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| 16th Century church of Guian [Photo by Roneil Canillas] |
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar—Perhaps no other
place in Eastern Visayas has been endowed with so much tourist
attractions than the ancient town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar. Not only
is it rich in history and culture but it also boasts of many natural
wonders.
Thus, when Tourism
Secretary Alberto Lim visited the province last month, he was impressed
by what he saw in Guiuan: “a long white beach which can rival other
beaches in the Philippines.” It has all the elements of a tourist
come-on, he added.
Among Guiuan’s
“treasures” is the 16th-century Immaculate Conception Church at the town
proper. Originally made of wood, the structure was rebuilt by the
priests and natives using stones after it was razed by fire.
It is within a 42-square-meter fortress, its corners mounted with artillery.
At
that time, it was “the best and most regularly planned in all the
Visayas” and that it “exceeds in grandeur the celebrated fort in
Zamboanga.” But with the passage of time, the walls were destroyed.
Most of the church, including its belfry is still preserved, however.
National treasure
According
to Prof. Eric Zerrudo, an expert on cultural heritage and museum
development, the Guiuan church has been declared a “national treasure
church”—one of only 26 in the country.
“Guiuan,
had there been a chance, should have been catapulted to a world
heritage level. Why? It has a very high authenticity. Everything here is
original. Everything has been left intact; (only) very few
interventions,” Zerrudo says.
The
church has a main altar and two altars along the nave. One has a
retablo built by the Franciscans while the other has a rococo frontal
built by the Augustinians.
Shell
embellishments are seen in the baptistry, side altars, side windows and
niches. Zerrudo says the shell craft tradition dates back to the 16th
century and has continued up to now. In Sulangan, a pilgrimage site in
Guiuan, the altars are similarly adorned.
Second class
Located
in the southernmost tip of Eastern Samar, Guiuan has a land area of
17,549 hectares and a population of about 45,000. A second-class
municipality (annual income: P45 million to P55 million), it has 60
barangays, including the islands of Tubabao, Calicoan, Sulangan,
Homonhon and Suluan.
It is 109 kilometers away from the provincial capital of Borongan City and 155 km from Tacloban City, the regional capital.
On
Nov. 10, 1978, Proclamation No. 1801 was signed declaring Guiuan a
“tourist zone and marine reserve” under the administration and control
of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).
It
was in Guiuan where Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan and his
men, sailing under the flag of Spain, first set foot on Philippine soil
after crossing the vast Pacific Ocean—on the shore of Homonhon Island on
March 16, 1521. The event was later marked as the “discovery” of the
Philippines.
In 1944, the Americans
arrived in Guiuan and built a military base for its torpedo boats,
warships, bombers and fighter planes that were involved in the
Philippine liberation campaign and in the invasion of Japan. About
100,000 American servicemen were stationed in Guiuan and nearby towns.
The base was the biggest American supply base in the Pacific during the war.
Russian refugees
In 1949, about 5,000 Russians escaping from communist rule in China made Guiuan their home for 27 months. With
the help of the International Refugee Organization, they sought refuge
on Tubabao Island until 1951 when they moved to Australia and the United
States.
Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan
says tourists usually frequent the paradise island of Calicoan, which
has a 12-km stretch of white beach and a world-class surfing area. Calicoan
was declared by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the “Surfing
Capital of the Visayas.” What is unique about the island, the mayor
says, is that the side facing the Pacific Ocean has big waves which is
ideal for surfing. The side facing the Leyte Gulf has calm waters
suitable for swimming and boating. The
1,600-hectare Calicoan also has a lush forest with abundant wildlife,
such as monkeys and monitor lizards, six lagoons and some caves.
Tourist activities
Tourists
can go surfing, swimming, kayaking, trekking, spelunking or island
hopping and enjoy the white beaches of Suluan and other islets.
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| Surfing at ABCD Beach, Calicoan Island, Guiuan [Photo by: Roneil Canillas] |
Aurora
delos Reyes, municipal investment, environment and tourism officer,
says at least 3,000 tourists have visited Guiuan in the first quarter.
“Many visitors come here to surf,” she says.
More
are expected once the airport becomes fully operational. It is the same
facility built by the Americans in 1944 and is now undergoing
rehabilitation.
Guiuan has been a
consistent winner in the Clean and Green contest in Eastern Samar since
2004. It has been adjudged Best Managed LGU (local government unit) in
the province.
Delos Reyes says the
municipality has also been the best LGU One Town One Product (Otop)
implementor on the provincial and regional levels and a finalist on the
national level.
One of its products: Ecotourism.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/13922/guiuan%e2%80%99s-treasure-chest-of-history-natural-wonders#ixzz2Xm0ibGyz
