Tacloban

Tacloban is a highly urbanized city located in the Philippines.

It sits on the northeastern tip of Leyte island. The city is part of the Eastern Visayas region. It serves as the regional center for that area. Tacloban is also the largest city and the capital of Leyte province. However, the city is governed and administered independently from the province. According to the 2024 census, the city has a population of 259,353 people. This makes it the most populous city in the Eastern Visayas.

The name of the city comes from a specific local tool. Long ago, the area was known as Kankabatok. This name referred to the first inhabitants, known as the Kabatok. These people built dwellings near what is now the Santo Niño Church. Later, the name changed due to the work of local fishermen. They used a bamboo contraption called a "taklub" to catch crabs, shrimp, or fish.

When fishermen went to use this tool, they would say they were going to "tarakluban." This meant the place where they used the taklub. Eventually, the name Tarakluban or Tacloban became the primary name for the area.

Tacloban has a complex history involving many different groups. In the 1700s, the Jesuits were the first to evangelize the area. Later, the Augustinians took over and introduced devotion to the Santo Niño. By 1843, the Franciscans took over the administration of the parish. The city became a vital trading point between Leyte and Samar. It was chosen as the capital of Leyte on February 26, 1830. This was because the port was in an ideal location. The city also had well-sheltered and adequate facilities for trade.

During World War II, the city experienced a very difficult period. Japanese forces landed in Tacloban on May 25, 1942. They occupied the area for two years and used the airfield. They also used the San Pedro Bay as a port of call. The occupation included periods of torture and the use of a "comfort station" system. However, Filipino and American troops eventually liberated the area. General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beaches of Tacloban and Palo on October 20, 1944.

For a short time, Tacloban served as the temporary capital of the Philippines. This lasted from October 20, 1944, until February 27, 1945.

The climate in Tacloban is classified as a tropical rainforest climate. This means there is no distinct dry season. It is typically wet throughout the entire year. Rainfall is both heavy and frequent. The average high temperature for the year is 32 degrees Celsius. The warmest month is usually May, with an average daytime temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. The coolest months are January and February. The highest temperature ever recorded was 38 degrees Celsius in 1924. The city receives an average of 2,673 millimeters of rainfall annually.

In recent history, the city has shown incredible resilience. On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan hit the city with full force.

The storm caused massive destruction across the entire city. A storm surge destroyed much of the airport. The official final death toll from the typhoon was 6,201 people. To support the survivors, Pope Francis visited Tacloban on January 17, 2015. He held a mass at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.

This visit was part of his larger papal visit to the Philippines.

Today, Tacloban is a major urban and economic center. It is a highly urbanized city, a status it received in 2008. The city is politically divided into 138 barangays. These are small administrative districts that make up the city. Most of the population speaks Waray, also called Lineyte-Samarnon. More than 90% of the people in the city use this language. The city remains an important hub for the Eastern Visayas region. It connects the islands of Leyte and Samar through the San Juanico Strait.