Touchdown Tacloban, Gateway to Eastern Visayas

When you think about Tacloban, what comes into your mind?

Yes, we are probably thinking about McArthurs’ landing and San Juanico Bridge. 

When we study history back in High School, Tacloban has been in the spotlight because of General Douglas McArthur of USA who helped us to our independence from the Japanese invation. This historical event actually did not happen in Tacloban but to the nearby town of Palo, just 3-5 minutes from Tacloban. Another feat of this city was the San Juanico Bridge which was considered an engineering breakthrough long ago. The bridge did not just connect Leyte to Samar but the rest of the Philippines through the Pan-Philippine Highway.

I arrived in Tacloban on-time via Philippine Airlines from Manila. It was a smooth flight despite the typhoon affecting eastern parts of the Philippines. Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport is just a small airport with just 1 conveyor belt. This airport is also served by Air PhilExpress, Zest Air, Cebu Pacific and it receives flight of more than 10x daily from Manila and daily flights to Cebu. This airport really needs expansion or better create a new airport for the people of Eastern Visayas. 

My next problem is getting to the city the cheapest way and gladly theres a jeep waiting to Tacloban town. Since it was already late in the afternoon, its ideal to rest in a hotel and see the city tomorrow. But I had a sudden change of mind, when I was already in the city, I decided to go to the province of Biliran, one of the smallest province in the Philippines. I heard that its just 2-3 hours away from Tacloban. Im not exactly sure if theres a bus going there in the evening but when I went to the New Tacloban Bus Terminal, I found a van that will go to Biliran. 

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Food finds at NAIA Centennial Terminal 2

NAIA Terminal 2 or the Centennial Terminal is the terminal on all Philippine Airlines flights local and international and because of the FLY PINAS Promo they offered last month, it means that Im gonna be frequent at Terminal 2. However, one thing I dont like about T2 is the lack of food choices unlike the new Terminal 3 which has plenty of good restaurants. 

Im glad that I dont have to eat Jollibee anymore because theres a restaurant in the rotunda hall of the terminal. This is located at the ground hall just below the ticketing office. Being a PAL flyer, I didnt notice this until just recently when I was stucked at the terminal for my connecting flight early in the morning the following day. 

The restaurant has plenty of food selections from Filipino, Chinese and even pasta. At least, I can now eat decent food at Terminal 2 but the food here is a bit pricey. A meal set can cost you more than P100 depending on the menu you order. At least, this is a change from the usual Jollibee food at the terminal. If you are in the departure gates, there’s Mr. Donuts, Cafe France and other food kiosk. But when your looking for tummy filler, this restaurant is the perfect place at T2. 

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