San Juanico Bridge

The San Juanico Bridge, part of the Pan-Philippine Highway, stretches from Samar toLeyte across the San Juanico Strait in the Philippines. Its longest length is a steel girder viaduct built on reinforced concrete piers, and its main span is of an arch-shaped truss design. With a total length of 2.16 kilometers (1.34 mi), it is the longest bridge in the Philippines spanning a body of seawater. It is considered one of the most beautifully designed bridges in Philippines. The bridge has 43 spans and medium size boats can pass beneath its large main arch the top of which rises 41 meters above the sea. Construction commenced in 1969 over San Juanico Strait from Cabalawan, Tacloban City to the municipality of Santa Rita, Samar, with completion in 1973.


The Candaba Viaduct of Pampanga which forms part of the North Luzon Expressway is longer, but being a land bridge crossing a few streams, ponds, and a swamp which usually fills in rainy weather, is less impressive.


Connecting Tacloban City on the Leyte side and Santa Rita town on the Samar side, it offers many picturesque views, especially of the San Juanico Strait with its thousand whirlpools as well as the islets of the province. It is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, bus, motorcab or private vehicle.


Construction of the 21.9 million-dollar bridge was contracted to the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (now the Philippine National Construction Corporation), which together with Japanese engineers conducted studies and designed the actual project. The San Juanico Bridge serves as a major gateway for trade and commerce between Leyte and Samar provinces. Moreover, it is now possible to travel by land straight from Luzon in the north of the Philippines to Mindanao in the south.

Tacloban City

Tacloban city one of the two major city in Leyte. It is also considered as the capital of the province.  It was the first city in Region VIII to become a "Highly Urbanized City" and is the largest city in terms of population in Eastern Visayas. It is also the regional center of the Eastern Visayas. Tacloban was briefly the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government, from 20 October 1944 to 27 February 1945. Tacloban is a tourism hub and the primary gateway to Eastern Visayas. The region is world-renowned for its natural ecological beauty and diversity and for its historical significance in the Second World War.

San Juanico Bridge

San Juanico Bridge, which is 2.16 kilometres (1.34 mi) long and connects the islands of Leyte and Samar across the San Juanico Strait, is the longest bridge in the Philippines. To many bridge enthusiasts San Juanico Bridge is the most beautiful bridge in the country.

Santo Niño Shrine

Home of the Marcos Family, It displays the fortune and previous properties of the first dictator of the Philippines.

People's Center Library

The library houses a collection of books of different cultures from around the globe – USA, Europe and other countries – including French, Spanish and English literature as well as a compilation of law books. The People’s Center Library is used by local students as well as researchers.

Balyuan Park

Balyuan Park is located at the grounds of Magsaysay Boulevard. The historical exchange of images between Barrio Buscada of Basey Samar and Sitio Kankabatok, now Tacloban City. In the old days, Sitio Kankabatok was a small barrio under the jurisdiction of Basey town in Samar. During the Feast of Sto Niño, the residents of Sitio Kankabatok would borrow the bigger image of the saint from the chapel of Barrio Buscada in Basey. Sto Niño is the revered patron saint of both Kankabatok and Barrio Buscada. The image is returned promptly after the festivities. When Kankabatok grew into a barrio of its own, the local Catholic authorities decided that the bigger Sto. Niño image be retained in prospering village. Stories of the image missing in Buscada and turning up in Kankabatok aided to this decision. The Basey Flotilla bearing the church and government leaders goes on a fluvial procession along San Pedro Bay. A kara (shell) call announces the sight of the flotilla off Kankabatok Bay.

Madonna of Japan

Along Magsaysay Boulevard will encounter "Madonna Maria Kanon" (also known as: Madonna of Japan), a symbol of friendship between the Japanese and Filipinos. It is located at the Kanhuraw Hill near City Hall, facing Kankabato Bay. During the Second World War, the place became a campground for the Japanese soldiers. Many inhabitants lost their lives to help liberate the subjugated Philippine islands. Young men were forced to become soldiers in favor of the Americans?. Women were also enjoined to look after and take care of the young men in the battlefield. Those years indeed brought dreadful experiences to the people of Leyte. During those years, the Japanese soldiers were considered enemies. They were the subject of revulsion among Filipino people. Anybody who saw Japanese would yell out in disdain. However, as years passed, the Japanese government and its people tried to establish comradeship with the Filipinos. Thus, Japan and the Philippines became friends and started to support each other for progress.

Price Mansion

The Price mansion is an example of American colonial homes built in the 1900s. It was the official residence and headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur during the Liberation period in 1944.

Crucified Leyte

On the slope of Kanhuraw Hill is a small park with the statue of the Crucified Leyte at its center. The same image can be found in the provincial map of Leyte.

Santo Niño Church

The Santo Niño Church is considered the most important religious site in the province. It houses the miraculous image of Sto. Niño which is the patron saint of Tacloban.

Redona Residence

The Redona Residence is one of the remaining house built in the turn of the 19th century. It is a showcase of Filipino craftsmanship, and architecture. This historic mansion is in need of serious restoration for the legacy of historical architecture. It was the official residence of President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. in 1944, when Leyte was the seat of the Philippine government during the Liberation from the Japanese campaign until Philippine Commonwealth was re-established in Manila.

Leyte Provincial Capitol

The Leyte Provincial Capitol is a neoclassical building built in 1907. Located at the corner of Sen. Enage Street and Magsaysay Boulevard, the “Capitolio” is the seat of the provincial government of Leyte. It was also the seat of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines when President Sergio Osmeña came in 1944 with the WW II Liberation Forces.

Tacloban Metropolitan Arena

Popularly known as "Astrodome" is a 5,000 seat indoor arena which is now the perfect location for basketball tourneys and other sporting activities, concerts and other big gatherings like the Search for Ms. Tacloban.

History of Leyte

Leyte located in the eastern part of the Philippines, located in the Eastern Visayas region. Divided into two provinces known as northern leyte and southern leyte. Southern Leyte Province includes the island of Panaon to its south. Biliran Island, to the north of Leyte Island, was formerly a sub-province of Leyte, and is now a separate province, Biliran Province.The major cities of Leyte are Tacloban City, on the eastern shore at the northwest corner of Leyte Gulf, and Ormoc City, on the west coast.

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

However, Leyte is most famous for its role in the reconquest of the Philippines in World War II. On 20 October 1944, General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on Leyte, saying "I have returned". However, the Japanese did not give up so easily, as the ensuing Battle of Leyte proved, and convergence of naval forces resulted in the four-day Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history.

The Leyte Provincial Capitol is the seat of the provincial government where historic viewing of a mural depicting the First Mass of Limasawa in the Orient and the landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur can be done.

The Leyte Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Palo, marks the spot where American liberation forces landed it also has a lagoon where the life-size statues of Gen. McArthur and his fleet stands.

Lake Danao is a violin-shaped lake hemmed by cloud-capped mountain ranges. It is a hunter’s paradise where wild animals roam the surrounding forests. It is also said to be the home of a giant eel.

Calanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte is a virgin island with pure white side. It has two long sandbars. The ecological atmosphere of the island had been preserved by the municipality.

The Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum boasts the painting of the 14 station of the cross done by Filipino artists and a bas-relief of the legend of the first Filipino man and woman (Malakas and Maganda).

The San Juanico Bridge is the longest and the most beautifully designed bridge in the Philippines. It features the picturesque San Juanico Strait with a thousand whirlpools, lovely islets and view.

Leyte Island is the birthplace of the Tinikling dance, which is very popular throughout the Philippines.