A Cultural Mapping for Ormoc City

In Partial Fulfillment for the Completion

of Humanities 11 (Survey of Arts)

Submitted by:

DE LA FUENTE, MELBA CRISTIE

FABIANO, JOLLIBEE

LLENA, DEXTER

LULAB, MARVIN JAY

MANTUA, AHLDETER

ODIAS, JULIET

Submitted to:

Ms. Lyn N. Florentino

1^st Semester 2013 – 2014

ABSTRACT

The students of Humanities 11 under the supervision of Ms. Lyn N. Florentino of the Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences, Visayas State University main campus, conducted a cultural mapping in the city of Ormoc on the 17^th of July, 2013. The group, consisted of three second year and one third year Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management students and two third year Bachelor of Secondary Education students. They came to visit Ormoc City with a common significant purpose, i.e. to identify the heritage resources, including both tangible and intangible cultural properties that are available in the given locality. The group coordinated with some personnel of the City Hall of Ormoc, including personnel from tourism department, senior citizen’s office and of course received a big help from their very hospitable residents. Data were gathered thru interviews from the aforementioned persons as well as from the concern Ormocanons who really did helped the group and were all willing to extend their hands to guide them with their survey. Along with the group’s systematic inquiries, they could recommend nothing more but to keep what attributes Ormoc presently holds and to keep it all.

INTRODUCTION

The City of Ormoc , Dakbayan sa Ormoc in Cebuano,  is a first class city of the Philippines located on the northern shores of Western Leyte Bay, with a total land area of 613.60 sq. km (236,91 sq. mi). According to history, the city's name is derived from “Ogmok”, an old Visayan term for lowland or depressed plain which also happened to be the name of a spring located between the barrios Donghol and Mahayag. Early natives, the Malayans, had already formed settlements around the region before Spanish invaders and explorers set foot on the place. Ogmokanons was then religiously converted into Christians when the Spanish missionaries came visit the locality on August 1556 and were met by the local chieftains whose courtesy and hospitability very much impressed the newcomers. However, Ogmok was never able to attain material progress from 1556 onwards due to the persistent troubling attacks of Moro pirates who robbed and caused incursions to the town every now and then. On December 3, 1634, the notorious pirate Katsil Kunarat victoriously invaded Ogmok fresh from his invasions, pillage and plunder of the towns Sogod, Inopacan, Kabalian and Baybay. Forthwith, the marauders ransacked the town, took away everything they could lay their hands on and took ten captives with them after unmercifully killing hundreds of the inhabitants and wounding several hundred others. Centuries later, in November 5, 1991, Ormoc claimed concerns from the world as the very devastating Tropical Storm Thelma (local name: Uring) inundated the region leaving millions of damage to properties and claiming thousands of valuable lives. Half a decade later, Ormoc City became a picture of security and recovery which nobody ever foretold that swift recovery would ever happen four years later. Today, Ormoc projects the image of constant progress and stability. It became the economic, cultural, commercial and transportation hub of Western Leyte.  The city has also keep attuned to its efforts in protecting the environment and this was proven true when Ormoc was awarded as a consistent Cleanest and Greenest City in Region VIII and in the whole country. Evidently, Ormoc City is a real “beauty by the bay” and consequently a beauty by nature, culture and heritage.

METHODOLOGY

Cultural mapping is a fundamental technique in establishing the significance of a given territory as per defined by this subject. It promotes cultural tourism of the given locality leading to a more progressive and developed society. This study also opens opportunities for the people to gain cultural awareness that would enhance positive Filipino values, discipline, social responsibilities and a sense of community spirit. As students, this particular cultural mapping would ignite our sense of patriotism that would somehow promote our own culture in our own little ways. Young people nowadays are more likely to be influenced by other cultures, adapting their customs and traditions that would gradually results to the diminishing of our very own culture. Likewise the young citizens and even adults are trying to conform to the newest trends of this generation. Some would even drag down our culture by giving pride to the foreign traditions and cultures. For such reasons, this research has been conducted to contribute, in one way or another, to the restoration of our heritage especially to the given locality itself, and its people.

Objective(s):

             This study sought to:

1.    identify the heritage resources of Ormoc City

2.    establish the cultural essentiality and identity of the given locality

3.    develop a plan on how to conserve the significance of the place

4.    assist the researchers in identifying the meanings and values that support the cultural resources.

Locale of the Study

Ormoc City is a port city and is the largest city by land area (613.60 km²) in Leyte and second largest in Eastern Visayas after Calbayog City in Samar, bordered by Kananga to the north, towns of Jaro, Pastrana and Dagami to the northeast, towns of Matag-ob and Merida in the northwest, and the town of Albuera to the south. According to a web blog, Ormoc’s location serves to make the city an ideal stopover point for Cebu, the rest of the Visayas, and some of Mindanao. It is situated 109 kilometers from Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte and about 62 miles from Cebu City, the Queen City of the South. High mountain ranges separate Ormoc from the eastern portion of Leyte and a number of rivers and streams traverse the whole region. Among them are the Bao River in the north, Pagsangahan River in the west, the Bagong-bong and Panilahan River in the south and the Anilao and Malbasag Rivers which border the eastern and western flanks of Ormoc City proper. The city undergoes two seasons each year, like much of the Philippines. The rainy season usually starts in June lasting until the second month of the following year. The rest of the year, Ormoc City would usually experience fewer rains and will be much warmer when the summer season enters in. The coolest temperature of the city is around 21.1 degrees Celsius while the warmest goes up around 34 degrees Celsius. Ormoc’s rich history also contributed a lot to what it presently holds. The Spanish historian, Pigafetta, mentioned in his chronicles that Ormoc is where the influential Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan touched down in search of food and water in March 1521. However, according to the history, long before Spaniards set foot on the Philippine shore, flourishing handful of Malayan families already have resided in a small settlement called “Ogmok”, an old Visayan term for lowland or depressed plain and also happened to be the name of a spring located between barrios Donghol and Mahayag.  Today, the natives of this city are called Ormocanons, with most being Cebuano speakers together with the whole western part of Leyte Island whose common passion is to spread the concerns of preserving culture and nature.

Participants of the Study

            This cultural mapping is particularly a product of fair efforts from the courageous and hardworking researchers and surveyors of this study and by the active participation and cooperation from the most willing personnel and concern residents of Ormoc City. Among the participants is the group of student researchers of Humanities 11 under DLABS (Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences) of the Visayas State University main campus, whose undying endeavors bear certainties to Ormoc City’s cultural heritage. This group is composed by Melba Cristie dela Fuente, Jollibee Fabiano, Juliet Odias who are all second year BSHRTM students, Dexter Llena, third year BSHRTM student, Marvin Jay Lulab and the leader, Ahldeter Mantua who are both third year BSEd math major students. Each member worked fairly towards acquiring the necessary informations needed in this study. Moreover, this research wouldn’t be possible without the participation of Ormoc’s cultural sector personnel most especially Ms. Ira Bantazan who collaboratively provided the information to the researchers but not spoon feeding them with all the things they seek. Ormoc’s involved residents are also into playing a significant role with this study for they, as natives of the region, contributed a lot to the acquisition of information for this research.

Instruments and Methods

            This research would not be as tangible as it is without the following instruments and methods. First on the list of instruments is the digital camera that was used more often during the research than the other instruments. Whenever a heritage element is cited around the locality, the researchers took shoots of it using the camera, which instantly defines one of their methods. Photos are essential in fulfilling this research and so is the camera. They did used the traditional paper-and-pen as well especially during personal interviews with some important personnel and concerned Ormocanons and took down notes for having more information.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

            This cultural mapping was conducted in the City of Ormoc, before “Ogmok” ; a term referring to a depressed lowland or plain. Ormoc was founded as a distinct municipality on Febuary 26, 1834 as it separated from its mother town, Palompon, had obtained its cityhood on June 21, 1947 through Republic Act No. 179 fathered by former Congressman Domingo Veloso, was proclaimed as a city on September 4, 1947 by the first president of Philippine Republic, Manuel A. Roxas and was formally inaugurated as a city on October 20, 1947 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 42. Ormoc with a total land area of 613.60 km² , is bounded by Kananga to the north, towns of Jaro, Pastrana and Dagami to the northeast, towns of Matag-ob and Merida in the northwest, and the town of Albuera to the south. Ormoc is the first non-provincial city of the Philippines and is politically subdivided into 110 barangays. According to the 2010 census, it has a total population of 191,200 people with 310/km² (810/sq mi) density.  Ormoc City is an independent component city, meaning it is not subject to any regulation from the Provincial Government of Leyte. However, the city is still part of the IV Congressional District of Leyte together with Albuera, Kananga, Merida, and Isabel.  

I.              Natural Heritage

Ormoc City is undeniably a locality of natural richness. Common plants and animals inhabit mostly around the mountainous area of the locality. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus) is their oldest tree, located in the northern part of Ormoc, around the mountains of Tongonan. It ages almost a hundred years and still standing tall with a height of 20-30 meters in approximation. Trees like acacia (Acacia gregii) which stands about an average height of 14-20 meters , mabolo (Diospyros philippinensis) which grows about an average of 17-29 meters in some barangays and aged several years as well, the tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica) which heights an average of 12-15 meters and grows around immediate vicinities, talisay (Terminalia catappa) which sprouts around the shorelines of some barangays, the gmelina tree (Gmelina arborea) which grows widely along the streets of some barangays, mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) which grows widely along the shorelines of the southern part of Ormoc particularly in Naungan and many more trees to mention grow widely around Ormoc. Plants also inhabits Ormoc region most particularly on the northern and eastern part of it. Commonly growing are the pineapples (Ananas comosus) from which Ormoc takes pride their wide pineapple plantation located before the Municipality of Kananga particularly around Nueva Vista. Pineapple is the primary product of Ormoc, which cannot be argued since it’s evident in their processed products and even in their festivals. Sugarcane (Saccharum officirarum) commonly grows as well around Ormoc. They even have sugarcane plantations widely spread in Ormoc region. Other plants like cassava (Manihot esculenta) which provides some native Ormocanons with livelihood that inhabits mostly on the agricultural area of Ormoc, rice plant (Oryza sativa) and many flowering plants like gumamela (Hisbiscus rosa sinensis) that grows tall around residential lawns, santan ((Ixora coccinea) also growing on the same areas, yellow bells (Allamanda cathartica) and many more. Ormoc has Tongonan Hot Springs and Leyte Geothermal Fields. There are also caves around Brgy. Rufina M. Tan. It is then believed that Ormoc has veiled minerals under its grounds that were somehow hiden along the mentioned places.

The City of Ormoc would never come into last with its fauna. Many species of birds and land animals visit, if not endemically found, in Ormoc. There are citations of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the surrounding forest of Lake Danao. They are medium-sized mammal with a large head and front end, that leads into a smaller hind. They have a thick and course double coat of fur that consists of a harder, bristly top layer, with a softer undercoat beneath it. Tarsiers (Tarsius) also inhabits in the same area and in the northern part of Ormoc. They are nocturnal mammals and were considered as one of the smallest species of monkeys in Earth. Ormoc stood with pride when a certain species of butterfly was discovered in the evergreen forest of the surrounding hills of Lake Danao. The discovery was named Ormocana butterfly (Lexias satrapes ormocana) named after where the animal was found. It was Prof. Julian Jumalon who came into the great discovery of the insect around 1975-1976. The butterfly resembles spotted patterns on its wings on different spot sizes. This discovery just entails that Ormoc is definitely a city of natural beauty.

II.         Built Heritage

            Centuries ago and until today, there are still built structures of Ormoc that remain standing under many generations no matter how circumstances of time struck them. These structures are treasures of the city because aside from the fact that it has witnessed every momentous event in Ormoc, these were the only gifts that modernism and industrialism left for the city. Among those somehow antiquated structures is the oldest house standing in Ormoc, the Ruins of Congressman Dominador Tan’s residence. The house was completed a year before the World War II with well-manicured lawn and a swimming pool as one of the most beautiful scenery in Ormoc at that time. As war broke out, it was utilized as one of the headquarters of the Japanese military operations in Leyte and was partially destroyed by the bombings of the famous Battle of Ormoc Bay. Its ruins serve as a symbolic structure of Ormocanons indulgence of World War II. There are also a number of old houses along Real Street which was built around 1980’s.

            Ormoc’s oldest public structure is the magical Puente de la Reina Bridge. It is also known as the oldest bridge in the city. It is situated in the hearth of the city fronting the twin buildings of the Executive and Legislative branch of the local government of Ormoc Plaza with the old Ormoc City at its side. Its platform was originally built in 1550’s but was completed and officially inaugurated in the early part of 1800’s. Ormoc’s Old City Hall is also but a historical structure. It was built around 1940’s which was partially affected by the World War II. Just some little walk from the City Hall is the Children’s Paradise. This enclosed area is a historical landscape of the city located right across Saint Peter and Paul Parish Church along Arradaza Street. This playing area was believed to be built simultaneously with the church. Saint Peter and Paul Parish Church, located in Aviles Street, is also a historical structure of Ormoc founded on 1630.

            From a small town of dirt road and a few asphalted streets of the 1950’s, Ormoc has metamorphosed into an expanding jungle of concrete and infrastructures; wide concrete road and bridges, well facilitated government and private hospitals and clinics, airport facilities, banking and financial institutions, educational institutions, commercial and trade establishments, housing projects, factories and industrial plants, all are tangible evidences of modern development and progressive state of Ormoc. Tall buildings surround the roads of the city proper. One is the Ormoc’s pride, the Superdome. It is situated within the city fronting Ormoc Bay cornered by Larrazabal Boulevard & San Pedro Street. This imposing structure has an area of 3,782 sq. meters with a 5,000-person capacity equipped with the most modern facilities. This structure is a magnificent venue for socio-cultural activities such as conventions, conferences, concerts, basketball and volleyball tournaments and other related activities. Another building worth recognizing is Ormoc Doctors’ Hospital located at San Pablo St, Ormoc City. Owned by Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal Jr,  president of Cebu Doctors Hospital, his wife Zeny and the whole Larrazabal family, this building is located on a 3,000-square meter property of the Larrazabals right smack at the city proper, and occupies around 2,100 square meters or a total floor area of 6,300 square meters for all floors. OSPA Farmers Medical Center is another clinical building of Ormoc. Located at Brgy. Can-adieng, OSPA can also be considered as one of Ormoc’s historical structure built in 1971.

            Ormoc, as a city of historical events, don’t misses the structuring of various monuments.

First on the list is the World War II Heroes and Veterans Monument. Situated at the hearth of Ormoc Plaza, facing the gulf of Ormoc, this monument was built in 1990 in honor of the soldiers who fought for the liberation of Leyte and the Philippines in World War II. Another monument is the Philippine-Japan Peace Memorial, the famous war monument of proud Filipinos and Japanese soldiers who have suffered the most humiliating debacle along the line known as the Ormoc Corridor. This impressive memorial marker was put up by Nagoya and Gifu Prefectures as a token of friendship of Japanese and Filipinos in the aftermath of World War II. It is situated in one of the city's picturesque hills overlooking Ormoc Bay, Carlota Hills in Brgy. Can-adieng. Another monument worth recognizing in Ormoc is the Flashflood Memorial Marker set atop the mass grave of the victims of the Ormoc flashflood in November 5, 1991. It is located in Ormoc City Public Cemetery. The marker depicts the life taken to heaven, whose face is abstract, since “a dead person turns (to) soul, (with) no physical identity,” said sculptor Francis Cinco of Calbayog, Samar. Other monuments like the Guerilla Warfare Monument located near Ormoc City’s Superdome which is also a tribute for Filipino heroes of World War II, the Floodway Monument situated along Apo St., Osmena Bridge which was built to remind the people of Ormoc’s tragic flashflood in 1991 and many more monuments to mention were built for Ormoc’s unending remembrance.

III.        Festivals

            Ormoc is widely known for its Tugob Festival held as a week-long activity during October. This festival was composed on 2010 promoting primarily the different products and crops of Ormoc. This festival features different colorful costumes with distinctive incorporations of Ormoc’s different products like pineapple, sugarcane, cassava, and etc. But before Tugob was considered as the city’s official festival, Ormoc has prior festivals, i.e. the Pineapple Festival on 2003 and Kalambuan Festival on 2005.

            Ormoc has a rich list of historical events that nourished the Ormocanons with unforgettable experiences. The most famous tragic event that made Ormoc worldly renowned was the very devastating flashflood in 1991. On the night of November 4, 1991, only the sound of the torrential rains kept the people of Ormoc company. The next morning of November 5 on that year, Ormoc City was flooded by Tropical Storm Thelma (local name: Uring) that wrought havoc such as flash floods and landslides. The city government recorded 4,922 deaths, 3,000 missing persons; all were never found and are now presumed dead, 14,000 destroyed houses and more than P600 million worth of damaged property. Illegal logging and kaingin were blamed as the main reasons of the flood. Heavy rainfall caused water to collect upstream the Anilao and Malbasag rivers until it poured to the lowlands in Ormoc, particularly District 26, known as Isla Verde. The event pushed both the government and private sector of Ormork to embark on a full-gear effort to restore the denuded forest areas. Reconstruction of infrastructure facilities, reforestation projects, resettlement facilities, drainage system, Ormoc Superdome, water system, among others were undertaken through the efforts of the city government which was then led by Mayor Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr.. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also helped the city government in implementing the Flood Mitigation Project that would most probably protect the city during typhoons and heavy downpour. Today, a monument by national artist Francis Cinco was constructed to commemorate the tragic event that once struck Ormoc. Another event that constitute much in the history of Ormoc is the “Battle of Ormoc Bay”. It is one of the fiercest and most pivotal battles of the Pacific War but is also one of the least known, as the painter Irwin J. Kappes wrote. “Battle of Ormoc Bay” was a series of air-sea battles between Imperial Japan and the United States in the Camotes Sea in the Philippines between 11^th of November and 21th of December 1944. The battles resulted from Japanese operations to reinforce and resupply their forces on Leyte and U.S. attempts to interdict them.

IV.        Performing Arts

            People of Ormoc never set themselves last in terms of performing arts. Ormoc’s theater, Linambay, was traditionally performed by local artists of Ormoc since 1990’s. It portrays the conflict between Christians and Muslims highlighting fencing of two people from the said parties. Ormoc also prides its tribal dance, Linao.

V.         Music

            Ormocanons are naturally music lovers. It is evident in their diverse genre of music. Lucas “Luking” de Loyola, Ormoc’s great composer and songwriter wrote a number of songs for Ormoc City. He holds the title “Lord Of Lancaster” by the songs he had composed including Himno sa San Juan ug San Pedro which mainly describes the Patron Saints of Ormoc City. According to his daughter Mrs. Charice Cantago, Luking’s compositions, before been able to publish, were brought into perish by the historical Ormoc flashflood. There are also other composers in Ormoc that, if were not mostly celebrated, heavily contributed to Ormoc’s music. One is Mr. Junjie Palacio, an instructor in Western Leyte College, who composed Ormoc Jingle. Other composers are yet to be discovered.

VI.        Cuisine

Ormocanons are known for their special recipe for a Visayan dish, humba. Their version of the said dish is just unforgettable by the tongues of those who already had taken a taste. An eight serving of the dish requires the following amount of ingredients; 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 kg pork, 3 tbsp cooking oil, 2 tbsp Tausi, 4 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 pc Laurel, ½ tsp peppercorn, 3 star Anise, ½ cup water, ¼ cup vinegar, and 115 grams of tomato sauce. Here is how it is done: in a casserole, cook sugar and pork in oil until sugar has caramelized. Add tausi and garlic and cook for few minutes or until meat is slightly brown. Add vinegar, soy sauce, laurel, peppercorn star anise, and the tomato sauce. Do not stir until it simmers. Add water and pineapple syrup. Cover and simmer for 1 hour and 2 minutes or until meat is tender. It’s now ready for serve. Surely, this mouth-watering dish would make the tourists of Ormoc visit the city more often. Ormoc’s delicacies are also a must-try by the visitors. They have their cassava cake locally widespread and tasted distinct. One serving of the delicacy requires the following ingredients:  2 packs (16 oz)  grated cassava, 1 can ( 14oz) condensed milk, 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk, 1 bottle (12 oz) macapuno string (1/2 for topping). For the topping: 1/2 can condensed milk, 1/2 can evaporated milk or 1/2 can coconut milk, 1 egg yolk, and 1/2 bottle macapuno strings. This is the procedure for cooking: preheat the oven to 375 degrees F while preparing a baking pan and greasing it with butter. Set aside as you combine all the ingredients in a deep bowl making sure that every ingredients are well combined. Transfer the mixture into the greased baking tray. Bake for 40-45 minutes. As you wait, combine the topping ingredients. Pour in over the top of the baked cassava. Baked again for another 15-25 minutes and then remove from the oven and serve warm. No doubt, every tid bits of this delicacy would surely make you go wanting for more.

VII.       Personalities

            Ormoc City is no doubt wealthy with its human resource. Their oldest man alive resides at Brgy. San Isidro. He is Mr. Frustoso Pongos who ages for more than a hundred years, 101 years old to be exact. He was born even World War I sprang on August 12, 1912. Ormoc’s oldest woman is Mrs. Luisa Cacanog of Brgy. Lilo-an. She ages exactly a hundred years and was born before any world wars came into action on August 13, 1913.

            The progressive and modernized city of Ormoc would not came into present’s reality without the influential people of Ormoc. The names Larrazabal, Locsin, Codilla, Gomez and Serafica are the most celebrated influential personalities in Ormoc. You could hear their names just as widely as anywhere since they are considered as Ormoc’s Elites. “People were happy to have jobs and to buy wood from us. If we were not there, residents had to buy their wood from Mindanao," recalls Paquito Serafica in an interview, a 65-year old businessman who belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Ormoc. The Seraficas, along with the Pongos, pioneered the logging industry in Ormoc. They began in 1936, operating a 5,000-hectare concession with their own sawmill. They were interrupted by World War II, but resumed logging in 1946. The Larrazabals on the other hand, later diversified into such businesses as cattle ranching, hotels and real estate development. The Larrazabals also entered politics. Potenciano, the son of the clan patriarch Felipe, was twice appointed mayor of Ormoc, first by the Americans and later by President Diosdado Macapagal. Another son, lnake, served 20 years as mayor under President Ferdinand Marcos. Relatively, Carmelo Locsin, the husband of one of Larrazabal’s daughter, Victoria, represents the province in Congress. Locsin, who is also president of the Ormoc Sugarcane Planters Association and a key official of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, belongs to the prominent family of sugar planters from Iloilo. Eufrocino "Dodong" M. Codilla Sr. was once a mayor of Ormoc. A fresh name in Ormoc politics, he has broken the continuity of the Larrazabals' reign. The Codillas are not of old wealth but are upstarts, they are the new rich of Ormoc. On the later part, Gomez enters the scene as politically influential around Ormoc region. Lucy, who is born in Ormoc, easily spreads her influence to Ormocanons since she is widely known from coming out several times in the Philippine television at the first place. These people are essentially significant to Ormoc’s onward progress for they brought nothing but what’s best for the city.

VIII.      Skills/Technology

            Ormocanons are best known for their vocational skills. Some residents own businesses which involve vocational techniques like wielding, vulcanizing and etc. They are also into farming especially residents of the northern part of Ormoc who cultivates land areas into rice fields, sugarcane plantations, cassava and pineapple plantations. Ormoc also possess big factories like sugar and paper factories. Moreover, Ormoc’s advancing technology is evident in their modern buildings especially in their New City Hall. Automatic sliding door and elevators are there to give ease for the visitors.

IX.        Literature/Poetry/Myths/Legends

            Along with the composition of endemic Ormoc songs, poetry and other written literature was also made into the acknowledgement of the great Lucas de Loyola. Unfortunately, it was brought into a total perish by the flashflood together with the scripts of the songs. But there was a legend kept by mouths of generation to generation, the legend of Puente de la Reina Bridge. It was said that along the mini-forest near the current location of the bridge, there lived a widowed woman with three beautiful daughters. It was all under the reigns of kings and queens that time and a prince fell in love with one of the pretty young ladies. The prince would want to visit the house in the mini-forest and try to court the daughter of the widowed. However, the mother of the girl would not permit the prince not unless he would be able to construct a bridge across the stream near their residence for it was long before a hard try in crossing. The prince agreed to the condition and built the bridge for her lover’s mother and named it the Bridge of the Queen, the bridge what Ormocanons presently named Puente de la Reina. These forms of literatures adds up to Ormoc’s cultural richness.

X.         Language

            The inhabitants of Ormoc are natively Cebuanos, speaking the same language as much of the people Leyte. However, Ormocanons has some little distinctive accents and words that sets them apart from pure Cebuano. These particular difference in language is referred to as by the natives of Ormoc as Inormocanon. This became distinctive from Cebuano by some variations of intonations and stresses.

XI.        Fine/Applied Arts

            Ormoc dwells less in monitoring their fine and applied arts. They have some paintings like the “Lake Danao”, donated by the West Chapter, signed by the Mendoza Arts and painted in 2003 and the “Battle of Ormoc Bay” painted by Mr. Irwin J. “Pete” Kappes on 2006, a Radar man aboard the USS MOALE during the battle of 1944. Ormoc also has wood sculptures in some houses of the residents and somehow into bamboo crafts.

XII.       Healing Arts

            Quacks and professional doctors spread around Ormoc. They may have varying way and beliefs in healing, Ormocanons still consults either of the two types of doctors. If there’s one unique healing art in Ormoc, it would be Nang Ninay’s religious healing. Nina Canonio, or famous as Nang Ninay, heals illed residents in Ormoc using her own image of Sr. Sto. Nino. She was able to heal sick patients using this particular way of healing but no one were able to explain how, in medical terms, did the fair lady did it. Nonetheless, with or without medical proofs, Nang Ninay’s healing art is but a help to the native Ormocanons.

XIII.      Costume/Accessories

            During the celebration of Ormoc’s Tugob Festival and other feasts, eye-catching costumes are being showcased in the parade with different beautiful light colors and etiquette designs highlighted. Twelve diverging types of costumes during the festival are shown in a proper incorporation of the twelve different products of Ormoc. Mostly, these dresses are made of cotton and polyester decorated with indigenous materials that made it more magical. These costumes, moreover, are associated with different artistic accessories that made every dancers a glib of the audience.

XIV.     Archives

            Ormoc’s important documents and memorabilia are not yet properly and officially documented and wasn’t yet put into a single or classified files. For such reason, this entry wouldn’t have much of that information to be revealed.

XV.      Secret Knowledge

            During the Battle of Ormoc Bay, it was believed that Japanese engraved hidden treasures particularly the famous Yamashita’s treasure along the Ormoc Corridors or the Yamashita Line.