THE beguiling city of Baybay in Leyte takes pride in being the country’s first “municity”—a jocular congregation of municipality and city.
Coined by its Mayor Carmen Cari when the town was proclaimed a component city in 2007, only to be reverted into a municipality a few years later by the Supreme Court, and declared a city with finality in 2012.
But the judicial roller-coaster ride did not, in any way, diminish the innate charm of this coastal city, which was often overshadowed by the neighboring bigger cities. It has the longest coastline in Leyte, and common sense dictates that it be named “Baybay,” which literally means “beach”. And it goes without saying that among its top tourist drawers is its cozy coasts, which captivates beach bums.
It is as popular as the well-known white-sand island beaches, but what it offers is its natural charm away from the madding crowd.
Dubbed “The City of Discovery, Beauty and Serenity,” it is not the usual sight-seeing journey for travel bugs, but a unique blend of rural allure and the comforts of urban living.
Situated between the undulating Pangasugan mountain ranges and the tranquil Camotes Sea, a trip to Baybay is a multisensorial experience.
Baybay is acknowledged as Leyte’s “heritage city” because of the well-preserved American-era ancestral houses, which will transport visitors back in time as they visit these so-called living museums.
In the city’s fringes is the wind-swept Lintaon Peak, which affords guests a commanding view of the city, the sea and the Cebu islands across the channel. The more adventurous can explore the cave nearby, which is ideal even for newbies in caving.
Even at its raw state, Lintaon has been ranked as the top natural attraction in Eastern Visayas. Plans are afoot to develop it as the Dubbed Lintaon Ecotourism Zone under a joint program of the city government and the Tourism Intfrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
Outdoor enthusiasts can trek the historic Mount Pangasugan, the lair of World War II guerrillas, and dip at the rejuvenating waters of Bakwitan River and Falls afterward.
An unexpected tourist hot spot of Baybay is the Diocesan Shrine of San Antonio de Padua, which draws hordes of pilgrims to venerate the image of the saint that is believed to be miraculous.
The church, which receives over 300,000 devotees a year, ranked as the top cultural attraction in the region. This number is part of the more than 647,045 day visitors who swing by annually in Baybay, the highest in Region 8 based on data from the Department of Tourism.
The city is also a proponent of agro-industrial tourism because of its its 13,820-hectare coconut plantation, the biggest in Eastern Visayas, and the presence agriculture-based industry, such as virgin coconut oil and pulp paper.
Baybay is home to the Visayas State University, one of the country’s biggest agricultural schools in southern Philippines and monikered “resort university” because of its enviable sunset-view beachfront. This expansive campus is conducive learning for its back-to-nature atmosphere and greeneries, which will bring out the proverbial green thumb in every person.
Peek into its cultural soul and take time to witness the Binaybayon Festival, a thanksgiving ritual influenced by the traditional Waray curacha dance. Coinciding with the patronal feast in December, the fest is inspired by the people’s folkways with the planting and harvest seasons depicted in colorful street dances.
As a city on the rise, it is reclaiming a 9-hectare property, which will be new central business district housing the public market, transport terminal, sports complex, a hotel, fishport, a shopping mall and a tent city garden park.
With nature and culture coming into play in Baybay, saying bye-bye might be the hardest thing to do.
Image credits: Bernard L. Supetran, Interior of Javier ancestral house