Leyte Provincial Library

13/10/2026

📌 ALL ABOUT LEYTE
💡 Histories/Legends


The picturesque town of Palo is located twelve kilometers from the City of Tacloban. It was twice Leyte's capital and is full of traditions. The center of Catholicism. it is where the Leyte bishop resides, being the seat of the Diocese.

The town's historic significance lies in the fact that on October 20, 1944, Gen. Douglas MacArthur who led the allied liberators, waded ashore on Red Beach, Candahug, fulfilling his promise to the Filipino people when he said " I shall return."

The origin of the name Palo is related in several versions. One of them states that the name is derived from the mast of ships (mast in the dialiect is palo ) which in the past sailed in its waters and fish-laden shores. It is also believed that the name is derived from the market (palu) for this place in the past had many carpenters.

Another version by Justice Norberto Romualdez in his book says that this town was frequently visited by typhoons " as often as every eight days," (walo-walo). Later, the term walo became corrupted into Palo.

The last version is about an incident which led in the naming of the town. During the Spanish times, a certain Spanish captain befriended a beautiful lass in this settlement. Because of her beauty, the Spanish captain was captivated, leading to his visiting her often in her home.

In one of his visits, when the captain was with some of his soldiers, an insect fell on the head of the lady. The members of her family shouted "Atitipalo!" Atitipalo is a certain specie of centipede. The captain inquired what it meant. Since he could not pronounce the whole word, he just pronounced the last syllable - palo. This was what imprinted in the minds of the captain and his men when they left.

The history of Palo states that originally the settlement was a cluster of huts along the Bunga River in San Joaquin, at present a barrio of Palo. The first settlers were the families of Panganurun, Kadampug, Manlangit, Kumago, Kawaring, Kumagang, Bilyu and Dilyu. These ancient families were the ancestors of the present ingabitants of Palo, who later on transferred to the banks of the Bangon River which ultimately became the present site of the municipality of Palo. Father Pedro Chirino was the first missionary to take notice of this thriving municipality.

A historical landmark in Palo is the Cathedral which was built in 1596 by Fr. Alfonso de Humanes, a Jesuit who came to the place when the sitio had only two houses, who spread the gospel of Christ, baptized natives, taught the children to read and write, pray the rosary, sing church hymns or play the flute. It is stated that Fr. Humanes died in Loboc, Bohol but his remains are interred in the Novaliches seminary of the Jesuits after it was exhumed from Bohol.

On October 15, 1595, Fr. Cristobal Ximenez became the permanent "cura" of the settlement. The flute-playing Fr. Humanes had already baptized some natives, but the great task of bringing together the straggling-groups into a pueblo fell upon the shoulders of Fr. Ximenez. He succeeded in bringing together these different groups which was later followed by total conversion of pagan die-hards to the Catholic Faith. By 1600, Palo has become a central missionary station with jurisdiction over the missions of Dagami, Malaguicay, Malirong and Banayon. At the time Palo was only a barrio of Dagami. It was also during this era that Palo became the capital of Leyte when the seat of the provincial government was temporarily transferred from Carigara. In 1899, Palo for the second time, was made capital of the province during the short-lived Philippine Republic. In the later part of 1768, when Palo was made a distinct municipality from Dagami, the Jesuit Order left for Philippines and the Mission was handed over to the Franciscans.

Palo's greatest benefactor, Fr. Pantaleon del la Fuente stands out among the Franciscans. He built the two symmetrical towers of the cathedral, repaired and reconstructed it as well as the convent, installed the big clock that strikes the hours and half hours made by Jose de Altonaga of Intramusos in 1892, hanging glass chandeliers, candelabras, gold chalices, church vestments of braided gold and sacramentals, all adding magnificence to an otherwise ordinary provincial church. Of noble Spanish descent, the benefactor of Palo from Madrid left the town he loved to escape to Paraguay at the outbreak of war in 1898. A street in Palo immortalizes his name.

The Palo Cathedral has been rebuilt twice - in years prior to 1897 after destruction by fire and typhoon,and later in 1897 when a big typhoon unroofed the church, destroyed the convent and other houses in the town. Other notable Franciscans who stayed in Palo were: Fr. Sebastian Almonacid ( whose grave is inside the church -1882-1885): Fr. Juan Perez (1858-1861); Fr. Florentino Garcia (1879-1882): Fr. Gil Martinez (1886-1887) and Fr. de la Fuente (1887-1898). The years in parenthesis indicate their stay in Palo.

Palo Cathedral was used as a site for holding a Leyte-Samar holy synod in 1910 when Leyte and Samar clergy threshed out problems of Catholic dogmas under the presidency of Bishop Pablo Singzon and later in 1935 under the presidency of Bishop Sofrnio Hacbang.

Palo convent was the site of the first minor seminary in 1926 under the famed teacher Rev. Fr, Consorcio Poblete. Elementary Latin besides Spanish and other subjects were taught to small boys. A product of this minor seminary is Rev. Fr. Antonio Mate who first studied here.

The Palo Church was created a cathedral on March 27, 1938 when Msgr. Guglielmo Piani, Apostolic delegate, carried the papal bull from Rome, proclaimed it and erected the diocese of Leyte, designating Palo as its seat and Msgr. Manuel Mascainas of Bohol its first bishop. Among those who attended this historical event were Archbishop Gabriel Reyes of Cebu, Msgr. James t. Hayes of Cagayan de Misamis, Msgr. Luis del Rosarion of Zamboanga and Msgr. Raymundo Salinas, abbot of the Benedictine order.

Two bronze historical markers from the government-sponsored Philippine HIstorical Commission of Manila mark the historical role played by Palo Cathedral and Palo Convent in the town. These markers are placed at the facade of the Cathedral and the last wing of the Palo convent, residence of Msgr. Lino Gonzaga. Mayor Manuel Acebedo was instrumental in the placing of these markers during his administrations. Dr. Eufronio Alip, noted historian, came from Manila to deliver the main address.

Inside the patio of this church, enclosed by walls of Spanish stone and adobe, is an open esplanade where formerly Fr. de la Fuente kept his stall of fast native ponies, a zoological collection of rabbits, turkey, guinea pigs, a huge python fed with live pullets and a dovercot swarming with white pifeons. This esplanade used to be the people's rendesvouz when scaping from marauding moros in the days of the moros piracy century ago. It had also a huge well which provided water for drinking during long months of dry spells. On the aperture on the Spanish walls is an insignia of the Jesuit order, center of attraction of visiting Jesuits when they come to Palo, indicating that the cathedral and the walls therein were originally Jesuit.

In Candahug, now called Red Beach, stands the monuments commemorating MacArthur's landing and indicating the exact spot where the American General set foot on Philippine soil on October 20, 1944 to effect the initial momentum of liberation of the Philippines from the hands of Japanese. Beachheads were consequently made by Americans from this place in Mindoro, Lingayen, Aparri and finally in Manila.

Hill 5422, near the outskirts of town on the banks of the BAngon River was cannoned and shelled on that fateful day. In it sides are imbedded hundreds of iron shrapnel. This majestic hill is actually Guinhangdan, rich in gravel. However, this is Hill 522 an indicated in Army maps. the La Purisima shrine, built in Guinhangdan Hill some time in 1887 by the Spaniards was to dispel evil spirits which people believed to be the cause of many accidents and deaths on the premises.A steel bridge built by Pacific and Atlantic Gulf C. of Manila in 1905 replaced the wooden span of the Spanish times.

Another bridge in Palo is the cement and steel Bernard Reed span at the northern approach of the town built by engineers under Gen. B. L. Robinson of the U.S. Army on Feb. 22, 1954. Acting mayor Dandido Fornillos delivered the opening address with Gen. Robinsons giving the speech of turning it over to the town.Palo is probably the only provincial town that has two cement and steel bridges over the same river.

Palo has also been noted as the home of Filipino music. Palo can claim to have produced prominent musicians who produced notable works in the field of music. Among their notable works were Lucero del Alba, Chaleco BAlnco, Viejecita, Colon, La Musica del Porvenir, Coro de Senoras, Capitan de Lanceros and many others. These are magnifiscently exhibited during fiestas and other festivals when operas are held honoring prominent guests and church dignitaries.

Palo is also the site of the World Health Organization (WHO) pilot project to control schistosomiases. As its pilot plant, situated at the southern end of the town, doctors and savants from all over the world are daily delving into microscopes to find way to control this dreaded disease called snail fever.

Another noteworthy industrial plant in the Palo is the Philippine Consolidated Coconut Industries producing pure desicated copra of the milk-white variety.

This town was formerly the site of the operating plant of the National Development Company producing narra sets, chairs, beds and other articles.

Palo, too, has a competent maternity hospital, the biggest in Leyte., financed with government funds consisting of a structure of two stories, where the Palo Puericulture Center installl its offices, clinics and wards under the RVM sisters headed by a nun who used to be a registered nurse, Mother Margarita Viaco, RVM.

A high school building was also inagurated by the RVM sisters, the St. Mary of Palo.

This town has several active organizations, both civic and religious. One of these organizations, the GIANTS, managed to give improvements to the town. Other organizations are the Knights of Columbus, Palo Literary Educational Society, the Catholic Womes's league and others.

sourcee: Tantuico, Francisco S. Jr., Leyte Towns: Histories/Legends, c1980, pages 85-89.

12/10/2026

💡 Quote of the week

07/10/2026

💡 Quote of the Week

07/10/2026

📌 ALL ABOUT LEYTE
Histories/Legends

# Barugo
Nestling between the Canumantag and Kabarasan rivers in the northern tip of Leyte province lies a town called Barugo.

According to legend, it was named by a man called Kasaduk after a big tree which grew near at the bank of the brook, called "Balugo." The Spaniards later called the place "Barugo," its present name. The town was founded sometime in 1833. Earlier, it existed as a settlement before the Spaniards came. Kasaduk was the leader and founder of the early settlement near the sea and the mouth of the river. These settlers were of Malayan stock who were said to have come from Indonesia.

One of the early settlers was a certain Manuel Francisco from the present-day Astorga sprang, as well as Kasaduk himself whose descendants are the Afables, Arigas and Geraldos. During the Spanish occupation, a church and a convent was completed and the casa municipal was built.

The town was also subjected to Moro deprivations during the Spanish period. Their early town at Nasunugan was razed to the ground during one of the numerous Moro attacks as evidenced by the present Nasunuga ruins. Other artifacts discovered in the ruins attested to the existence of these early inhabitants.

Sixteen sons of Barugo who followed the call of Christ were Pedro Penaranda, Doroteo Ayaso, Mateo Avestruz, Federico Villasin, Alejandro Astorga, Pedro Aruta, Hilario Abarca, Trinidad Ponferrada, Felixberto Avestruz, Gerardo Apostol, Apolonio Ponferrada, Doroteo Penaranda, Pablo Lawsin, Manuel Astorga, Rufino Penas and Estanislao Abarca.

During the Spanish occupation, Nipponese forces visited BArugo but stayed only for a little more than a year. A guerilla outfit operated in Barugo under the command of Capt. Pio Cruz during the period.

Barugo had its first secular priest, Fr. Ignacio Mora of Palo, with the advent of the American occupation from 1901 to 1923. He was followed by nine Filipino parish priests including Fr, Pedro Aruta. During this period also, Barugo was able to send three of its beloved sons to the legislature in the persons of Florentino Penaranda, Segundo Apostol and Jorge Delgado.

After the war, Barugo went to a reconstruction period which has not been fully realized. An earthquake in 1947 destroyed the Barugo Church resulting in the construction of a new belfry. Through the initiative of Atty. Francisco Astilla and Emilio Astorga, a private institution in the field of education has been founded. The BArugo Leyte Institute has helped in stamping out literacy in the town.

source: Tantuico, Francisco S. Jr., Leyte Towns: Histories/Legends, c1980, pages 14-15.

01/10/2026

📌 ALL ABOUT LEYTE
💡 Histories/Legends


Dulag is one of the few barangays in Leyte that antedated the discovery of the Philippines in 1521. It is situated in the eastern coast of Leyte. There are several versions as to how Dulag got its name. The first was that in the early years of the 18th century, the town was already a flourishing community, the center of trade and commerce in eastern Leyte. The town then was considered the center of commercial activities going on thus it was named Dulag, the German term for center. Another version states that it is the etymological variation of a certain herb called "dulao" which grew abundantly in the area. Dulao is a kind of herb of plant which is yellowish-green in color used as a food seasoning for a local dish. Because of its abundance, the place was called after its herb. The third version states that there was a time when bones of different animals were scattered all over the place. Whenever people would see bones all around, they always commented " nagdudulag hin tul-an." This meant that bones were scattered all around. The word nagdudulag was then shortened to Dulag. The last version says that the name could have come from the name of the first settler whom legend says was named Dulagdulag.

The first Jesuit missionaries arrived at Dulag in September 1595. An encomendero, Don Pedro Hernandez brought them in his boat from Cebu. The missionaries, Fr. Alonzo de Humanes and Fr. Juan del Campo, first coaxed the natives to settle within the limits of the sitio instead of living far from each other. After this was accomplished, the Jesuit fathers built a church and a convent.

A nucleus of some 60 boys from Palo was formed by the fathers for the first mission school in Dulag. In the church compound they were taught three R's and religion. Using the crudest of materials, the boys learned the Spanish language and helped served as interpreters of the missionaries on their missions. The burden of supporting the boys began to tell on the resources of the padres but periodic allowances from the encomendero permitted them to continue with their studies. The school was patterned after a Jesuit school in Antipolo in Luzon which the Jesuits had founded earlier.

Dulag became a booming locality by May 1596. It became the centrum of commercial activities. The Jesuits made great progress at conversion. They became successful especially when the principales at the town allowed themselves to be baptized.

Years of peace were suddenly broken when on October 29, 1603, moro raiders ravaged the town. Wild confusion followed aftet the arrival of 70 vintas full of moros. Some of the prescious possessions of the church were fortunately evacuated before the moros finally landed on the shores of Dulag.

Bolisan, the moro leadere sailed away to Surigao after 700 captives and rich loot had safely been stored in the holds of their vintas. Fr. Hurtado, one of the missionary priests was himself a captive. During the years that followed, the padre was able to teach Christianity to the moros. He was later ransomed and returned to Dulag.

The moro raids were said to have burned 10 churches in Leyte. Sacred images were destroyed, sacred vessels looted, and new Christians enslaved.

After the moro raids, more misfortune struck the town. The typhoons destroyed the church and laid waste harvest of the season. This was followed by an earthquake of violent proportions. In September 1611, more typhoons added to the desolation of the people. As if to climax the lean0 years, the moros returned in 1613, destroyed the church and town as slaves. The parish pries, Fr. Pascual Acuna was also captured by the moros. He was later releases in exchange for a moro chief named Pagdalunan who was captured by the Spaniards.,

Before the Jesuits left in 1768, they had built a brick church under the advocation of the Nativity of Our Lady. It was significantly called the "Refugio."

After the expulsion of the Jesuits, the Augustinian took over the parish. Fr. Cipriano Barbasan is specially remembered for enlarging and remodeling the church. He was responsible for the ornamentation of the church altar and the construction of lookout towers on the hills of Calbasag and Mount Laberanan in San Jose. Both were solid edifices of brick which served as places of refuge during subsequent attack by the moros.

In 1843, the first Franciscan parish priest arrived. Under the direction of Fr. Francisco Rosas, the first road to Abuyog was constructed.

A long line of gobernadorcillos ruled the town. From Basilio de Paz to Hilario Sano, the town progressed further. During the revolutionary period, Julio Villagracia and Rosendo Cornel governed. Like other towns, Dulag suffered from depradations of the insurrectors and the pulahanes.

During the American regime, Emilio Celso Abad was elected the first captain. the steady progress of the town resulted in the expansion of the town limits.

Marcial Lagunzad was the mayor of Dulag when the Japanese occupied the town. He was tactful, so many lives were spared but unfortunately he died during the early days of the liberation during an American bombing raid.

The landing of the American forces which took place from Octover 17-20, 1944 took a heavy toll of the Municipality's townspeople. The church, public buildings as well as residences were razed to the ground. The streets that used to be concrete and asphalt crumbled to rubble after concentrated American shelling.

For a time, after shelling of Dulag, the seat of government was transferred to Mayorga, one of the barrios. Slowly, the people returned to the town and under the leadership of Mayor Nicholas Bautista, Dulag, phoenix-like, rose from the ashes.

source: Tantuico, Francisco S. Jr., Leyte Towns: Histories/Legends, c1980, pages 37-39.

29/09/2026

💡 Quote of the Week

23/09/2026

📌All about Leyte
Histories/Legends


For several decades, Tacloban was a barrio of Basey, Samar. At that time, the place was known as Kankabatok - meaning belonging to Kabatok, because its most prominent inhabitant was named Kabatok. The change of name came about in this manner: Kankabatok was a favorite haunt for fishermen. They would use a bamboo tray called "taklub" to catch crabs or shrimps. When asked where they where going, the fishermen would answer "to tarakluban" which meant the place where they used "taklub" to catch crabs. Later, the name was shortened to Tacloban.

It is not definitely known when Tacloban became a municipality because records supporting this fact were destroyed during a typhoon. It is commonly believed that Tacloban was officially proclaimed a municipality in 1770. Others however maintain that it was in 1669 during which time there was a rain of ashes. It was the Augustinian mission followed by the Franciscans who sparked the people's interest in religious activities. Within a year's time the first church was built with two lofty belfries under the untiring effort of Fray Aniceto Corral.

Carigara was the capital of Leyte at that time. With Don Hipolito Gonzales' incumbency as alcalde mayor of the province, a popular clamor for the transfer of the seat of the province came up. Thus, on October 5, 1774 after the construction of the Casa Real and the prison, the transfer of the seat of the provincial government was officially approved. In the year 1824 however, Don Pedro Antonio became alcalde mayor in 1827 who succeeded in pacifying the controversy. The final approval for making Tacloban the capital of the province of Leyte came on February 26, 1830. the decisive reasons for choosing it as capital were:
1. it had the ideal location of the port area
2. the place was well-sheltered and adequate

During the Fil-American war on January 17, 1899, General Vicente Lukban (for whom a street is named in the San Fernando District) came to Tacloban to talk about the problems of the people. The provincial government was evacuated to Palo while General Mojica and his men prepared to fight the Americans. On January 31, 1900 General Kohe arrived with an American team to negotiate a cease-fire and surrender of the province. He was firmly refused. On the following day armies stormed the trenches and by 2:00 pm, the province was in American hands. General Mojica and his men fled to the interior towns and it took a long time for the Americans to cajole every town until every revolucionario surrendered. Mojika and Lukban eventually yielded to American sovereignty. Captain Leo Rojas, Sr., surrendered last. He led his men in a colorful pageant of surrender by riding on a white horse to the spot where Americans formally received them. When peace finally came, Rojas was designated chief of Police of Tacloban. A company of American soldiers was placed under his command.

In February 1901, the first American military governor of Leyte Col. Murray, assumed office. He had only one aim in mind: to gain the friendship of the people by getting their confidence. In a gesture of sincerity, he opened Tacloban to world trade. Civic-spirited citizens cooperated and organized a committee for peace. Don Gabriel Galza, the founder became its first president. The first undertaking was to petition Governor Murray for the release of prisoners who were in Tanauan. The governor received their petitio favorable and thus peace and order in the whole province was completely restored.

with American military rule over, Taclobanons who where trained in the art of self-government took over the reins of the administration. Catalino Tarcela became the first provincial governor. These were others were responsible for the progress and development of Tacloban. Among them were Lodovico Salazar, known to all as Capitan Lodo, the first public teacher of the town ( a street is named after him). Lodovico Basilio known as Capitan Bigong, and Capitan Martin Hidalgo. Of the womenfolk, Dona Eulalia Rubillos, wife of Governor Vicente Diaz is remembered for having serve the first Filipino Flag that flattered in Leyte sky when the revolutionary government was established.

On May 25, 1942, Tacloban was awakened to see Japanese Imperial forces in its midst. The town offered no active resistance to their oppressive occupation. For a little more than two years, it suffered from hunger, terror and brutalities of the invaders. Despite the ugliness of war, the people never forget the homage of their Patron saint, Sr. Santo Nino, by celebrating the town fiesta. One such big commemoration was on the fiesta on 1943, on June 30 where an industrial and agricultural fair was held on the old Leyte park. Here, hate and sorrows of war were forgotten so that it became one of the most remembered carnivals the town ever had. The mayor at that time was Vicente Quintero.

Leyte was the first of the itinerary of MacArthur's return route to the Philippines. Thus, on October 20, 1944, while the waters of Leyte Gulf were calm and clear, six battleships hit the beaches at Cataisan Point and the nearby areas. Before twilight, the Tacloban airship which was the objective of the day was recaptured by the first division. The entire Cataisan Peninsula was soon under the command of Major General Verne D. Mudge at 3:00pm of October 21. This day, Tacloban was liberated from the enemy.

In a rousing welcome, Filipino civilians lined the streets greeting the liberators. Chewing gum, ci******es, chocolates and wide American smiles flowed freelly - all symbolic of friendship and freedom.,

On October 22, 1944, Tacloban City was safely back in American hands. On October 23, 1944, General MacArthur announced the establishment of the Philippine Civil Government on the steps of the provincial capitol. He installed Sergio Osmenia Sr. as the president in the presence of Lt. General Walter Krueger, Lt. General Richard Sutherland and Col. Roperto Kangleon with a guard of honor consisting of First Lt. John Gregory and 30 dirty and tired but efficient looking soldiers. After the liberation, TAcloban's first appointed mayor was Paulo Jaro. The inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines saw Epifanio Aguirre as mayor of Tacloban.

On June 20, 1952, by virtue of Republic Act No. 760, Tacloban City was born. Dr. Ildefonso Cinco, last mayor of the Municipality of Tacloban became the first city mayor.

source: Tantuico, Francisco S. Jr., Leyte Towns: Histories/Legends, c1980. pages 107-110.

22/09/2026

💡 Quote of the week

20/08/2026

💡For your information

The more children are on devices, the more likely they are to develop socioemotional problems, such as anxiety and depression, as well as aggression and hyperactivity. And the more they experience socioemotional problems, the more likely they are to use screens to selfsoothe. It’s a nasty cycle.





source:

Screens are the devil, or so says a teacher I know who attrib­utes rising beha­vi­oural prob­lems in her classroom to the increased time kids are spend­ing on screens at home. The issue, she hypo­thes­ises, is that they are being babysat – from the...

01/04/2026

Wishing you a peaceful, blessed and a reflective Lent season.