Leyte portal to the past

LOCATED IN THE EASTERN PART OF VISA AS IS LEYTE NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE THIS PROVINCE WHICH HAS A NUMBER OF CENTURIES-OLD CHURCHES AND ADVENTURE SITES THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY ANY TRAVELER.

FOOD TRIP

Foodies will find the local food fare in Leyte simply delightful. There shops that one should not miss, One of these is the most famous Italian dining place in Tacloban, Giuseppe's (tel. no, 053-321-4910, open 1030am -1030 pm), located at Avenida Veteranos. Apart from its usual pizza and Italian dishes, they also serve Filipino dishes and seafood. Ocho Seafood Grill (tel. no. 1, Senator Engage St.) is another restaurant that should be bookmarked in one's food trip plan You can choose from their freshest seafood catch and have it cooked us the way you like it. Also worth is their crunchy chicharon made from fish skin. For a refreshing and laid- back dining experience, try Rafael Farm Restaurant (open 10am-8pm) sprawling with both an excellent landscape and an array of food dishes that include salads, sandwiches, steaks, and chicken and pork meals.
LOCAL FINDS

Binagol, Sagmani and Chocolate Moron are the top three treats to take home from Leyte. Binagol, a local delicacy, is a sweet mixture of talyan a root crop), sugar, and coconut milk placed inside a bago or coconut shell and steamed. Sagman is similar to Binagol but it is made mainly from sweet potato, yam, or cassava instead of talyan. Don't leave Leyte without buying Chocolate Moron, made from rice flour mixed with cocoa. You can get all three from a pasalubong store in Tacloban such as Tita Aida's Delica at Zamora Street.
BOARD AND LODGING

A number of hotels be can found in Tacloban, the provincial capital of Leyte, If you are on a budget, try staying at GV Pension along Avenida Veteranos cor Luna St.(tel. no. 053-325-3142, rates range from Php 350-700) or at Manhattan Inn along Rizal Ave. (tel. no. 053-321-4170. Php 650-1200). More high-end accommodations are offered at the Leyte Park Resort Hotel along Magsaysay Blvd. (tel. no. 053-325-600, Php 1,700-3,000) or Asia Stars Hotel at Zamora St. (tel. no. 053-321-4952, Php 1,200 1,800) In rmoc, try Buenas Pension Plaza along Lopez Jaena St. (tel. no 053-255-2640, Php 400-500/night) or Don Felipe Hotel (tel. no. 053- 255-2460, 500- 3,000/night).
GETTING AROUND

There are available bus lines that can take you to Leyte, among them, Philtranco and Silver Star, that make use of the RORO in San ports Ricardo, Southern Leyte and Naval, Biliran. From these ports there are already available buses and vans for rent that will take you to Tacloban, the provincial capital of Leyte. Modes of transportation in the area include the usual jeepneys, buses and multicabs.