• BIBINGKA  is a type of rice cake from the Philippines and in Christian communities in Indonesia. It is usually eaten for breakfast, especially during the Christmas season. It is traditionally cooked in clay pots lined with leaves.

BIKO is a sweet rice delicacy that’s traditionally served on New Year’s Eve. The essential ingredients are malagkit (glutinous or sticky rice), gata (coconut milk) and brown sugar.

CHOCOLATE MORON is a sweet tasty treat made of glutinous rice or rice flour mix, chocolate, sugar and coconut milk. It is rolled and wrapped in banana leaves then boiled or steamed. Chocolate moron is usually served during special occasions, fiestas, Christmas and New Year in Ormoc

PALITAW Recipe is a Filipino afternoon snack or ‘merienda’ that consist mainly of glutinous rice coated with grated coconut and sugar and sometimes roasted sesame seeds. This flattened sweet rice cake is very chewy and really filling but the best part is, it is really easy to make.

 

 

 ORMOC CITY 

Ormoc is a 1st class independent component city in Leyte. It is situated beside the bay facing west, thus gained the title “The City by the Bay.” Also well-known for their beautiful people, thus gained the title “City of Beautiful People.” During sunset by the city seawall, you’ll witness the beautiful sun slowly fade into the horizon.

Ormoc City was once devastated by two most destructive natural calamities ever recorded in the Philippines, and in the world. In 1991, typhoon Uring struck a flash flood and claimed 8,000 lives. Not counting the ones lost at sea. The city took years to recover from the devastating flood. After 10 years of trying to rebuild the city, typhoon Yolanda came about and destroyed the city once again. Typhoon Yolanda is the strongest super typhoon ever recorded in history. Thankfully, the locals are more focused on rebuilding their hope, rather than losing it. After 3 years, Ormoc City was declared able to fully recover from the super typhoon.

Ormoc also hosts an annual festival called “Tugob” – Abundance in English. Tugob is one of the youngest festivals in the Philippines but is now starting to gain popularity around the country. The festival is a way of thanksgiving for the abundance in the harvest of Ormoc’s natural resources.

Recently, the festival was renamed to “Piña Festival.” Highlighting the Ormoc Queen Pineapple which is considered to be one of the sweetest in the world. You’ll see a parade of street dancers in multicolored costumes led by the Festival Queens of Ormoc.

    The Historical Places in Ormoc

• LAKE DANAO 

Lake Danao is one of the famous places in ormoc it shape like  a guitar. The lake is covering an area of 148 hectares (370 acres). It is situated in the 2,193 hectares (5,420 acres) Lake Danao Natural Park, which also includes the Amandiwin mountain range. The lake is 18 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of Ormoc City, half an hour drive along the San Pablo – Tongonan and Milagro – Lake Danao roads.

• SAN PABLO & SAN PEDRO CHURCH

Those who have seen the church before the second world war described it as one made of stone blocks whose floor area followed the shape of a cross, with the top of the cross being the part that had the altar and sacristy. The middle section had a dome for a ceiling, painted with religious figures and icons, but the roof had a square base. Under the roof was catwalk that was accessible to whoever was brave enough to explore the area. All of these structures were surrounded by a stone wall designed to protect the church and rectory from moro depredations.

• Puente de la Riena

 

The “Bridge of the Queen” is considered as the last existing physical structure that symbolizes Spanish colonization of the city. Known as the oldest bridge in the city, its cobblestones are still intact, relics of an age long gone. It was built in the early 1800’s but was completed in 1861. During the Spanish era, the bridge served as a docking area for sailboats, vintas of Chinese, Javans and Indonesians who frequented the island to sell their produce. The bridge is still in use today. It is situated near the twin buildings of the Executive and Legislative branch of the city and beside the Ormoc City Hall.

• Veteran’s and Centennial Park 

The Veteran’s Park was constructed in early 1990s in honor of the Filipino soldiers who fought for the liberation of Leyte and the Philippines. The Centennial Marker was erected in 1998 to commemorate the 100th year of Philippine independence. One gets a good view of the bay, the port and the plaza from this point. It is a favorite rendezvous for the young and old alike for picnics and leisurely strolls on its verdant lawn. And from here, one can experience the refreshing breeze from the sea and witness the magnificent beauty of the sunset.

• Phil-Japan Peace Memorial 

An impressive memorial marker put up by the Nagoya and Gifu Prefectures as a token of friendship of Japanese and Filipinos in the aftermath of World War II. It is situated in one of the city’s picturesque hills overlooking Ormoc Bay, Carlota Hills in Brgy. Can-adieng. Japanese visitors frequented this area in memory of their beloved countrymen who fought in World War II.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton