What makes the province of Leyte, Philippines a great vacation destination? Why should you go and book an accommodation in Leyte for your next trip?
Leyte may not be the first on your list of places to visit when in the Philippines. But with its many offerings and tourist traps, the province is one that should not be missed when you plan to set foot in the country. Read along on why Leyte should make it to your must-see list:
A province with a rich history
One cannot speak of Leyte without stating a significant world event. In fact, Filipino historians mention Leyte in the same breadth when talking about World War II. This was where General Douglas MacArthur landed in 1944, after a period of exile, to recapture and liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupancy. Red Beach in Palo — the site where the historic landing happened—boasts a memorial featuring huge statues of General MacArthur and a few of his men. Another site worth mentioning for its role in the Second World War is the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, founded by the Jesuits in 1596. The church served as an infirmary for wounded American and Filipino troops.
Seat of Catholicism
Speaking of Palo, this first-class municipality has made Leyte the seat of Catholicism in the region. Aside from the Metropolitan Cathedral, one can find the office of the ecclesiastical government of the Archdiocese of Palo and the archbishop’s residence in this town. Furthermore, many secondary, tertiary, and theology seminaries like the Sacred Heart Seminary and St. John the Evangelist School of Theology are located in Palo.
A host of tourist attractions
Besides the Leyte Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Leyte has a lot of other spots worthy of visiting. Some attractions that serve as reminders of World War II are Hill 522, known as Guinhangdan Hill; Hill 120, where the first American flag was raised by Liberation Forces; and the Philippine-Japanese Peace Memorial. There’s also the CAP Building, once known as Price Mansion, a good example of an American colonial home, and which was also the headquarters of General MacArthur during the Liberation period.
Of course, Leyte holds further must-see sites. One of them is the San Juanico Bridge, which stretches over San Juanico Strait. Spanning 2.16 km, the bridge — said to be a testament of love from then-president Ferdinand Marcos to his wife Imelda, a native of Leyte — connects the province to neighboring Samar.
The province has not a few natural attractions as well. Among them are Lake Danao National Park, which covers the guitar-shaped Lake Danao and Amandiwin Mountain Range. Agta Beach in Biliran and Kalanggaman Island in Palompon are also amazing places to see. Hotels in these Leyte islands abound, so coming over isn’t much of a hassle.
Generally peaceful environment
One of the things that tourists consider when visiting a place is its security. And at Leyte, they won’t have to worry much, as it has a peaceful and safe environment. It has a low crime rate and there are no armed conflicts in the province. And its police force has been bestowed the Best Police Provincial Office and Best Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee. So when you choose to stay in a lodging or accommodation in Leyte, you’ll find no big problems when it comes to your safety.
