Public Land Transportation Types That Can Be Found in Tacloban City
Pedicab
Tricycle
Leyte
40 Minute Walk Across San Juanico Bridge
The first time I heard that the longest bridge in the Philippines was San Juanico Bridge it became my dream to cross it from end-to-end by foot alone and last September 20, 2011 that dream finally became a reality.
Arriving, I told my aunt who’s living in Tacloban City that I wanted to walk on San Juanico Bridge from end-to-end. When their multicab passed by the start of the bridge and stopped at the highest point she told me that this was where I should go down and start walking. Problem was, this was not my dream. I reminded her again of what I wanted to do and she told me that the bridge was 2.162 kms long and walking with the sun’s heat at 2 in the afternoon would not help me either. But crossing the San Juanico Bridge inside a vehicle was not my dream. I explained to her again that I wanted to walk it from end-to-end and I could handle distance and the heat of the sun. I was determined even if they left me there, I know I could find a way to get back to Tacloban after walking the bridge. Luckily, she agreed and dropped me off at the Sta. Rita, Samar side of the bridge and will pick me up at the Leyte side after 30 minutes.
Then my walk started.
- San Juanico Bridge Samar Side. ‘S’ shaped for Samar
According from the Department of Tourism Region 8 office the bridge was constructed to look like a letter ‘S’ when looking from Samar side and a straight line like the small letter ‘L’ at Leyte side.
Where to stay in Tacloban City, Leyte
A list of accommodations in Tacloban City, Leyte including their contact numbers and addresses. The list is arranged in alphabetical order.
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ASIA STARS HOTEL
Location: Zamora St., Tacloban City
Contact No.: (053) 325-5322, (053) 321-4952
BUDGET HOTEL
Location: Brgy. 63, Mangga Sagkahan, Tacloban City
Contact No.: (053) 325-4465
CASA REAL INN
Location: Cor. Arellano & Real St., Tacloban City
Contact No.: (053) 321-2523
CASA ANSON
Location: Lopez Jaena St., Tacloban City
Contact No.: (053) 321-4138
CASA DE TACLOBAN
Location: Rizal Ave., Tacloban City
Contact No.: (053) 325-7060, (053) 325-7070
GRAND ROYAL SUITES
Location: 186 Paterno St., Tacloban City
Contact No.: (053) 523-2222
GV HOTEL TACLOBAN
Location: Avenida Veteranos Cor. Juan Luna St., Tacloban City
Contact No.: (053) 523-0267
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: gvhotelgroup.com
Santo Niño Shrine (Romualdez Museum) at Tacloban City
I was a bit hesitant to go in because of the 60 Pesos per person entrance fee with a minimum of 3 persons but my aunt said that she will treat me and my grandmother to enter the Santo Niño Shrine. There’s also a fee of P30 for each camera that we will be using.
Santo Niño Shrine (Romualdez Museum) from the outside
After paying, the tour guide instructed us to remove our footwear and wear the slippers they provided so as not to bring the dust inside.
Not doing my assignment to research about Tacloban, I thought that the Santo Niño Shrine was only a church but as the tour progressed I realized that it was actually a house of the former first lady of the country, Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Thus the name Romualdez Museum.
Visiting Leyte Landing Memorial Park
I remember my elementary and high school history subjects teaching about the famous lines “I shall return” that was said by General Douglas Macarthur. Frankly, during those days I never gave much attention to the subject. Only memorizing the dates and names only to pass exams and avoid embarassment if I fail to answer the question by the teacher then I quickly forget and go on my life.
By chance, I remembered those two things, the words “I shall return” and the name General Douglas Macarthur. It was enough to make me excited when I heard that my relatives were going to take me to the statues that I only saw in pictures.
Up until I saw the statues in person, I thought that they were life-sized and was surprised that they were not.