Philippine Travel Notes

The Municipal Hall of Hinunangan, Southern Leyte... bow! If I was in awe that residences in this town have 'wider than usual' lot areas, well well well baho ka'g tiil, their town hall won't be left behind! This municipal hall sits in the middle of a vast field, surrounded by its departmental office buildings and parks. Wow! This munisipyo is one of a few in this country (though their numbers are increasing) that does not sit near a catholic church! Not that this is intentional (I guess). It is probably because, in the distant past, legally or not, the church and the municipal government seemed to be one OR the same, thus, the need for proximity. Di ba Padre Damaso? hehe! Nowadays, holding public offices need more space, as there are now many departments, so, they need wider space to effectively serve parishioners, oops, I mean the residents! This Hinunangan Municipal Hall can be approached from various points of the national road. But it is shortest (just 200 me...

The "Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Parish Church", or "Hinunangan Church for short. Simple, no-frills, clean, therefore 'a nice one'! From my extensive 'sightings' of so many churches in this country though, I can say, this church is rather "newer" than I would have expected - if compared/contrasted to so many old but still standing houses in this town. I wonder what the history is. Why is this "new"? Sige, I will research on this soon! For now, this visit I mean, I was happier just admiring the simplicity of this edifice. First thing I noticed is that rampway. There are even no stairs, actually. Hello to the church in MacArthur, Leyte . Ramp like this, not stairs, since many who go to any church are seniors! Look at how they 'designed' the façade wall. That is just one type (or style, whatever it is called) of a simple (inexpensive) decorative hollow block. Yet the effect is classy elegant! The paint is divinely subdu...

Just about 20 minutes from Silago town center, with picturesque views of the Leyte Gulf, I arrived at Hinunangan poblacion, also in Southern Leyte. I am guessing, the distance between both town centers does not even reach 20kms. It was a quick and pleasant ride. What occupied my curious little brain during this short ride, were the many interesting old (and new) houses of Hinunangan. Mapapa-lingon ka! I still can't find a word for it now as I write this, but there is something about residential homes in Hinunangan that is somehow "thought-provoking". It makes me think of how had this town been thriving. Was this a "cabecera" (center of commerce) in the past? It obviously is not today, right? Was this town a community of the wealthy people or the "hacienderos" of this province or this area of the island? Why am I asking? Because the old houses, by size and build, seem to evoke affluence, while new ones seem to be on the genteel side of architecture....