n the beachhead landing of the Allied forces headed by Gen. McArthur. The successful naval and air battle in the Leyte Gulf includes the naval fighting of the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño and the Battle off Samar.
In the Battle of the Leyte Gulf, the Japanese first launched its kamikaze attacks against the Allied forces. The Battle of the Leyte Gulf is celebrated annually with a ceremony known as the Leyte Landing, in which the heroic courage of both the Filipino guerrilla soldiers, and Allied forces are remembered and honoured.
On May 22, 1959, the province was divided into Leyte and Southern Leyte. In 1992 Biliran became a separate province of its own.
Leyte is now divided into three provinces: Leyte, Biliran and Southern Leyte. Southern Leyte is includes the island of Panaon. Biliran is a small island on the northern coast connected from the Leyte mainland by a bridge.
The major cities in Leyte are, Tacloban City, Ormoc City on the northwest of Leyte, Bayabay City on the western coast, and Maasin City on the south.
Recently, Tacloban City turned into a Highly Urbanized City ( HUC), by virtue of the November 2008 plebiscite. As a Highly Urbanized City, it is independent of the supervision of the Leyte Province, and a lone congressional district. Proponents of the HUC status believed that by being an HUC Tacloban City government will attract more investors and business.
Leyte is known for the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Tongonan, a demonstration of using natural resources to provide electricity to the province and even neighbouring islands.
The prime exports of Leyte include coconut, and abaca. It is also the home of coconut wine called “tuba”. Aged for six months to a year, this “tuba” is then called bahalina, priced liquor in every occasion. The municipality of Palo is known for its smooth bahalina, whose recipes and techniques are guarded family secrets.
The town of Dagami in Leyte produces binagol, moron, sagmanai and roscas. These delicacies are a must-have in every town fiesta, and occasions. Binagol (sweetened taro pudding with nuts) is made from talyan - a root crop specie like gabi that is endemic to Palapag Northern Samar. Talyan is grounded, and mixed with eggs, coconut milk, sugar, butter, nuts and chocolate. The mix is packed into the half of a polished coconut shell called “bagol,” covered with banana leaves steamed, tied securely with a string, and then steamed. Hence the name binagol which means placed in a “bagol”.
“Moron” is pronounced with a stress on the second syllable. It is made of ground rice cooked in coconut milk, flavored with tablea, and wrapped in banana leaf. Sagmani is another suman made of gabi or sweet potatoes cooked with coconut cream, sugar and sometimes coconut meat.
There are many things to do around Leyte catering to one’s interest, budget, and preference.
Leyte is one historical island, from welcoming the party of the Ferdinand Magellan when he circumnavigated the world to being the site of the bloodiest Naval Battle in world history. Tacloban, the capital of Leyte was the seat of the Philippine Government during the Liberation of 1944. History buffs will enjoy combing through the different historical sites in Leyte.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur Landing Memorial
The Liberation of the Philippines by the Allied Forces in 1944 headed by the party of Gen. McArthur is immortalized by life sized statues in Red Beach, Palo, Leyte. This event is celebrated annually every 20th of October. It is also the site of the 50th Leyte Landing Anniversary Commemorative Rock Garden of Peace.
Hill 522 Ginhangdan Hill
Ginhangdan Hill is entrance to the first liberated town of Palo in 1944 . The town suffered heavy bombardment to destroy the garrisons built by the Japanese artillery units. Foxholes built by the Japanese still exist. A memorial marker built by Mie Prefecture in memory of the lives lost in the battle. Guinhangdan is in Palo, Leyte, 12 kilometers form Tacloban.
Hill 120 is also called Catmon Hill which is located in Dulag Leyte. On Oct