It's More Fun In The Philippines 2020: Welcome To Leyte!
Hi, Super Folks! First thing, I'd like to know, how are you? Are you okay? How's life? How's your self-quarantine going? Well me, I'm here in Manila, the Philippines. I guess, just like you, I'm trying to be okay amid COVID-19, amid this pandemic. Our country is under State of Calamity since March 16, 2020, a broad lockdown on Luzon began, or the "Enhanced Community Quarantine".
Hello, from Leyte!
I'm on my fourth week, almost one month of staying at home. I couldn't go to work, I feel like suffering from cabin fever. That's why I'm trying to be more productive, apart from binge-watching on Prime Video, I'm doing household chores, easy exercises and writing this new blog post. By the way, I'm done with "The Purge" series, I also like "The Expanse" and "The Man in the High Castle". Like everybody else, all over the world. I'm finding ways to shake off sadness.
Yolanda Memorial Shrine
Indeed, this is extraordinary, unprecedented as they say, and it's tough, especially for our nurses and doctors, other frontliners too, like grocery workers. Super thanks to them. Can we just reset 2020?
San Juanico Bridge
I saw this question on Twitter, if given the chance, I'd love to do it now. Give me the magic wand! But all kidding aside, we're already here, might as well fight and win the battles. Let's not despair, this too shall pass.
Leyte MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park
While completing this, I'm also listening to this new song from Phantom Planet, "Time Moves On". It's perfect! On the lyrics, the first part says,
"It's just the same day over and over.
I mean, seasons will change and we will get older.
Maybe it rains or it's sunny weather.
But when its get bad.
Maybe it'll get better.
As time moves on.
It's gonna change before too long.
And the doors will keep revolving.
With everyone who's come and gone.
As time moves on."
San Jose Beach
This novel coronavirus pandemic is devastating to the worldwide tourism and hospitality industry. So bad, I had to cancel my bookings and put it in a Travel Fund. I'm missing the beach, tourist spots and travel stories, but I know, our sacrifices like this, will help in flattening the curve. So, stay at home, wear face mask and wash our hands.
For now, let's revisit those beautiful destinations from our smartphone, camera, Instagram and photos. Reminisce our favorite trip, travel throwbacks as we call it. Here's my first entry, Leyte. As we all know, it's gonna be hard to be Diego or Dora The Explorer nowadays because of the lockdown and social distancing. Thus, in my own little way, to promote also my beloved country, the Philippines, let me do a virtual tour of its province. I'll be sharing my travel experience when I was there, with my relatives last January.
Welcome to Leyte! One of the islands in the Visayan group in the Central Philippines, lying east of Cebu and Bohol, across the Camotes Sea. Sadly, my father's province is like a mute witness of bloody World War II and the traumatic Typhoon Haiyan. When we were there, traces of past were still evident, broken houses and people, struggling with the problems, from money to life.
It was my first time, by the way. Leyte is roughly an hour and a half flight from Manila. Tacloban City is the capital and Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, is the public airport. On our first dinner, we had a chance to taste native delicacies such as Binagol and Moron, no, that's not it! Both were sweet and addictive. According to the website Trip The Islands, Binagol is made from a root crop that is similar to cassava and locally called "talyan". It's a mixture of flour, sugar, milk and the crushed talyan. The ingredients are cooked and packed on top of a halved coconut shell and covered with banana leaves. The most delicious part is in the middle since the sweet part is concentrated here. Moron, glutinous rice cooked in cocoa and coconut milk, this sweet delicacy is as equally famous as the Binagol. Soft and sticky. Also wrapped in banana leaf, this rice cake is smooth and a bit oily.
Second day, we had a very early road trip. We went to Palompon for a Kalanggaman Island day tour but unfortunately, it was canceled. We were told by the locals that an international cruise ship rented the whole island. I really felt disappointed and powerless, moving forward, we utilized our time and visited other famous tourist spots like Tacloban City Hall, Yolanda Memorial Shrine, San Juanico Bridge and Leyte Landing. Tiring but worthy.
Bird's-eye View of Manila
Third day was all about beach and relaxation. We were in Dulag when we went to this public beach, they call it San Jose. Oh my, that's a beautiful black sand beach and the waves, perfect for surfing. Very promising, I felt like I was in Baler and La Union. We left Leyte on our fourth day, while we were inside the aircraft I told to my sister, "we should go back, we should visit Kalanggaman and other breathtaking islands."
I don't know when but I will always believe in the power of second chances. First, let me save more money for our airline tickets. Bye, see you on my next blog post and thanks again, Super Folks!
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