Palo
Palo is a municipality in Leyte, Eastern Visayas, Philippines.
Understand
Palo, with a population of about 70,000 as of 2015, is the religious and historic center of Leyte. It houses the seat of the Archdiocese of Palo, based on the Palo Cathedral, the 16th–century church rising at the downtown and one of Palo's tourist draws. Palo is also historic as the site of Douglas MacArthur's famous landing in October 20, 1944, fulfilling the promise to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese during World War II.
Get in
By bus or minivan
Palo is a regular stopover for provincial buses.
- Philtranco buses from Manila to Ormoc, Maasin, and Davao, with a RO/RO ferry between Luzon and Samar.
There are plenty of UV Express vans passing through Palo. Most depart from Tacloban to points in Leyte. Most ply the Catbalogan—Ormoc route.
By car
Palo lies at the junction of two highways: Maharlika Hwy (Route 1/AH26) and the Route 70 (Palo-Carigara Roadf also AH26). Maharlika Hwy directly cuts through the downtown while Rte 70, which is the main street, named San Salvador St, spurs off the Maharlika Hwy west to Carigara and Ormoc. There is one bypass to the east of downtown, another to the west opened 2021.
See
- 🌍 MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park. A protected area that commemorates the historic landing of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur at the start of the campaign to recapture and liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation on 20 October 1944.
- Hill 522.
- 🌍 Palo Cathedral (Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Transfiguration), San Salvador Street corner F. Sevilla Street. This Roman Catholic cathedral was built in 1596 by the Jesuits. It served as a military hospital during World War II, and in 2013, was badly damaged by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Palo Cathedral also hosted Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines, also dedicated to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
Buy
- Palo Public Market, Acebedo Street. The municipality's central market, destroyed during the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan, but is rebuilt.
Eat
- Acacia, Maharlika Highway, Puntod. 11AM-9PM. Mostly meat dishes. They also serve wine.
- Kandingan/Bulaloan ha Palo, Maharlika Highway. 8AM-9PM. Home-cooked bulalo and goat (kanding) dishes.
- Seafood and Ribs Warehouse, Maharlika Highway, Pawing, ☏ +63 53 323-4256. 10AM-11PM. Grilled seafood dishes and spareribs.
- MnM's Kubo Foodhouse (Kubo), Brgy. Cogon, Palo Leyte (beside NitroFuel Gasoline Station), ☏ +63 915 912 9066, mnmkubo@yahoo.com. 10am- 6pm.
Sleep
- The Oriental Leyte, Guindapunan-Baras Road, Baras (Beside the MacArthur Landing Memorial), ☏ +63 995 788-4430. Rooms are locally themed. There is free WiFi and rooms have a TV. Better rooms have dining areas and balcony views of the beach. Some rooms that can accommodate up to 10 people have hot tubs and kitchenettes. Amenities are a pool, spa, Asian fusion restaurant, ballroom, infinity pool and a poolside bar. Free breakfast and laundry. From ₱3340.
- Kugville, NHA Site, Baras. ₱1010.