off Eastern Samar. So, its people ask, isn't it logical that the Spaniards would first celebrate Mass there, and not in Limasawa or Butuan Viejo?

But let the historians resolve this issue.

The PHC plaque in Limasawa further notes that the Rajahs Kolambu and Si-Agu were informed, through an interpreter, about the Mass to be celebrated by Father Del Valderrama. Then "the ships fired all their artillery in response to musket signal from the shore."

Inside the shrine are sculptural figures kneeling around the cross, including Magellan, the priest (who is standing), a Spanish soldier, and Rajah Kulambu and his wife. There are paintings of the Spanish fleet approaching the shore of Mazaua, the First Mass, the planting of the First Cross, and portraits of Magellan and the chronicler Antonio Pigafetta, who wrote "First Voyage Around the World." (Magellan's voyage, it will be recalled, proved that the earth was round.)

The entry point to Limasawa is Padre Burgos town, the island being 45 minutes away by outrigger boat.

As with almost every Philippine island, the beauty of Limasawa lies in its coastal areas. And a pumpboat ride around the island, courtesy of Limasawa Mayor Albert Esclamado, reveals rock formations that seem to have been there since the dawn of civilization, limestone cliffs, boulders, trees and foliage, and beach coves.

The brochures were right. Many areas of the island town remain pristine and beautiful. You can swim, snorkel, dive (it is a great diving site, according to British divers) and picnic here.

Limasawa can compare with the best of our islands, including Dinagat, Malapascua, Boracay, Syquijor, Siargao, Guimaras, Camiguin and Apo Reef, to name a few. For the pilgrim-traveler, the (contested) fact that it is the site of the First Mass comes across as an added attraction.

5 to go

With the recent trip to Southern Leyte, this "indefatigable traveler," as friend SV Epistola once referred to me, has visited 73 of our 78 provinces. There remain only five to be discovered: Batanes in Northern Luzon, Catanduanes in Bicol, and Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao.

My latest travel destination lies at the southern tip of Eastern Visayas and is separated from Caraga and Northern Mindanao by the Surigao Strait and Canigao Channel. Its capital city is Maasin, and its best-known ecodestination is Limasawa.

Buses from Metro Manila (with stations at Cubao and Pasay Rotonda) go all the way to Maasin, but the trip is tiring. So I took SuperFerry 12 to Cebu, splashed around in its swimming pool, watched a basketball game between crew and passengers, took photos, and gawked at the southern isles.

At Cebu Port I boarded a SuperCat fast craft (courtesy of WG&A public relations manager Gina Virtusio) for a two-hour trip to Ormoc City in Leyte, where I was met by my tour guides, community development officer Cervando Acedo and the driver Leonardo. They were representatives of my host, DENR provincial officer Lito Godoy.

On the DENR jeep we took about two hours and a half to get from Ormoc to Maasin, passing the smooth Pan-Philippine Highway and whizzing past coastal areas lined with beach resorts. The plants and trees were then refreshed by the rains, and we could see the mist-draped mountains in the distance.

Southern Leyte's ecotourism thrust is toward spelunking and diving, Gov. Rosette Yñiguez-Lerias informed me later during a courtesy call. "One hundred dolphins were spotted the other day!" she reported excitedly.

One of the dive spots is Liloan, facing the Pacific Ocean, where during the summer months whale sharks can be seen in big numbers.

"I have explored 10 caves but there are many more. One town, Bontoc, has three caves, one of which is quite famous here," said Yoyex Egido, a staff member of the Tourism Desk that will soon be upgraded to a Provincial Tourism Office.

"There's also Guinsohotan Falls and Cagnituan Cave in Maasin. We are visiting all these sites so we can document them in a brochure," added the youthful Provincial Board Member Jason Calva.

Churches

Maasin has an impressive coral-stone cathedral built during the Spanish era.

A 1993 National Historical Institute plaque notes that the Jesuits set up a zone here that included a church, which was destroyed during a Moro attack. The Augustinians, who took over in 1768, built a new church three years later. But it suffered the same fate at the hands of the Mohammedans in 1784. A church of stone was then built, only to be destroyed-by what or by whom, we are not told.

What must be the present church was built in 1839, burned in 1882, and rebuilt. It became a cathedral in 1968, under the new Diocese of Maasin, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.

Religious landmark

Another religious landmark -- towering over the city and channel-is the monumental Mama Mary Shrine built on a hilltop. It is reached through a stairway with, mercifully, various stops and benches along the way.

My guides and I ascended as dusk descended and a full moon rose behind the pine trees. Spread out hundreds of feet below us were the lights of the city and the lamps of fishing boats at sea.

The following day, under the auspices of the DENR, we toured the coastline from Maasin in the southwest, passing through the southern tip facing Limasawa, to Bontoc in the northeast.

We stopped at the idyllic Happy Dove in Malitbog along Sogod Bay. At the former resort and now a training center for ecological purposes, we met a group of young volunteers mostly from the United Kingdom.

"We train divers from the provincial government to investigate the reefs and protect the corals," said Harry Goudge, 24, a science and scuba-dive teacher from Bristol, England. "The divers will then provide information to the government, which will use it to create management plans to improve sustainability, increase the catch, and manage the resources."

According to Goudge, Sogod Bay has "very deep waters-up to 700 meters-a lot of very good corals and lots of macro fish."

"I have seen whale sharks, whales, and dolphins," he said.

The 12-person volunteer team is headed by expedition chief Paula Brennan. They are staff members of the London-based Coral Cay Conservation, which, apart from the Philippines, has new expeditions in Fiji, Malaysia and Tobago. Their counterpart nongovernment organization in the country is the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc.

North of Malitbog is Bontoc, where a treat awaits foreign and domestic visitors in the form of beach craft moored along the bay. These are native-style huts, adorned with pennants, which can be towed up to 70-80 meters in deep waters.

There, the adults can go scuba diving while the children frolic in the makeshift kiddie pool, also made of bamboo. There are picnic tables and chairs, and a barbecue pit.

The hut can hold a maximum of 50 persons. The fee is P250, good up to 4 p.m., when the boatman prepares to head back by simply tugging at the long rope connecting the hut to the small raft (humorously called by the locals "PT Boats") near the shore.

With the permission of the owner, elderly but still sturdy Leoncio Ceniza, we clambered aboard the Ceniza Floating Hut and shot the breeze that misty morning for an hour. It was a pleasant experience that would have been nicer had we time to stay longer, but we had to shove off.

http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/sec_phe/2003/jan/20-01.htm

New cooking stove using plant oil is now being sold in Leyte
By: Lemuel L. Pagliawan



BAYBAY, Leyte - After about two years of pilot testing in some areas in Leyte province, the developers of the world’s first stove powered entirely by plant oil has started the marketing of the product, first in Leyte island and eventually to other parts of the country.

This was learned by Leyte Samar Daily Express after the Plant Oil Stove (POS) Project was officially launched, witnessed by international and national journalists, local government officials, and other partners, in a ceremony held at the Leyte State University (LSU) here recently.

The project was developed by the Bosch and Siemens Hausgerate GmbH (BSH), a German firm, in partnership with the Leyte State University in this town, the environmental foundation European Nature Heritage (Euronatur), Hohenheim University, DEG Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Deutsche Gesselschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit mbH (GTZ), and Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development with member organizations.

This Plant Oil Stove called “Protos” has been tested in the Philippines, particularly in Leyte, since the later part of 2004 in 100 households and small restaurants.

Dr. Roberto C. Guarte, the project director at LSU, told Express in an interview that the overall number of users of the stove have now increased to nearly 200 households and small commercial establishments because many are already convinced of its advantages to end-users.

“The demand for the plant oil stove is already high,” Guarte said.

According to Guarte, the people’s acceptance of the stove project in pilot areas like the towns of Baybay, Inopacan, Ormoc City and even Tacloban City could be attributed to the link which the LSU established with some households.

The LSU made the pioneering recipients of the stove as cooperators of the project wherein these families were provided with the stove in discounted prices. Moreover, they were also provided with the necessary training on how to use the stove significantly in their daily lives and how to make it last longer.

At present, Guarte said several additional households and small restaurants have already signified interest to be among their cooperators hoping to get the discounts on the price of the stove which they offer.

The single burner Plant Oil Stove is being sold at P2, 000 while the double burner can be bought at P3, 500. The cooperators may get 25% discount, Mr. Guarte said.

Guarte said what they are doing now is the continuing research and development of the stove project and the serial production of it as well.

Some parts of the Plant Oil Stove are being fabricated at the LSU Technology Center but the technically delicate burner unit, which demands a sophisticated production process with very exact tolerances, would be produced in a BSH factory in Germany where the prototype of the stove was originally developed also.

The stoves being used by some households in Leyte are currently utilizing coconut oil as it is the most abundant in the area.

Guarte said “there is nothing to worry about the supply of the plant oil (coconut oil) as there is enough supply of it in Leyte.”

According to him, the users of the stove can also get coconut oil from the New Leyte Edible Oil Plant in Tanauan, Leyte or from the Visayan Oil Mill in Baybay town. But at present most of the users, especially the cooperators of the project, get their crude coconut oil from the oil processing center at the Ciabu Primary Multi-purpose Cooperative at Brgy. Ciabu, Baybay Leyte.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/carlosalmacen/zoom.jpg

DOT tags EV as among emerging tourist sites
By: Peter Paredes



TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism has identified Eastern Visayas as among emerging tourist destination in the country, with Cebu as its main international gateway.

Zeny Pallunga of the DOT Manila said that the region has so many to offer to tourist, which prompted the department to consider it among the Philippine’s emerging tourist destinations. Pallunga in particular cited the Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar as having the biggest potential in becoming a top tourist attraction in the region.

She said that the region would be promoted along with other emerging tourist destination by the department before the year ends.

“The Department of Tourism has identified this region, particularly Calicoan Island as one of the country’s emerging destinations. This only means that the department is not only focusing among selected tourist destinations but even those which are not developed or popular yet among the tourists,” Pallunga told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

She said that as a result, Secretary Joseph Ace Durano gave an increased allocation for its regional office here in Eastern Visayas to boost the marketability of the Calicoan Island.

Pallunga told Express that it would be easy to promote the region among tourist, particularly those coming from other countries, considering its proximity in Cabu, one of the five international gateways in the country.

As this developed Tourism Regional Director Karen Tiopes said that under her level, she has been pushing and promoting Calicoan Island.

However, she admitted to Express that aside from the fact that the major part of the island on owned by a private individual, lack of facilities is another factor that they have to contend with in how to package the island known for its fine white sand and big waves.

Tiopes said that the owner of a big resort there would come up with a big program on how he desires to promote the island, either as a pure tourist destination or an investment area, and the installation of needed facilities and infrastructures, the task to promote Calicoan would become easier.

“By that time, we can now generalize and can now target on (tourist) arrivals,” she said.

Still, the regional tourism officer gives an assurance that the department is promoting Calicoan as a tourist attraction.

Meantime, as part of this effort to attract more tourist in the country, including here in Eastern Visayas, issues on peace an security among tourist have been given a top priority.

Yesterday, a two-day forum attended by all stakeholders of the tourism industry mapped out strategies on how to assure the tourist of their safety while on a vacation.

Director Tiopes said that among the questions raised by the tourist is the safeties of a place were they intend to visit.

“The tourism industry is a very, very volatile industry. Even a small incident, in a very isolated place, could affect the image…tourists would not come,” she said, adding that it has been a policy of some foreign countries to issues travel advisory to their nationals in the country to either shy away from “dangerous” areas or to leave the country, in extreme cases.

Among the aim of the forum was for the tourism related establishments to come up with there own strategies to assured their visitors, be it local or foreign, of their safety in case there is an emergency.

“We should give emphasis in all these things because events do occur when we are least prepared,” she said.

The department, in partnership with the National Defense College, has come up with a program, dubbed as Secretary of Tourists Operation Program (STOP), which primarily aims to enhance the capabilities of those in the industry in managing disaster and security threats.

Members of the Philippine National Police are also part of the program, to be deployed to tourist destinations. .

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7076/tacloban16ix.jpg
View from Hotel D'Angelo in Tacloban City, Leyte
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8389/tacloban22ie.jpg
View from Hotel D'Angelo in Tacloban City, Leyte
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8400/tacloban34xm.jpg
View from Hotel D'Angelo in Tacloban City, Leyte
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5540/tacloban41kx.jpg
View from Hotel D'Angelo in Tacloban City, Leyte
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2259/tacloban59ck.jpg
View along the waterfront of Cancabato Bay. Tacloban City, Leyte.
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3581/tacloban74sl.jpg
Sto Niño church, Tacloban City, Leyte
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5757/tacloban85on.jpg
View from Hotel D'Angelo in Tacloban City, Leyte
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7981/tacloban99xq.jpg
View from Hotel D'Angelo in Tacloban City, Leyte

Just a few pics I took there last year. Unfortunately I had a limited camera and some pics were accidentally deleted... Will go back in a month or so with new camera and GB's of memory space to work with, so I'll have a lot more then. Incidentally, Hotel D'Angelo gave us a pretty good deal when we paid for multiple nights up front in cash.

^^ Doesn't look much like a "city" in the conventional sense, is that hotel the tallest building in the city?

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/301/image0016gv.jpg
Taken from boat at pier at Calubian, Leyte.
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4093/image0027oe.jpg
Taken at pier at Calubian, Leyte (Biliran island in the distance across the water).
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/175/image0043op.jpg
Taken from Marvin's Seaside Inn at Naval, Biliran. (Leyte across the water).
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/9306/image0100jy.jpg
Naval, Biliran.
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/4641/image0119zs.jpg
Naval, Biliran (Leyte across the water).
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1025/image0131mw.jpg
Naval, Biliran.
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8221/picture0039nc.jpg
Taken along the road outside Naval, Biliran
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7272/picture003d7ub.jpg
Taken from boat at pier at Calubian, Leyte.
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5101/picture0046tv.jpg
Taken along the road outside Naval, Biliran
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3937/picture004b2zc.jpg
Taken from pier at Calubian, Leyte.
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6223/picture0059in.jpg
Taken along the road outside Naval, Biliran
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8606/picture005b2hc.jpg
Taken from pier at Calubian, Leyte.
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4523/picture005d0ej.jpg
Taken from pier at Calubian, Leyte.
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6288/picture0082xt.jpg
Taken from boat leaving smaller pier at Calubian, Leyte.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/258/picture012b9vd.jpg
In transit on boat between Calubian and Naval. Naval in the distance there.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7960/picture0130bp.jpg
Taken from Marvin's Seaside Inn at Naval, Biliran.
http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/7384/picture013b5at.jpg
In transit on boat between Calubian and Naval.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/502/picture0141dt.jpg
In transit on boat between Calubian and Naval.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9731/picture0156kq.jpg
Taken from Marvin's Seaside Inn at Naval, Biliran.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1086/picture0153eg.jpg
In transit on boat between Calubian and Naval.
http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/6929/picture0168ao.jpg
In transit on boat between Calubian and Naval.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7134/picture0173xv.jpg
In transit on boat between Calubian and Naval.
http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/2162/picture0183ba.jpg
Taken along the road outside Naval, Biliran
http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/2429/picture018c1tt.jpg
Beautiful sunset at Marvin's Seaside Inn at Naval, Biliran.
http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/5866/picture0198bg.jpg
Taken along the road outside Naval, Biliran
http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/6849/picture0267nt.jpg
Taken from Marvin's Seaside Inn at Naval, Biliran.

Not exactly skyscrapers ;) but a few pics of a beautiful area that seems to be under-represented in pictures online. Really enjoyed the stay at Marvin's there, staff was very friendly, food was good, room was clean. They raised the price some now, so not sure how it compares to other accomodations around Biliran, but I would certainly stay again.

^^ Doesn't look much like a "city" in the conventional sense, is that hotel the tallest building in the city?
the view from hotel d angelo is really bad since it's facing the public market... when i go home this june, ill show u the other side of the city... im not too sure if hotel d angelo is the tallest building in the city since there are a few more buildings similar the hotel d angelo... ayt kimber? ;)

^^ Thanks Carlos! :okay:

Thanks for the pics. I had no idea of what Samar and Leyte looked like until seeing the pics in this thread. What are the major industries in Samar and Leyte? Mining is one, right? What others? Thanks in advance.

^^ copra(coconuts)... abacca... rice


here's a video promoting my hometown... eastern visayas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-208bCt8a4)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/cbuilt/taccol1.jpg


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/cbuilt/tac13.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/cbuilt/tac11.jpg

^^ that looks like somewhere in libertad, pasay city :D

yup, na wala/konti ang traffic. hehehe

edit

^ Bump!

P91B in projects in E. Visayas to make RP ‘success story’

By Vicente Labro
Inquirer
Last updated 05:50am (Mla time) 09/25/2006

Published on page A23 of the September 25, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

TACLOBAN CITY -- More than P91 billion worth of infrastructure and other projects are to be implemented in Eastern Visayas region in the next three years as the government strives to make the Philippines “the next success story in Asia.”

This was disclosed during a special meeting of the Regional Development Council for Eastern Visayas attended by Secretary Ricardo Saludo, one of the Cabinet officials designated as “champions of the super regions.”

Saludo told reporters that his visit here was “our first stop in a nationwide series of consultations, dialogues and presentations to bring the message of unity and development.”

Conditions are rife, he said, for the country to join the ranks of other developed and fast-growing Asian countries.

During the RDC-8 meeting, Saludo discussed “Building a New Philippines,” which highlighted the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration, as well as what the government had been doing to realize the projects, policies and programs “that are relevant and useful and effective on the region.”

Before Saludo’s presentation, RDC chair and Southern Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias presented to the body the “Programs and Projects for Eastern Visayas under the Central Philippines’ Medium-Term Public Investment Program for 2007-2010.”

Lerias reported that the Eastern Visayas component would need an investment requirement of:

• P1.04 billion for promoting the Central Philippine Tourism center.

• More than P29 billion for linking the islands through efficient transportation and communication facilities.

• Nearly P12 billion for harnessing coastal and marine resources.

• P1.6 billion for agribusiness, small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and export potential.

• P28.5 billion for optimizing power supply, particularly geothermal energy.

• Nearly P19 billion for enhancing social services.

Priority programs and projects

• P3.2-billion redevelopment of the DZR airport in Tacloban City and the improvement of the airports in the cities of Calbayog and Ormoc and those at Guiuan and Borongan towns, both in Eastern Samar.

• P100-million Roro (roll-on, roll-off) port projects at Kawayan and Maripipi towns in Biliran.

• P1.3-million Roro project in the island town of Limasawa in Southern Leyte.

• P420-million Roro project in San Ricardo town in Southern Leyte.

• Development of the island towns of Biri in Northern Samar and Limasawa in Southern Leyte, and the Calicoan Island in Guiuan town, and the tourism road projects in Samar, costing P528 million, and in Southern Leyte, costing P262 million.

• Construction or improvement of major roads in Samar, Leyte and Biliran.

• Biodiversity and conservation projects

• Water supply projects

• Irrigation projects

• Geothermal development projects

• Power transmission projects

• Disaster mitigation and flood control

• Social services projects

Saludo said the dialogue conducted in Tacloban was aimed at bringing directly to the people the national situation that had not been reported by news media.

“We are in a situation now where foreigners are even more optimistic about the Philippines than we are because they are able to have access to information that does not get into our media,” he said.

Among the “good news” that he claimed was not reported by news media was the rise in foreign investments.

“Because of increasing confidence in the economy we also have foreign investments coming in,” Saludo said, citing Philippine Stock Exchange statistics that foreign buying “grew by 72 percent in the first seven months of 2006.”

Graft and corruption

Saludo said the government had also been doubling its efforts to curb graft and corruption.

He pointed out that in its anti-graft program, the government had doubled the budget of the Office of the Ombudsman, which led to the hiring of more field investigators and prosecutors and that this resulted in a conviction success rate of from 6 percent to 33 percent in 2005.

He said that in the drive against corruption, at least 22 top officials had already been convicted, and that the Arroyo government has instituted the lifestyle check, is instituting ways to simplify red tape, and has several anti-graft programs including those funded by international donors.

Saludo, however, did not say what the government information network -- TV, radio, online and print media -- had been doing to disseminate these “good news.”

He also did not talk about the raging issue of political killings despite his visit here being a “national campaign for unity and development.”

Incidentally, his visit also fell on the same day that the country was marking the 34th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, when political killings and human rights abuses were rampant.

Saludo said his report was about a new Philippines that was emerging, a country that had a “stable, responsive, fiscally sound and democratic government.”

He revealed the government was batting for the Philippine economy to grow 7-8 percent a year, which, he said, was the rate needed to eradicate poverty.

This could be done if the country’s capital stock will increase 10 percent a year, Saludo said.

He stressed that government was now addressing the obstacles to investments, such as public finance, infrastructure, corruption and risk of instability.

Saludo said the “growth and development scenario that we want” was to reduce poverty from 27 percent to 17 percent of the Filipino families, attain a gross domestic product growth rate of 6-8 percent, and achieve a budget balance in 2008.

He also made a pitch for Charter change, saying this was the long-standing position of the President that she included in the 2004 election campaign platform, and talked about the administration’s preference for a shift to a parliamentary form of government.

“I’m not speaking for any of the advocates for Charter change; I’m simply speaking for the President and her own position which she expressed long ago, back in 2004,” he said.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=22870

^^wow,thats a huge amount of amount to be poured on the region! hopefully it all pushes thru and not just all talk from the gov't, :)

^^ actually some of those projects have already started, like addition of geothermal plants and promotion of of tourist spots like calicoan island..

Councilor proposes renaming of Kananga into “Geothermal City of Kananga”
By: Reyan L. Arinto



TACLOBAN CITY – With the hope of attracting domestic and international tourists, a councilor in Kananga, Leyte is proposing to name their town as “Geothermal City of Kananga.”

Councilor Juanito Reyes tola Leyte Samar Daily Express that his proposal is premised on the fact that Kananga is home to the world's largets wet steam field called the Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF).

LGPF produces a total of 708MW of which 61 percent of PNOC-EDC's combined geothermal output and 37 percent of total power generated from the geothermal sources in the world.

LGPF supplies power not only in Eastern Visayas but also to Luzon and the key islands of the Visayas, like Cebu and Panay.

“I just want the title for Kananga because we need it to draw in tourists to come to our town. This is not a cityhood bill,” Reyes pointed out.

Kananga town is a second-class municipality with only 23 barangays.

“My resoluiton is just to request President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) to declare our town as a geothermal city,” Reyes added.

“My colleagues in the municipal council and even the mayor (Ed Napari) is supportive of my resolution,” Reyes said.

It was learned that the municipality of kananga is poised to construct a geothermal view park so that tourists can have a bird's eye view o fthe entire geothermal field covering the villages of Tongonan and Lim-ao.

“We need to concrete roads leading to the proposed geothermal view park since good roads leading to the area are found in Ormoc City, the other side of the field,” the councilor said.

It was learned that the municipality of Kananga has already passed a resolution asking the provincial government of Leyte to declare the town as “Geothermal Capital of the Philippines,” but for unknown reasons, did not materialize.

Domingo says Calicoan island soon to become “Boracay in the Pacific”
By: Reyan L. Arinto



TACLOBAN CITY – Presidential Assistant for eastern Visayas Victor Domingo said many businessmen have already expressed their interest in putting up investments in the island resort of Calicoan in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

With the increasing number of potential investors, Domingo said Calicoan Island would soon become the “Boracay in the Pacific.”

“Tourists are coming in by the hundreds and thousands to Cebu, Bohol and Palawan. Some are leapfrogging to Ormoc City because of its golf course and many are coming to Calicoan Island because of surfing. Hopefully Calicoan will be the next Boracay in the Pacific,” Domingo told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

“Boracay people are coming to Calicoan and they like the place. I had a talk with them in Manila and they are interested in putting up resorts and hotels. These people are keen on offering their clients a three-in-one package where they can go to Palawan, Boracay and Calicoan. Calicoan is a sought-after island because of the Pacific waves ideal for surfing which Palawan and Boracay do no have,” Domingo said.

Domingo added that the local government of Guiuan is now readying things for the land financing and other improvements and development of the entire area.

Also, with the development of the Guiuan Airport, Domingo is hopeful that it will spur tourism activity in Calicoan Island.

“Unlike Boracay and some resorts in Palawan which are very far form the airport, Calicoan is only 20 minutes from the Guiuan Airport,” Domingo said.

It was learned that the national government has already earmarked some Php 25 million for the historic airport’s rehabilitation that will include the construction of a perimeter fence, terminal building and asphalt overlay of its 7, 000-feet runway.

Also, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allotted Php 10 million for the initial rehabilitation of the airport, which used to be one of the major American airbases during World War II in the Pacific.

Next year, another Php 15 million will be shelled out by the national government for additional improvements of the airport.

Domingo, meanwhile, explained that the road development and installation of a water system in Calicoan Island would be shouldered by the local government unit in Guiuan.

In another development, the regional presidential assistant underscored the importance of continued tourism development in the region as a contributory factor to the national government’s visualization of a tourist haven Central Philippines super region.

“I’m sure that if they (tourists) discover the beautiful spots in Samar and Leyte hindi tayo matatalo. Sa dive spots we have undiscovered dive spots in the region which are hardly known to foreigners,” Domingo stressed.

Recently, the department of Tourism (DOT) has identified several dive spots in San Francisco, San Juan, Padre Burgos and Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte. Underwater terrains have also been identified in Marabut, Samar; Guiuan, Eastern Samar and Tabango and Tolosa in Leyte.

“People will ultimately get tired of Cebu, Bohol and other tourist destinations in Visayas. Somehow we can drum up our promotions of Eastern Visayas as an alternative tourist destination,” Domingo said.

Already, the local chief executives in Samar Island have grouped together to promote the island as one tourist destination using Calicoan as its entry point.

Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said the “one Samar, one island” is a tourism package that will package the entire island as one tourist destination.

Sarmiento added that the same strategy has been employed by Palawan, Bohol and Cebu where they package their islands as one tourist destination.

well thats good then, more power to eastern visayas! :cheers:

Bump! Here is the thread @Sandrin. :)

i both love ormoc and biliran, their like my 2nd and 3rd homes respectively...

the biliran pics really bring a lot of memories, like the one with the shifting sandbar, the cave (we had to descend a rather steep cliff to reach it...), and the waterfalls (the baranggay did a headcount of our group before and after going to the falls since groups returning from the area either return with one or more members less, or more...freaky...)

hoping to see more pics of ormoc...i love that city...got a lot of influential friends over there...hehehe...

btw, eastern samar is great too, spent a week there last summer...great islands and beaches, but most of all, i love the quiet countryside atmosphere...although i had to speak tagalog almost all the time since the locals speak waray and cant understand cebuano...

Yes, I think this is true. Same also for SM


no offense meant to tacloban peeps, but i think that ormoc is a much better choice...

although on second thought, it might work, considering tacloban's 'central' location in the region...

^^^great info about the geothermal field...

trivia: region 8 also has the country's largest karst field (area pockmarked with a lot of caves), that is in samar...a drive through the interior of the island would show a lot of caves at the roadside, several, if not most of, are still unexplored...if only the rebels werent around, it would most definitely be a big tourist attraction

^^ yah... maraming rebels dun sa may samar area.. maraming mga NPA..

totoo din na mraming naturals wonders ang samar na unexplored..

no offense meant to tacloban peeps, but i think that ormoc is a much better choice...

although on second thought, it might work, considering tacloban's 'central' location in the region...

i dont think that sm will build the mall anytime soon.... robinsons is already looking for another big lot in tacloban's suburbs... since mayor romualdez did not allow robi to build its mall in the ex-children's park

our airport is also scheduled for reabuilding.. nakita ko na ang rendering.. kind of iba sa bacolod and ilo ilo... 3 airbriges din... and i think i eextend ung runway para maka accomodate ng bigger aircrafts like A330's..

ormoc may not be a good choice for(sorry ormoc peepz) since its only two hours away from cebu..

EV has many tourist spots to attract more visitors
By: Reyan Arinto



TACLOBAN CITY – Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas Victor Domingo has expressed confidence that the region can be a big contributor to the country’s tourism industry.

Domingo cited the numerous div sites that surround the region that could compete with the famous dive sites in Palawan and Negros.

Domingo said in an interview that Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) engineers who are conducting geothermal power exploration in San Juan, Southern Leyte recently discovered an underwater terrain that could be promoted as scuba diving site.

“They were just having their pastime when they discovered the reef off San Juan waters,” Domingo said.

Domingo added that the place “is as beautiful as Tubattaha Reef,” a United Nations-declared world heritage site located in Cagayancillo town, Palawan.

“Based on the initial survey conducted by local divers, the underwater terrain is adorned with a great abundance of corals and huge sea fans,” Domingo said.

“A complete facility and a little promotion make the place suitable for diving. I will bring this matter to the Department of Tourism (DOT) so that they can make necessary plans to promote the area,” he added.

He said he is optimistic that with the planned modernization and rehabilitation of airports, particularly the DR Airport and Guiuan Airport, this will spur tourism and economic development in the region.

Meantime, the provincial board of the province of Leyte has recently approved the municipal resolution of Tolosa, Leyte declaring Hilaba Reef off Barangay Telegrafo as a protected area and fish sanctuary.

Hilaba Reef has a submerged natural rock formations ideal for scuba diving and underwater explorations.

Located some three kilometers away from Tolosa’s town center, the reef is home to thousands of luminescent coral fishes, wildly colored soft and basket corals where diving enthusiasts will look forward for their drop-off.

According to Mayor Hilario Caadan, if the reef will be fully protected it will urge many divers to visit the area.

The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas has initially provided assistance to the local government of Tolosa for the protection of the area.


________________________


eastern visayas' tourism website has been launched..

www.visiteasternvisayas.ph

Gloria kicks off Samar projects
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?...ns4_oct18_2006

CALBAYOG CITY—President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated yesterday some P3.74 billion worth of infrastructure projects that aimed at hastening the economic development of the entire island of Samar.
Among the inaugurated projects were the P2.8-billion, 111-km Calbayog-Calbiga road; the P640-million Calbayog-Catarman road; and the Cagbayang bridge worth P30 million.
The President also promised to construct a new seaport in this city which would connect it to other parts of the country, particularly Masbate.
Mrs. Arroyo arrived here at 10 a.m. to grace the 58th Charter Day celebration of the city. In her speech at the jampacked auditorium of the Tiburcio Tansinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology, she emphasized the potential of Samar Island as a viable tourism destination.
But the Chief Executive warned that any development effort will be futile unless the insurgency problem is solved.
She was accompanied by Secretary Gabriel Claudio, who is also the regional coordinator, and Secretary Arthur Yap, presidential adviser on jobs creation.
Also at hand during the inauguration were Samar Reps. Catalino Figueroa, Reynaldo Uy, Marcelino Libanan of Eastern Samar, Harlene Cast Abayon of Northern Samar and Govs. Ben Evardone and Milagros Tan and Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas Victor Domingo. Ben M. Veridiano

Competition boosts Samar surfing paradise
http://globalnation.inq7.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=27594
By Vicente Labro
Inquirer
Last updated 07:13pm (Mla time) 10/19/2006

CALICOAN ISLAND, Guiuan, Eastern Samar -- The holding of the 4th leg of the Philippine Surfing Championship Circuit has given a boost to the efforts of this island to promote itself as a surfing paradise.

Some 64 surfing enthusiasts from different parts of the country are vying for honors in surfing competition, which started on October 18 and will end on Saturday. The competition also brought in scores of local and foreign visitors.

The island, with its good waves and white-sand beaches, also served as the venue of last year's first surfing competition in Eastern Visayas, which was held through the initiative of the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF).

"This is the second time that we are holding the competition here in Guiuan," said Zeny Pallugna, PSF secretary general and event organizer.

But Pallugna stressed that the ongoing event here is a locally organized one. The PSF just provided the technical staff and the judges and tabulators, and handled invitations to competitors.

Beyond helping the local government in staging the competition, the PSF is also promoting the island as a venue for international events.

The PSF, which is headed by Representative Prospero Pichay, has started talks with the Association of Surfing Professionals in Queensland, Australia regarding the possible holding of an international surfing competition in Calicoan Island, Pallugna said.

"I was tasked to take photos here (and) to make a report about Guiuan because we are recommending Guiuan to hold an international event in the near future," she added.

Calicoan is said to have two kinds of waves, the right-hander and the left-hander, meaning that surfers can move in to ride a wave either from the left or right side.

Joseph Olinduaso, the contest director, who has been surfing for 17 years now, said that the waves in Calicoan have their own character.

Even if the wave is already big, it is "still friendly to the surfers," he said. "They (surfers) can still make certain kinds of maneuvers that the judges are looking for in the competition," he added in Filipino.

According to Olindauso, the waves here are good for those who are already skilled surfers as well as for beginners, "unlike the waves of Siargao and Catanduanes that only those with a high level of skill could surf."

Among the contestants in the ongoing competition is Dodo Espejon, the winner of the 2005 surfing finals, who is poised to again show his skill in riding the waves.

The surfing competition in Calicoan Island last year lured a young boy into trying to ride the waves. Now, 13-year-old Dangie Lace, who hails from Sulangan, an islet next to Calicoan, is the first and only contestant from Guiuan.
Inquirer Visayas

Calicoan Island is constantly being featured on local cable infotainment channels here :yes:

nakapunta na ako ng calicoan at nung nearby town na sulangan... sulangan is popular sa lugar namin dahil sa miraculous church doon...


maganda ung beach doon... sa isang side ng calicoan... malalaki ung wages... sa isang side naman... calm at maraming corals..

P7.7-B infra projects for Samar given priority
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/metroregions/view_article.php?article_id=30682
By Ven S. Labro
Inquirer
Last updated 08:01pm (Mla time) 11/05/2006

CALBAYOG CITY%u2014 The government will give priority to the implementation of the P7.7 billion worth of infrastructure projects on Samar Island.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently supported the implementation of the P3.3-billion Laoang-Palapag-Mapanas-Gamay-Lapinig-Arteche Road, %u201Cto make the road all-weather, in preparation for the concreting (of this road section),%u201D Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said.

An all-weather road is an unpaved road made of gravel that does not become muddy during rainfall.

Sarmiento, who chairs the infrastructure committee of the Regional Development Council, said the President had also ordered the release of funds for the interprovincial road that would connect Northern Samar to Eastern Samar, and complete the highway loop on the island.

The government will conduct a feasibility study for a cross-country road from Barangay San Gabriel in Borongan, Eastern Samar, to either Calbiga or Basey town, both in Samar province in the west, he said.

The road will pass through the Samar Island Natural Park, which Ms Arroyo has declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System a couple of years ago.

Sarmiento said he would propose that settlers not be allowed within the Samar Island Natural Park in order to protect the environment.

A road passing through the park would cut travel time by more than an hour, resulting in convenience for commuters and lower prices of commodities, he said.

The other priority projects in Samar are the P2.8-billion Calbayog-Calbiga Road, the P640-million Calbayog-Catarman Road, the P900-million power transmission facilities, and the P100-million Arteche-Palapag Road.

Some are already ongoing while others would be implemented soon, Sarmiento said.

promotional video.. tourism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-208bCt8a4

Ormoc City
http://philippineintroductions.homestead.com/files/normoc_o3.jpg




Photos below from flickr.com

Tacloban Airport
http://static.flickr.com/32/38094777_6540c9d588.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/76/160834396_149416e9d2.jpg



Tacloban City from above
http://static.flickr.com/55/147993321_ae6b9437d0_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/52/147993317_c08e1df2ef_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/87/260334494_27d98382ea_o.jpg


Jollibee and Hari ng Kalsada
http://static.flickr.com/96/273556078_298eac9c41_o.jpg

All photos from flickr.com


Tacloban City Airport Runway

http://static.flickr.com/52/193081581_aba1b0219b_o.jpg


McArthur
http://static.flickr.com/54/133744977_a9cb95d71c_o.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/DSCF0111.jpg

TACLOBAN flights from Bacolod opened

Eleven connecting flights from Bacolod were opened by Cebu Pacific starting November 22, the airline company said.

Flights available are from Bacolod to Laoag for P799; to Dumaguete, Kalibo, Roxas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Davao (via Cebu) for P999; and to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog and Davao (via Manila) for P1,299.

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific marketing director, said that by adding more connecting routes, they are giving passengers more travel options.

Passengers can also avail of a check-through baggage connection service from the origin station to the end-destination of the guest. source (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2006/November/24/businessnews1.htm)

^^ ka cool....bacolod ang origin ng flights??

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/cbuilt/taccol1.jpg



is this a Cockpit Arena or a Basketball Arena?

is this a Cockpit Arena or a Basketball Arena?

multi-purpose arena...

multi-purpose arena...

including basketball?

including basketball?

yep..

[QUOTE=pIrEnA;10149684]

hoping to see more pics of ormoc...i love that city...got a lot of influential friends over there...hehehe...

QUOTE]

kinsa may friends?maybe i know some of them

maupay nga adlaw mga sangkay!

bagan gutiay man la didi it waray. pero maupay inin kay mayda ngayan thread didi it nga mga taga eastern visayas.

sa mga KANA na eastern visayan. maayong adlaw ninyo. maayo kay naa diay ta thread dri. bago ra ko dri bay.

kinsa may friends?maybe i know some of them

i know some larrazabal, tan and sarit in ormoc..

maupay nga adlaw mga sangkay!

bagan gutiay man la didi it waray. pero maupay inin kay mayda ngayan thread didi it nga mga taga eastern visayas.

sa mga KANA na eastern visayan. maayong adlaw ninyo. maayo kay naa diay ta thread dri. bago ra ko dri bay.

lagi.. guti la it waray dd.

i know some larrazabal, tan and sarit in ormoc..

which ones?

[QUOTE=pIrEnA;10149684]

hoping to see more pics of ormoc...i love that city...got a lot of influential friends over there...hehehe...

QUOTE]

kinsa may friends?maybe i know some of them

Espina of Pongos Hotel.. Hehehe.. the twins?

Espina of Pongos Hotel.. Hehehe.. the twins?

yah.luing & pitong.i dnt know them personally though.

which ones?

i know miguel larrazabal..

nikki sarit..

yah.they're younger than me

^^ relatives mo??

btw, guys... robinsons is building a mall in tacloban..they already bought the lot which was the old bus terminal and public market.. they are building the mall near a hospital and school... according to my friends, malaki daw ung lot.. sooo un..

nakita ko na nga pala ung rendering ng bago naming airport.. nice... i think i saw 3 airbridges and there were 4 planes in the tarmac... tacloban airport of international standards dn ang pangalan ng project.. the rendering looked similar to iloilo's.. ahaha

yah.luing & pitong.i dnt know them personally though.

small world it is bro.. Pitong was my classmate back in college..

^^ relatives mo??

btw, guys... robinsons is building a mall in tacloban..they already bought the lot which was the old bus terminal and public market.. they are building the mall near a hospital and school... according to my friends, malaki daw ung lot.. sooo un..

nakita ko na nga pala ung rendering ng bago naming airport.. nice... i think i saw 3 airbridges and there were 4 planes in the tarmac... tacloban airport of international standards dn ang pangalan ng project.. the rendering looked similar to iloilo's.. ahaha

i didnt know that, but i know that lance gokongwei visited the city and they were looking at possible sites to build their mall. one of those site was the old childen's park. i am not sure if they will really build their mall at the old terminal site and the public market because the place is not suitable for a robinson type mall. it is also near the sea. the place is sitting right next to a squatter area that is known to be a refuge of criminal elements like shoplifters, burglars and snatchers.

yes, there is a plan for expanding the airport.

@pirena: my mom is from ormoc. KANAdian akong mama. sa gamay pa mi pirmi mi bakasyon didto. daghan nag nausab ang ormoc. kahinumdum ko sa una daghan pa to tartanilya. karon wala naman ko kakitag tartanilya. nahurot guro sa flashflood. naa man gani didto akong kuya pagflashflood. askang lisura gyud atong mga panahona. way suga way tubig, naa gud panahon wala silay makaon kay walay suga walay tubig, di sila kaluto ug bugas. ang posporo nila basa, di maduslitan. daghan kog nahinumduman anang ormoc. sa una kanang gitukuran sa gaisano ron, dako mana na vacant lot na naa ray gamay na part na naay building. ug ang kanang ila children's park na atbang sa simbahan wala pa nay koral(fence) karon pagbalik nako didto laaglaag pareha na sa plaza sa tacloban naa nay koral(fence).

i didnt know that, but i know that lance gokongwei visited the city and they were looking at possible sites to build their mall. one of those site was the old childen's park. i am not sure if they will really build their mall at the old terminal site and the public market because the place is not suitable for a robinson type mall. it is also near the sea. the place is sitting right next to a squatter area that is known to be a refuge of criminal elements like shoplifters, burglars and snatchers.

yes, there is a plan for expanding the airport.


no, they are building their mall at marasbaras... taboan/philtranco bus terminal dati... my aunts who work at the city hall told us that the gokongwei's have bought the land from bejo, since it was bejo na tumanggi na ibuild ung mall sa old childrens park... sabi dn ng aunts ko na constructions began na... and my friends who go to rtr(school), sabi nila, nag ground breaking na daw.. di pa ako sure nyan..

about the airport naman... jusko, 3 years nang nakastambay ung renderings nila... sabi nila, this year daw magsstart, dapat lang, matatapos na ang term ni bejo.. ahahaha

i see. good. that is good news. bejo have plans before to transfer the bus terminal to taboan but people protested because it is far from the downtown area so bejo later decided to transfer the terminal to abucay and build an access road at sabang district but people are still complaining. it is still considered far.

i dont know how bejo would expand the airport. he say he will buy the private land from land owners but i dont know how much he would pay them and i dont know if it would be easy because i know some of those properties near the airport are private beach houses of the wealthy and influential.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/bukid_01/afire.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/bukid_01/bfire.jpg

this was the fire that burned all the houses in the squatter area near our place. the structure with the green roof is the bus terminal that i mentioned earlier. the roof with the name bejo romualdez is the fish market. and the one with a pointed roof and a flag is the new building of the tacloban supermarket.

Eastern Samar eyes more tourism projects

By Alice Nicart

Borongan, Eastern Samar (20 February) -- Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone is optimistic tourism will boom in this part of the country once the two airports operate a few years from now.

This, Evardone said in his message during the oath-taking ceremony of the Provincial Tourism Council at the Provincial Capitol yesterday.

Evardone was confident to say that tourism is the biggest industry in the world with hotel, food, transportation and communication demands that corresponds to the industry. He was also articulate to recall that the province, particularly Guiuan, is one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s focus in her Mega Regions Programs, hence the appropriation for the rehabilitation of the World Class Airport with P10M initial budget to fix the apron of the airport terminal.

He also said that the Borongan Airport will likewise be rehabilitated, even as it has not yet began in actual operation. The Governor however reported that according to the Provincial Engineer, Engineer Dindo Picardal, some P60M may be required to fully rehabilitate the Borongan Airport terminal before it can be operational, and this has been remedied, the Governor said.

Since the province is filled with tourism potentials, the ULAP Spokesman urged the municipal tourism officers present to cultivate, preserve and promote their respective tourist attractions and effect some preparations for upcoming tourism activities. He said that the province is rich with beaches, falls, rock mountains and festivals which can certainly attract several tourists to this part of the country. He made special mention of Calicoan Surfing grounds in Guiuan which has fairly drew-in some tourists more than Borongan, but he also expressed hope in general that once the airports are put in place, the province will be open to tourist spill-over from Cebu and Bohol.

He also mentioned that as reported in the past, Asian Spirit has signified their intention to fly Borongan. He said that he has suggested to DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza to enter into negotiations with Asian Spirit, i.e. offering government subsidy in some seats be subsidized by LGU; with his offer, Evardone said perhaps the plane owners can accede to it, thereby changing the economic activity in Eastern Samar with the expected influx of local and foreign tourists.

With Guiuan and Borongan airports being workout simultaneously, Evardone said, either of the airport may operate in the province, where they believe they can have market. (PIA-Borongan)

4 power plants to be turned over this year to PNOC-EDC
By: Lemuel L. Pagliawan


TACLOBAN CITY – Four privately operated power plants located within the Leyte Geothermal Power Field (LGPF) in Tongonan, Leyte are set to be turned over to the Philippine national Oil Corporation – Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) this year as the build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts for these power plants have already expired.

Engr. Manuel Paete, resident manager of PNOC-EDCs Leyte Geothermal Power Filed, disclosed in an interview that about three power plants of California Energy (CalEn) and one power plant owned will be turned over to PNOC-EDC before the year ends.

“What we are now looking forward is the turnover of CalEn and Ormat power plants of PNOC-EDC this year,” Paete said.

The said private companies, under a 13-year BOT contract with the government, have operated these power plants using the geothermal energy in Tongonan.

This July, Paete said CalEn is going to turn over to PNOC-EDC the 232-megawatt Malitbog power plant and the Mahanagdong A and B power plants with a power generating capacity of 120 and 60 megawatts, respectively.

Paete said Ormat would also be doing the same on September this year, as it will be turning over to PNOC-EDC the management and operation of its 50-megawatt optimization power plant.

Paete said the turn over would include both the power plant and steam filed where is located as it will now be totally owned and controlled by the state-run PNOC-EDC.

“This is somewhat a big challenge to us because we will now be engaged both in development and geothermal power exploration activities as well as in the actual operation of power plants,” Paete said.

Paete said they are now making the necessary preparations for the turnover this July.

“We already formed a so-called transition team that would make all the necessary preparations so to usher in a smooth change of management and operation of the said power plants. Our men at the PNOC-EDC are now closely coordinating with CalEn and Ormat fro this matter,” Paete said.

Last June 2006, the Upper Mahiao power plant of CalEn was turned-over to PNOC-EDC as its BOT contract with the government also lapsed last year.
“With the experience we are having now in running the Upper Mahiao plant, we are confident that we can also ably operate the power plants that are going to be turned over to our company this year,” Paete said.

Port of Tacloban

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/bukid_01/tacport.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/bukid_01/tacport1.jpg

San Juanico Bridge, San Juanico Strait

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/bukid_01/sanjuanico.jpg

Guys na Waray

What is "makarob-karob"?

Tnx.

^^ relatives mo??

btw, guys... robinsons is building a mall in tacloban..they already bought the lot which was the old bus terminal and public market.. they are building the mall near a hospital and school... according to my friends, malaki daw ung lot.. sooo un..

I read that in the news that Robinsons is going to build a mall in Tacloban. But according to official press releases from Robinsons Land Inc., There are only five malls programmed to be built in 2007-2008, and that includes the mall in my city, Davao, Bulacan, Tagaytay, and in Manila. General Santos was mentioned, but it isn't clear if this is also programmed to open along with the malls in these other cities. When would Robinsons in Tacloban materialize? Maybe in 2009?

Guys na Waray

What is "makarob-karob"?

Tnx.

where have you heard that word?!? an tahong nga makarobkarob?!? :D makarobkarob means "crunchy" but... it could also mean... :D

"oh, an tahong makarobkarob, makarorobkarob an tahong ni carla..."

sinamar-samar iton nga "makarobkarob" kay didi ha amon ha leyte "makarogkarog" iton.

crispy tahong or tahong crackers is a delicacy of samar.

^^ Yah! That song. :D We in Iloilo thought it was Ilonggo/Hiligaynon or sometimes Kinaray-a as we undestood the words flowing in the song.

We were intrigued when this "makarob-karob" word came out from the song but the rest of the lyrics, we knew its story and the connotation.

My professor said that Waray and Hiligaynon-Kinaray-a has similarities.

ilonggo and samarnon waray in particular are very similar. there are many words that are similar like puruko (lingkod in leyte), buwas, bulig, may-ada (may-ara, mayda in leyte), damu, aga, gab-i... we even call dog "ayam" (similar to karay-a) that is why it wasn't that difficult for me to learn ilonggo. ilonggo and kinaray-a is like sugbuanon mixed with samarnon waray blended with your original ilonggo/karay-a words.

minus the naughty connotation, the song is in a way promoting the produce of samar, particularly the tahong industry and their product called crispy tahong or tahong crackers.

kun makarobkarob pa, bago pa iton, waray pa kahangini. kun ha kanan babaye pa, ulay pa iton. just like paper money, if it is crispy (makarobkarob), it means it is fresh, waray pa kagamiti. pero bangin makarobkarob liwat adto kay mabuhok man. :D

^^ That is quite funny. "Karuyag ko man makabisita uli ha Samar ug Leyte. Taga-didto ang akong papa. Taga- Catbalogan City. Naka-upod na ako sa Catbalogan, Guiuan, Catarman, Tacloban, Pasigay. May da man maupay na falls dida ang ngaran ay Gandara Falls."

I like to visit Samar and Leyte again. My father is from there. From Catbalogan City. I have been to Catbalogan, Guiuan, Catarman, Tacloban, Pasigay. There is a nice falls there called Gandara Falls."

My Waray is so rusty. I only know of a smattering of words.

Hey @bukid: are you familiar with the delicacies of Samar-Leyte such as tamales (with pork and grounded peanuts), sisi (seafood preserve), there is another red seafood I can't remember the name, piñato (grounded pinipig and rice snack), etc. I miss those.

yes, i know some of those that you mentioned. may bago na favorite pasalubong from catbalogan samar made by charito pastries. it's called hopia pili and there are also other products from charito but i can't remember all of their products because i often buy hopia pili only and my brother also tried their crispy tahong with native suka mixed with harang (sili) but i didnt like the taste of tahong so it was not my favorite. their product has now become a famous pasalubong from this region.

I'm not very familiar with all the delicacies from samar. but here in leyte, we have pastillas from carigara, we also have binagol, moron, suman, ibos, dried squid and many more. but often i receive request from my sugbuanon friends to buy moron, binagol, pastillas and the puffed-rice or puffed-corn (ampao man siguro an tawag hiton). their favorite is the pastillas.

the only place i've visited in samar is marabut. naruruyag gad ak pumasyada ha samar ugaring la waray ko la upod. kay makuri na bangin la may makatapo kita nga di sugad ha aton bangin kita di hinin magpakauli. :) siring man nira na it bisaya kuno damu it espanyol na pulong, kun kumadto daw la hira ha samar masabot gud hira nga harayo ha pagka-espanyol it mga tawo didto. ha yinaknan pala, gutiguti la it at makikita nga tikang ha espanyol.

the people of samar had somehow preserved that unique native visayan culture as can be seen in their language where spanish had so little influence. (check my sentence in waray and count the spanish words in it.) it is probably because there were not much spaniards in the island during the spanish period. the spaniards are usually spanish missionaries/priests.

^ Actually, there were a lot of Spaniards in Catbalogan, Samar. My grandfather was one.

There was a study posted by another forumer @Paup1 that showed that Waray is another rich native language that is quite pure (just like pure Tagalog) that can be expressed with little borrowings from other languages. But lately, this pureness and richness have been adulterated by the mixing of languages. Modern-day Warays hardly express themselves in pure Waray, just like Cebuanos don't use deep Cebuano or Visayan words anymore.

Oh, so you have not tried driving over San Juanico Bridge @bukid. That bridge looks awesome. :)

On the food stuff: Oh yes, that puffed rice snack/dessert is called ampao. Oh that brings back childhood memories. I loved those pasalubongs. :)

It would be nice to practice my Waray with you. There are lots of words that I am missing.

naruruyag gad ak pumasyada ha samar ugaring la waray ko la upod. kay makuri na bangin la may makatapo kita nga di sugad ha aton bangin kita di hinin magpakauli. :) siring man nira na it bisaya kuno damu it espanyol na pulong, kun kumadto daw la hira ha samar masabot gud hira nga harayo ha pagka-espanyol it mga tawo didto. ha yinaknan pala, gutiguti la it at makikita nga tikang ha espanyol.

I would like to travel to Samar but I have not gone there. Coz there are (makuri) cliffs that you will encounter there that .... you cannot return (?) They say that in Visaya there are many Spanish, if they go to Samar they will know that the people there are far from being Hispanic. [ha yinaknan pala], there are only very little that they will see that are Spanish.

Please correct.

yes, in catbalogan, there are some spaniards but most are mestizos. catbalogan is in the west of samar, so the language is more impure just like those found in leyte. it is those that are in eastern samar and northern samar that are much purer and had very little influence from spanish. catbalogan is also home to the hermosas (tessie tomas, the movie star) who says their father's father has his origin in santander, spain. i have also notice that the spanish mestizos here are of basque origin just like the larrazabals of ormoc. though the grandfather of imelda marcos is a spanish franciscan priest from granada, spain who was assigned in western samar.

naruruyag gad ak pumasyada ha samar ugaring la waray ko la upod. kay makuri na bangin la may makatapo kita nga di sugad ha aton bangin kita di hinin magpakauli. siring man nira na it bisaya kuno damu it espanyol na pulong, kun kumadto daw la hira ha samar masabot gud hira nga harayo ha pagka-espanyol it mga tawo didto. ha yinaknan pala, gutiguti la it at makikita nga tikang ha espanyol.

i would like to tour samar but i have no one to accompany me. because it won't be easy in case we meet people who are different from us, we might be unable to come back home. they say bisaya has many spanish words, but if they just go to samar, they would know that the people there are far from being hispanic, just look at the language, you would have seen how few are the words that are from spanish.

i have already been to samar. but i only went to marabut, samar. i have already been to the bridge many times. but i do have fear of heights so it is very difficult for me to stay there for too long. the bridge shakes whenever a big fast moving truck pass by. sometimes it feels like you are going to fall off the bridge. :dizzy:

ganda ng pics. gusto ko rin yung sunog pic. parang masarap yung tahong crackers.

btw, kumusta ang tourism sa eastern visayas? compared sa ibang regions? figures ng leyte vs samar? wala lang nacurious lang.

P119 M released for rehab of Biliran ports

By JACK C. GADAINGAN

NAVAL, Biliran — This island province is now on its way to being a part of the Strong Nautical Highway with the recent release of P119 million for the rehabilitation of three of its most important seaports, Biliran Governor Rogelio "Roger" J. Espina said.

Espina, during the distribution of medicines and vitamins at Barangays Tumalistis, Alegrea, Kaulanguhan, and Binohangan all of Caibiran town, said P49 million has been released for the rehabilitation of Biliran’s premier port at the capital town of Naval.

Works to transform the facility into a roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) pier has already started, Espina said. Included in this project is the scouring of the seabed to make it deeper to accommodate bigger sea vessels, and the building of a modern passengers terminal and a covered warehouse.

Released for the Kawayan town port was P19 million for the construction of another Ro-Ro pier.

Fifty-one million pesos was released for the port of the island town of Maripipi, with bidding for the construction of a Ro-Ro port already done in Cebu.

The port’s construction would commence soon, the governor said.

Espina said once the three seaports are finished, "We no longer have to pass the roads of Samar to travel to Metro Manila. On the other hand, travelers from Mindanao and Luzon and vice versa, through the Nautical Highway, will pass by Biliran," Espina said.

"When they (travelers) come, they will eat or sleep here, and they might also need repairs for anything. For this, we must have mechanics and spare parts available, and we must also have equipment and other facilities they (travelers) would need," he told the villagers.

He said the Ro-Ro facilities would open a big potential for livelihood for Biliranons. "Our local products would then be brought for selling to Manila and other places, and not in Cebu only as has been the practice. With this opening of other markets, our produce will therefore command better prices," Espina said.

Through the Nautical Highway, the three seaports of Naval, Kawayan and Maripipi will be connected by vessels from Mindanao and Cebu to Calbayog City, Masbate, and Bicol and even Metro Manila. These are the expected routes of vessels, the governor said.

Espina said that the opening the Nautical Highway in this province will likewise energize tourism in Biliran, host to many white sand beaches.

ganda ng pics. gusto ko rin yung sunog pic. parang masarap yung tahong crackers.

btw, kumusta ang tourism sa eastern visayas? compared sa ibang regions? figures ng leyte vs samar? wala lang nacurious lang.

http://www.visiteasternvisayas.ph/

meron jan statistics... pero per town/city lang.. walang yatang stats para sa whole region..

i hope it helps..

ganda ng pics. gusto ko rin yung sunog pic. parang masarap yung tahong crackers.

btw, kumusta ang tourism sa eastern visayas? compared sa ibang regions? figures ng leyte vs samar? wala lang nacurious lang.

gusto ng iba ang tahong crackers lalo na sinasawsaw sa native na suka na may sili (harang). kanang sili kay otin mana dri. kuyaw mapariha unya ka sa tagalog na nangita ug sili dri na pula kuno ug mahaba pa jud. nakatawa nalang ang mga naa didto sa mercado.

i have already seen many foreigners here usually europeans with their filipina wife. sometimes there are koreans and japanese too.

^ Hain ka gad ha Leyte? Ha Tacloban? Sus! Dako man ng fire ha mercado dida. May da pa ba NPA ha bundok ng Samar - Leyte? Kay apektado gad ang tourism dahil don. Waray na sana.

[Where are you in Leyte? In Tacloban? Wow! The fire in the market was big. Are there still NPAs in the mountains of Samar -Leyte? Tourism is affected because of that. Hopefully, no more.]

@carlos, thanks. sabi dito http://www.visiteasternvisayas.ph/microsites/page.aspx?microsite_id=16&section_id=666&typeplace=0
1377 total for 2005. parang medyo maliit. pero isa lang naman ung establishment na source nila. nagandahan kasi ako sa images dito and dun sa site. di kasi ako maadventure and marami rin palang ibang attractions sa eastern visayas. hay, can't wait to earn my own money na and travel. this is for now on top of my list.

Espina said that the opening the Nautical Highway in this province will likewise energize tourism in Biliran, host to many white sand beaches.

sana maayos ang pagdevelop ng tourism dito para di mapatay ung ganda ng nature and ung small businesses.

@bukid, di ko na naintindihan ung last part. sorry. pero mahilig ako sa tahong, suka at sili. :banana: naku ang sarap pala niyan.:cheers:

@Lili, nakakatuwa pag nag-ibang language ka. waray waray ba yan?

teka, tama ba na waray = people, waray waray = language?

ay mali eastern leyte lang pala un kaya onti.

biliran 3326
e. samar 1377
leyte 3618
s leyte 5506

walang data n. samar and samar

cities
calbayog 2257
ormoc 30060
tacloban 118362

walang data sa maasin

lahat 2005 figures. magkasama na foreign and local. :cheers:

^ Hain ka gad ha Leyte? Ha Tacloban? Sus! Dako man ng fire ha mercado dida. May da pa ba NPA ha bundok ng Samar - Leyte? Kay apektado gad ang tourism dahil don. Waray na sana.

[Where are you in Leyte? In Tacloban? Wow! The fire in the market was big. Are there still NPAs in the mountains of Samar -Leyte? Tourism is affected because of that. Hopefully, no more.]

yep... meron pa dn... labi na ha may samar dapit...

pero, sa mga liblib na area na sila nakatira... bababa lang sila pag mang hhold.up na... scary..

@Lili, nakakatuwa pag nag-ibang language ka. waray waray ba yan?

teka, tama ba na waray = people, waray waray = language?

Imbento waray-waray. Waray upay. :lol: Di ba waray-waray ka rin?

^ Hain ka gad ha Leyte? Ha Tacloban? Sus! Dako man ng fire ha mercado dida. May da pa ba NPA ha bundok ng Samar - Leyte? Kay apektado gad ang tourism dahil don. Waray na sana.

[Where are you in Leyte? In Tacloban? Wow! The fire in the market was big. Are there still NPAs in the mountains of Samar -Leyte? Tourism is affected because of that. Hopefully, no more.]

adi ako ha tacloban.

oo, dako gud hin duro an kalayo, damu na balay an nasunog. maupay nala kay aga kun gab-i pa adto damu gud ada an patay. dida nala ngani hira nangagi ha dagat kay waray na pakakaagi ha dalan kay huroot man it mga kabablayan didto.

yes, the fire was big. many houses burned. luckily it happened during the day. had it been at night, many would have died. the roads were narrow. it was difficult to use the road to escape from the fire so they escape via the sea.

yes, there are still NPA here. amo iton ira ginsisiring na "diri sugad ha aton" kay adto man hira ha kabukiran panalagsa la nakikit-an. but they are most active in samar.

@carlos, thanks. sabi dito http://www.visiteasternvisayas.ph/microsites/page.aspx?microsite_id=16&section_id=666&typeplace=0
1377 total for 2005. parang medyo maliit. pero isa lang naman ung establishment na source nila. nagandahan kasi ako sa images dito and dun sa site. di kasi ako maadventure and marami rin palang ibang attractions sa eastern visayas. hay, can't wait to earn my own money na and travel. this is for now on top of my list.

sana maayos ang pagdevelop ng tourism dito para di mapatay ung ganda ng nature and ung small businesses.

@bukid, di ko na naintindihan ung last part. sorry. pero mahilig ako sa tahong, suka at sili. :banana: naku ang sarap pala niyan.:cheers:

@Lili, nakakatuwa pag nag-ibang language ka. waray waray ba yan?

teka, tama ba na waray = people, waray waray = language?

tourists are few in our region compared to those in other region in the visayas probably partly because there is still some insurgency problem here. we do not deny that. probably that is also one of the the reason why samar and the other parts of leyte are still untouch and unexplored. it is because people do not want to meet the "people from the jungle" who might take some money from them either as revolutionary tax or contribution to their cause. in a way, the NPA were instrumental in the preservation of our forest and natural resources. by the way, i'm not saying it's okey to be an NPA. but just don't go to those places that are too remote and you wil be safe. huwag ka lang pumunta sa mga liblib na lugar. paminsan minsan lang naman ang mga yan bumaba, ngunit kung bumaba man sila, pakisamahan mo nalang. at para mas safe huwag kang pupunta sa kung saansaan na nag-iisa unless kung nasa syudad ka o sa malalaking mga pamayanan at huwag masyadong maporma, be simple so you won't attract unnecessary attention.

they are trying to develop tourism in leyte and i believe there are already some progress.

they say, it is waraywaray but shortened to waray. the language is also called waray, waraywaray or winaray. waraywaray means "doesn't care" (e.g. nagdidinugo an iya samad pero waraywaray la niya; nasiring man hiya nga "waray ko la."; His wound is bleeding but he doesn't care, he just say "i don't care".) waray means no, nothing, none. e.g. waray kahadlok (no fear) waray upay (no good).

may-ada is the opposite of waray. it means "to have". but if you are already "may-ada ada", it means you have a little something which sometimes mean you have a little something in the head (i.e. you are crazy). and we call the tagalog sili "harang" because sili in waray means penis. there was once a tagalog who went to market and she asked for a sili with preference for the one that is mapula and mahaba.

^ Oh that was what you were alluding to in that tahong and sili comment of yours. Good you explained it. It is funny. :D

BTW: Guian is being promoted as a surfing destination. Here is a DOT Press Release on it last year.

Samar Surf
October 2006

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The Philippine Surfing Championship Tour keeps its momentum going as it takes the tour back to Eastern Samar. There were more than few grumbles as this previously secret spot was exposed to the surf scene. But what was unfamiliar territory last year has proven to be the perfect spot to nurture a surf community along Eastern Samar's pristine coastline.

On October 18 to 21, 2006 the Philippine Surfing Federation, the Municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar, in cooperation with the Department Of Tourism, Region VIII will launch the second Eastern Samar Surfing Crown at Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

This will be the fourth leg of this year's Philippine Surfing Championship Tour, which recently wrapped up exciting International and National shortboarding competitions held at Majestics in Catanduanes last October 5 to 12.

Surfers from all over the Philippines will reconvene along the largely unexplored reef break to challenge the left and right breaking waves of Calicoan. Last year's event drew spectators from neighboring towns, with special interest coming from the young children who were given a chance to avail of free surf clinics. It is expected that this year's event will draw an even larger number of future shredders.

Showing the way are local surfers from Siargao, Baler, La Union, Samar, Lanuza and Catanduanes. Will Siargao waverider Dodo Espejon, who squeaked by to win in a heart-stopping 2005 finals, be able to defend his title? Or will another charger slash his way to the top to claim victory? Nobody knows. With the rise in talent among the Filipino surfers, it really is anybody's ball game. Don't miss out on the action!

According to Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Kwan, since its discovery as a “surfers’ paradise,” Calicoan has been attracting local and foreign surfing enthusiasts. She further said that the other side of Calicoan, facing the Leyte Gulf is suitable for swimming, boating and snorkeling.

Moreover, Tourism Director Karen Tiopes claimed that Guiuan also offers other tourist attractions, like its centuries-old Catholic church, the pilgrimage site at Sulangan Island, the crystal clear waters and white beach of Suluan Island, the historic island of Homonhon where Ferdinand Magellan first set foot in the Philippines on March 16, 1521, and the remnants of the biggest US naval base in the country in 1944-1945. Located near the Philippine Deep, Guiuan is rich in marine resources, such as deep sea fish, abalone, golden cowries and lobsters.

To reach Guiuan, you may take a plane from Manila to Tacloban City, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas. From there, you may hie off a van or bus to Guiuan, which an hour and thirty minutes. Or should you want to see the countryside and travel with friends or barkadas, take a bus from Manila to Guiuan.

Guiuan has affordable room accommodations and for queries or reservation, you may get in touch with Ms. Au delos Reyes through her mobile number 0915-4043125.

After a month’s break following the Samar event is the LANUZA SURFING FESTIVAL that will be held from November 18 to 26 in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. Through the initiative of the PSF Chairman Congressman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr., who hails from Surigao del Sur, the event will feature the best Filipino longboarders and the top rated foreign surfers who will be seeded into the international heats for the longboard event. Alongside with the longboard contest, is the 5th leg of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour featuring the Top 12 Filipino surfers who came from the various surf destinations in the country. Winners from the Guiuan event will also be competing in the Lanuza event. The tour will also hit Cabugao, Ilocos Sur in November and La Union in December, wherein the Best Filipino Surfer of the Year will be announced.

For more information on the Eastern Samar Surfing Crown, email psftour@gmail.com and zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph. mobile numbers: 0919-5355056 (Zen) /0918-9020606 (Philip). Check http://surfpinoy.blogspot.com and htp://www.surfthephilippines.com for continued updates on the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour.

yes, guiuan is being promoted as a surfing destination. the place is considered safe for tourists. actually, eastern samar is being promoted as a tourist destination because there are also falls and springs in that province.

Di ba waray-waray ka rin?

hindi e. sayang nga kasi kung mas marami sanang probinsya parents ko mas marami sana akong napuntahan. :)

@bukid. thanks. i'll remember not to say i like sili to any waray i'll encounter. :lol:

some people i've met have encountered npa in some provinces. they say they're okay naman and some even said they helped a lot of the victims of the quezon province disaster. i kind of like the fact that npas in eastern visayas have in some ways kept its natural wonders preserved. hopefully until our tourism strategies become much better and more conscious of our environment, cultures, communities.

@bukid. thanks. i'll remember not to say i like sili to any waray i'll encounter. :lol:

like this one?


pero mahilig ako sa tahong, suka at sili. :banana: naku ang sarap pala niyan.:cheers:

:D don't worry they know what you mean.


some people i've met have encountered npa in some provinces. they say they're okay naman and some even said they helped a lot of the victims of the quezon province disaster. i kind of like the fact that npas in eastern visayas have in some ways kept its natural wonders preserved. hopefully until our tourism strategies become much better and more conscious of our environment, cultures, communities.

people say, they're okey if you cooperate. the people from those places sometimes say that the npa would sometimes borrow things from them like motorboat or anything that they need. but people are caught in the war between the npa and the military because if they refuse the npas request, they might be tagged by the npa as enemy of the people's struggle. on the other hand, if they help the npa and the military learned about it, they might be tagged by the military as npa sympatizers and an enemy of the republic. the people in those places have to do a very difficult balancing act.

i just want to make it clear that not all places in this region are npa territory. baka magalit sa atin ang mga taga local DOT kung hindi maging malinaw ang ating mga pahayag. kung pinopromote ng DOT, more or less safe at ok yan. huwag naman sanang iwasan ang region namin baka mamaya wala nang pumunta rito. :)

Int’l investor to pour funds in E. Samar tuna industry (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2007032490344.html)


By JACK C. GADAINGAN

TACLOBAN CITY — The tuna fishing industry in Eastern Samar will soon get a big boost with the coming in of an international investor who promised to pour capital and provide fishermen with marketing access to raise the standard of the local tuna industry to international scale.

This was revealed by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Ernesto Cam Hilvano, who said "that this linkage with local fishermen and big-time commercial fishing will elevate our marginal tuna fishing to an international industry."

He said that last Feb. 15, 2007 BFAR National Assistant Director Gil A. Adora and the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Full Harvest International Fishing Inc. (FHIFI) visited Maydolong, Eastern Samar for exploratory talks with local fishermen.

The FHIFI, Hilvano said, is interested in transforming tuna fishing in Eastern Samar into an industry in the scale of General Santos City.

"The firm is prepared to give solution to the perennial problems of marginal fisherman by giving them the necessary inputs such as bigger boats, supply of gasoline and ice, and assurance of a market for the fishermen’s catch regardless of the species," Hilvano said.

Tuna fishing in Eastern Samar is smalltime, with locals fishing in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean using small motorboats only and lines waiting for tunas to bite. Usually, when this happiness, the fishers’ supplies of food, water, and ice have already run out and they have to go back shore to re-supply.

On lean seasons they do not fish at all, afraid not to recover even their expenses on gasoline and ice.

Hilvano said the FHIFI will enter into an agreement with the San Roque Fishermen Association Bigkis Lakas Eastern Samar (SARFABLES), the biggest fisherfolk cooperative in the province with more than 300 members, and the BFAR as the national cooperating agency in upgrading the province’s tuna industry.

Initially, the FHIFI will provide 100 brand-new pump-boats complete with the needed fishing gears to the SARFABLES for loan to its members.

The interest- and collateral-free loans will be given to bonafide members of SARFABLES payable in 24 equal monthly installments. The loans will be covered by mortgage contract registered with BFAR.

The FHIFI will also provide two 100-ton fish carrier vessels equipped with ice-flakes maker that will alternately service the fishermen in the high seas — to gather their fish-catch on-site as well to replenish their ice and other supplies so fishermen can stay at the fishing ground for months.

A gasoline station, a 15-ton ice and cold storage plant, and a tuna processing and packing facility will be put up in Maydolong town.

Is there anyone in this forum from:
-Catbalogan, Western Samar
-Borongan, Eastern Samar

????????????

I need some contacts in the area. Any kind soul who can make referrals?

Shimao Group turns to Bohol or Samar as investment site


By MA. ELISA OSORIO

The Philippine Star

SHANGHAI, China – The Shimao Group, the Chinese investor who vowed to invest $4 billion in the Philippines, is eyeing building a hotel in Bohol or Samar as the plan to build a high-end hotel in Manila has hit a snag.

In an interview, Jesus Yabes, consul general of the Philippines here, said the Shimao Group’s plan to build a high end hotel in a government-owned property in The Fort was stalled after the issue of bidding surfaced.

According to Philippine law, all contracts involving the government should be subject to a public bidding.

"The Shimao Group is a high end real estate developer and they are considering building facilities in Bohol or Samar," Yabes said.

In an earlier interview, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila said the Shimao Group would like to sign the agreement to build $2 to $4 billion worth of high-end hotels and residential properties in Bases Conversion Development Authority properties located in Fort Bonifacio including the 35.5-hectare Jusmag property by this month.

However, it is not possible to fast-track the investment if the Shimao Group would like to build on BCDA properties. Being a government property, the long term lease would have to pass through a bidding process.

Last month, the Shimao Group and BCDA entered into a memorandum of understanding wherein the BCDA will be a lessor. According to Favila, the government is willing to provide the Shimao Group the longest term possible. This means that the lease would run for 50 years and renewable for another 25 years.

When Xu Rongmao, Shimao chairman and China’s second richest man met with President Arroyo, Xu said there is a huge market in the Philippines in terms of hotels.

In fact, in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations where Chinese tourist arrivals registered at around 10 million, the Philippines hosted only 300,000. Favila said this implies that there is still a huge potential to develop the market.

The Shimao Group is one of the biggest real estate developers here, whose stock is listed in Hong Kong. The Shimao Group owns three listed companies namely the Shimao Property Hong Kong, Shimao Stock, Shanghai and the Shimao International Off-shore in Hong Kong. The firm is involved in the development of high-end residential and commercial properties and five-star hotels.

It owns hotels in Australia, Russia, China and other countries in Southeast Asia.

BY JUDITH BALEA

Robinsons Land Corp., the property arm of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., said Thursday it has earmarked P15 billion for its capital expenditures over the next two years.

RLC President and COO Frederick Go said the company has acquired a 9,118-sqm lot at the corner of McKinley Drive and Fifth Avenue in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, where it will build a two-tower condominium targetting the upper class market.

The lot is composed of two mega-block lots, with the first one measuring 5,747 sqm and the second, 3,371 sqm.

"The newest acquisition reflects our continued confidence in the Global City, the real estate industry and the Philippine economy as a whole," he said.

Go estimated the project to cost P2.5 billion in development.

Another project in the pipeline is a 27-storey business process outsourcing (BPO) building. The project will be constructed on a 40,000-sqm lot acquired by the company in Quezon City.

Go said the Robinsons Land is also eyeing to build mall branches in Dumaguete, Tacloban, Davao, Bulacan, Tagaytay and Manila.

Full story here (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=74182).

When do you think this would be realized? The opening of the Robinsons mall here in Dumaguete which is supposed to be at the end of this year is now moved to April 2008 because of some revisions of the original plan.

^ Does that mean that the Robinsons in Dumaguete has been scaled down?

The extra time added to the initial target opening date is the time it will take to make the additional spaces that will be added to the spaces programmed in the original plan. According to reports, instead of 2 levels, Robinsons Place Dumaguete will now be three levels. And at a lot area of 6 hectares, that will surely be "gargantuan" (even if they use only half of that area for building space, which is very unlikely). The hotel, which will be a "gift" of Robinsons Land Chief Lance Gokongwei, a close friend of many Dumaguetenos (there's even a big possibility the family or some of their kins will stay here), will be on top of the mall, according to reports.

Dazzie Chua pushes for construction of int’l seaport in Babatngon
By: Reynaldo Reyna



TACLOBAN CITY – “We will only be wasting time and money hosting and sponsoring business conferences to entice foreign and local investors to do business in Leyte unless we first put in place what I perceive to be highly important economic infrastructures.”

This was the statement made to the press yesterday by Tacloban City businessman Danilo “Dazzie” Mesias Chua in reaction to a question concerning Leyte’s potentials for investment.

Dazzie, who is running for Congress in the first district of Leyte, explained that until plans are realized for the construction of an international seaport in Babatngon, Leyte and the transformation of the DZR airfield into a “Trucnkline Airport” with an international standard, investments from outside will come to Leyte only in trickles.

The construction of an international seaport in Babatngon was conceptualized over eight years ago but the project never left off the planning board. The master plan to upgrade the facilities of the DZR airport meanwhile was made in 1998 but it, too, never saw implementation.

Dazzie said that if he gets elected he would focus attention to these two infrastructures, as they are the ones that hold the key to the entry of substantial investments into the district.

He added that when this happens the problem of unemployment would be diminished.

http://i9.tinypic.com/4r9ad6t.jpg

http://i3.tinypic.com/4q3bjt1.jpg

saan mo yan nakuha sinj?

^ GMANews.TV, AMA Quick Count

Gidaw! Kiki Romualdez! maluya ngay-an hin duro! :lol: trabahador lang yata niya bumoto sa kanya Purrrbida!

kay waray man it hiya mangampanya udog. usa la ngani an nakikit-an namon na tarpulin nya ngan ada la dapit ha tindahan nira. waray ngani kami magpakasabot na nakandidato hiya.

he just woke up one day and decided to file his certificate of candidacy then sit back and relax.

Yah Ive seen that tarpaulin,amo ba adtu an may chrismas greeting nga color red,dapit dida ha real? nga gin balyuan la?

Nakasabut ako hin chismis nga asya kuno niya pagkandidato kay ginkukuha kuno han mga Romualdez an iya pier. He just wanted to confuse the voters. Sabot misay gud la hiya. Gin-inbitar ngani namun hiya han blessing han amon balay baga waray man pag-abut kay bangin kuno damo hit tawo.Meaning he's really hiding from the people....

am back from my 2-day Leyte trip, we were staying at the Codilla guest house and people there were so excited, all 3 of their bets won...although i dont really like the topic of politics, but my relatives in Ormoc know a lot about their family, and i can say they are a political dynasty that is worth keeping...:okay:

^^ wow fan ni Pon and Zi!

Yah Ive seen that tarpaulin,amo ba adtu an may chrismas greeting nga color red,dapit dida ha real? nga gin balyuan la?

Nakasabut ako hin chismis nga asya kuno niya pagkandidato kay ginkukuha kuno han mga Romualdez an iya pier. He just wanted to confuse the voters. Sabot misay gud la hiya. Gin-inbitar ngani namun hiya han blessing han amon balay baga waray man pag-abut kay bangin kuno damo hit tawo.Meaning he's really hiding from the people....

whhhoooaaaa.... its nice to know na mayda na mga taga tacloban dd ha ssc... hahahah.... dati usa la ak nga nagwawaray dd... hahahha...

Well my waray writing skills need some calibrating so gintetesting ko la! hahaha!

Yah Ive seen that tarpaulin,amo ba adtu an may chrismas greeting nga color red,dapit dida ha real? nga gin balyuan la?

Nakasabut ako hin chismis nga asya kuno niya pagkandidato kay ginkukuha kuno han mga Romualdez an iya pier. He just wanted to confuse the voters. Sabot misay gud la hiya. Gin-inbitar ngani namun hiya han blessing han amon balay baga waray man pag-abut kay bangin kuno damo hit tawo.Meaning he's really hiding from the people....

an nakadi ha rizal avenue an ak nakit-an. waray ak sasabot ng mayda ngayan gihap ha real.

ada damo baya an iya nakuha nga butos. lumahos ha 200.

^^ gidaw! kaluuyi hin ginoo:lol: 200 la? purbida...it akon huna huna kun igtotal ko gud an ngatanan nga iya trabahador malapos gud adto hin sobra doe sientos,waray pa upod an iya mga kag-anak!, pamati ko bisan udog an iya parag-pedicure waray pag-botos ha iya!:lol: Gidaw Kiki paglabatiba anay!:lol:

partial la iton nga resulta nga 200 plus kay waray ak kumita pa han results yana nga adlaw bagan nadugan man. maupay nala iton kay nakalahos pa hin 200 an iba ngani kay waray pa mag50 bagan ira la kaurupdan an bumotos. di ngani kiki iya gingamit kay frensdskie.

do we have any tacloba-based forum members here? Im going to tacloban on jun 29-jul1 as usual mag iikot lang, may travel aassignment lang.

Leyte is going top be my 30th province kaya medyo excited na ko. :D

ill be arriving in taclobann jun 29, 6AM, via cebu pacific.

just PM me peeps..

Robinson’s to build shopping complex in Tacloban (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=70416)

By Joey A. Gabieta
Visayas Bureau
Last updated 05:06pm (Mla time) 06/09/2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte -- The Gokongwei group plans to start construction of its Robinson's shopping mall project here in the third quarter this year, according to a city official.

Aside from the shopping mall project, the company also plans to build a hotel on a four-hectare lot at the Marasbaras district, four kilometers from the city proper, city administrator Jimmy Yaokasin told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

Yaokasin said the investment for the shopping mall and hotel would reach around P2 billion.

"That is the single biggest investment yet for the city. And we are happy with them coming into the city as this is only a proof that our economy is growing," the city administrator said.

The construction of the mall and hotel will start in October and will be completed in 14 months.

"That means, by 2008, Tacloban City will have an additional shopping mall," Yaokasin said.

Tacloban’s only shopping complex at present is the Gaisano mall located downtown.

Yaokasin said that it took about a year before the Gokongwei group decided to go ahead with its shopping mall project in Tacloban City, which has a population of around 200,000. Tacloban is also the regional capital of Eastern Visayas, with over four million population.

Yaokasin said local traders should not worry about the entry of the Manila-based developer.

"The economic pie in the city and in the region, for that matter, is still big. People from other provinces in the region will no longer go to Cebu to shop but will just do their thing here," he said.

Yaokasin said that the presence of the new mall will serve as a magnet for other investors and manufactures.

The investment will also mean jobs for the people of the city and nearby areas, Yaokasin said.

The site of the future Robinson's Mall is currently used by bus companies that ply the Luzon-Mindanao routes. It is also about a kilometer away from the city's Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport where the Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific has three daily flights.

Japanese firm eyes bio-ethanol, diesel plants in Leyte (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=70408)

By Ven S. Labro
Visayas Bureau
Last updated 04:02pm (Mla time) 06/09/2007


TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte -- A Japanese company plans to build a $100-million bio-ethanol plant and a $50-million bio-diesel plant in Leyte if it could be assured of a steady supply of raw bio-fuel materials.

Leyte Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya said representatives of Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd. presented to her the company's plan during a recent visit to her office.

Bagulaya said the Japanese executives, manager Makoto Hirota and assistant manager Shingo Matsuo of the Cosmo international business incubation department strategic planning division, discussed the company's planned projects with her.

"They told me they've been to some other parts of the country and that they found Leyte as a place where their project would be feasible," Bagulaya said.

She added that the Japanese company wants to link up with the provincial government since they would need its help in looking for plantation farms for the raw materials and for farm workers.

Based on the project proposal, the company’s planned bio-ethanol plant would need 34,000 hectares for a cassava plantation, 36,000 hectares for a sweet potato plantation, 76,000 hectares for a yam plantation, and 40,000 hectares for a sugar cane plantation.

The bio-diesel project would require 17,000 hectares to be planted with oil palm and 61,000 hectares for copra production.

Cosmo Oil plans to sell its bio-fuel in the country through refiners and wholesalers. It would also export its products to Japan, Australia, Europe, and other countries.

Bagulaya said the Cosmo Oil representatives told her that Leyte's climate is ideal for growing energy crops.

"They also said that if Leyte will run short of plantation areas they can extend up to Samar, probably the Sta. Rita and Basey areas," she said.

She said the company officials promised to return soon so they could discuss the proposed project with Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, who was on official business outside the province.

Bagulaya said the setting up of bio-fuel plants in Leyte would provide job opportunities to the people and help boost the local economy.

Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd. is a big Japanese oil company that is engaged in oil refining and sales, with its head office located in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1986 through the merger of Daikyo Oil Co., Maruzen Oil Co., and Cosmo Oil Co. In 1989, Asia Oil Co. joined the merger, according to the company's website.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1262/561440217_159da96fd5_b.jpg
Balangiga Church, Eastern Samar
by dongperez (http://flickr.com/photos/dongperez/)

Robinson’s to build shopping complex in Tacloban (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=70416)

By Joey A. Gabieta
Visayas Bureau
Last updated 05:06pm (Mla time) 06/09/2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte -- The Gokongwei group plans to start construction of its Robinson's shopping mall project here in the third quarter this year, according to a city official.

Aside from the shopping mall project, the company also plans to build a hotel on a four-hectare lot at the Marasbaras district, four kilometers from the city proper, city administrator Jimmy Yaokasin told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

Yaokasin said the investment for the shopping mall and hotel would reach around P2 billion.

"That is the single biggest investment yet for the city. And we are happy with them coming into the city as this is only a proof that our economy is growing," the city administrator said.

The construction of the mall and hotel will start in October and will be completed in 14 months.

"That means, by 2008, Tacloban City will have an additional shopping mall," Yaokasin said.

Tacloban’s only shopping complex at present is the Gaisano mall located downtown.

Yaokasin said that it took about a year before the Gokongwei group decided to go ahead with its shopping mall project in Tacloban City, which has a population of around 200,000. Tacloban is also the regional capital of Eastern Visayas, with over four million population.

Yaokasin said local traders should not worry about the entry of the Manila-based developer.

"The economic pie in the city and in the region, for that matter, is still big. People from other provinces in the region will no longer go to Cebu to shop but will just do their thing here," he said.

Yaokasin said that the presence of the new mall will serve as a magnet for other investors and manufactures.

The investment will also mean jobs for the people of the city and nearby areas, Yaokasin said.

The site of the future Robinson's Mall is currently used by bus companies that ply the Luzon-Mindanao routes. It is also about a kilometer away from the city's Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport where the Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific has three daily flights.

it will look likely to present Robinsons Mall in Cebu with the Midtown Hotel on its top

Our family friends from Sacramento Ca. will visit the Philippines, Manila, Bulacan and Tacloban, since her husband (from Mate Clan) was from Tacloban.

they were asking about the fare from Manila to Tacloban, via Plane, ships,
and alternative route of Bus from Manila to Tacloban. Also is it safe for foreigners to travel by themselves by Bus to Tacloban.

Actually she is a Eurasian Singaporean married to a Fil-Am (Mate family from
Jaro/Tacloban. Her son though was born in Tacloban was raised in Singapore and the US, so they cannot speak anymore the Waray dialect nor Tagalog.

Will highly appreciate your information since these mentioned family friends will stay in our house in Bulacan before going to Tacloban.

happy fiesta sa tacloban...

sayang wala ako ngaun sa amin... tsk tsk tsk

Our family friends from Sacramento Ca. will visit the Philippines, Manila, Bulacan and Tacloban, since her husband (from Mate Clan) was from Tacloban.

they were asking about the fare from Manila to Tacloban, via Plane, ships,
and alternative route of Bus from Manila to Tacloban. Also is it safe for foreigners to travel by themselves by Bus to Tacloban.

Actually she is a Eurasian Singaporean married to a Fil-Am (Mate family from
Jaro/Tacloban. Her son though was born in Tacloban was raised in Singapore and the US, so they cannot speak anymore the Waray dialect nor Tagalog.

Will highly appreciate your information since these mentioned family friends will stay in our house in Bulacan before going to Tacloban.


Siyempre riding the plane is good. but if ever they insist on riding a bus. Philtranco operates modern buses. Trips going to Leyte ans Samar mostly came from Pasay. Hey Avenger made sure if ever they would go to Manila ask them to bring someone from Bulacan to aid them around. You just have no idea how much crooks are in those bus stations in Pasay. Just for keeping them safe, better yet ask them to ride an aircraft.

Siyempre riding the plane is good. but if ever they insist on riding a bus. Philtranco operates modern buses. Trips going to Leyte ans Samar mostly came from Pasay. Hey Avenger made sure if ever they would go to Manila ask them to bring someone from Bulacan to aid them around. You just have no idea how much crooks are in those bus stations in Pasay. Just for keeping them safe, better yet ask them to ride an aircraft.

Thanks very much for the information, I am thinking now to convince them to go by plane rather than by bus, pero about 20 years when they were still residing in Tacloban (before moving to Singapore then the USA) they used to travel by ship Tacloban-Manila-Tacloban.

By Vicente Labro
Inquirer

Last updated 03:07am (Mla time) 07/07/2007

TACLOBAN CITY – For two weeks, Tacloban, the premier city of Eastern Visayas, trembled from a frenzy of activities, highlighted by festivities that gave a glimpse of the people’s rich heritage.

The merriment was part of the annual celebration of the feast of Señor Sto. Niño, the patron saint of Tacloban and Leyte.

The Kasadyaan-Pintados Festival of Festivals on June 30 lured thousands of spectators, including foreign tourists who were treated to a dance extravaganza that portrayed the way of life, livelihood and religious beliefs of the early inhabitants.

The dance parade along the major streets ended at the city sports complex for the showdown of groups in colorful costumes. This year, the contingent of Abuyog, Leyte, which presented the Buyogan Festival, won the competition.

The event is the region’s version of the Sinulog of Cebu, the Dinagyang of Iloilo, and the Ati-atihan of Kalibo—all held in honor of the Child Jesus.

But unlike in other places, where the feast day of the Sto. Niño is held in January, Tacloban has been celebrating it every June 30 for the past 118 years.

‘El Capitan’

An incident more than a century ago changed the way the feast was observed in the city. In late 1888, the image of the Sto. Niño was brought to Manila for new vestments and restorative work. It was shipped back to Manila in January 1889, just a couple of weeks before the fiesta.

On its way to Tacloban, the boat carrying the image caught fire somewhere between the islands of Romblon and Marinduque. In the ensuing commotion, the image was among the cargo that was jettisoned.

The loss of the image saddened the people of Tacloban. Several months later, a new image of the Holy Child was procured and it was named the “Teniente.” (The missing Sto. Niño was known as “El Capitan.”)

In May 1889, however, a fisherman recovered a crate with a marking of “Sto. Niño Patron de Tacloban” floating near Semirara Island off Mindoro.

A team was sent to verify the report and bring it back to Tacloban. On June 30, while the people were preparing for a procession of the image of San Roque to implore an end to a cholera epidemic that struck their community, word spread that the “El Capitan” has finally arrived.

The people rejoiced as they reunited with the image of the Sto. Niño. It was said that those who were ill were healed when the procession passed by them.

Since then, Taclobanons decided to have the feast day of the Holy Child fall on June 30. They celebrate their fiesta with a concelebrated Mass, and fluvial and land processions to show their love and devotion to the Sto. Niño.

Another religious event observed every fiesta is the “Balyu-an Rites,” or the exchange of the images of the Sto. Niño. It is said that the venerated image enshrined at the Sto. Niño Church originated in Samar.

According to legend, the parish priest of Basey town in Samar just across the San Juanico Strait had exchanged the big image of the Sto. Niño of Barrio Busacada in Basey with a smaller one belonging to Kankabatok, the ancient name of Tacloban.

For several decades, this act of swapping images has been reenacted in the “Balyu-an Rites,” participated in by the parish priests and local officials of Tacloban and Basey.

Subiran Regatta

Another activity that dwelt on the Warays’ past is the Subiran Regatta, sponsored mainly by the Department of Tourism.

For the past 31 years now, the sailboat race has always drawn crowds. On June 28, it lured 47 participants and hundreds of spectators.

Used by the early Warays who were mostly seafarers, the “subiran” or wind-blown outrigger with sail has been a useful means of transportation of small fishermen in Leyte and Samar.
Boatmen from Barangay Visoria in Carigara, Leyte, won most of the prizes of the 8-nautical mile race.

PGMA supports Calicoan Resort, hopes to cut ribbon before 2010
By Alice Nicart
Guiuan, Eastern Samar (11 August) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expects to provide employment opportunities for people in the Eastern Visayas region as she hopes to attend the inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremoy of the multi-million pesos worth Condominium Hotel in Calicoan, Guiuan.
Built by a government corporation, the Calicoan Integrated Resort Development Corporation (CIRDC), the hotel is expected to be opened before President Arroyo's term is finished in 2010.
This was disclosed by Presidential Spokesman for Visayas, Victor Domingo in a media interview, right in the actual hotel site in Calicoan island yesterday during the launching.
Domingo clarified that the Calicoan project that is set to attract hundreds and thousand tourists is fully supported by President Arroyo and is being assisted by the provincial government. Thus, according to him, he sees to it that the road from Guiuan poblacion towards the island is put in place aside from other infrastructure projects here.
At present, it was observed that the road, indeed is better off than it was a year or two years ago. He said that presently construction of the asphalt road from Guiuan poblacion is undergoing and only the remaining seven kilometer is being done as attributed by the visible piles of construction materials by the roadsides.
Likewise, Domingo added that the Airport parking space is also next in line of his infrastructure program as well as the rehabilitation of the then American's water facility in Guiuan through the Guiuan Water Works Authority. He disclosed that there are still gigantic pipes and wells left by the US soldiers of WWII, and should they still be fit for rehab, then it could be of big help to the project.
Another very important infra that he is headed to implement, Domingo said is the construction of Sub-Power Corporation right in Calicoan to alleviate the problem of power failure or brownouts. But what excited most to the media was Domingo's assurance about the installation of cellsites in the island which is set to happen in two months time, he said.
In closing the Presidential Assistant assured that President Arroyo is also set to issue an Executive Order which will declare Calicoan Resort a Tourist Destination.
Aside from the 8-storey American-owned hotel that is about to begin construction, some Koreans were also present during the launching who assured the media of the same business endeavor that they will endulge in in two or three months time.
The same land area of 11 hectares have likewise been bought by these Korean businessmen where they intend to put up hotel facilities, it was gathered.
In a separate interview, Atty. Manuel Go, the so called "initiator" and Calicoan discoverer which he said he did some 20 years ago, revealed that he is also establishing a subdivision in the area and while the hotel room may be too expensive for ordinary Filipinos, some local businessmen will be putting up affordable hotels in the area.
Go assured also that some sophisticated Warning Devices will be installed in the area as well in order to mitigate the effect of natural calamities. Calicoan, he added, even if it is a coastal island, is a safe place from Tsunamais. (PIA 8) [top]

650 hotel jobs to open soon in Eastern Samar, Visayas region
By Alice Nicart
Guiuan, Eastern Samar (11 August) -- Close to a thousand jobs will cater to the long-awaited dream of many Eastern Samarenos to find employment, in time the hotel business begins in Calicoan Island of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, two years from now.
This was learned from Timothy "Tim" Brumlik, Director of Calicoan Integrated Resort Development Corporation (CIRDC) in an interview with media during the launching yesterday of the eight-storey and 250-room Comdominium Hotel which is soon to be built in this part of the region.
Brumlik, a North American, flew in to the white beach resort of Guiuan with other members of their corporation and showed to the media the blue print of their hotel which has an estimated cost of $150-160M. He added that it will sit in an 11-hectare land area with a 450-meter beach front. He also said that the hotel will need some 650 people to help in the operation of their business from managers, chefs, receptionists and room boys and assured further of the preference for local residents and Cebuanos as well, adding that Cebu is just a few minutes flight from Tacloban. He said that this accessibility was also one of the factors which encouraged them to put up the hotel business.
He further said that he and his group met President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shortly before they proceeded to the Region to give her the updates of the hotel business. According to her President Arroyo was glad to hear the status report, it being one of her flagship programs in her "8 by 08" Agenda. Absolutely, the American stressed that their hotel operation will be line with her "Eight Million Job Creation" advocacy before her term ends.
Brumlik projects that the Calicoan Beach and Surfing Resort will be much better than Boracay of Central Visayas. He said that aside from surfing and the white beach which is a big come-on to foreign tourists, a Yoga facility to the right side of the island (going Sulangan) will also attrack foreigners.
The friendly foreigner stressed that they can finish the hotel construction in 24-months starting January next year. At present, construction of the road network of the entire hotel site, drainage system and water facilities have been on going. Other facilities to be put in place soon are the cellphone sites of Globe and Smart. Bendoy Bagares, a fish vendor from the historic barangay Sulangan, who was among the crowd expressed excitement at how would he operate a cellphone should he buy one next year.
Asked how he would describe Calicoan in three words, Brumlik said: awesome, accessbile, doable. (PIA 8) [top]

Feature: Calicon Island Resorts -- Tropical island paradise and sanctuary
Tacloban City (August 12) -- A sanctuary of privacy and indulgence highlighted by tropical landscape and surrounded by the relaxing sound of the ocean – this is how Calicoan Beach and Surfing Resorts, which was launched on August 10, will win the hearts of local and international tourists.
Calicoan Island boasts of miles of white sand beaches. With powerful swells rolling in from the Pacific over the 10,000 meters Philippine Deep, Calicoan is a surfer's paradise.
The rich diversity of the area is evident when one sees the exotic species being sold. The surrounding waters support several marine based industries such as fish, seaweed, and pearl farming.
In the middle of the island are six lagoons ringed by forest, the largest being 30 hectares in size. At the cliffside margin of Calicoan's forests are dozens of caves. On the northern tip of Calicoan are wetlands like the Everglades , teeming with fish, shrimp, and crabs.
The Calicoan Island Resorts which covers an area of 11,163 square meters or more than 11 hectares, will soon start development, as announced by Mr. Timothy Brumlick, a director of the Calicoan Island Resort Development Corporation.
Designed by Citibase Development, Inc., in conjunction with C.D. Arguelles and Associates, the Calicoan Island Resorts will soon start construction at the scenic Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, facing the ground swell and wind wave Pacific Ocean on one side and the placid and flat Leyte Gulf waters at the west side, Department of Tourism Regional Office 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes informed.
The $150-160M resort will have the largest pool in the Philippines and will feature an eight storey 240 rooms with balconies, a casino, a medical clinic for cosmetic surgery, a sports complex and 20 private villas, functional homes in two sizes.
With the road networks of the entire resort area and the drainage systerm and water facilities already ongoing, and the communication cellsites of Globe and Smart which will start soon, the construction of the hotel will start early January 2008 and two years after, the resort will already be ready to accept tourists.
This is indeed a very good development in line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s thrust of making Central Philippines the Tourism Center of the Philippines under the super region strategy of development. (PIA 8) [top]

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Eastern Samar airport rehab in full swing
(http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20070814100303.html)

By NESTOR L. ABREMATEA

GUIUAN, Eastern Samar — The rehabilitation of the old Guiuan airport here has started following an order by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to release funds for the purpose.

Presidential Assistant Victor A. Domingo said the construction of the airport’s apron is already being undertaken as part of the government’s rehabilitation works of the old American airport.

Domingo said President Arroyo personally ordered the release of funds for the old airport as the chief executive expressed concern for the fast track development of Guiuan as a tourist destination.

In fact, Guiuan was cited by President Arroyo during her State-of the-Nation Address (SONA) as a priority area for her Super Region program.

Domingo also said that additional funds will be released in the future for the total development of the old airport.

The old airport has a two-kilometer runway that remains to be in good condition and safe for the landing and take offs of commercial and private planes. of more than 2 kilometers and it is still in good condition and can still be used for landing and take off of commercial and private planes.

Meanwhile, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said the government should prioritize the development of the old Guiuan airport as it will no longer need a sizable appropriation since it is already existingbudget from the government as it is already an existing.

Mayor Kwan said the DOTC has released R10 million for the rehabilitation of the old airport and another R40 million for the construction of the new Borongan airport in the capital city of Eastern Samar.

Once fully rehabilitated, the old Guiuan airport constructed during by the American soldiers during World War II, can accomodate bigger airplanes, for both commercial and private flights.

.

GUIUAN, EASTERN SAMAR -- A multimillion-dollar beach resort would soon rise on Calicoan Island, which is envisioned as the surfing capital in Eastern Visayas.



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surf camp

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Ormoc City Superdome
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Hotel Don Felipe, Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines
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Ormoc City Hall
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Ormoc City Superdome (fronting the public plaza)
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Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church (beside the St. Peter's College of Ormoc)
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Sabin Resort Hotel, Ormoc City, Philippines
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Ormoc Villa Hotel, Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines
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Ormoc Bay Sunset
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I just came from a trip around Eastern Visayas and I got to visit five of the six provinces there. I've already uploaded my pics in six albums. That should do for now since for some reason, I'm still too lazy to update my blog. Well, I should by today since I'm leaving for another week-long trip to Cebu and Panay on Sunday.

Anyway, here are the albums:
2007-10-25 Leyte & Eastern Samar - http://ivanhenares.multiply.com/photos/album/206
2007-10-26 Eastern Samar - http://ivanhenares.multiply.com/photos/album/207
2007-10-26/27 Samar - http://ivanhenares.multiply.com/photos/album/208
2007-10-28 Samar & Northern Samar - http://ivanhenares.multiply.com/photos/album/209
2007-10-28/29 Biliran - http://ivanhenares.multiply.com/photos/album/210
2007-10-31 Leyte - http://ivanhenares.multiply.com/photos/album/211

I find Tacloban Convention Center looks unappealing from the photos posted above because of its many commercial streamers hanging around the building :(

^sa ngayon wala na ako nakikita maliban sa malaking banner ad ng PBA game next week (purefoods vs redbull ata)

what i dont really like are the commercial spaces around the the building since they can put whatever they want on their space x_x sa ngayon iilan palang ang occupied (ABC news, a couple of pubs and a fashion botique)

Arroyo’s visit bolsters super regions goal
(http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20071112108400.html)

TACLOBAN CITY — Economic activities and the potential of Eastern Visayas to become the country’s premier tourism destination under the super regions concept was amplified 10-fold with the visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, visited the province and Eastern Samar last Friday.


This was the observation of mediamen in Region VIII during their 45-minute informal interaction with the President last night after she inducted the officers of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Leyte chapter at the Leyte Park Hotel here.

Also yesterday, the President during her inspection ordered the immediate completion of the Jipapad-Lapinig and the Lapinig-Arteche road projects in the northernmost part of Eastern Samar.

The Lapinig-Arteche stretch is the remaining unfinished portion to complete the Samar circumferential road project that would link the provinces of Eastern and Northern Samar.

On the other hand, the 5.22-kilometer Jipapad-Lapinig road would greatly ease the plight of the residents of Jipapad, the most isolated town in Eastern Samar.

As it is, the only access of the residents of Jipapad to the nearest town of Oras also in Eastern Samar where they bring their produce, is a rigorous 12-hour banca ride criss-crossing the Oras River.

Mediamen told the President they were awed by her stamina in inspecting vital government projects in the remote parts of the country.

The President plans to take a back-breaking six-hour land trip during her next visit to Mindanao this month.

The President replied by saying she was used to such strenuous activities as she had already visited quite a number of remote areas even before she became a senator of the country.

Aside from the two road projects, the President also expressed government support to the upgrading of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport here into an international airport, and the rehabilitation of the American-built 2,084-meter-long and 46-meter-wide airstrip in Calicoan Island and the former US Navy 3149 Base in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The road and airport projects have been described as "an accomplishment of a lifetime" that would greatly boost economic activities and improve the influx of tourists to the three islands of Leyte, Samar and Biliran that comprise Region VIII.

The three Eastern Visayas islands, famous for their natural wonders such as waterfalls, caves, pristine white beaches, dive sites, limestone and rock formations, and centuries-old churches and historical sites, also offer year-round festivals.

Eastern Visayas’ famous historical sites include the US Navy 3149 Base in Guiuan, which used to be the biggest naval base in the Far East that ensured Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s successful "I Shall Return" campaign to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation during World War II.

So, what has happen to GMA's visit to our region? Are all the projects of our region be finally implemented? Sana masimulan na agad ang mga planong matagal nang naka plan para umasenso naman ang syudad natin. Parang ang bagal ng progress. Nahuhuli na tayo sa ibang cities ng visayas. Any pics of the proposed rehabilitation of Tacloban Airport? I heard gagawing pareho sa New Iloilo Airport na pang international. Is this true? Dapat maging "Business friendly" ang tacloban. Parang pumipigil ata ang mayor natin diyan nag may mag invest sa city natin. Monopoly na ata yan.. Tsk tsk tsk..

So, what has happen to GMA's visit to our region? Are all the projects of our region be finally implemented? Sana masimulan na agad ang mga planong matagal nang naka plan para umasenso naman ang syudad natin. Parang ang bagal ng progress. Nahuhuli na tayo sa ibang cities ng visayas. Any pics of the proposed rehabilitation of Tacloban Airport? I heard gagawing pareho sa New Iloilo Airport na pang international. Is this true? Dapat maging "Business friendsly" ang tacloban. Parang pumipigil ata ang mayor natin diyan nag may mag invest sa city natin. Monopoly na ata yan.. Tsk tsk tsk..

yup the proposed terminals looks like the one in bacolod.....anyway....i got pics but i cannot seem to find them...will post them pagnakita ko....

E. Visayas official sees tourism, trade boom with direct flights (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/11/17/bus/e..visayas.official.sees.tourism.trade.boom.with.direct.flights.html)

EASTERN Visayas provinces are optimistic of a boom in trade and tourism activities after a local airline company introduced its direct flights from Cebu to Tacloban, Leyte.

Air Philippines, the sister airline company of the Lucio Tan-led Philippine Airlines, is intensifying its bid to make Cebu a major hub of its operating network by flying four times weekly—Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays—the Cebu-Tacloban route.

“We hope to contribute to the booming tourism activities between Cebu and the rest of Eastern Visayas with the start of our direct flights. This is a business proposition we have been wanting (to do) for a long time,” said Air Philippines senior vice president for sales and marketing Ruben Tecson.

Tecson said the company’s decision to open the direct flight was due to the clamor of businessmen in the Visayas, especially in Cebu, for “convenient” access to and from Tacloban.

Inaugural

In its inaugural flight yesterday, Tecson reported that 80 percent of the passenger load consisted of paying passengers while the rest were Air Philippine officials and guests.

Passengers boarded a 118-seater aircraft.

Leyte Vice Gov. Maria Mimietta Bagulaya lauded the airline’s efforts to offer flights to Tacloban City, saying this will benefit the entire Eastern Visayas region in terms of tourism and trade.

Eastern Visayas is composed of provinces of Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Samar.

“Certainly, tourism and trade here will grow. Travel groups like businessmen can now come here faster and easier for conventions and conferences,” Bagulaya said in an interview at the Ramon C. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City.

Eco-tourism

“In tourism, tourists can now have more time to explore the islands as an eco-tourism destination,” she added.

According to Bagulaya, PAL used to operate a Cebu-Tacloban direct flight in the past but the airline decided to cease flight operations between these cities to cater to other destinations.

At that same time, she said the fast craft market has started to flourish.

She said while there used to be direct sea travel routes to Tacloban, the strong water current along the San Juanico Strait have proven to be “risky” for passengers.

Travel time

“With a direct flight to and from Tacloban via Cebu, it now makes it easier to travel,” Bagulaya said.

She said the direct flight reduces travel time between the two cities to only 25 minutes via Air Philippines, instead of the usual four hours by land and sea trips.

Air Philippines’ fare rates are between P1,200 and P1,700. (MMM)

Catbalogan City , Samar
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found this on the net....

Borongan City, E. Samar
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4175/tulaysawang22yx6.jpg
Catherdral
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Mall
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hey guys, click on the link below. Just somethin to read on..

http://www.pse.org.ph/html/disclosur...7-7329_RLC.pdf

Merry Christmas!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2133326588_21dbcae46d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamme/2133326588/)

gusto kong mag-caving one day sa Calbiga Karst

Borongan gears up for boulevard facelift

By Alice Nicart

Borongan City (1 February) -- Borongan City today indeed takes leaps and bounds if only to prove it is worthy to be included in the country's progressing cities.

Soon, the famous boulevard of the city will undergo improvement as City Mayor Fidel Anacta, Jr. visualizes the area as a future tourist spot similar to Manila's Sunset by the Bay.

In a telephone interview, Mayor Anacta mentioned several plans to earn revenues for his constituents and one of these is putting in place some infrastructures so as to attract more visitors to this newly converted city. The boulevard and the detour bridge which connects barangay Alang-alang and Baybay boulevard is according to him a potential tourist spot.

"If Manila has that so-called Sunset by the Bay, Borongan, will be famous for its "Borongan's Sunrise by the Bay", quipped Mayor Panka as he is fondly called by friends. "We will just have to build some fixtures to make the place more enticing", he added.

As it is, sitting by the bay on Summer mornings, one could take a full view of the clearly radiant sun inching itself gently upward in between the skies and the vast oceans. As its rays softly creeps and spreads light unto man, one can certainly reflect how good is God, how perfect His creations are.

"Even this time yet, Borongan boulevard has become a favorite place for family reunions, San Isidro receptions, Badminton enthusiasts even rendezvous for friends and lovers. So, it is fitting that we beautify the place, perchance then, we can invite more local or foreign tourists," he added.

Spearheading the beautification of Baybay boulevard is Councilor Jessie Solidon, who said they have succeeded in sourcing out fund support of civic minded Boronganons in Manila. He reported in a radio report that some two million (P2,000,000.00) had been released to the project by Atty, Edgar Bocar, a fellow Boronganon who is the Deputy General Manager of Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

"We expect some more funds from the PTA as we were promised", the ever cheerful law-maker jibed. "But this is good enough to start the project," he said. "From the base of the Detour bridge, we will construct a walkway along the boulevard with matching lightings. Our people had been in wanting for the lightings because not only that it will somehow avert misconducts in that area but it will also add beauty to the place.

He also said he is thankful for Mayor Anacta because of his persistence that the project pushes through. "If not for him also, we will not go further. Mayor Anacta oftentimes reminds me about the project," he said, "that is why it is always in my mind also," the Veterinarian turned-councilor concluded.

Next to "Padul-ong Festival", Borongan's Sunrise by the Bay might soon be an additional to the province and region's tourist come-ons. 30. (PIA (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p080201.htm&no=40&r=&y=&mo=)Eastern Samar)


*** *** ***


PGMA's "Ilaw sa Barangay" delights remotest folks

By Alice Nicart

Borongan City (1 February) -- Situated in a hilly terrain, barangay Cagpili is about three hour- pump boat ride from Oras, Eastern Samar that delivery of basic services as in energization was next to impossible.

But, Eastern Samar Electric Company (ESAMELCO) proved it wrong.

Headed by Governor Ben Evardone, three teams sail off the winding Oras river recently for the purpose of "Switching On" cum inauguration of the newly energized barangays of Cagpili and Gamut.

"Now, you can buy electric fans, refrigerators and televisions", Gov. Evardone told the cheerful barangay folks. " But we would want you to take care and maintain your light, "he added. " We would expect that we will not hear reports from here that some electric wires had been sold to the junkshop as I hear it sometimes in some other places," he cautioned his audience.

Evardone said that the project emanated from the program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, because she wants that if possible, all the barangays of the country will be energized before she steps down in 2010. He also said that the next barangays that will be visited by his team for the "Switching On" will be Cadian, Batang, Buntay and Cagtoo, all hard-to-reach areas.

Leonora Aga, a mother of four kids projected herself as a seller of ice-candy and ice-water in so soon a time.

"When I can place a small table by the side of our elementary school, perhaps I can earn a few pesos for my children's daily needs," the excited mother said. "With some rice cakes to match my frozen products, then, I can earn a few pesos more.

Evardone mentioned in his message many times the vitality of taking care of the Cagpili's power connection.

"Again, I advise the barangay officials to plan out a mechanism in order to maintain the facility, specially that the source do not just come from the nearby Oras but from far Carapdapan, Arteche town. Neither should you curse ESAMELCO whenever power failures occur because they only facilitate the current, "he said. "It is TRANSCO who provides us with it," Evardone stressed.

Engineer Pancho Afable, Assistant ESAMELCO Manager, said in a brief phone call, " We hope the people help us in this poverty alleviation endeavor. It was real tough job connecting Cagpili with Arteche. Also we hope, we will be supported in the billing and collection of fees, since this is a not-so-accessible place, we hope, we will not encounter a problem in the monthly collection of power bills otherwise, the project might flop," Afable said.

Eastern Samar has become an envy to some critics. They say it is one of PGMA's "favorites". In November, who could ever imagine, the highest official of the land would risk her life when she took her chopper to inspect the project implementation of the circumferencial road in that tip most barangay of Jipapad? But Gov. Evardone has this to say: I only dovetail the executive agenda of the President, foremost of it is poverty alleviation through the delivery of basic services. (PIA (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p080201.htm&no=41)-Eastern Samar)

Im am planning to make a thread about western samar...
I need pictures pls help me.

here is my email add:patatasman007@yahoo.com

Thank you.

another province:

Samar’s first district officials push for the creation of a separate province

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
March 1, 2008
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar – Bouyed by the promise of a fiscal and political autonomy, officials of Calbayog City trooped to the Samar’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan at Samar’s Capitol to convince the provincial board members of their move to create a separate province to be named Northwestern Samar.
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Calbayog City councilor Julius Mancol (standing) presented a PowerPoint to members of the Samar Provincial Board the salient point of converting the first district of Samar into a new Province of Northwestern Samar during the regular SP session on Thursday.

On Thursday, February 28, 2008, CalbayogCity councilor Julius Mancol took the floor and presented in PowerPoint the justifications why there should be a separate province.

Mancol cited that the population of Samar is growing, based on the latest National Statistics Office (NSO) record.

He said that it is difficult to manage a big province like Samar, with 24 municipalities and two cities.

He added that in terms of the basic social services, there is almost an absence in the first district. He cited that their district hospitals cease to treat but act merely as referral entities.

The official cited that Samar province places 13th biggest in area and in population in the entire nation.

In comparison, he cited the provinces of Sibugay, Dinagat and Batanes. He added that these are very small provinces that had been created.

He mentioned that Batanes has only six municipalities, 39 barangays with a land area of some 209 square kilometers and a population of 16, 467.

In the region, Mancol emphasized Biliran province composed of only a few municipalities and how so far has it progressed.

He said that even if only nine municipalities and one city belonging to District one will be created as one province, still the area, population and number of barangays, would qualify and would even be bigger than the mentioned ones.

By all angles and figures the province being proposed could qualify, yet the Sangguniang Panlalawigan still requires an ample time to study the implications that the proposal brings.

Vice Governor Jesus Redaja, presiding officer requested the proponents to allow the other provincial Board Members a thorough deliberation and a sufficient time to examine the proposal.

As it is, the Calbayog City officials brought with them Resolution Number 2008-02-030 sponsored by Hon. Julius Mancol of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Calbayog adopted on January 14, 2008 requesting the Honorable Congressman Reynaldo Uy (1st district of Samar) to file a bill creating a new province in Samar by converting the first legislative district of Samar into a Province of Northwestern Samar.

The group said that in response to the earlier resolution, Representative Uy has filed House Bill 3553 before the congress of the Philippines on February 2, 2008

Hi!

Readers might be interested to view photos of Biliran.

I have several posts on the youngest province of the region. Among them:


Biliran (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/biliran/)

Biliran Bridge (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/biliran-bridge/)


Iyusan Rice Terraces (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/iyusan-rice-terraces/)


Mabuhay Mag Sept sidebar on Biliran (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/mabuhay-magazine-sept-issue/)


Hope you like them. :)

Cheers!

Relief operations to a flooded Eastern Samar continues

By SENTAY B. QUITORIO
March 9, 2008

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – PAGCOR (Philippine amusement and Gaming Corporation) conducted a 5-day Medical Mission side by side with a Relief Operation following orders from the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It started March 7 to end March 11, 2008 in identified priority municipalities.


Cong. Doloy Coquilla assisting in a relief operations.
According to the report of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development 40,859 families are affected, 17 dead, 4 missing, 31 injured as of press time. While an estimated total damage cost at P199,308,926.50. PSWDO also reported that these damages include that infrastructure, agriculture and damage to personal properties. Further the social welfare office confirmed that it is based on the reports submitted by 12 municipalities only, and that they are still waiting reports from other towns.

During the Presidential visit of PGMA last February 23, 2008 in Dolores, the families of the victims of flood received 20 thousand pesos, and later 5 thousand pesos from Governor Ben P. Evardone. The provincial government also distributed food packs as immediate answer to the needs. While PGMA committed 200 million, half of it goes to Northern Samar, to rehabilitate damages.

Governor Evardone and the employees of the provincial government offered a “requiem” mass for the eternal rest of the 17 victims of the flood.

Prior to these operations of PAGCOR, Non-government Organizations, local catholic church, private individuals and groups aside from government initiated out-reach programs joined forces to provide immediate relief to the victims of the calamity.

While Congressman Teodulo M. Coquilla of the Lone District of Eastern Samar also allocated P5 million worth of food packs distributed to affected families and individuals all over the province followed by series of medical missions in areas where there is an outbreak of diarrhea. Coquilla also confirmed to have received help from colleagues in congress.

Congressman Coquilla and Governor Evardone received the relief goods and medicines from PGMA through PAGCOR before it was airlifted by C130 at the Villamor Airbase last March 6, 2008.

PAGCOR team headed by Jun Evangelista confirmed that their team brought to the province medicines and relief good for 10 thousand individuals. Governor Ben Evardone and the social services prioritized recipients according to accessibility. The recommended Barangays are along the rivers of Dolores, Oras, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Borongan, Arteche and Can-avid.

Biliran posts biggest gains in campaign against poverty

Province is top performer in poverty alleviation among 80 LGUs

By JACK C. GADAINGAN (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080325120211.html)

NAVAL, Biliran — The poverty situation may not be too good as shown by records from the National Statistics and Census Board (NSCB), but Biliran province has proven to be the exact opposite by posting the largest decrease in poverty incidence among the country’s 80 provinces.

Based on the 2006 NSCB data, Biliran had gained a 15.1 percentage point decrease of poverty incidence from 46.5 in 2003 down to 31.4 in 2006, even lower than its 2000 figure of 33.3 percent.

The 2006 poverty statistics was officially released to the public last March 5, following a programmed release two years after the reference year.

The report showed that there are 27.6 million poor Filipinos in 2006, up by 3.8 million or 16 percent from its 2003 figure of 23.8 million poor Filipinos.

In contrast, Biliran province bounced back from being number 9th in the top 50 poorest provinces in the country in 2003, up to number 49th in 2006. Before that, Biliran ranked 44th in 2000. It showed that somehow the province suffered a major setback in 2003.

Biliran Gov. Rogelio Espina explained that the sudden surge of poverty incidence in 2003 was caused by "Egay" and "Gilas", two of the most severe typhoons which hit the country and passed directly over this island province.

The multi-million damage to crops, infrastructure, dwellings, public facilities, disruption in local trade and commerce, and most especially the source of income and livelihood of majority of the residents was reflected in the 2003 poverty survey of NSCB, which resulted to more families under the poverty line.

The province’s sinking to the 9th poorest province in the country in 2003 had prompted the governor to carry out measures to alleviate poverty and spur local economy.

He launched a food self-sufficiency program that diversified into livestock, high-value crops, and fruit trees on top of increasing rice production.

Increasing the availability of food during this period, the Espina also implemented a capitalization program for small businessmen, cooperatives, and even the marginal fishermen, farmers, vendors, and the like which had encouraged growth of the local economy.

Espina’s political rivals had been using the 2003 poverty incidence as an issue against his leadership and administration, claiming that poverty was worsening in Biliran under his watch.

The governor said that as his detractors had been proven wrong, the issue came to rest.

"No matter how well my detractors can twist the facts to satisfy their malicious intent, the NSCB data is there to stay. I felt vindicated," he added.

I just came accidentally across this forum, what puzzles me is that it seems to be common for many users simply to copy articles of any newsapers and post it here. What is that good for? All this articles any interested person will find anyway in the www. Another problem is that it is not a good manner to use other peoples articles, there is something like copyright law. The better way is to simply post the appropriate link.

It makes sense not to take everything as we can read it. See the reports about Calicoan. It's very questionable that the developments will go the way as it is promoted (and if it would, it wouldn't be good for Calicoan).
Better post something what came from yorself instead just posting others blabla.

FROM IVAN HARES BLOGSITE:
http://www.ivanhenares.com/2007/10/from-guiuan-to-catbalogan.html
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5545/dsc06843ov3.jpg
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8118/dsc06800bh1.jpg
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9134/dsc06745kl2.jpg
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/4883/dsc06780zz7.jpg
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/7274/dsc06851yf1.jpg

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9387/dsc06679jw6.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6294/dsc06697im3.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9666/dsc06670mc6.jpg

Hi!

Readers might be interested to view photos of Biliran.

I have several posts on the youngest province of the region. Among them:


Biliran (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/biliran/)

Biliran Bridge (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/biliran-bridge/)


Iyusan Rice Terraces (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/iyusan-rice-terraces/)


Mabuhay Mag Sept sidebar on Biliran (http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/mabuhay-magazine-sept-issue/)


Hope you like them. :)

Cheers!


thanx gerry ......very nice post..

wala lang.. State of Eastern Visayas Thread:lol:

Sticky thread na pala ito...:)

City of Catbalogan
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8543/catbalogansouthview2837gr4.jpg

The Aliwan Fiesta 2008 winds up today, May 3 in Metro-Manila with its highlight, the Streetdance Competition starting at the Quirino Grandstand ending at the Aliw Center beside CCP on Roxas Blvd.

Representing the Eastern Visayas Region are the Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte (winner of last year's Leyte Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival) and the 3-time Leyte Pintados-Kasadyaan winner contingent of Hilongos, Leyte.

The Aliwan Fiesta features the country's best of the best festival contingents vying for the P1M top prize.

Here are photo samplers of the Buyogan Festival competing in today's Aliwan Fiesta 2008:

http://gerryruiz.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/80416-abuyog-w-7513.jpg

http://gerryruiz.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/80416-abuyog-w-7622.jpg

View more photos & full gallery here:
http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/buyogan-festival-gears-up-for-aliwan-fiesta-08/

Biri Island, N. Samar

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2457993029_7b600ef2a8_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/2457974387_0558bf2ae2_b.jpg


San Juanico Bridge
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/290192526_fc8db83a46_b.jpg

Sto. Niño Church, Tacloban City
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/293372104_15da578100_b.jpg

from http://flickr.com/photos/mikesnmags/
source: http://flickr.com/photos/mikesnmags/

Nagtataka ako kung bakit walang thread ang
SAMAR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samar_Island)

Panapukan Beach
Tarangnan, Samar



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Panapukan_beach.jpg







Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Nagtataka ako kung bakit walang thread ang SAMAR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samar_Island)

You're free to start one if you so desire.

PGMA’s SONA Project, the Guiuan
Airport Rehabilitation Now Ongoing
Reposted From PIA

Tacloban City (May 11) - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s SONA project, the rehabilitation of the Guiuan Airport, is now ongoing, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas Secretary Victor Domingo informed during the launching of the PGMA Job Center Kiosk at the Department of Labor and Industry.

Secretary Domingo disclosed that the airport fence has been completed and the terminal building is now being constructed. When completed, commercial airlines will start to land there and it will become an international airport catering to the tourists going to Calicoan Island which is a combination of Siargao and Boracay considering that at the Pacific side, the big waves are conducive to surfing while the Leyte Gulf side is conducive to swimming and other water sports.

The opening of the Guiuan Airport will be beneficial not only to the people of Guiuan and other towns of Eastern Samar but the entire Eastern Visayas, Secretary Domingo said. He informed that this is a fulfillment of the Super Region concept of development of President Arroyo in which Eastern Visayas belongs to the Central Philippines Super Region envisioned as the Tourism Center of the Philippines.

Secretary Domingo, however, noted that the roads of Eastern Samar has deteriorated, saying that now there are a thousand potholes for so many hundred meters of roads there. He observed that the road at Eastern Samar used to be the best roads and the first roads to be asphalted.

Secretary Domingo underscore the importance of cooperation and support, among the political leaders in Easter Samar so that they will help one another and give priority to the rehabilitation of roads in the area, to make it more accessible to Tacloban.

For sure, the tourists going to Calicoan will not only go to Calicoan but will also explore the other areas in the Region by land, Secretary Domingo said.

Secretary Domingo said when people complain about their leaders, what comes to his mind is that the people deserve the leaders they elected. If they chose right and well, then they should have better leaders who are attentive to the needs of the area and the people.

Really, attitudes and values are what make the country great, Secretary Domingo who is a very conscientious leader, said. (PIA 8 )


Paging Forumer's in Near the area, Post Some Pics!:)

A Panoramic View of Catbalogan City
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8587/76158276hx2.jpg

From http://cinconick22.blogspot.com/
Visit The Website for More.

PGMA’s SONA Project, the Guiuan
Airport Rehabilitation Now Ongoing
Reposted From PIA

Tacloban City (May 11) - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s SONA project, the rehabilitation of the Guiuan Airport, is now ongoing, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas Secretary Victor Domingo informed during the launching of the PGMA Job Center Kiosk at the Department of Labor and Industry.

Secretary Domingo disclosed that the airport fence has been completed and the terminal building is now being constructed. When completed, commercial airlines will start to land there and it will become an international airport catering to the tourists going to Calicoan Island which is a combination of Siargao and Boracay considering that at the Pacific side, the big waves are conducive to surfing while the Leyte Gulf side is conducive to swimming and other water sports.

The opening of the Guiuan Airport will be beneficial not only to the people of Guiuan and other towns of Eastern Samar but the entire Eastern Visayas, Secretary Domingo said. He informed that this is a fulfillment of the Super Region concept of development of President Arroyo in which Eastern Visayas belongs to the Central Philippines Super Region envisioned as the Tourism Center of the Philippines.

Secretary Domingo, however, noted that the roads of Eastern Samar has deteriorated, saying that now there are a thousand potholes for so many hundred meters of roads there. He observed that the road at Eastern Samar used to be the best roads and the first roads to be asphalted.

Secretary Domingo underscore the importance of cooperation and support, among the political leaders in Easter Samar so that they will help one another and give priority to the rehabilitation of roads in the area, to make it more accessible to Tacloban.

For sure, the tourists going to Calicoan will not only go to Calicoan but will also explore the other areas in the Region by land, Secretary Domingo said.

Secretary Domingo said when people complain about their leaders, what comes to his mind is that the people deserve the leaders they elected. If they chose right and well, then they should have better leaders who are attentive to the needs of the area and the people.

Really, attitudes and values are what make the country great, Secretary Domingo who is a very conscientious leader, said. (PIA 8 )


Paging Forumer's in Near the area, Post Some Pics!:)

nice, nabasa ko rin (or nakita sa tv, limot ko na) somewhere na bumili ng property ang shangri la (ata yun), pero hinde sana matulad sa boracay ang Calicoan