Monday, June 15, 2009

Better Leyte Than Never

HAPPY 111th INDEPENDENCE DAY MY DEAR PHILIPPINES!!!

I know, this is a late post for this should have been posted June 12th. But the slightly extended Puerto Galera Series is the culprit here. Not that I am complaining, I mean I love that Series and I do hope that you will enjoy this Leyte Series too starting with one of the famous Landmark of the Place - The Douglas Mc Arthur Landing Memorial at Red Beach in Palo, Leyte.


He Returned


Filipinos and Americans share great history together. They are allies in the World War and historical markers and tributes are plenty in the Philippines commemorating the heroism of both Filipino and American soldiers during the war.

One of the most famous marker found in Leyte is the Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur Landing Memorial Park. Located along the Red Beach and within a man-made lagoon stands the larger-than-life statues of the liberators led by Gen. Mac Arthur. He promised to return... and he did just that.


Commemorative Markers


The Mac Arthur Landing Memorial was built to commemorate the historic return of Gen. Mac Arthur on Philippine shores on October 20, 1944. It was declared a national historical land mark in 2004.

And while on the area, one should not miss enjoying the scenic beauty of Red Beach. Although this ain't your typical white sand, beach-combers still enjoy the beach because of its fine sand and shallow shore. Enjoy these pics:


Red Boat @ The Red Beach



Red Beach : To The Right



Red Beach : To The Left


After the historical and visual treat, it is time for something to satisfy your palate. When Estan Cabigas of Langyaw learned that I was going to Leyte he texted me to not forget to try Leyte's Binagol and Moron. So I did just that.

Binagol is made from Taro mixed with eggs, butter, coconut milk, sugar and nuts. It is packaged in a coconut shell, called bagol, thus the name Binagol. Moron, on the other hand, is made from glutinous rice mixed with sugar and chocolate and wrapped in banana leaves. Both are perfect for snacks or desert:


Binagol



Chocolate Moron



Smile


I would like to share this to all my friends at My World. To see other amazing photos and the blogger who shared them, please click here.

More photos and stories from Leyte on my next posts...

60 comments:

  1. Wow! Happiness ito. Its always my achievement to be a first commenter. It makes me happy. Better post this first. Haha.

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  2. the suman aka moron looks absolutely delicious, though i dont really have sweet tooth thus not too fond of chocolates. great photos...

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  3. Okay, Leyte is a very familiar place sa akin. I have a CPA cousin, also a law student who now stays in Tacloban , so I've been there a lot of times. Masarap talaga Binagul and Chocolate moron. And Mc Arthur Park is really cool pag gabi. I hope to see San Juanico Bridge on your next post. That bridge is really close to my heart. Haha. I'll tell why on your next post.

    Summary, ganda parin photos! I like the red bot @ the red beach the most.

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  4. I only got around Leyte for a day when we stopped over before going to Ormoc. I liked their binagol and tuna chicharon.

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  5. My lola is from Leyte and I visited her hometown near Ormoc a few years ago. I returned thrice in the last 2 years, but didn't have enough time to go sight-seeing. The binagol and moron look really yummy! great shots as usual.

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  6. i've never tasted a moron. hahahaha... (shakes my head)

    anyway, were you there on a normal day, meaning there was no storm that day? the waves look harsh already.

    i like the last shot. sino ka dun?

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  7. Superb post! I am happy to found your blog..Lovely info and nice shots! :)

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  8. i really like your photo, with the gang.. hehehe ngaun ko lang ikaw nakita ng medio malinaw.... i was always curious... lalo na kay sir dong ho.. hehehe

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  9. Nakita ko lang to sa postcard syempre minus ikaw. I mean yung landing of mc arthur sa leyte. Pero dito ko lang nakita may bagong military member sila. joke lang. ibang experience naman. ano naman kaya ang susunod?

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  10. I's alright, it's a nice commemoration. Great post!

    I posted something for the Independence Day, hope you find time to see it and share your message. Thanks in advance.

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  11. wow! bayan namin yan.. taga Calubian, Leyte ako hehehe.. anyways, andiyan din ako nung first week ng April hehehe..

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  12. gusto ko yung last pic kasi napagkamalan din kitang rebulto, kala ko kasama ka nila. Hahaha!
    Ang gwaping natin ah?!

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  13. I think I've tried moron before, pero hindi galing ng Leyte. I haven't been to that part of the country. hehe.

    ----
    People have different conceptions of how it is to be free, I guess that was his notion.

    Thanks for commenting!

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  14. Never been to Leyte. But it's sure nice to see your pics. Di man natikman ang simoy ng hangin sa Leyte, sinuwerte namang matikman ang Binagol at chocolate Moron.

    thanks for sharing!

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  15. love the post's title! and i didn't know morons come in chocolate form, too. :P

    the binagol looks delish!

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  16. nice... laging bago
    thanks for sharing

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  17. The chocolate moron looks yummy despite of its name hahaha. Leyte ka naman ngayon. Great.

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  18. I miss our native kakanins.

    Regarding your next post, as my mate Mc Arthur had said

    *I shall return"

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  19. Very interesting and beautiful post. I loved the snaps of red beach and the blue sky. Very scenic.

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  20. Marvelous, wonderful post and photos! Was really interesting to learn about the monument. Love the beaches! Thanks for sharing such a fascinating and beautiful part of your world!

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  21. Fantastic myworld post, thanks so much for sharing.

    Have a great week
    Guy
    Regina In Pictures

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  22. ahahaha... the title is cool! when we went there last year we werent able to get close to the monument because it was the anniversary of the leyte landing and the president was there. but we passed by.

    i tried those morons, just good.

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  23. arggggh! i miss minoron! my mother and grandmother used to make it. Seeing your Leyte pics reminded me that i really need to get there sometime soon.

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  24. I love the red boat shot. Happy Independence Day to you.

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  25. ayos... ganda... teka masarap ba yung bagol at chocolate moron? yummmmm :D

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  26. Nice place. I have never been there but I do love to go there someday. Asan na mata mo hihihi.

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  27. What a beautiful statue !

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  28. Interesting shared history with the US. Thanks for showing your world.

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  29. Look what you've done! I'm all homesick now :( My mother is my Leyte - Ormoc City to be exact. I have been to these places 7 years ago. I must say the Philippines has gorgeous beaches!

    PS: You made me miss all those food too :(

    Great pictures! I'm so glad you shared them with us. Thank you.

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  30. Slight correction: "My mother is *from* Leyte ..."

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  31. Very interesting post and nice pictures !

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  32. Nice that MacArthur and the American army has positive memories for you and your country. It's a great monument. Your country is beautiful; always a pleasure to look at that beach.

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  33. Amazing photos - especially that first one. I thought those soldiers were real for a moment!

    The dessert looks good too..

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  34. All your photos are wonderful. Thanks for the splendid journey and for visiting. Have a great week.

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  35. LS: Wonderful photos of a neat memorial, we can all be thankful for this happening.

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  36. I like your photo of the McArthur memorial. That binagol looks interesting, i wonder if I can find those here in Manila?
    Looking forward to more photos.

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  37. I have never been to Leyte but I know the place is famous for San Juanico Bridge and of course Imelda Marcos. Hope you can feature them in your future posts.

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  38. Great post for independence day. Your photographs and text are so well done. Happy Independence day belatedly!

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  39. Lovely photo. Happy Independence Day to you and your country. The food looked yummy. The statues are very outstanding, used to see it in other blogs, always thought they were in the sea, now I can see they are on top of a monument. Fantastic.

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  40. Interesting history and good to see the Memorial on McAuthur.
    Beautiful beach, too.
    The treats look and sound interesting.

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  41. wow! pumunta ka pala sa hometown ko kuya oman. sayang di na tayo nagpang-abot dun. hehe. anyways, hope you had a great experience there! great pics here of the MacArthur Shrine. good thing you tasted our binagol and moron. they are leyte's pride. hehe. looking forward to more of your leyte series. thanks for sharing this to your readers! ingat!

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  42. I´m a chocolate moron, I like chocolate so much! What a wonderful statue. Those guys walking on water are so cool.

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  43. A great blog and a quick scan of this post tells me I want to come back when I have time to go through it properly. Thank you for sharing your part of the world and for stopping by my blog.
    Smiles

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  44. Lovely captures! Looks like you had a great time. Nakakagutom naman ang mga pagkain. Na miss ko ang chocolate moron. YUM!

    Enjoy your week! :)

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  45. That is a poignant monument. I like memorials that make the viewer part of the scene. All the more effective.

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  46. I do tend to forget our histories are one. Thanks for the reminder and excellent captures. Think I'd like the banana desert best. Someday.

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  47. thank you sharing these excellent pics with us. Mabuhay

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  48. that choc moron is too yummy. i remember getting them from a dormmate from tacloban.

    are these full sized statues?

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  49. Seeing this post makes me miss home. I was in that exact place 2 months ago and also eating moron & binaggol. I wish to go back again soon.

    I hope to see more of eastern visaya's pictures

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  50. I love tacloban lalo na yung binagol. The best talaga! I love the new look of your blog :)

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  51. I have never been to Leyte, but I think there are more to it than the MacArthur landing shrine.

    Great post at saka yung food tips!

    Hehehee

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  52. glad they put a landmark to commemorate the turning point of WWII in the Pacific.

    Love those native deserts man. Wish I could have them here :)

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  53. This is the place in the Philippines that I haven't had visited yet. I'd love to visit this place someday. Thanx for sharing to us your photos and experiences there in Leyte...

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  54. My lola always brought that as her pasalubong miss ko na yan.

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  55. ang ganda!..ang galing mo talga!..

    @magpapapix din ako dyan:D

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  56. Trying to keep up with all the wonderful posts you have here. Am truly enjoying!

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  57. Wow yummy, my favorite is the moron... I can make that at home.

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