Hello TLC Family,

When Darren, Deborah, Aubrey, and Auden came to visit us in California we talked about the interesting places to visit in the Philippines. Darren encouraged me to write about my hometown - Tacloban City - because it is historical.

For those of you planning to visit the Philippines, read on.

Darren told me that Sam's favorite historical figure is General Douglas MacArthur. During World War II Gen. MacArthur landed in Tacloban City and by doing so helped to liberate the Filipino people. The beach where he landed is called Red Beach because of the bloodshed.

General MacArthur stayed at my great-grandfather' s house which is called the Price Mansion; there you can take a tour and they will show you the room where he stayed.

Places to visit in Tacloban:
1. San Juanico Bridge - longest bridge in Southeast Asia
2. Santo Nino Shrine - collection of art by Imelda Marcos
3. MacArthur Memorial Shrine4. Price Mansion
5. The beach, the beach, the beach!
6. Marabut Marine Park Beach Resort - amazing snorkeling, kayaking
7. 17th Century Basey Church
8. Sohoton Caves - see stalactites, stalagmites

Tacloban is 1 hour by plane from Manila. It is a small and cozy town; the people are very hospitable and accomodating. We have fresh and very affordable seafood; most dishes in Tacloban are cooked in coconut milk (ginataan). My brother owns a B&B where the warm Pacific Ocean is only 25 steps from your room! I created an album in the TLC website with some pictures taken in Tacloban when we were there last year.

Enjoy,

Karla (-: