Leyte 2014: Tacloban City After Typhoon Yolanda

The anniversary of the day that typhoon Yolanda (international name, Haiyan) devastated the province of Leyte is coming near, and we can't help but think back of what it has done to the country and how it united the Filipinos to help out our fellow "kababayans' who were stricken victims of the great typhoon. 

Per Wikipedia, Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, which devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. Yolanda is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed.

I got the opportunity to visit the province of Tacloban 2 months ago and for me, I can say that the people are definitely back in their feet, though they say that a lot are slow in doing so. Why? Because they are not properly being assisted by our government in their rehabilitation. Lots of donations from all over the world came in but why is it not being felt by the victims. Who is to be really held accountable for this? The answer is a given. I don't want to say it anymore. 

Through my recent journey there, I would like to share what I have seen:

THE TACLOBAN AIRPORT

Upon going down the plane, you will be greeted with a plain sight. Plain meaning I don't see trees or structures that were previously there. I have been here in the province twice already in the past back in 2007. Sadness is the feeling that will immediately welcome you. But there is hope because the airport is being fixed, both inside and outside. Inside was a bigger mess.

SANTO NINO SHRINE AND HERITAGE MUSEUM

It looks very rustic from this point of view but when up close, you will see the damages that it has sustained because of Yolanda

LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL

It seems untouched by the natural disaster and hope it stays that way for a long time. 

Tourist-y shot!

The view in front of the provincial capitol

THE DOWNTOWN

Hard to imagine that high flood water and very strong winds was experienced by this place

SHIPS WASHED ASHORE

SHIP #1
I just had to take a picture. Hard to imagine that the storm surge washed these big debris far ashore. That's how powerful it was!

SHIP #2
Now, they are part of the "attraction" to tourists. 

SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

Now this is a very welcome sight! Last time I walked here was way back 2007 or 2008. The bridge was color grey back then, now it's red.

Hello Samar! Hello Leyte! 

Still was not able to walk the entire length of the bridge. But at least it was more than my last time. The bridge is a bit shaky when vehicles pass by but that's just it. No fear!

MCARTHUR LANDING

So nice to see them still standing up despite being in the waterfront when the typhoon hit. 

The calm after the "storm".

We stayed in Go Hotels and we enjoyed it. It was right beside Robinsons Place so it was very convenient.

We all bounce back from trials and hardships and that's what matters most. It's how you go on after that experience that will define you for what you truly are. So for Tacloban, or any other place that was devastated by typhoon Yolanda, just keep on living and soon this will just be a memory that you will reminisce that made you stronger. =)


~Lovelee~


CHECK OUT MY OTHER LEYTE 2014 POSTS:

Tacloban Foodtrip - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/09/leyte-2014-tacloban-city-food-trip.html

Kalanggaman Island - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/11/leyte-2014-beautiful-kalanggaman-island.html

Leyte 2014: Tacloban City Food Trip!

It was a long time already since my last visit to the province of Leyte. Way back 2007, if I remember correctly.

But post-Yolanda, we did not know what to expect really. I did some research and got some hits and we stuck to that.

Lucky, we found some foodie gems that was so convenient to us. Two places were right beside where we were checked in and one was located at the city center.

Here they are:

1. HUKAD SA GOLDEN COWRIE (Robinson's Tacloban)

Hukad in the Bisaya dialect means "ladle"
This was located at the Robinson's Mall. They had several branches in Visayas but none yet in Luzon or Manila so that was a big plus for us. We wanted to experience new things in this trip, even food. 

Their prices were really reasonable. The place was packed when we came in but good thing we chanced upon a leaving group.

PORK SINIGANG
Fit for us who wanted to slurp on some hot soup. The broth was a bit salty and very sour but I am used to that because that's how they cook it in Bacolod but some of my companions found it too strong.

CRISPY PATACrispy as loved. The meat was just enough for the four of us. They do not provide dipping sauce for this but the waiter understood our need for it, I guess, because he pro-actively offered to get us some chopped onions and garlic. We did our own mixing and it turned out great!

SIZZLING TANGIGUE
It was tender and flavorful with just enough hint of garlic. 

BUDBUD w/ TSOKOLATE SYRUP
Very simple and clean taste of the suman. How I wanted to have more chocolate on it though. 

2. OCHO SEAFOOD AND GRILL

Very famous place. Tourists, both local and foreign, frequent this resto. Known best for their seafoods.

ENSALADANG TALONG
Fresh and crisp.

ADOBONG SCALLOP MEAT
Well, it was adobo alright. And this was so good! With just a hint of spiciness, the sauce alone was good enough with a lot of rice. 

GRILLED CEBU CHORIZO
Cebu's chorizo, unlike others, is known for its sweetness. Sweet and salty, we all enjoyed it. 

BUTTERED GARLIC SHRIMP
Shrimps were fresh and juicy. I didn't mind getting my hands dirty with this one. 

GRILLED SCALLOPS
Perfection! I have always associated Tacloban with scallops because in my previous trips, way back 2007, I always enjoyed scallops in a restaurant or two that I have been to.

PORK KEBAB
This was pretty tasty and the meat was tender. Loved it.

The feast.

For my sweet ending, I had this Silvanas. It was crumbling and it was good. Not too sweet so that was a plus. And for less than Php50 only.

3 MEX 'EM UP (Robinson's Tacloban)

BEEF QUESADILLA
For less than Php100, this was filling enough to have on its own. And love how they are generous with their dips.

LEMONADE
Came with our meal

BARBECUE RIBS
It looks small in the photo but its not and its more meat than bones. Very satisfying and for less than Php200 only. You can't have that in Manila for that price. 

We really enjoyed Ocho. The food, the wait staff and the waiting time was all perfect. Even the price was perfect, all of our food for around P1,200 only and were 4 in a group. You can really say "happy tummy" there. I'm so glad we were able to try this. 

~Lovelee~

CHECK OUT MY OTHER LEYTE 2014 POSTS:

Tacloban City (after typhoon Yolanda) - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/10/leyte-2014-tacloban-city-after-typhoon.html

Kalanggaman Island - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/11/leyte-2014-beautiful-kalanggaman-island.html

LEYTE (places I've been to..and want to go to again!)

I used to see it before in history textbooks and on WOW Magic Sing Videoke while wailing the night away on the microphone. I wanted to see it badly and when I finally did, I was overjoyed! And thankful for the opportunity.

Leyte for me means visiting two must-see famous landmarks.. one is the Leyte landing of General Douglas MacArthur and the American Liberation Forces in Red Beach,Palo back in the time of the second World War and the San Juanico Bridge that connects the provinces of Leyte and Samar. And also popularly known as the bridge where Lito Lapid (I think) jumped in for his movie. Hehe!

We stayed at the MacArthur Park Beach Resort and I liked their baked scallops. But this place is a little spooky come nighttime but I guess that's part of the travel thrill, if you're into that. But come daytime, the view is nice especially it's a beach front property.

Here are my memories:

There they are! Hi, General! :)

The resort hotel served oh-so-yummy scallops! We ordered, and ordered, and ordered...

Serenely peaceful during daytime

I just sat by a covered hut and took in the sights and for a moment, I had some peace

At last! I came, I saw, I conquered

It was prohibited to walk at the bridge because of so many fast vehicles passing by but since our driver knew the security, we were able to do so..bad! haha!

So is this where Lito Lapid made his deadly  jump?

see the starfish? this is in the shallower part of the waters

And now I reached Samar too..2 birds in 1 stone