Tacloban facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tacloban
Highly urbanized city
City of Tacloban
From top, left to right: Downtown Tacloban, Yolanda Shrine, Santo Niño Church, Justice Romualdez Street, Santo Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Gateway to Eastern Visayas Home of the Happiest People in the World
Motto(s):  City of Love, Beauty and Progresses
Map of Eastern Visayas with Tacloban highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Tacloban Location in Visayas Show map of Visayas Tacloban Location in Philippines Show map of Philippines
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas
Province	Leyte (geographically only)
District	[[{{#property:P7938}} | — Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1804: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]
Founded	1770
Provincial capital	February 26, 1830
Cityhood	June 20, 1952
Highly urbanized city	December 18, 2008
Barangay	138 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
Area
• Total	201.72 km2 (77.88 sq mi)
Elevation	40 m (130 ft)
Highest elevation	574 m (1,883 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	251,881
• Density	1,248.67/km2 (3,234.03/sq mi)
• Households	57,251
Demonym(s)	Taclobanon
Economy
• Gross domestic product	₱45,283 million (2021) $899 million (2021)
• Income class	1st city income class
• Poverty incidence	10.70 % (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 1,370 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 3,705 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 1,323 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 1,297 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Leyte 2 Electric Cooperative (LEYECO 2)
Time zone	UTC+08:00 (PST)
ZIP code	6500
PSGC	[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
IDD : area code	+63 (0)53
Native languages	Waray Tagalog
Website	www.tacloban.gov.ph

Tacloban is a busy city on Leyte island in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. It is officially known as the City of Tacloban. In 2020, about 251,881 people lived there, making it the most populated city in Eastern Visayas. Tacloban is located about 360 miles (580 km) southeast of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Tacloban is the main center for the Eastern Visayas region. It is also the largest city and capital of the Leyte province. Even though it's part of Leyte geographically, it has its own government and is run independently.

For a short time, from October 1944 to February 1945, Tacloban City was the capital of the Philippines under the Commonwealth Government. In 2010, it was named the fifth most competitive city in the Philippines. On November 8, 2013, a very strong storm called Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda) caused a lot of damage to the city. Tacloban had also faced similar destruction in 1897 and 1912. On January 17, 2015, Pope Francis visited Tacloban during his trip to the Philippines. He held a special mass for the people there.

What's in a Name? The Story of Tacloban

The name Tacloban comes from the word taklub. This was a bamboo tray used by fishermen to catch crabs or shrimp. When people asked where the fishermen were going, they would say "(to) tarakluban". This meant "the place where they use the taklub." Over time, this name became Tacloban.

A Look Back: Tacloban's History

Street performers carrying taklub on their backs (Tacloban takes its name from the taklub, a bamboo fish-catching contraption).

Aerial view of Tacloban, 1931

Tacloban was first known as Kankabatok. This name came from its first residents, the Kabatok people. They built their homes near where the Santo Niño Church is today. Other groups like the Gumoda, Haraging, and Huraw also settled nearby. The area where the city hall now stands was once Huraw's land. All these settlements together were called Kankabatok, meaning "property of Kabatok."

In the early days, pirates were a big problem because the settlement had no natural protection. This slowed down its growth. In 1770, a religious group called the Augustinians set up a small village (barrio) with a chapel in Tacloban. It was part of the town of Palo.

The Augustinians also brought the devotion to the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus), who became the village's patron saint. Once pirate attacks were controlled, Tacloban became a busy trading spot. It was then renamed Tacloban and became its own town. Later, it became the capital of Leyte province.

It's not clear exactly when Tacloban became an official municipality. Many records were lost in a typhoon. But it's thought to have happened around the 1770s. In 1768, Leyte and Samar became separate provinces. Tacloban's location made it an important trading point between them.

On February 26, 1830, Tacloban became the capital of Leyte. This was because its port was in a great location and had good facilities. On June 20, 1952, Tacloban officially became a chartered city.

Madonna Maria Kanon, locally called Madonna of Japan, a peace commemoration statue in Kanhuraw Hill

In 1901, Colonel Arthur Murray became the first military governor of Leyte. He opened Tacloban's port for international trade. Before World War II, Tacloban was the main center for business, education, and culture in Leyte. Products like copra (dried coconut meat) and abaca (a type of fiber) were exported in large amounts.

In November 1912, a strong typhoon hit the central Philippines and almost completely destroyed Tacloban. About 15,000 people died in Tacloban and Capiz on Panay island. This was half the population of those cities at the time.

On May 25, 1942, Japanese forces arrived in Tacloban. This marked the start of their two-year control over Leyte. They made the city stronger and improved its airfield. Because San Pedro Bay was good for large ships, the Japanese Imperial Naval Forces used Tacloban as a port. This period was a very difficult time for Tacloban and the Philippines.

Leyte was the first place to be freed by Filipino and American soldiers. General Douglas MacArthur's troops landed on the beaches of Tacloban and Palo on October 20, 1944. These landings led to the victory of the Filipino and American forces. It also fulfilled MacArthur's famous promise: "I Shall Return."

Three days later, on October 23, MacArthur, along with President Sergio Osmeña, declared Tacloban the temporary capital of the Philippines. This lasted until the whole country was freed. The local governments of Leyte and Tacloban were also restarted.

Paulo Jaro was the mayor of Tacloban during the liberation. Epifanio Aguirre was the first mayor after the Philippine Republic was officially established.

On January 8, 1960, MacArthur returned to Leyte for a special visit. Locals cheered when he visited Tacloban.

Tacloban was declared a highly urbanized city by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on October 4, 2008. The people approved this on December 18, 2008.

Typhoon Haiyan in 2013

Debris lines the streets of Tacloban after Typhoon Haiyan hit the city.

On November 8, 2013, Tacloban was hit very hard by Typhoon Haiyan (also called Yolanda). The storm caused huge damage across the city. Trees were pulled out of the ground. A 13-foot (4-meter) storm surge mostly destroyed the airport. However, the airport was quickly used as a center for help and evacuations. Sadly, the storm caused 6,201 deaths.

Pope Francis's Visit in 2015

Pope Francis blesses the crowd after the mass near the Tacloban Airport on January 17, 2015, en route to Palo, Leyte to visit families of Typhoon Yolanda victims.

On January 17, 2015, Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, came to Tacloban. He celebrated a Mass with the people who survived Typhoon Haiyan. The Pope arrived at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.

Where is Tacloban? Geography and Location

Tacloban is located at the northeastern tip of Leyte island. Its eastern side faces Cancabato Bay. This bay is at the eastern entrance of San Juanico Strait. The city's area stretches along this strait, next to Babatngon municipality to the north. The San Juanico Strait separates the islands of Leyte and Samar.

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  Tacloban Bay

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  The eastern part of the city facing Cancabato Bay.

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  San Pedro Bay shore facing northeastward towards Cancabato Bay and the San Juanico Strait beyond, backgrounded by Samar island on the horizon.

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  Fishing folks on outrigger canoes on Cancabato Bay, with the San Juanico Strait and Samar island in the background.

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  Hills around Tacloban

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  Coastal village in Tacloban

Barangays: How Tacloban is Divided

Tacloban is divided into 138 smaller areas called barangays. Each barangay has even smaller parts called puroks, and some have sitios.

Climate: Tacloban's Weather

Tacloban has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it's usually wet all year round, with heavy and frequent rainfall. There isn't a clear summer or winter season. The temperature changes more between day and night than between months.

The average daytime temperature in Tacloban is about 31.1°C (88°F). May is usually the warmest month, with an average of 32.3°C (90.1°F). January and February are the coolest months, with an average nighttime temperature of 23.4°C (74.1°F).

The highest temperature ever recorded was 38.0°C (100.4°F) in April and August. The lowest was 17.5°C (63.5°F) in December.

Tacloban gets a lot of rain, about 2,840.6 mm (111.8 inches) per year. December is the wettest month, and April is the driest.

People of Tacloban: Demographics and Culture

In 2020, Tacloban had a population of 251,881 people. Most people in Tacloban speak Waray-Waray. This language is also called Lineyte-Samarnon. More than 90% of the city's population speaks it. Waray-Waray is also the common language used by different ethnic groups in the city.

Tacloban has a mix of cultures and languages. Long ago, many residents were of Spanish descent. Today, the population includes people with Spanish and Chinese backgrounds, foreigners, and native Leyteños.

Other Filipino groups have also moved to Tacloban. About 6.08% of the people speak Cebuano/Kana/Visayan. About 0.80% speak Tagalog, and 0.10% speak Ilocano.

Most residents of Tacloban City (88.52%) are Roman Catholic. About 6.12% are Muslims, many of whom are Maranao people from Mindanao. Other religions include Iglesia ni Cristo (0.83%), Evangelicals (0.94%), and Baptists (0.80%).

Economy: How Tacloban Makes a Living

Downtown Tacloban

Rizal Avenue

Crossing Zamora-Salazar Streets

Real Street

Robinsons Tacloban

Tacloban is the economic hub of the entire Eastern Visayas region. Its economy mainly relies on farming, trade, and tourism. Near the city is the Eastern Visayas Agri-Industrial Growth Center (EVRGC). This is a large area for eco-industrial businesses. The Tacloban city government manages it.

Many regional TV and radio stations are based in Tacloban. These include ABS-CBN TV-2 Tacloban and GMA TV-10 Tacloban. The Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport also makes Tacloban an important travel center for the region.

Tacloban is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Philippines. It also has one of the lowest poverty rates in the country, at about 9%. After the big storm in 2013, Tacloban's local government called it a start-up city. This meant they had to rebuild everything from the beginning. The city is now recovering quickly.

Culture and Festivals

Dancers during the Pintados Festival in 2008

Tacloban City Convention Center, also known as the Tacloban Astrodome

Tacloban has a week-long celebration that ends on June 30, which is the Grand Fiesta of Tacloban. During this time, the "Teniente" (a leader) passes on his role to the new "Hermano Mayor" (chief brother). This ceremony involves giving a medallion with the names of past leaders. Fireworks and big parades are part of the celebration. Every house in the city prepares a feast and welcomes guests.

• Subiran Regatta: This is a race of traditional one-man sailboats called "subiran." The race happens in the beautiful Leyte Gulf. Sailors use only their skills to move the boat with the wind, without paddles. The Subiran Regatta is held every year during the Tacloban City Fiesta. It helps keep the art of sailing alive and shows off the skills of local boatmen.

Plaza Libertad

• Balyuan: This event started in 1975 and is organized by the Department of Tourism and the city government. It's a re-enactment of an old story about exchanging religious images between Basey, Samar, and Tacloban. The story says that long ago, Tacloban would borrow a larger image of Santo Niño from Basey for its fiesta. After the celebrations, the image was returned. As Tacloban grew, it was decided that the larger Santo Niño image should stay there. This event celebrates the cultural and historical ties between the people of south Samar and eastern Leyte.

• Sangyaw Festival: Sangyaw is an old Waray word meaning "to announce news." The Sangyaw Festival was started by Imelda Marcos in the 1980s. Her nephew, Mayor Alfred Romualdez, brought it back in 2008. The festival invites different performing groups from various festivals across the country to compete. It offers cash prizes and aims to become a major festival.

Getting Around: Transportation in Tacloban

Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport

The San Juanico Bridge, north of the city

Tacloban has many ways to get around, including airplanes, multicabs, taxis, jeepneys, tricycles, and pedicabs. The city has the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport. The New Transport Terminal in the Abucay district is where buses and other land vehicles arrive and depart from different parts of the region. The San Juanico Bridge connects Tacloban to the town of Santa Rita in Samar.

Staying Healthy: Healthcare in Tacloban

As the main center of Eastern Visayas, Tacloban offers many healthcare services. There are several hospitals and medical places in the city.

• Public hospitals:
  • Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC)
  • Tacloban City Hospital
• Private hospitals:
  • ACE Medical Center Tacloban
  • Divine Word Hospital
  • Our Mother of Mercy Hospital
  • Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Hospital
  • Tacloban Doctors Medical Center

Learning and Growing: Education in Tacloban

The University of the Philippines Tacloban College

Tacloban has many schools and colleges, both public and private.

Some well-known schools include:

Global Connections: Sister Cities

International

• Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan

Famous People from Tacloban

• Merlie Alunan - a poet and teacher
• Gina Apostol - a writer
• Toni Rose Basas - a professional volleyball player
• Louis Bulaong - a writer
• Norberto Castillo - a former head of the University of Santo Tomas
• Andres Centino - a former leader of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Kim Chiu - a TV and movie star
• Dennis Daa - a professional basketball player
• Dino Daa - a professional basketball player
• Bullet Dumas - an indie folk singer-songwriter
• Karla Estrada - an actress and singer
• Ted Failon - a news anchor and TV/radio personality
• Nieves Fernandez - a World War II guerrilla fighter
• Jose Mari Gonzales - an actor
• Xyza Gula - a volleyball player
• Ruby Ibarra - a Filipina-American rapper
• Iluminado Lucente - a famous Waray poet and former mayor of Tacloban
• Carlo Francisco Manatad - a filmmaker and film editor
• Dan Palami - a businessman and former manager of the Philippines national football team
• Joel Porlares – a leader of the Philippine Independent Church
• Rudy Robles - an actor
• Benjamin Romualdez - a former governor and ambassador
• Cristina Romualdez - a former actress and mayor of Tacloban City
• Ferdinand Martin Romualdez - a current Representative and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Imelda Romualdez-Marcos - a former First Lady
• Lou Salvador - a basketball player
• Mark Swainston - a footballer
• Jean-Paul Verona - an award-winning music producer
• Nimfa C. Vilches - a judge
• Aira Villegas - an Olympic bronze medalist in boxing
• Joanné Nugas - a Filipina-Swedish music artist and member of The Real Group

See also

In Spanish: Tacloban para niños