Naval, the capital City of Biliran

Naval is a 2^nd class municipality in the province of Biliran, it is the capital municipality of Biliran. According to the census it has a population of 44,288 people in 9,575 households. The territory of Naval is 19.27 percent or 1/5 of the total land area of Biliran.  

This town is once named bagasumbol which was perceived by natives as being too warlike a description. Naval is subdivided into 26 barangays.

Naval was separated from Biliran on May 26, 1860 but it became an independent parish only in September later the year.    

On September 26, 1869 Naval was officially established and recognized as an independent pueblo town.

Naval has private and public elementary education, private and public secondary education and one public tertiary institution.

Attractions in Naval

The North of Naval

This pretty coast is only part of the island that is easy to explore by public transport.

About 2km beyond Almeria is the Agta Beach Resort that home of the Sabitsana clan, with Spartan dorm beds and big, good value, air-con with private bathroom.

Bagongbong Falls are a two hour hike from Caucab where the balangay captain will help you to find a guide.

The rice terraces of Sampao, Iyusan and Salangi are each about 5km off the main road.

They can’t compare to the Banaue terraces but they are quite pretty.

There’s pool like swimming at Masagongsong cold spring and in the opposite the pool on the main road is the Estrella Sunset View with its own concrete spring fed pool.

East and South of Naval

Caibiran Falls is a step 20 minutes hike of the cross island road. It is quite undeveloped and there are two big swimming holes at its base.

Nearby of this is the Caibiran Volcano which is last erupted in 1939 that can be climb is a steady one and half hours.

Mainit Hot Spring is a series of a small cascade with sitting pools that exposed on a riverbank beside the fields.   

West of Naval

The west of Naval is the Higatangan Island is a shifting white sand bar that has well for swimming and snorkeling. On the western side of the island is accessible by boat only, it has also a series of rock formation with small sandy bays between them.

The accommodation is only the Limpiado Beach Resort that is near the sand bar, with a simple room, and you can bring your own food.              

Biliran Island near to Leyte Island

Biliran is a province in the Philippines that located in the Eastern Visayas region. Biliran lies just a few kilometers north of Leyte Island. It capital is Naval. Biliran is one of the country’s smallest and newest provinces for being formerly part of Leyte until achieving full-fledged province hood in 1992.

During the Spanish era the Biliran Island was known as Isla de Panamo.

Biliran is subdivided into 8 municipalities and it has overall 132 barangays. The largest among the towns is Naval which is the capital of the province while the smallest is Maripipi.     

The economy of Biliran is largely into fishing. Most of its towns especially in Naval and Biliran have excellent seaports. There are 95 hectares of brackish water fishponds which produce prawns, shrimps, and milkfish. The major industries include fashion bags, Romblon bags, shell crafts, placemats, hot pads, baskets, coasters and trays.        

The inhabitants are also engage in hunting, lumber and manufacturing. The principal raw material produced is copra and coconut oil. 

Ormoc City is famous for its seafoods

The City of Ormoc is a 1st class city in the province of Leyte. The city’s name is derived from ogmok, an old Visayan term for lowland or depressed plain. It has a population of 177,524 people. Ormoc is the economic, cultural, commercial and transportation hub of the western Leyte. Ormoc City is a port city and is the largest city by land area in Leyte and second largest in Eastern Visayas after Calbayog City in Samar. The natives of this city are called Ormocanons with most being Cebuano speakers together with the whole western part of Leyte Island. The Ormocanons are predominantly Roman Catholic and the city celebrate its annual fiesta in honor of the patron saints Saint Peter and Saint Paul on June 28 and 29.

Ormoc City’s economic base is a good mix of agriculture, aquaculture, industry, tourism and commercial services. Sugarcane, rice and pineapple are the bulk produce of the agricultural sector. Ormoc is also an educational center for western Leyte.

Ormoc City is a consistent winner of the Cleanest and Greenest City program of the DILG from 1995 to the present.

This city is subdivided into 110 barangays.

Attractions in Ormoc City

Lake Danao is a violin shaped lake 3 km long at an elevation of 2,100 feet (640m) above the sea level. There are floating cottages and boats are available for hire.

Tongonan Hotsprings National Park is a valley of geothermal power source that can supply electricity to the whole region. It is the first geothermal plant to operate in the Philippine.

Leyte Golf and Country Club is a golfing resort covering more than 80 hectares of semi-rolling terrain located in 7 km from the heart of Ormoc City.             

Pineapple Plantation is lies in 210 hectares in rolling terrain that located in north of the city in barangay Hibunawon. Ormoc’s Queen pineapple is a famous for its sweetness, is a favorite pasalubong and the unofficial icon of the city.

Centennial Park is located in the city; it is a leisure and picnic ground for the young and old alike.

A small province in the south, Maasin

Maasin is a 4^th class city in the province of southern Leyte. It is the capital city of southern Leyte. It has a population of 79,737. On August 10, 2000 Maasin was converted into a city. Maasin is one of the oldest towns in Southern Leyte. This city is subdivided into 70 barangays. This city is Southern Leyte’s commercial and cultural showcase. Most of the people are farmers and fishermen who are noted for their hard work and frugality. 

Malitbog has some Sightseeing Spots to offer you should see

Malitbog is a 4^th class municipality in the province of Southern Leyte. It has a population of 19,320 people in 3,665 households. Malitbog is subdivided into 37 barangays. The town is boasts a beautiful old church the Santo Niño Parish that constructed of the coral blocks in 1857. There are also watch tower that built in 1862and the ground floor of which still serves as the city jail. There are also a few grand old mansions that once the homes of the merchant class elite that can be seen around the town. 

Burauen is always good for a short stop visit on a Leyte roundtrip

Burauen is a second class municipality in the province of Leyte. It has a population of 48,606 people in 9,213 household according in the census of 2007. It is located in the central part of Leyte and bounded to the north by Dagami, Jaro, and Tabon-Tabon on the east by Julita, McArthur, and Javier and on the west by Baybay, Albuera and Ormoc.     

Burauen is politically subdivided into 77 barangays.

The name Burauen evolved from the word haru which means spring. It was also the home of Justice Romualdez, Imelda’s great-great grandfather. The township also has a Japanese war cemetery. 

Palo one of the small Tourist Areas with nice sightseeing spots

Palo is a third class municipality in the province of Leyte. It has a population of 47,982 people in 9,272 households according of the census of 2000. This municipality is considered as the seat of Catholicism in the province of Leyte. This is subdivided into 33 barangays. Palo is considered to be one of the most historical towns of Leyte.

Palo is strategically located in the northern part of the province of Leyte, eight miles from the capital city of Tacloban. The main source of the income for the most citizens is the buying and selling of farm products and the production and fermentation of the local wine called Tuba.      

The town is very active in commerce and in tourism.

The town also has its significant number of tourist every year.

The town also has its historic Municipal Building which is the former Seat of the provincial Government of Leyte.

Palo has established its identity as a conservative and religious town with a highly cultural characteristic that makes the Paloans extremely proud of their birthplace.

Sights and activities in Tacloban

You can do a sunrise climb along the Stations of the Cross to the top of the Calvary Hill for wide views across the San Juanico Strait. And you can also visit the chaotic and colorful market.

The Santo Niño Shrine and Heritage Center is an enormous palatial residence and opulent guesthouse that built to Imelda Marcos specifications but never slept in. in every room there is a diorama of Imelda in the midst of one beneficial act or another.

Festival and event in Tacloban

Pintados Kasadyaan or painted festival is held on June 29, it celebrates the traditional tattooing practiced here before the Spanish arrived.

Tacloban City the biggest and most attractive city on Leyte Island

The City of Tacloban is a port city approximately 360 miles southeast of Manila. It is the first in eastern Visayas to be classified as a Highly Urbanized City. It is the capital of the province of Leyte and is the largest city in terms of population.

Tacloban was first known as Kankabatok an illusion to the first inhabitants of the place Kabatok.

Tacloban has an excellent harbor with facilities for handling large ships and overseas trade.

The city is divided into 138 barangays.

Nearly all of the people of the City of Tacloban are Christian, with 70% Roman Catholic. The 25% are mostly Protestant and evangeligal Christian. And 4% of other Christian sects such as Mormon and Iglesia Ni Cristo.

The Muslim population cavers about 3% of the total city population. Based on a national census, this city has a population of 217,199 inhabitants up from 178,693 in the year of 2000.

Tacloban was first known as Kankabatok. Kankabatok was a favorite haunt of fishermen. They would use a bamboo contraption called Taklub to catch crabs, shrimps or fish. This city is one of the fastest growing cities in the Philippines. Tacloban is also the shopping center in Eastern Visayas. The city has been proclaimed as a highly urbanized city by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on October 18, 2008.

Tacloban is located on Cancabato Bay in the San Juanico Strait which divides the islands of Leyte and Samar.

The natural Leyte Island, perfect for Tourists who like to relax!

The island of Leyte measures about 180km north-south and about 65km at its widest point. This island is one of the bigger islands in the country.

Leyte is mostly heavily forested and mountainous but the Leyte Valley in the northeast has much agriculture.

This island is politically divided into two provinces the Northern Leyte and the Southern Leyte.

The chief cities of Leyte are Tacloban City on the eastern shore at the northwest corner of Leyte Gulf and Ormoc City on the west coast.

Today Leyte is notable for the geothermal electric power plants near Ormoc.

Leyte is famous for its role in the recon quest of the Philippines in the World War II.

The island of Leyte is the birthplace of the Tinikling Dance which is very popular throughout the Philippines. 

The island of Leyte is accessible by land, by sea and by air.