Tacloban City, Leyte
Tacloban City, located 360 miles southeast of Manila, is the capital of the large island of Leyte in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines (Region VIII). The island is known for the landing of the American General MacArthur, during World War II, which liberated the Philippines from Japan. With a population of 300,000, the Filipinos in Tacloban speak the Waray-Waray dialect, as well as Tagalog (the national language), English, and Cebuano. Tacloban City, is not a tourist destination, so it is a great opportunity for our volunteers to be immersed in a unique Asian culture.
In 2008, Tacloban City was awarded with the classification of Highly Urbanized City. The city has all common amenities such as shopping centres, coffee houses, a wide variety of restaurants, gyms, internet cafes, banks, money transfers and ATMs.
Transportation around Tacloban and its outlying areas is easy, with frequent jeepnies and buses going to all locations. Tacloban airport runs daily flights to Manila and Cebu with Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific. Tacloban is the sight of the longest bridge in the Philippines the San Juanico Bridge which was completed in 1973 and connects Leyte to its neighbouring island of Samar.
Ormoc City, Leyte
Ormoc City is a classified 1st class city located on the west coast of Leyte and is approximately 100 km from the islands capital of Tacloban. The cities name derives from ogmok the old Visayan term meaning lowland. Ormoc has a population of 178,000 people and has regular buses and air conditioned vans running to and forth from Tacloban. There is also a nightly ferry and three supercat services a day to Cebu.
Filipinos in Ormoc mainly speak Cebuano as well as Tagalog, English and Waray-Waray and the people of Ormoc relate themselves more with Cebu than with Leyte.
Ormoc is a consistent winner of the Cleanest and Greenest Program of the Department of Interior Local Government units (DILG) and has all common amenities.
VFV serves the city of Ormoc by assisting 4 underprivileged children through its international child sponsorship program. Additionally VFV also provides volunteers to orphanages and schools in the Ormoc area. In 2008 the city was the site of VFV's Medical Mission which provided free medical services for over 250 children in one day.
Palo, Leyte
Palo is a 3rd class municipality of Leyte located just outside of Tacloban City. It has a population of 48,000 people and is subdivided into 33 local barangays (small communities). Palo is considered as the centre of government for Region VIII since many of the regional offices for government agencies are housed there.
Palo is considered to be one of the most historical municipalities in Leyte and is the site of the famous return of U.S. General Douglas MacArthurs return during World War II. A memorial now stands at the beach site where American troops landed and is known locally as MacArthur park.
The town is very active in commerce and has a historical Municipal Building which was the former seat of the Provincial Government of Leyte.
Additional points of interest are the Japanese Shrine in Caloogan, Red Beach Memorial, Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, Binangalan coral reefs, Palo Mangrove reserve and the Palo Municipal Library and Heritage Museum.
There are frequent jeepneys in Palo that go to and from Tacloban as well as further jeepneys travelling to Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga, Dagami, Alangalang, San Miguel and Sta Fe. Buses to Ormoc and Barauen also pass through Palo.
VFV serves Palo by serving a number of impoverished children on its international child sponsorship program. VFV also offers international volunteers to work at its nutrition offices, schools, social welfare residential centres and orphanages.
Tolosa, Leyte
Tolosa is a 5th class municipality of Leyte located approximately forty minutes south of Tacloban City past the municipalities of Palo and Tanauan. It has a population of around 14,500 people and almost 3,000 households.
It is believed that the name Tolosa derived from a legend about three chieftains ; the chieftain of fishing, the chieftain of harvest and the chieftain of hunting; one day a battle between the three broke out, but each were too powerful to be defeated, finally the three fell on their own swords and died, as their blood hit the ground it caused a great earthquake followed by a tsunami. When the water subsided the people were left with three hills, people believe that these three hills were the chieftains who would protect them from outside dangers. Three (tolo) became one (usa) - Tolosa.
Tolosa is known locally for its stunning beach resorts. The beach resort of Tadjaw and Bil-At are certainly worth a visit. Other places of interest are the Olot Mansion, the mansion of the late President Marcos, the monument of Eagle Scout Valeriano Abello and the steep rocky slopes of Mt Inapusong.
Tolosa has regular jeeps to and from Tacloban as well as further jeeps to Dulag and Mayorga.
VFV serves Tolosa by providing international volunteers at the Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic in Tolosa, it was also the location of VFV's 2007 medical mission.
Pastrana, Leyte
Pastrana is a 5th class municipality of Leyte located beyond Dagami. It has a population of 14,000 people and consists of 29 barangays (small communities), it is a landlocked municipality with a heavy focus on agriculture.
VFV serves Pastrana by providing international volunteers to its Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic.
Alangalang, Leyte
Is a landlocked 4th class municipality of Leyte and consists of 54 barangays.
The old town of Alangalang was founded in 1748 and was headed by a man named Fancisco Antonis, a courageous leader who was famed to have eaten the liver of a Moro bandit! In 1883 a big flood levelled the old town and it was moved to its current day location.
Alangalang is one of the leading municipalities in terms of agriculture and continues to be one of the leading produce suppliers.
Alangalang has regular jeepneys to and from Tacloban which passes through the municipality of Palo.
VFV serves Alangalang by providing international volunteers to its Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic.
Babatngon, Leyte
Babatngon is a 4th class municipality of the island of Leyte and has a population of approximately 21, 000 people. The municipality is made up of 27 small barangays and overlooks the San Juanico straight that separates Leyte from Samar.
Babatngon was first settled by natives of Carigara and migrants from Bohol in 1540. One day near the end of the year 1600, traders from Bohol were stranded in present day Babatngon due to unfavourable winds, as a result they had to hunt for prey in the surrounding area. After a successful hunt they returned home to Bohol and spoke of this area; when they came back many Boholanos came back equipped with 'batong' or small traps, its from here that the name Babatngon originated.
Babatngon is known locally as one of the most peaceful municipalities in Leyte and is planned as the location for VFV's 2010 medical mission. VFV recently opened its services to Babatngon in 2009 by assigning international volunteers to its Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic.
Tanauan, Leyte
Tanauan is a 2nd class municipality of Leyte located approximately thirty minutes to the south of Tacloban City. It has a population of 45,000 people and is subdivided into 54 local barangays (small communities). Tanauan is commonly known as the Skimboarding capital of the Philippines and in 2006 was named the most "Business Friendly Municipality" in the country.
The town got its name from a towering Molavee tree which served as a look out tower, known as 'tana-wan' in the local dialect. This look out was used by local inhabitants as an early warning system to protect themselves from Moro pirates that plundered the shoreline from time to time.
Tanauan has a beautiful coastline with numerous beach resorts and is a good place to unwind at weekends. Tanauan has regular jeepneys to and from Tacloban as well as further jeepneys to and from Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga and Dagami. The Barauen bus also passes through Tanauan.
Tanauan is one of the only local municipalities to have an operational ATM located at its Municipal Hall.
VFV serves Tanauan by serving a number of impoverished children in two barangays of Tanauan. International volunteers can also be assigned to the Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic, a social welfare residential centre and two schools in the Tanauan area.
Dulag, Leyte
Dulag is a 3rd class municipality of Leyte, located beyond the municipality of Tolosa 36km due south of Tacloban City. It has a population of 44,000 people and is a thriving coastal town facing the Leyte Gulf consisting of 45 barangays (small communities).
Local conspiracy theorists claim that the first site in which General MacArthur landed was not infact in Palo, but in Dulag and have some evidence to substantiate their claims. The first is the tourist attraction Hill 120 and the second is that MacArthur is reported to have passed a church when he landed that closely matches the description of the church in Dulag.
Dulag has regular jeepneys to and from Tacloban and was the location of VFV's 2009 medical mission. The municipality of Dulag is served by VFV assigning international volunteers to its Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic.
Dagami, Leyte
Dagami is a 5th class municipality of Leyte, located inland between the municipalities of Tanauan, Pastrana and Barauen. It has a population of 29,000 people and has a mostly rural community consisting of 65 barangays (small communities)
Dagami is traversed by many streams and rivers upland, the biggest river is the Panda River which runs across the north east section of the town, it is also caught in the shadow of the biggest peak in Leyte named Mount Amandiwing.
Dagami has jeepneys to and from Tacloban as well as additional jeepneys to Pastrana. The bus to Barauen also first passes through Dagami.
VFV serves Dagami by offering international volunteers to intern in its Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic.
Sta Fe, Leyte
Sta Fe is a 5th class municipality of Leyte with a population of 15,000 people spanning across 20 barangays.
Sta Fe is a rural municipality with a focus on agriculture and is the future site of the VFV Agro-tourism farm. VFV currently assigns volunteers to work in Sta Fe's Rural Health Unit (RHU) clinic.
Basey, Samar
Basey is a municipality of the island of Samar and is currently the only municipality in Samar to be assigned volunteers too. Basey has a population of approximately 43,000 people spread across 51 barangays.
Basey is currently the holder of the location of the Guiness Book of Records longest mat 'banig'. There are regular van-vans (air conditioned vans) that travel across the San Juanico bridge to Basey.
Not far from Basey are the Sohoton Caves and Natural bridge which in 2009 was visited by Philippines President Gloria Arroyo.
VFV serves Basey by assigning volunteers to work at is Rural Health Unit
(RHU) clinic.
Calbayog, Samar
Calbayog is a 1st class city on the island of Samar. It has a population of approximately 164,000 people and comprises of 157 barangays.
Calbayogs history is associated closely with the spread of Catholocism in the Philippines as it was originally a small settlement at which Jesuit missionaries lived.
Attraction in Calbayog include the Guinogo-an Caves, the Mopaso Hot Springs of Rizal, the Mawacat slide, Bangon-Bugtong falls, Tabokno falls, Danao Caves and Malajog Beach.
VFV is hoping to extends its services in Calbayog in 2010 by offering international volunteers to several programs in the area. At present, VFV serves the city with help of international donors by operating a Build-A-School project that has helped build and/or renovate four schools in the area. VFV also provides educational resources to some of the remote barangays in Calbayog through our Adopt-A-School program. In 2009, we also managed to address a nutritional awareness shortfall in Calbayog city which brought to us the attention of a severely malnourished child. VFV was able to help sponsor the medical costs of this child and return it back to good health in the months following.