Leyte
Leyte is one of the number of islands in the Philippines described as economically depressed, or poor in simple language. Agriculture is handicapped by the typhoons as well as the rough terrain. Furthermore, there is comparatively little trade as the center for trade in the region is Cebu, west of Leyte. Few tourists come to the island as it lacks outstanding scenery or man-made attractions, as well as infrastructure.
Leyte is an island, divided by a mountain range into two parts quite different from each other. Not only is the eastern part inhabited by another linguistic group (Warays) than the west (Cebuanos); there is also a different focus in agriculture: whereas on the east coast, the main cash crop is coconuts (copra), the main cash crop in the west is sugar, especially around Ormoc City. However, rice is grown in the lowlands on both coasts.
The largest city on the island is Tacloban. However, it is not the economic and cultural center of the entire island but only for the east coast. The west coast is oriented toward Cebu City. As a substitute for the lost west coast, Tacloban is also the cultural and economic center for all of Samar island.
Part of what today is Leyte province was the first place in the Philippines where a Catholic mass was held. Magellan's group arrived March 28, 1521, on the small island Limasawa which lies west of southern Leyte. The Spanish met a friendly reception by the inhabitants. One day after the landing, Magellan and the local chieftain, Kulambo, entered a blood compact. On March 31, a Catholic mess was celebrated with many natives participating.
Magellan's arrival on Limasawa was not the only dramatic landing in what now constitutes Leyte Province. More than 400 years after Magellan, during World War II, US General Douglas MacArthur chose the shores of Leyte for the first landing in the re-conquest of the Japanese occupied Philippines. To be more specific, MacArthur walked ashore on October 20, 1944, at Palo, just south of Tacloban.
Another place just south of Tacloban, Tolosa, gained nationwide fame and some international attention, because the former first Lady of The Country , Imelda Romualdez Marcos, came from there. Tolosa benefited substantially from the luck one of the town's daughters had in marrying a long-time President of The Country . There also is a palatial home of the Romualdezes in Tolosa located on an enormous estate which includes a coastal mountain.
GEOGRAPHY
Area: 8,003sqkm (3,090sqmi)
Topography: The northern part is a plain with some uplands, while the rest of the island is rugged and mountainous
Mountains: Mt Lumas btw Ormoc City and Baybay 1,252m (4,108ft)
Rivers: Binahaan and Naga
POPULATION
Majority Group: Cebuanos in the west, Warays in the east
Language: Cebuano in the west, Waray in the east
Minorities: Mamanua
Island Population: 1,691,000
Cities, Towns: (Census of 1990, x1000)
Province Leyte: Abuyog 47, Alangalang 33, Albuera 32, Babatngon 18, Barugo 24, Bato 28, Baybay 82, Burauen 46, Calubian 26, Capoocan 24, Carigara 39, Dagami 26, Dulag 33, Hilongos 49, Hindang 16, Inopacan 17, Isabel 33, Jaro 32, Javier 19, Julita 10, Kananga 36, Lapaz 14, Leyte 33, MacArthur 13, Mahaplag 23, Matag-ob 15, Matalom 28, Mayorga 11, Merida 22, Ormoc City 129, Palo 38, Palompon 46, Pastrana 13, San Isidro 24, San Miguel 13, Santa Fe 12, Tabango 30, Tabontabon 7, Tacloban City 137, Tanauan 38, Tolosa 13, Tunga 5, Villaba 32, Almeria 12, Biliran 12, Cabucgayan 15, Caibiran 18, Culaba 10, Kawayan 15, Maripipi 7, Naval 30.
Province Southern Leyte: Anahawan 7, Bontoc 25, Hinunangan 22, Hinundayan 10, Libagon 11, Liloan 18, Limasawa 5, Maasin 65, Macrohon 20, Malitbog 16, Padre Burgos 7, Pintuyan 8, Saint Bernard 21, San Francisco 10, San Juan (Cabalian) 12, San Ricardo 10, Silago 10, Sogod 31, Tomas Oppus 13.
Political Structure Province (Population x1000, area, capital): Leyte (1369, 6268sqkm, 2420sqmiTacloban), Southern Leyte (322, 1735sqkm, 670sqmi Maasin).
Continued
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