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A road trip high of Eastern Visayas 3 years after Yolanda

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John Paul 'JP' Tanchanco - Tha Good Life

<p>I was happy to enjoy some beautiful sites of Eastern Visayas at the height of the Pintados Kasadyaan festivities. Check out my adventure around Tacloban, Leyte and Samar. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-1.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Visit the Philippines: Drive to Discover Tacloban, Leyte and Samar</div></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>Visit the Philippines: Drive to Discover </strong></div><p>Department of Tourism (DOT) and Nissan Philippines Inc (NPI) joined forces to promote a program that aims to boost local tourism through road travel.</p><p>In order to do this effectively, I was invited to conduct an adventure drive around the region using Nissan vehicles Juke and X-Trail. </p><p>I was excited to be part of the group&#x27;s latest trip in Region 8. It was a perfect time to visit the area since it was the height of the Pintados festival. I was also interested to see the developments in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. </p><p>According to Dax Avenido, NPI&#x27;s manager of product planning, locals and tourists should consider road travel as a way to discover the wonders of the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;Our program with DOT aims to really promote road traveling amidst all the airport congestion and growing tourism. We believe that there are a lot of hidden gems and fun moments that friends and families can discover when you do road trips across our country,&quot; said Avenido.</p><div><strong>Day 1: Tacloban City</strong></div><p>As soon as we got to Tacloban, Leyte, I rode on a yellow Nissan Juke to go to Sto. Niño Shrine, the first stop of our road trip. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-2.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Checking the latest Nissan Juke for my road trip.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>I was impressed with the modern aesthetics of the Juke. The protruding side markers with the round headlights give its sporty design a unique head-turning value. </p><p>The Nissan Juke is perfect for road trips. It combines the toughness of an SUV with the comfortable driving features of a sedan. Its I-CON Dynamic Control System lets the driver control both the cabin environment as well as the driving demands. At the touch of a button, the driver can switch to Sport, Normal or Eco mode. </p><p>We arrived at the Sto. Niño Shrine along Real Street and were welcomed by performing arts scholars with an ancient tribal dance that honored, blessed and offered us a bountiful harvest. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-3.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The cultural welcome featured colorful tribal warriors and maidens dancing to the beat of indigenous native percussive vibrations.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>We were graciously escorted inside the Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum by our friends from Department of Tourism. </p><p>The place was built to be one of several presidential rest houses under the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. It was specially built for his wife Imelda Romualdez Marcos who was raised in Tacloban City.</p><p>Our guide was happy to take us around and show us some of the country&#x27;s priceless artifacts and antiques housed in it. </p><p>It has a total of 21 rooms. Most of the wallpapers and fixtures were made to look like woven mats or native banig, a major handicraft product of Samar. </p><p>I enjoyed going around the mansion and I really appreciated the beautiful collections in it. There were some notable paintings by award-winning artist Mauro Malang Santos and some historical dioramas at the guest rooms. </p><p>There were also some fixtures with vintage Italian marble mosaic tiles. Another notable art piece in the collection that got my attention was a narra wood mural of &quot;Malakas at Maganda&quot;.  &quot;Malakas at Maganda&quot; or the strong one and the beautiful one is a native folklore of Adam and Eve. </p><p>I was also impressed with the Limahong statue that was given to First Lady Madame Imelda Marcos as a gift by Chinese leader Chairman Mao Zedong. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-4.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Inside Sto. Niño Shrine</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Limahong was a popular Chinese man who was labeled a pirate by the Spanish colonizers because he did not want to submit to their oppressive colonial rule. According to historical accounts, Limahong married a local chieftain&#x27;s daughter named Princess Kabontatala. Kabontatala is Pangasinense word for “morning star.&quot; Limahong and Kabontatala had a child named Quimson, coined from a Chinese word for precious gold.</p><p>After the tour, we headed to the newly built Hotel Estrella which was a few blocks away to check in for the night and meet up with the enthusiastic Ms. Karen Tiopes of DOT Region 8. She was happy to welcome us and give us some insights about the growing tourism in the area. </p><p>&quot;The DOT and Tourism Board would like to promote some hidden treasures of our region to the public. It&#x27;s high time for people to include Eastern Visayas in their itineraries. Connectivity from Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao is also available thru &#x27;Roll On, Roll Off&#x27; transportation services. We have much to offer for local and foreign tourists who are interested in traveling by road,&quot; said Tiopes. </p><p>She also gave us some insights about the Pintados-Kasadyaan festival. </p><p>&quot;We are now celebrating the feast of Sto. Niño and the Pintados festival. The Pintados festival celebrates our ancient traditions of body painting and tattoo.  Our warrior men and nobles were adorned with tattoos to mark their bravery, and our women were also tattooed to enhance their beauty,&quot; added Tiopes. </p><p>After settling down, I took the Juke for a drive around Tacloban City. I checked out Robinsons Tacloban which is expanding their mall. I also drove thru some narrow provincial </p><p>side streets and parking areas.  I realized that the Juke had the convenience of being compact and easy to handle yet aesthetically prominent and sporty. I think the suspension was also pretty decent as it ironed out some rough roads. </p><p>After my drive around town, we headed to the festival park for dinner. We enjoyed a kamayan dinner and were serenaded by some performers from the Leyte Normal University. </p><p>According to some locals I talked to, they were looking forward to the upcoming Ms. Pintados beauty pageant. I was able to browse thru some of this year&#x27;s current contestants. They even made a lyric video of their own theme song for the beauty pageant.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Toi-h8tOhPQ?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="510"></iframe></figure><div><strong>Day 2: On the Road to Samar</strong></div><p>I woke up to a nice view of the seafront from our hotel excited to drive to Samar and pass by San Juanico bridge. </p><p>I loaded some tunes from my iPhone playlist and was impressed with the stock sound system in the vehicle. What&#x27;s a road trip without music? The good vibes complemented my drive along the highway, especially when we entered San Juanico Bridge to cross to Samar. </p><p>San Juanico Bridge, built during the Marcos administration, connects Tacloban on the Leyte side to the Santa Rita town on the Samar side. The bridge offers many energizing views of the San Juanico Strait.  </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-5.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">San Juanico Bridge was once the longest bridge in South East Asia and is said to be a symbol of love by the Waraynons</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>We got to Sohoton Visitors Center and Eco Lodge in Basey Samar just in time for lunch. </p><p>Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge National Park is located within the Samar Island Natural Park. </p><p>Thru the support of ABS-CBN Foundation led by Ms. Gina Lopez, the eco-lodge for tourists was made for visitors and those who would like to stay overnight near the natural park. After lunch, we took a banca from the village to the cave area. </p><p>We got to the Sohotan Natural Bridge Park, which is surrounded by picturesque rock formations and limestones that complemented the greenery. The locals call the fort-like rock formation entrance Panhulugan. Panhulugan comes from the root word hulog. They explained that there was a time the area was used as a fort for protection. Locals would throw rocks to invading enemies that were interfering with life. </p><p>Our trip into the caves was enjoyable. We were able to appreciate the well-preserved stalagtites and stalagmites, white calcite and limestone. Our guide explained that stalagmites and stalagtites are formed through the interaction of water dripping on the cave minerals. They grow around 3 to 4 inches per thousand of years. </p><p>After our cave experience, some of the members of our group went on a kayak trip to the limestone natural bridge.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-6.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Sohoton Natural Bridge Park is currently a top tourist destination in the province of Samar</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>The kayaks traveled upstream to a place filled with limestone.  The ride extend upwards until the boat traveled further upstream to the natural bridge. There is a popular swimming area under the 2 limestone formations that connect to one rock to create a natural bridge and gives the park its name. </p><p>While waiting for the group, I was able to jam with native guitarist and singer Bibot. Bibot is part of the association of locals who are organized to entertain tourists. He usually serenades groups going in and out of the cave with Waray music. I&#x27;ve never really played a Waray song on the guitar so it was a fun experience to jam with him. I got the guitar and accompanied him singing this native Waray tune called &quot;Combo Lata&quot; composed by Charlie Ragaodao. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-7.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Jamming a waray tune with local serenader Bibot</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>The song &quot;Combo Lata&quot; is about native music played using old tin cans. The song used in native kuratsa dancing depicts how the warays loved making music using old tin cans. It&#x27;s a nice social commentary about the locals who loved dancing. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajbesGuS63M?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="510"></iframe></figure><div><em>Combo Lata by Charlie Ragaodao of Samar </em></div><p>After our trek around the caves and natural bridge, we headed back to the visitors&#x27; center and had ourselves some fresh buko juice. </p><p>Feeling refreshed, we traveled to Saob Cave to watch how the local weavers make banig. Banig is a local woven mat that is a popular handicraft in Samar and Leyte. </p><p>According to the local weavers, it takes about a week to finish a banig. They use tikog grass as their raw material to weave the banig. This handicraft has been passed on from generation to generation. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-8.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The weavers work in the cave because of the natural cool wind and wide comfortable space.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>After Typhoon Yolanda, orders have increased from tourists and NGOs who regularly visit the area. When we were there, some of the weavers were working to help complete an order by an international organization for 5,000 family-size pieces of banig. </p><p>The day ended with a trip to a beach resort called Caluwayan Palm Island, Marabut in Samar. We stayed there for the night to relax from day-long activities. </p><div><strong>Day 3: Returning to Leyte</strong></div><p>I woke up to a wonderful horizon and sunrise in the balcony of our beach-front villa. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-9.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The view at Caluwayan beach is a natural high.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>I was able to enjoy the fresh breeze, hang out and chat with NPI&#x27;s Dax Avenido. We talked about my experience with the Juke and he also showed me some features of the Nissan X-Trail. </p><p>&quot;The aim of program is to help educate our locals and tourists that the Philippines has a nautical highway that they can use to enjoy and discover wonderful places like this,&quot; Avenido said. </p><p>He also said that the best way to travel long distance on the road is to have reliable vehicles. </p><p>&quot;In this trip, we are highlighting the Nissan Juke, which is very compact, and the Nissan X Trail. I recommend the X Trail for bigger groups because it is a 7-seater car. It&#x27;s also a 4 X 4. So it&#x27;s perfect for family travel ... We all know that the airports are very packed right now so road travel is a fun option for the motoring public to discover and travel around the Philippines,&quot; he added.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-10.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">JP Tanchanco, Nissan&#x27;s Dax Avenido</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>After a nice breakfast by the beach, we drove back to Tacloban and had a quick stop by the M/V Eva Jocelyn memorial. The memorial was made to be a symbol of the province&#x27;s resiliency. </p><p>We also passed by the neo-classical designed building of the Leyte Provincial Capitol. It was the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government in 1944-1945 when the liberation forces came to the Philippines. </p><p>We then had an enjoyable seafood lunch a few blocks away from the Capitol at Ocho Restaurant. I capped my lunch with Halo-halo that helped complement the warm sunny weather. </p><p>Before heading to airport, we culminated our road trip with a stopover at the landmark MacArthur Park at Palo, Leyte. The park was built to commemorate the arrival of the liberation forces. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/7/16/road-trip-11.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Lady Liberty at Leyte Provincial Capitol, Monument of the Liberation Forces at MacArthur Park.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>It was a nice highlight as I traveled back to Manila with a road trip high and the timely words of General Douglas MacArthur with the liberation forces:</p><p>&quot;I have returned. By the grace of the Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil. Soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. We have come dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your daily lives. And of restoring upon a foundation of indestructible strength, the liberties of your people.&quot;</p><p>------</p><p>(Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) was founded on September 23, 2013 and is a joint venture formed by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) and long-time partners Universal Motors Corporation (UMC) and Yulon Philippines Investment Co. Ltd. (Yulon). For more info about the vehicles of Nissan Philippines, check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NissanPhilippinesInc/</p><p>For more information about travels and tours around Region 8, contact Department of Tourism Region 8 Office +63538320901 or visit www.facebook.com/EasternVisayas.) </p><p>-------</p><p>John Paul C. Tanchanco is a travel, food, party, film and music aficionado. He is also an economist, businessman, MYX/Awit award-winning media producer and Kala guitarist.</p><p>&quot;ThaGoodLife&quot; is a special feature for news.abs-cbn.com about pop culture, travel, music, entertainment, business, food, luxury, clubbing, shopping and events.</p><p>For questions, features and comments, e-mail him at jptanchanco@yahoo.com or tanchancotrimediaproductions@yahoo.com </p>

Check out this travelogue of Leyte and Samar and find out how tourism in these provinces are bouncing back nearly three years after super typhoon Yolanda struck the region.