PALO
LEYTE: THE BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE
As
I’ve read a quote saying “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget
that our highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them” I’ve
realized that everything in our town, the Palo Leyte, seemed so beautiful,
because one time I was roaming around Palo and suddenly strucked me into
imagining how deeply thoughtful and appreciative of people living in this town,
Palo is so extraordinary that there were a lot of history that has been made in
this place. I couldn’t agree more to our ancestors living in this place that
Palo is considered to be one of the best places to stay and best places to roam
freely.
(The
road of Guindapunan, going to Palo proper)
History of Palo:
The discovery of the
advancing communities of Palo dates back to the early 16th Century A.D. along
the banks of Bangon River. The first known settlement were the kingdom of
Takuranga, first name of Palo under King Guban, and the Kingdom of Kaluugan,
the second name of Palo under King Pitik. From the 14th to the 16th centuries,
some other settlements were formed which also became the succeeding names of
Palo, until finally in 1550 Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi coalesced the
settlements and named the new confederation "Palo". The other
settlements were Kasangitan, Binangalan, Kasuguran, Bunga, Bangon and
Guindapunan. The settlers of Bunga played a vital role in the history of Palo,
having formed the settlement of Bangon which is now the town center. Palo
formally became a town in 1768 with Kapitan Balasabas as its first administration.
The
town is very active in commerce and in tourism. It attracts a significant
number of tourists every year. The town also has its historic Municipal
Building which was the former Seat of the Provincial Government of Leyte. Its
location is conducive to and ideal for trading and commerce. Palo is
strategically located in the northern part of the Province of Leyte, 8 miles
from the capital city of Tacloban. It is composed of 33 barrios (barangays)
with a total population of 40,000. The main source of income for most of the
citizenry is the buying and selling of farm products and the production and
fermentation of the local wine "tuba". Palo is a town that takes
pride not in its material wealth, which rates poorly in terms of economic
growth, but in the fame and glory of its being a rare "Town of
Firsts"---culturally, historically and spiritually. Municipality of Palo, is a 3rd
class municipality in
the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2015
census, it has a population of 70,052 people.[3]
The
municipality is the seat of most government departments, bureaus and regional
offices of Region VIII, although some are situated at the neighboring city
of Tacloban. The town is also home to the offices of the ecclesiastical
government of the Archdiocese of Palo; the archbishop's residence; as
well as the secondary, tertiary and theology seminaries of the archdiocese.
Palo
has also several well-known Educational Institutions such as Saint Paul School
of Professional Studies, one of the Nation’s well known college school because
of numerous students passing the CPA Board Exams, we also have Sacred Heart
Seminary, St. Mary’s Academy of Palo, AMA Computer College, Philippine Science
High School, UP Manila School of Health Sciences, and many more institutions that has been stood
in this historic place.
There
are also several food/products that people in Palo make such as:
Tuba
(Coconut Wine)-
the coconut wine tuba is matured for up to one to 2 years such that an
echoing ring is made when a glass container is tapped explanation required;
this variation of tuba is called bahalina.
(Example
picture of Tuba or Coconut Wine)
Next one is, here in
Palo we also make the Leyte’s famous Suman
Latik, another version of rice cake made from glutinous rice, coconut milk,
brown sugar and flavored with lye solution, which makes the taste distinct.
Also wrapped in banana leaf, this dessert is served with the “latik” sauce on
top and is best enjoyed with coffee or hot chocolate. Grated coconut meat can
also be used as topping.
(Example picture of
Suman Latik)
Next product is we also make Tablea or Filipino Tsokolate.
(Example photo
of Table-making in Palo)
(Photo taken
from crispypatakarekare.com)
Aside from these
products That the Palo people made there are also Tourist Spots that makes
the Palo Leyte magnificent and historic as it is.
(Photo of Palo Cathedral)
One example is the Metropolitan
Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration. The cathedral, built in 1596, was transferred from Jesuits to
Augustinians (1768) and to Franciscans in 1843. It was proclaimed as a
cathedral on March 25, 1938, with Manuel Mascariñas as the first bishop. The
grand altar of the church contains eight images.
Next is we have the, McArthur Landing Memorial National Park. “I
shall return,” a famous line in Philippine history associated with General
Douglas McArthur. The celebrated event happened in Palo, Leyte on October 20,
1944, where the general fulfilled his promise of returning to the Philippines.
He was recalled to duty during World War II to be the commander of the US Army
and with the purpose of uniting the Philippines and the United States under one
command.
(Photo of
McArthur Land Memorial National Park)
Few meters from the
statues is a rock garden park having
tablets from different countries who worked together in preserving peace 50
years after the war. The commemoration plate states that “It is dedicated to peoples of all nations
who share and cherish the same ideas of freedom and democracy.” The
garden was inaugurated on October 20, 1994, five decades after World War II.
Next is we have the Guinhangdan Hill, a destination of Holy
Week pilgrims. The hill is now a forest reserve.
Next is we have the
famous Red Beach of Palo - The
landmark that has brought Palo to the annals of world history is the Red Beach,
in barangay Candahug, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur first landed to liberate the
Philippines from the Japanese occupation on October 20, 1944.
(Photo of red beach
palo)
Next is we have the Korean Veteran Memorial Park/ Araw Memorial
Park, it is located in Candahug Palo, Leyte. A memorial park that is down
the road from McArthurs park, by the roundabout.
The land was given to the Koreans for their assistance in Yolanda and they, in turn, created the memorial for the Filipinos who helped in the Korean War. It is a nice show of friendship between the two countries. This was unveiled on December 5, 2014 a few days before the South Korea Military Joint Support Group left. South Koreans were able to repair of 66 public buildings including; 37 schools and 25 government facilities. They also helped in the clearing operations, medical services and feeding programs.
The land was given to the Koreans for their assistance in Yolanda and they, in turn, created the memorial for the Filipinos who helped in the Korean War. It is a nice show of friendship between the two countries. This was unveiled on December 5, 2014 a few days before the South Korea Military Joint Support Group left. South Koreans were able to repair of 66 public buildings including; 37 schools and 25 government facilities. They also helped in the clearing operations, medical services and feeding programs.
(Photo of Korean
Veteran Memorial Park/Araw Memorial Park)
Next is we have the Eternal Flame Memorial Garden Common Graves
located in Brgy. San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte is the final resting place of 378
residents of the said barangay who lost their lives to the Super Typhoon
Yolanda. The memorial is located right outside San Joaquin Parish. Names of the
residents who were buried in the mass grave are written on granite. There is
also a shade-like structure with names of the people who died including their
birth date and death. There is also a sculpture of a candle at the center
called “Eternal Flame”, instead of flame; a praying hand would be seen on top.
Eternal
Flame Memorial Garden in Brgy. San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte
We also have the Sacred Heart Seminary, it is a beautiful place to
visit, it is located in National Road, Brgy. Salvacion, Palo Leyte. It is where
seminarians who serve God are educated in this Institution.
(Photo of Sacred Heart Seminary)
There are lot of various more placed to visit in Palo, it is also a
developing place and a beautiful place to stay. The barangay has power and
authority over its domain. The improvement of the barangay rests on the
barangay officials. The barangay chairman, the barangay council and the local
businessmen forge the prosperity of the barangay. Not the president of the
Philippines, senate, nor congress, not the governor of the province, not the
mayor nor council of the municipality or city. Poor barangays stay poor because
of weak and ignorant barangay leaders.
When roads need to be built or any infrastructure within the barangay
is needed, all the barangay officials have to do is make a resolution and
demand for it from the city or municipality council. The resolution will force
the city council and congress to hear the legitimate demands. "The squeaky
wheel gets the grease."
Practically anything that has to do with the barangay, the barangay
officials have a say on it and most likely the authority over it. The majority
of the barangay officials are not aware of their duties and power. They depend
on the city council or mayor. The elected barangay officials are afraid of the
mayor and city/municipality's "Sangguniang Panlungsod".
Here in Palo, a place you must visit and be astounded by beautiful
surroundings you’ll ever see. A lot of history has been made, In the present
time I’ll surely enjoy fast-food chains such as McDonalds, Jollibee, Andok’s,
Shakeys, JC Foodspot, Panny’s, Mister Donut, and now we have the 7/11 near jollibee and many more food establishment.
Palo is becoming a developed town because of the glorious and tremendous works
by our Mayor and a lot of help from other government officers too. This is my
town, this is where I live. I will forever cherish my lovely town of Palo Leyte.
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