Tourist Spots

  • Balyuan Ampitheater (Balyuan Tower)

One of the historical tourist attractions in Tacloban City, Balyuan Tower attracts many tourists and local residents because of its historic value. According to some historians, early people in the city, use Balyuan Tower as a lighthouse so all of the residents will be warned of dangers and threats. At present, residents and officials in the city use this place to hold special gatherings or celebrations that feature attractive and interesting cultural presentations and spots events since Balyuan Tower has a state-of-the-art and well-maintained amphitheater.

It is located along Magsaysay Boulevard, facing Cancabatok Bay. It is a popular venue for cultural, sporting and religious events.

  • People’s Center & Library For Leyte & Samar

People Center Tacloban.Located at Real Street besides the famous Sto. Niño Shrine  Museum. This a 2-floor huge building which has enormous collections of dioramas of local cultural minorities, document and articrafts. and even a copy of the original Noli Me Tangere could be found there.

when you entered the hall, you will notice the wide area where you could imagine cocktail parties, cotillions, big gatherings, and political meetings. the floor is made of the finest wood tiles on the center and bricks plain concrete floor on the sides while the stage is designed with a huge curtain and on it’s back is the map of the region and the couple’s (IMELDA and FERDINAND) faces painted on it. this painting is seldom seen on the public.

  • Sto. Niño Church

Santo Niño Church also known as the Church of Liberation is located at the corner of Real and Zamora Streets. It houses the image of Santo Niño, patron saint of Leyte, knowns as El Capitan, which was lost at sea on its way to Manila on the SS Luzon in 1889 and was recovered almost six months later by fishermen from Semirara Island.

  • Redoña Residence

Residence of the family of Margarito and Prisca Redoña where President Sergio Osmeña Sr. stayed during the liberation days of World War II.

Three days later, on the 23rd, at a ceremony at the Capitol Building in Tacloban, General MacArthur accompanied by President Sergio Osmeña made Tacloban the temporary seat of the Commonwealth Government and subsequently the temporary capital of the Philippines until the complete liberation of the country. The provincial government of Leyte and the municipal government of Tacloban were re-established.

Atty. Paulo Jaro was the Liberation Mayor of Tacloban. The first mayor of this capital upon inauguration of the Philippine Republic was Hon. Epifanio Aguirre. On January 8, 1960, General Douglas MacArthur made his “sentimental” journey to Leyte.

  • Sto. Niño Church Shrine & Heritage Museum

The Sto Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum was built by Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. The First floor is where the Chapel is located and on the sides are rooms made from native materials. And each room has a corresponding name. On the 2nd floor is where you will be wowed. The collection of Imelda is here (Part of it) Expensive Antiques, Artworks, Ivories (There is a whole Glass Case filled with Ivory Carvings), Russian Icons fill every nook and cranny of the 2nd floor.

The Sto Nino Shrine during its heydey was probably amazing to look at, now there are obvious signs of neglect, but despite this it still does not fail to amaze. Mrs Marcos use of native materials is ingenious. It is a true showcase of how artistic the Filipinos are. I hope that the Agency in charge of the Museum will do its best to preserve the Museum.

Being a Lover of Antiques and Art, this was the highlight of our Tacloban Trip. It made my trip to Leyte worth it!

  • San Juanico Bridge

he San Juanico Bridge, part of the Pan-Philippine Highway, stretches from Samar to Leyte across the San Juanico Strait in the Philippines. Its longest length is a steel girder viaduct built on reinforced concrete piers, and its main span is of an arch-shaped truss design. With a total length of 2.16 kilometers (1.34 mi) , it is the longest bridge in the Philippines spanning a body of seawater. It is considered one of the most beautifully-designed bridges in Philippines, having been designed by renowned architects Juanito Isko Balunbalunan and Rodolfo Tokneneng Jr., once obscure architects from Tacloban City until the completion of the bridge and the fame for which it was later known. The bridge has 43 spans and medium size boats can pass beneath its large main arch the top of which rises 41 meters above the sea. Designed by engineers Maxel Cayamanda, Francis Paje, Jefferson Ang, Mgyver Manzanero, Darryl Valino, Rayvin Alimagno, Myke Unangst and Rialph Guia, construction commenced in 1969 over San Juanico Strait from Cabalawan, Tacloban City to the municipality of Santa Rita, Samar, with completion in 1973.

The Candaba Viaduct of Pampanga Province which forms part of the North Luzon Expressway is longer, but being a land bridge crossing a few streams, ponds, and a swamp which usually fills in rainy weather, is less impressive.

Connecting Tacloban City on the Leyte side and Santa Rita town on the Samar side, it offers many picturesque views, especially of the San Juanico Strait with its thousand whirlpools as well as the islets of the province. It is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, bus, motorcab or private vehicle.

Construction of the 21.9 million-dollar bridge was contracted to the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (now the Philippine National Construction Corporation), which together with Japanese engineers conducted studies and designed the actual project.

It connects the twin islands of Leyte and Samar. This is why the bridge has the letters S and L incorporated into its shape.

  • Tacloban City Convention Center  ( Astrodome)

The Tacloban City Convention Center (TCCC) Also known as the Tacloban City Astrodome is the biggest indoor venue in the region it can accommodate 5,000 individuals, located at Real Street, Barangay Sagkahan. It is use as a regional venue for huge gatherings, like basketball tournaments, concerts, cultural events, conventions and local affairs. The P200 Million Tacloban City Coliseum is a part of the city government’s project. Outside astrodome had bars and restaurant.

  • The Philippine-Japan Commemorative Peace Park

Madonna of Japan, also known as Maria Kannon is located at the foot of Kanhuraw hill along Magsaysay Blvd. The statue stands on a rock on a landscaped garden, the image also referred as the statue of the Goddess of Peace and donated by the Japanese people, it was a symbol of peace and friendship between the Philippines and Japan. The statue is made from a rare piece of miyagi stone and made by a famous Japanese sculptor.

  • The Price Mansion ( now CAP Building )

The Price Mansion was used as a temporary seat of Government following the proclamation of the restoration of civil government in the Philippines. It also served as the general headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur during World War II.

Acquired by College Assurance Plan in line with its tradition of preserving our historical landmarks and cultural heritage, The Price Mansion today stands as the CAP Tacloban Office. No major alterations were done in refurbishing the building so that its original architecture would be preserved.

Aside from housing the CAP Family of Companies, the Price Mansion also features a MacArthur Memorabilia, an Art Gallery and a Conference Center. On the right side of the mansion facing Romualdez Street, the statues of MacArthur and Osmeña – two icons of the Leyte Landings in 1944, stand proud, a fitting remembrance of the Battle of Leyte which liberated the Philippines from the Japanese Imperial Army.