Visita Iglesia in Leyte Island and Samar

Coat of arms Archdiocese of Palo
Archidioecesis Palensis (Latin)
Arkidiyosesis han Palo (Waray)
Arkidiyosesis sa Palo (Cebuano)

The Ecclesiastical Province of Roman
 Catholic Archdiocese of Palo 

The Archdiocese of Palo has jurisdiction in the provinces of Eastern Visayas except Southern Leyte (which is under the Archdiocese of Cebu).

Historically, Limasawa island in Southern Leyte claims that “First Catholic Mass in the Philippines” happened here on Eastern Sunday of March 31, 1521. Hence, the island town of Limasawa is dubbed as the “birthplace of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines”.

If you ever visit Leyte and Samar islands, don’t forget to visit some of our heritage churches located here:

1. Santo Niño Parish

The flagship Catholic church of Tacloban City that houses the most revered patron of Eastern Visayas: Holy Child Jesus or know as Santo Niño. The structure was recently renovated as it was damaged by Typhoon Yolanda last 2013. People flock to this white church the time when I visited as the feast is held every June 30.

2. Cathedral of Our Lord's Transfiguration Parish

Leyte’s metropolitan cathedral is the seat of Archdiocese of Palo, covering the Roman Catholic Churches within Eastern Visayas. It was also renovated thanks to various donors who contributed in making the whole complex a marvelous art. Notable is the twin towers seen at its façade. At the southern wing, you can visit the mass grave of Yolanda victims turned into a memorial garden. The overall building has as European gothic feel.

3. Immaculate Concepcion Parish

This church by the bay has an old façade made of coral stones but heavily renovated inside. You can see nearby capiz-windowed houses located at poblacion of Baybay City, attesting the colonial feel when the church was constructed in 1852.

4. Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Parish

The stone church of Hilongos has a newly-built façade but hidden at its west wing is the old façade turned to transept. It was partly damaged during past war so you can see ruins evident on its sides and the perimeter that looks like a wall of a large fort.

5. Saint Joseph Parish

The church of Matalom is located a few meters from the national highway. The turquoise bell tower accentuates the old façade with a curved pediment. The interior has walls with stones unpainted and pulpit in the eastern part preserved.

6. Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral

One of the best preserved cathedrals in Visayas, Maasin City is the seat of the diocese administering the Catholic churches within Southern Leyte. It is a suffragan of Archdiocese of Cebu. The old façade complements with the beautiful painted ceilings with murals showing the Risen Christ and the Holy Eucharist. The dome ceiling has a striking painting of eleven apostles’ symbols.    

7. Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Church

The main church of Samar province in Catbalogan City, which was established in 1616, was destroyed during the past world war. Hence, an all-new structure was erected with circular glass window and three altars.

8. Saint Michael the Archangel Church

This town opposite of Tacloban City in Leyte, has a church built on top of the hill. Basey in Samar has its stone structure still intact as well as the interior where an old retablo stand under a mural on the ceiling with Saint Michael the Archangel in the centerpiece and saints on the sides. The stunning glass windows feature our beloved Filipino Saints Pedro Calungsod and Lorenzo Ruiz.

Hoping when I get back to Eastern Visayas someday, I would be able to visit other churches within the metropolitan see. Have a blessed trip everyone!

Leyte Island: Foodtrip and Pasalubong

When I hear of Leyte, delicacies that come to my mind are moron and binagol. I’m familiar with moron because my office friends always bring back some when they had a vacation from Leyte and Biliran. Since now I have the chance to land at their home province, I took this opportunity to taste other native delicacies and curiosity on the taste of binagol. What I know initially is that it uses halved coconut shell like kalamay-hati from Jagna, Bohol. Here are some of the delicacies I’ve tasted:

1. Sagmani

It looks like a heavy suman for me, as it is packed with mixture of cassava and taro. The texture is smooth like binagol and sticky when it gets to your palate. It was my breakfast when I watched the Pintados parade on my last day in Tacloban.

2. Moron

One of my favorite Leyteño delicacies and one piece is not enough. Suman smothered with chocolate makes me wanna consume the whole bunch! I shared this with my housemates when I got back to Manila. The moron from Abuyog has a good blend of glutinous rice as the cocoa complements. For me, it tastes good when chilled.

3. Binagol

Don’t confuse it with binakol, a coconut-based chicken soup. Bagol or half-coconut shell (in Waray) is used to make binagol, where a vanilla mixed with syrup is put within the shell, topped with talyan root crop or taro pudding (similar to sagmani). Marasa! I can’t believe that plain-looking pudding would have its secret unravel as you consume the contents. It’s like digging a treasure over a pile of mud (just a simile). I’m very full after I ate this as my dessert after having dinner at Jo’s Chicken Inato. This delicacy is a specialty of Dagami town.

4. Pastilas De Leche

This crumbly candy made from pure carabao’s milk is a bit hard to eat. Due to its dry texture, you can eat the whole candy and just chew. Pastillas making is a cottage industry in Carigara, Leyte.

5. Bibingka

A fluffy baked rice cake that resembles puto. The difference is the burnt mark on top and its smoky flavor taken from hot charcoals. I bought this from junction in Mahaplag, when I went back to Tacloban. Peddlers would rush into your van for stopover and sell these, piping hot!

6. Salvaro

I mistook this for an otap, a type of flaky biscuit. When I took a closer look, you can see bits of coconut in its very thin piece. The taste is nutty, and I ate the whole pack after dinner in Maasin City.

7. Suman Tinambiran

I got famished while waiting for a van in Baybay City bound to Hilongos. I searched the nearby public market to check native delicacies section and I found stalls selling rice cakes. The lady showed me a piece and I noticed a symphony of black and white glutinous rice in a roll. I bought 3 pieces for just 20 pesos. The taste: heavenly! I wished I bought some more. Maybe next time!

8. Hopia Malitboganon

This rather unusual delicacy was bought from Maasin City Terminal. While I’m waiting for a van bound to Baybay City, peddlers selling crackers and mineral water approached our van. I noticed that she was carrying packs of flat round bread (about a foot in diameter) with tag “Hopia Malitboganon”. I wanted to buy one but I thought it was too big to handle (may crack during travel) so I opted for a smaller one. Three pieces per pack costs Php35. At first look, it may look like a piaya (flaky pastry with mung bean filling), but when I took a bite, it was hard but crunchy. A delicacy from Malitbog, Southern Leyte, the filling was simply made of caramelized muscovado sugar. I bought two packs and brought the other one at office for sharing.

Hoping to add more delicacies soon and you’ll have a taste of these, too. Marasa hin duro!