South East Asian Trips

About 360 miles southeast of the Philippine capital, Manila, is the City of Tacloban. This port city is the capital of Leyte Province in the Eastern Visayas Region. The city was once known as Kankabatok, which was derived from its early inhabitants known as the Kabatok. The name was changed in the early 18th century to Tacloban during the Spanish regime.

The word Tacloban comes from 'taklub' or 'taraklub' in the local vernacular. The name 'Tacloban' means to cover something. In this case, since the place was once a fishing town, people used to catch crabs, fish, and shrimps using a contraption to cover the said marine animals. When the local fishermen were asked where they were going, they simply refer to the place where they catch fish thus would reply 'tarakluban'. The term then turned out as the name of the place over time.

Tacloban was made the capital of the province on February 26, 1830. The town came fell to the Japanese forces on May 25, 1942 during World War II. This occupation by the Japanese lasted only about three years. American and Filipino liberation forces landed in Leyte Province in 1944 thus commencing the province's liberation.

Among the provinces in the Philippines, Leyte was the first one to be liberated from Japanese rule. Tacloban was made a chartered city on June 12, 1952 when the Philippines gained its independence. A key historical figure that was involved in the liberation was General Douglas MacArthur.

Climate

The temperature in Tacloban City varies greatly depending on the time of the year you visit the place. Its warmest months are from May to June with 31.45 degrees Celsius as its warmest. The coolest months here are from December to January of the following year with temperatures going down as low as 21.55 degrees Celsius. The city also gets varying degrees of rainfall in an entire year. April and May still remain as the really dry months while the months of November and December get the most rainfall every year.

Tacloban City's Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival

This festival lasts an entire month beginning in the last few days of June. The celebrations used to begin in May but that date was moved to its present date of June 29 beginning in 1999. Highlights of the festival include the ritual dances and parades. Incidental to this festivity is the Pintados Festival, which recollects events from the city's pre-Spanish history.

Eating Out in Tacloban City

Here are a few of the restaurants and cafes that visitors may want to visit. Ayo Cafe is the place to go for the fine delicacies. They serve salads, sandwiches, pasta, and a wide array of dishes from the local cuisine. Vegetarians may make requests on the food they order and the chef will be more than happy to accommodate them. If you're looking for a place to dine with the tropical ocean breeze gently blowing in your face then try San Pedro Bay Seafood Restaurant. They serve dishes from Filipino, Canadian, and American cuisine.

Fine dining choices include Giuseppe's, Ritz Tower De Leyte, Terra Cotta Grills, and Veranda Cafe. Mornings could be spent in Bo's Coffee Club, Jose Karlo Cafe, Cafe Teresa, and Sunzibar Cafe. You'll also find your usual fastfood restaurants here as well.