Palo, Leyte
| Palo | ||
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| Municipality | ||
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 Location in Leyte province |
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 Palo
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| Coordinates: 11°09′27″N 124°59′27″E / 11.15750°N 124.99083°ECoordinates: 11°09′27″N 124°59′27″E / 11.15750°N 124.99083°E | ||
| Country |
 Philippines
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| Region | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | |
| Province | Leyte | |
| District | 1st District of Leyte | |
| Founded | 1768 | |
| Barangays | 33 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Remedios L. Petilla | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 221.27 km2 (85.43 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 80.19 km2 (30.96 sq mi) | |
| Population (2015 census) | ||
| • Total | 70,052 | |
| • Density | 320/km2 (820/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | |
| ZIP code | 6501 | |
| Dialing code | +63 (0)53 | |
| Income class | 3rd municipal income class | |
| 083739000 | ||
| Electorate | 38,582 voters as of 2016 | |
| Website | www |
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Palo is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 70,052 people.
The municipality is the seat of most government departments, bureaus and regional offices of Region VIII, although some are situated at the neighboring city of Tacloban. The town is also home to the offices of the ecclesiastical government of the Archdiocese of Palo; the archbishop's residence; as well as the secondary, tertiary and theology seminaries of the archdiocese.
The municipality is located in the north-eastern part of the province of Leyte, 8 miles from the capital city of Tacloban.
Palo is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.
The discovery of the advancing communities of Palo dates back to the early 16th century A.D. along the banks of Bangon River. However, local historians believe that the settlement of Palo started as early as the 10th to 13th century A.D..
The first known settlement were the kingdom of Takuranga, first name of Palo under King Guban, and the Kingdom of Kaluugan, the second name of Palo under King Pitik. From the 14th to the 16th centuries, some other settlements were formed which also became the succeeding names of Palo, until finally in 1550 Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi coalesced the settlements and named the new confederation "Palo". The other settlements were Kasangitan, Binangalan, Kasuguran, Bunga, Bangon and Guindapunan. The settlers of Bunga played a vital role in the history of Palo, having formed the settlement of Bangon which is now the town center. Palo formally became a town in 1768 with Kapitan Balasabas as its first administration.
Accordingly, the early settlers of Palo were the clans of Panganuron, Kadampog, Manlangit, Kumago, Kawaring, Kabalhin, Kumagong, Maglain, Bilyu and Dilyu.
Palo is considered to be one of the most historical towns of Leyte. It is well known as the site of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines together with Philippine and American military forces after a period of exile in 1944. Hill 522, a hill located near the town center, was the site of fierce fighting between Allied and Japanese forces during the Second World War. The metropolitan cathedral of the archdiocese, located right across Palo's municipal hall, was used as a hospital for wounded Filipino and American forces. A memorial now stands at the beach site where MacArthur and his troops landed, locally known as the MacArthur's Park. The first Gabaldon Building is also situated in Brgy. San Joaquin Palo, Leyte. It was inaugurated by President Sergio Osmeña.
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Wikipedia