Tacloban City
| City of Tacloban Siudad han Tacloban Lungsod ng Tacloban |
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| — Highly Urbanized City — | |||
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  City of Tacloban
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | ||
| Province | Leyte | ||
| Districts | 1st District of Leyte | ||
| Barangays | 138 Barangays | ||
| Municipality | Believed to be in 1770 | ||
| Capital of the Province | February 26, 1830 | ||
| Component city of the province | June 12, 1953[1] | ||
| Highly Urbanized City | October 4, 2008 (proclaimed) [2]; December 18, 2008 (ratified) [3] | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Strong Mayor-Council | ||
| - City Mayor | Alfred S. Romualdez | ||
| Area | |||
| - Land | 201.72 km2 (77.9 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 217,199 | ||
| - Density | 1,076.74/km2 (2,788.7/sq mi) | ||
| - Demonym | Taclobanon | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP code | 6500 | ||
| Area code(s) | +63 53 | ||
| Tacloban Day [4] | Every 30th day of June | ||
| City Charter | Republic Act 760 | ||
| Website | http://www.tacloban.gov.ph | ||
The City of Tacloban (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tacloban, Waray: Siudad han 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 Philippine province of Leyte and is the largest city in terms of population[5] in Eastern Visayas. It is also considered as the regional center of the Region VIII. Tacloban was briefly the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government, from October 20, 1944 to February 27, 1945.
In an extensive survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center and released in July 2010, Tacloban City was ranked among the top ten most competitive cities in the Philippines. Tacloban ranked fifth overall, and second in the emerging cities category.
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History
Tacloban was first known as Kankabatok, an allusion to the first inhabitants of the place – Kabatok. They established their dwelling in the vicinity of the present day Sto. Niño Church. Others who came later were Gumoda, Haraging and Huraw who erected their own settlements in nearby sites. Huraw’s domain is the hill where the city hall now sits. The combined settlements acquired the name Kankabatok, meaning Kabatok’s property.
By the end of the 16th century, Kankabatok was under the political administration of Palo and part of the parish of Basey, Samar. It was discovered in 1770, by the Augustinian Mission, who were superseded by the Franciscans in 1813. During this period, Kankabatok was renamed to Tacloban.
The change of the name came about in this manner: Kankabatok was a favorite haunt of fishermen. They would use a bamboo contraption called "Taklub" to catch crabs, shrimps or fish. When asked where they were going, the fishermen would answer, "(to) Tarakluban", which meant the place where they used the devise to catch these marine resources. Eventually, the name Tarakluban or Tacloban took prominence.
It is not 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. In 1768, Leyte and Samar were separated into two provinces, each constituting as a politico-military province. Due to its strategic location, Tacloban became a vital trading point between the two provinces.
The capital of Leyte was transferred from one town to another with Tacloban as the last on February 26, 1830. The decision to make Tacloban the capital was based on the following reasons: 1) ideal location of the port and 2) well-sheltered and adequate facilities. On June 20, 1953[1], Tacloban was proclaimed a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act No. 760.
The arrival of Colonel Murray in 1901 made him the first military governor of Leyte. His first official act was the opening of Tacloban port to world commerce. Before World War II, Tacloban was the commercial, education, social and cultural center of the Province of Leyte. Copra and abaca were exported in large quantities. The leading institutions were: The Leyte Normal School, Leyte High School, Leyte Trade School, Holy Infant Academy and the Tacloban Catholic Institute.
On May 25, 1942, Japanese forces landed in Tacloban - signalling the beginning of their three-year occupation of Leyte. They fortified the city and improved its airfield. Since San Pedro Bay was ideal for larger vessels, the Japanese Imperial Naval Forces made Tacloban a port of call and entry. This time was considered the darkest in the history of Tacloban and the country due to the incidences of torture among civilians, including the elderly. In response, guerilla groups operated in Leyte - the most notable of which was the group of Colonel Ruperto Kangleon.
Leyte was the first to be liberated by the combined Filipino and American troops. General Douglas MacArthur’s assault troops landed in the Tacloban and Palo beaches (White Beach and Red Beach, respectively) and in the neighboring town of Dulag (Blue Beach) on October 20, 1944. These landings signaled the eventual victory of the Filipino and American forces and the fulfillment of MacArthur’s famous promise: "I Shall Return."
Three days later, on the 23rd, at a ceremony at the Capitol Building in Tacloban, General MacArthur accompanied by President Sergio Osmeña made Tacloban the temporary seat of the Commonwealth Government and subsequently the temporary capital of the Philippines until the complete liberation of the country. The provincial government of Leyte and the municipal government of Tacloban were re-established.
Atty. Paulo Jaro was the Liberation Mayor of Tacloban. The first mayor of this capital upon inauguration of the Philippine Republic was Hon. Epifanio Aguirre. On January 8, 1960, General Douglas MacArthur made his "sentimental" journey to Leyte.
Landmarks in the area include the Joseph Price Mansion where General MacArthur set up headquarters in 1944 and the Redoña Residence. These two structures in Tacloban played a vital role during the liberation of the Philippines.
The city has been proclaimed as a highly-urbanized city by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on October 4, 2008[2] and ratified by the people on December 18, 2008 [6]
Geography
Tacloban is located on Cancabato Bay, in the San Juanico Strait which divides the islands of Leyte and Samar.
Economy
It is the regional center of commerce, tourism, education, culture, and government in the region. It has new malls, entertainment centers, and coffee bars around. Tacloban is now actually a rising City with many new investments coming to the city, like malls, call centers and etc...
Economically, Tacloban is one of the fastest growing cities in the Philippines. It has one of the lowest poverty incidence rates in the country (at roughly 9%, while the national poverty incidence stands at 30%), and is the richest local government unit in Eastern Visayas. The Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport located in the city is the region's largest domestic airport, with plans for expansion into an international standard facility underway.
In the mid-90's, Tacloban City worked out the acquisition of 237 hectares for its Economic Zone, which was finally realized and approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1210 on April 23, 1998. The Eastern Visayas Agri-Industrial Growth Center (EVRGC) was then officially registered as an Eco-Zone with the City Government of Tacloban as the developer/operator.
Shopping Malls
Tacloban is also the shopping haven in Eastern Visayas. Robinsons Land opened its first mall in the region, Robinsons Place Tacloban, which is now considered the largest shopping complex in the region (Wilsam Uptown Mall in Borongan, Samar, previously was the biggest shopping mall in Eastern Visayas). The Gaisano group also opened a mall in December 2008, Gaisano Central Mall Tacloban, which is bigger than its first mall in the city——Gaisano Capital Mall. Gaisano Central Mall houses Tacloban's first KFC restaurant.
Demography
Based on the official results of the August 1st, 2007 National Census, Tacloban City has a Population of 218,144 [7] inhabitants, up from 178,639 in the year 2000.
Tacloban is a dominantly Waray-speaking city. The language is also officially called Lineyte-Samarnon ("Leyte-Samarnon"). Tacloban is culturally and linguistically diverse. A decade before the end of the Spanish sovereignty, the place was dominantly a typical colonial community. Most of its residents were either pure Iberian families or the new generations of Spanish-Filipino blood. Today’s population consists of a healthy mix of Spanish and Chinese mestizos, foreign expatriates and the native Leyteños.
Religion
Nearly all of the people of the City of Tacloban are Christian, with 97% Roman Catholic. The remainder are mostly Protestant (primarily [UCCP]) and other Christian sects, such as Mormon and Iglesia ni Cristo.
List of Roman Catholic churches in Tacloban
- Santo Niño Church
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish (Redemptorist)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
- Our Lade of Fatima Parish
- San Jose Parish
- St. Jude Parish
- Sacred Heart Parish
- St. Rafael the Archangel Parish
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church
- St. Jose Ma. Escriva Church
- Blessed Sacrament Parish
- and numerous chapels in various barangays around the city.
The Muslim population covers about .3% of the total city population. There are 600 Muslims in Tacloban City. 90% are Maranao, 0.5% Waray-Waray, with the remainder mostly of the Tausug or Badjao tribe. The local Mosques include one in the Tacloban Market area, with the other on the second floor of Good Morning Bakeshop.
Government
The executive power of the city government is vested on the mayor. The Sangguniang Panlungsod or the city council has the legislative power to create city ordinances. It is a unicameral body composed of ten (10) elected councilors and certain numbers of ex officio and sectoral representatives. It is presided by the vice-mayor,The city mayor and the elected city councilors are elected-at-large every three (3) years.
The city government ceased to become under the supervision of the provincial government after it became a Highly Urbanized City in 2008. The city is under the direct supervision of the national government
Barangays
The city is divided into 138 villages called barangay[8], each having its own government.
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Official Seal of The City of Tacloban
The Official Seal of Tacloban City is the Symbol of the City's identity where its meaning is inscribed when it became a City under Republic Act No. 760 on June 20, 1952.
The City's emblem stands for the following physical attributes and character: Right Portion - Leyte side, where Tacloban City is Located
Left Portion - Symbolizes the province of Samar, major supplier of agricultural and marine products to the city, stabilizing its volume of business and trade.
Center - Stands for the beautiful and scenic San Juanico Strait
The Galleon - Illustrates the ship of Ferdinand Magellan who discovered the island of Limasawa where the first Christian mass was held in Philippine soil.
Mayors of Tacloban
- Ildefonso Cinco
- Artemio Mate
- Antonio Jaro
- Filomeno Arteche (1971–1976)
- Obdulia Cinco (1976–1986)
- Emmanuel Veloso (1986–1988)
- Uldarico "Daric" M. Mate (1988–1998)
- Alfredo "Bejo" T. Romualdez (1998–2007)
- Alfred S. Romualdez (2007–present)
Education
 Leyte Progressive High School |
 Liceo del Verbo Divino (formerly The Divine Word University of Tacloban) |
 Eastern Visayas State University |
 University of the Philippines in the Visayas - College of Tacloban |
 TESDA |
 National Maritime Polytechnic |
List of School/Universities in Tacloban
Elementary
Public
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Private
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Secondary
Public
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Private
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Colleges/Universities/Technical Institutes
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- Colegio de san Lorenzo ruiz de Manila inc.
Health Facilities
Tacloban as the regional center of Eastern Visayas offers quality healthcare services. There are lots of hospitals and other medical institutions serving the city's population.
- Public Hospitals
- Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC)
- Tacloban City Hospital
- Private Hospitals
- Bethany Hospital (owned by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines)
- Divine Word Hospital (owned by the Benedictine Sisters)
- Our Mother of Mercy Hospital (owned by the Religious Sisters of Mercy)
- Remedios T. Romualdez Hospital (owned by the RTR Medical Foundation)
- St. Paul's Hospital (owned by St. Scholastica)
- Tacloban Doctors Medical Center (owned by a group of prominent doctors)
Transportation
By air, Cebu Pacific operates 4x daily flights from Manila and daily flights from Cebu City, travel time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. Philippine Airlines also connects the two cities from Manila (3x daily) and Cebu (daily). PAL Express also has four flights per week between Cebu and Tacloban City. The new airline Zest Airways also offers daily flights from Manila to Tacloban and vice-versa.The Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport which is currently under rehabilitation to develop it to have an international airport status just like other airports in the Visayas Region.And rename it to Daniel romualdez international airport
By sea, Sulpicio Lines takes approximately 37 hours to reach Tacloban, the ship departs from Manila three times a week. The days of departure are fixed a week before.
By land, many bus companies offer daily trips from Manila to Tacloban like Ultra Bus , CUL Transport, Philtranco, Eagle Star Bus, Villegas Transit, Golden Dove and many others. the trip will take almost 24 hours from Manila, then it will pass in Bicol via ferry boats or RORO then will pass to Samar until it reach the city. In the city there are also VANS like vsGRAND Tours that travels along the line Tacloban to any point in Region 8 and fixed routes; Tacloban to Catbalogan; Tacloban to Calbayog; Tacloban to Catarman; Tacloban to Ormoc. There are also buses that bounds to other Philippine cities like Davao, Butuan and Surigao through Bachelor Express and Cebu to Tacloban through Ceres Liner.
Culture
The cultural festivals Pintados-Kasadyaan and Sangyaw festivals are held in this city during the month of June.
List of the dates of festivities honoring patron saints in various barangays
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Landmarks
 San Juanico Bridge |
 Tacloban City Convention Center |
 Sto. Niño Church of Tacloban |
 Tacloban Supermarket |
 New Bus Terminal |
 Palo Cathedral |
 Hotel 'D Angelo |
 Rizal Avenue |
 Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum |
 People's Center and Library |
 Crucified Christ |
 Madonna of Japan |
 Divine Word Hospital |
 San Pedro Bay |
 Robinsons Place Mall Tacloban |
Tacloban has an excellent harbor with facilities for handling large ships and overseas trade. The colorful market at the western end of the wharf is full of life. The San Juanico Bridge, which is 2.16 km long and connects the islands of Leyte and Samar across the San Juanico Strait, which is considered the narrowest strait in the Philippines.
Media
- List of TV Stations in Tacloban City
- DYAB-TV TV-2 Tacloban - ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
- DYTS-TV TV-4 Tacloban - TV5 Affiliate-BJDS MARKETING
- DYPC-TV TV-8 Tacloban - National Broadcasting Network
- DYTO-TV TV 10 Tacloban - Greater Manila Area: GMA Network
- DYRP-TV TV-12 Tacloban - Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
- DYJP-TV TV-22 Tacloban - Southern Broadcasting Network operated by ETC
- DYTC-TV TV-24 Tacloban - AMCARA Broadcasting Network operated by Studio 23
- DYOU-TV TV-26 Tacloban - GMA Network operated by Q
- DYLJ-TV TV-28 Tacloban - Rajah Broadcasting Network operated by 2nd Avenue
- DYTB-TV TV-30 Tacloban - Associated Broadcasting Company
- TV-39 - UNTV
- DYNE-TV TV-46 Tacloban - Eagle Broadcasting Corporation operated by Net 25
- DYLQ-TV TV-40 Tacloban - ACQ-Kingdom Broadcasting Network
- List of FM Stations
- DYTY 93.5 Dream FM Leyte - Leyte Broadcasting for Television & Radio
External links
- Philippine Department of Tourism
- Parish of St. Joseph, San Jose, Tacloban City
- Republic Act 760 - An act creating the City of Tacloban
- Blog entries about Tacloban City on AnAsianTraveler.Com
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 RA 760
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Proclamation No. 1637 dated October 4, 2008
- ↑ COMELEC Minute Resolution No. 09-0036
- ↑ RA 7676
- ↑ National Statistics Office
- ↑ http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/visayas/view/20081220-179060/Tacloban-is-1st-highly-urbanized-city
- ↑ National Statistics Office http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html
- ↑ Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing for Tacloban City - National Statistical Coordination Board
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