Leyte belongs to the Visayas group of islands and lies on the eastern part of

the Philippines.
Leyte has a colorful history. The islanders of Leyte were among the first to
welcome the Spaniards but they were also among the first to resist the
Spanish invaders. The early revolts and uprising against the encroaching
Spaniards was started by the freedom, warlike, heavily tattooed inhabitants
of Leyte. In Leyte, the early seeds of nationalism were planted.
In 1521, after the perilous crossing half way around the globe Magellan
reached the island of Homonhon. The friendly natives welcomed and fed the
starving sailors. After stocking up on supplies, Magellan set sail for to the
island of Limasawa, Leyte. He entered into a blood compact with Rajah
Kolambu. On Eastern Sunday, March 31, of that year, was celebrated the First
Mass in the Philippines. Some historical researchers, however, are now
disputing this. However a recent publication by the National Historical Institute
supports its initial claim that Limasawa was the site of the First Mass.
The Spanish occupation of the Phillippine islands was riddled with revolts and
uprising. First off on the scene was a religious uprising lead by Bancao, the
Limasawa chief, and his high priest, Pagail in 1622. The revolt began in
Carigara and spread to neighboring towns before it was quelled. This revolt
lasted for 27 years. Then the Sumuroy rebellion which was gaining popular
support in Samar found its foot hold in Leyte. Rebels burned churches and
convents in retaliation of the excesses and avarices of the friars.
In 1768, Leyte and Samar were separated into two provinces. Leyte now is a
politico-military province. The set up continued until the end of Spanish rule,
when Gen. Vicente Lukban took over Leyte and Samar in the name of the
Revolutionary Government.
World War II put Leyte on the map of world history. Leyte is the site of the
fiercest and largest naval battle in world history. Known as the Battle of the
Leyte Gulf in the World War II, the four day battle culminated in the beachhead
landing of the Allied forces headed by Gen. McArthur. The successful naval
and air battle in the Leyte Gulf includes the naval fighting of the Battle of the
Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engao and the
Battle off Samar.
In the Battle of the Leyte Gulf, the Japanese first launched its kamikaze
attacks against the Allied forces. The Battle of the Leyte Gulf is celebrated
annually with a ceremony known as the Leyte Landing, in which the heroic
courage of both the Filipino guerrilla soldiers, and Allied forces are
remembered and honoured.
On May 22, 1959, the province was divided into Leyte and Southern Leyte. In
1992 Biliran became a separate province of its own.
The major cities in Leyte are, Tacloban City, Ormoc City on the northwest of
Leyte, Bayabay City on the western coast, and Maasin City on the south.
Recently, Tacloban City turned into a Highly Urbanized City ( HUC), by virtue
of the November 2008 plebiscite. As a Highly Urbanized City, it is independent
of the supervision of the Leyte Province, and a lone congressional district.
Proponents of the HUC status believed that by being an HUC Tacloban City
government will attract more investors and business.
Leyte is known for the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Tongonan, a
demonstration of using natural resources to provide electricity to the province
and even neighbouring islands.
The prime exports of Leyte include coconut, and abaca. It is also the home of
coconut wine called tuba. Aged for six months to a year, this tuba is then
called bahalina, priced liquor in every occasion. The municipality of Palo is
known for its smooth bahalina, whose recipes and techniques are guarded
family secrets.
The town of Dagami in Leyte produces binagol, moron, sagmanai and roscas.
These delicacies are a must- have in every town fiesta, and occasions.
Binagol (sweetened taro pudding with nuts) is made from talyan - a root crop
specie like gabi that is endemic to Palapag Northern Samar. Talyan is
grounded, and mixed with eggs, coconut milk, sugar, butter, nuts and
chocolate. The mix is packed into the half of a polished coconut shell called
bagol, covered with banana leaves steamed, tied securely with a string, and
then steamed. Hence the name binagol which means placed in a bagol.
Moron is pronounced with a stress on the second syllable. It is made of
ground rice cooked in coconut milk, flavored with tablea, and wrapped in
banana leaf. Sagmani is another suman made of gabi or sweet potatoes
cooked with coconut cream, sugar and sometimes coconut meat.
Leyte is now divided into three provinces: Leyte, Biliran and Southern Leyte.
Southern Leyte is includes the island of Panaon. Biliran is a small island on
the northern coast connected from the Leyte mainland by a bridge.