 lake said to be the habitat of giant eel.
Cuatro Islas ( Four Islands)
A forty-five minute pumpboat ride off the coast of Inopacan town in Leyte are four lovely islands namely, Digyo, Apid, Mahaba, and Himokilan. These small islands are bordered by fine white sand and beautiful coral gardens, the best in Leyte Island. A total of 287 species of reef building corals can be found in the islands waters. Cuatro Islas is also a rich fishing ground. Himokilan, the largest of the four, and Mahaba Islands are both inhabited. Himokilan is home to the big and delicious coconut-cracking crabs called. Digyo, the smallest of the four, is a declared sea turtle sanctuary. With only four families living in it, Digyo is practically empty except for coconut trees, shrubs, grasses, and fine white sand. There are no beach resorts in the four islands; therefore it is a must to bring lots of water and food for the day.
Mt. Pangasugan Ecopark
This jungle valley in Brgy. Pangasugan, Baybay, Leyte was once the research site of a team of scientist from nearby Visayas State University (former VISCA) whose aim was to study and catalogue endemic flora and fauna among others. The local government turned the valley into an Ecopark when the research ended. Pangasugan is one of the few remaining virgin rainforests in the Philippines. Its rich ecosystem includes plant and animal species many of which are considered endangered like flying lemurs and tarsiers. Guided tours to the jungle is available at the Baybay Tourism Office.
The Philippines is an island of a hundred festivals. We live tropical life to the core, the hot sun and the warm seas makes us very gay and fun loving. We live for each day and celebrate life to the fullest. Like every Filipino, Leyteños love to party and our festivals are a unique blend of religion, animism, paganism and merry. Our celebrations are punctuated by food galore and “tuba” a coconut wine. Naturally no festival is complete without dancing, hours and hours of dancing and singing!
Palo’s Holy Week Traditions ( every Good Friday; Palo, Leyte)
Palo, Leyte was declared in the Diocesan Synod of 1910 as a center of faith and religiousity in Eastern Visayas. Oldest of Palo’s Holy Week traditions is the Penitentes, a penitential fraternity of cassocked, barefoot, and hooded members organized by Fray Pantaleon de le Fuente, OFM in 1984 supposedly to replace the flagellants, fanatics who whipped themselves or have themselves whipped to atone for wrong doings. The church authorities were alarmed by flagellants whose cult of fanatics was gaining momentum among the faithful.
Turugpo (every Black Saturday; Brgy. Camansi, Carigara, Leyte)
Turugpo is traditional jousts of native carabaos (pasungay) and horses (paaway). Cockfight (karambola) is another attraction. This is day long affair.
Sunduan ha Carigara (Easter Sunday; Carigara, Leyte)
Sunduan takes place on an Easter Sunday. This celebration commemorates the resurrection of Christ. A colourful parade of songs and dances and floats depicts the rich history of the town of Carigara, once a capital of Leyte.
Sanggutan Festival (May 18; Barugo, Leyte)
The Barugo Sanggutan Festival honors the age-old process of coconut wine (tuba). Sanggutan comes from the word “sanggut” or scythe which is a tool used to gather sap from the coconut buds. The collected sap is then fermented to make “tuba”. Tuba making has been and will always be a part of the life of the Barugueño. Sanggutan, the festival, is a dance of celebration. It is dance of men (the mananggetes) and women (their wives, sisters, daughters) involved in the production of the red wine. It is also a dance of men and women enjoying the spirit of this gift from, literally, up high. The costumes are the everyday wear of the mananggete and his family, which is to say the dominant color is red, because the tuba dyes everything and everyone that it touches.
Pasaka Festival (August 14; Tanauan, Leyte)
A dance parade and street pageantry showing the culture of the town of Tanauan as it honors its patron saint, Our Lady of the Assumption. Pasaka