Leyte town to develop religious, tourism site

PALO, Leyte, Aug 1 -- The local government unit here is poised to make one of its historical and religious site to be a prime tourist destination in Eastern Visayas region.

The Guinhangdan Hill, found in Purisima village here, is an important landmark in Leyte province. 

Commonly called as Hill 522, it offers a panoramic view of the town and Leyte Gulf where American General Douglas MacArthur landed on October 20, 1944.

Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla said they had set their sights in making the hill into a religious, tourism and historical site “rolled into one”. 

Guinhangdan Hill is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week where thousands of Roman Catholic devotees in Leyte climb the 522 steps leading to the cross to offer candles and flowers. 

During the observance of Holy Week this year, at least 30,000 pilgrims were noted to have climbed the hill on Good Friday alone.

Petilla said the hill's historical contribution was being the entry point to the first liberated town of Palo in 1944. The existence of garrison, which was built by the Japanese artillery units, will be a good place to visit for tourists to the area, she said.

The hill is also a site where fierce fighting for the control of this strategic area cost the lives of about 50 Japanese fighters and at least three American soldiers.

Petilla said there were plans to enlarge the La Purisima Shrine located at the foot of the hill. The shrine was constructed in 1887 by the Spaniards to dispel evil spirits, which people believed to be the cause of many accidents and deaths on the premises.

“With many pilgrims coming in to visit not just during the Holy Week, we need to enlarge the area where they light the candles and say their prayers before going up the hill,” Petilla added.

As for the white cross on top of the Guinhangdan Hill, it will not be replaced but will instead be improved, the mayor said. The local government earned flak early this year when it reportedly said to “replace” the more than 50-year-old cross, with historical and cultural significance.

Improvements of the nearby surroundings on the top of the hill are included in the plans for tourists to enjoy “picnic style” as the hill provides a scenic view of the Leyte Gulf, with the southwestern part of Samar Island across the sea, and the northeastern part of Leyte.

The 522 steps will likewise be constructed into two-way steps to accommodate the volume of pilgrims and tourists expected to climb the site. Sufficient lighting will also be built around the whole area and ensure security at night.

Meanwhile, Petilla said that informal settlers still living at the foot of the hill would “definitely have to be relocated” once development of the whole site starts. The settlers will be transferred to the various housing units being built by the government.(Ahlette C. Reyes/PNA)