PALO, LEYTE

HISTORY

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.

According to existing records those who went to Kutay after the tribal war in Bunga were all equipped
with palo, a sort of club for fighting or self-protection. Being the settlement of a tribe with palos, this is
likely the reason why the community was known as "Palo".

However, the late Justice Norberto Romualdez, in an issue of Noli Me Tangere, a Tacloban-based

newspaper of that time, asserted on June 9, 1909, that this town was named Palo because of its many
carpenters sporting hammers (mazo or palo).

Menawhile, superstitious folk and people inclined to believe in the supernatural ascribe the origin of
Palo's name to the fact that in pre-Spanish days the town was often visited by typhoons every eight
(walo) days. They called that phenomenon walo-walo, hence walo-palo (eight-hammer).

The first known settlement was 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.

Early Palo Present Palo

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.

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. 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.

The landmark that has brought Palo to the annals of world history is the Red Beach, in barangay
Candahug, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur first landed to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese
occupation on October 20, 1944. Palo was also once the capital of Leyte. The town's Purissima
Bridge was the first steel bridge built in the province.

Purissima Bridge and Bangon River, Palo

In 1957, sitio Campitic was converted into a barrio, while barrio Baras-Candahug was divided into
two: Baras and Candahug. Barrio Maliron was renamed as Libertad.

On the spiritual side, Palo is believed to be a sacred place by clerical observers. It is the seat of the
ecclesiastical province, the Archdiocese, where the Roman Catholic Archbishop resides in Bukid
Tabor. One can find the Metropolitan Cathedral in Palo. Palo has established its identity as a
conservative and religious town with a highly cultural characteristic that makes Paloans extremely
proud of their birthplace. And created as the new seat of government of the province of Leyte.

Palo Metropolitan Cathedral

DEMOGRAPHY

Households

The household population of Palo in the 2015 Census was 69,260 broken down into 15,730 households
or an average of 4.40 members per household.

Historical Population

The population of Palo grew from 17,480 in 1903 to 76,213 in 2020, an increase of 58,733 people over
the course of 117 years. The latest census figures in 2020 denote a positive growth rate of 1.79%, or an
increase of 6,161 people, from the previous population of 70,052 in 2015.

Population by Age Group

According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Palo is 5 to 9, with 7,743
individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population is 80 and over, with 472 individuals.

Combining age groups together, those aged 14 and below, consisting of the young dependent
population which include infants/babies, children and young adolescents/teenagers, make up an
aggregate of 33.32% (23,340). Those aged 15 up to 64, roughly, the economically active population and
actual or potential members of the work force, constitute a total of 62.21% (43,580). Finally, old
dependent population consisting of the senior citizens, those aged 65 and over, total 4.47% (3,132) in
all.

The computed Age Dependency Ratios mean that among the population of Palo, there are 54 youth
dependents to every 100 of the working age population; there are 7 aged/senior citizens to every 100 of
the working population; and overall, there are 61 dependents (young and old-age) to every 100 of the
working population.

The median age of 23 indicates that half of the entire population of Palo are aged less than 23 and the
other half are over the age of 23.
GEOGRAPHY

The municipal center of Palo is situated at approximately 11° 10' North, 124° 59' East, in the island
of Leyte. Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 8.9 meters or 29.3 feet above mean sea level.
The municipality is located in the north-eastern part of the province of Leyte, 8 miles from the capital
city of Tacloban.

Based on the great-circle distance (the shortest distance between two points over the surface of the
Earth), the cities closest to Palo are Tacloban, Ormoc, Leyte, Baybay, Leyte, Catbalogan,
Samar, Borongan, Eastern Samar, and Calbayog, Samar. The nearest municipalities are Tanauan,
Leyte, Santa Fe, Leyte, Pastrana, Leyte, Tolosa, Leyte, Tabontabon, Leyte, and Dagami, Leyte. Its distance
from the national capital is 577.43 kilometers (358.80 miles). The following list delineates such distance
measurements.

Nearest Towns

 Tanauan, Leyte, 6.51 kilometers  Tolosa, Leyte, 11.95 kilometers

(4.05 miles) to the South-Southeast (7.43 miles) to the South-Southeast
(S31°E) (S25°E)
 Santa Fe, Leyte, 8.64 kilometers  Tabontabon, Leyte, 13.37 kilometers
(5.37 miles) to the West-Northwest (8.31 miles) to the South-Southwest
(N71°W) (S12°W)
 Pastrana, Leyte, 11.65 kilometers  Dagami, Leyte, 14.48 kilometers
(7.24 miles) to the West-Southwest (9.00 miles) to the Southwest (S41°W)
(S77°W)

Nearest Cities/Municipalities

 Tacloban, 9.43 kilometers (5.86 miles)  Catbalogan, Samar, 69.06 kilometers

to the North (N10°E) (42.91 miles) to the North (N10°W)
 Ormoc, Leyte, 45.21 kilometers  Borongan, Eastern Samar,
(28.09 miles) to the West-Southwest 69.51 kilometers (43.19 miles)
(S68°W) to the Northeast (N44°E)
 Baybay, Leyte, 57.40 kilometers  Calbayog, Samar, 109.20 kilometers
(35.67 miles) to the South-Southwest (67.85 miles) to the North-Northwest
(S21°W) (N23°W)
SATTELITE VIEW OF PALO, LEYTE

Taken from Google Map

Taken from Google Map: Showing Palo, Leyte River Side (Bangon River)
 HAZARD MAPS

Retrieved from https://gisweb.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/

Retrieved from https://gisweb.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/

Retrieved from https://gisweb.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/
Retrieved from https://gisweb.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/

PALO, LEYTE 5 YEAR FLOOD HAZARD MAP

Retrieved from https://lipad-fmc.dream.upd.edu.ph/

This shapefile, with a resolution of 10 meters, illustrates the inundation extents in the area if the actual amount of
rain exceeds that of a 5 year-rain return period.

There is a 1/5 (20%) probability of a flood with 5-year return period occurring in a single year. The Rainfall Intesity
Duration Frequency is 161.400mm.

LAND USE

REFERENCES
Earthquake- & Volcano-Related Maps. (n.d.). Retrieved from PHIVOLCS:
https://gisweb.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/gisweb/earthquake-volcano-related-hazard-gis-information

Palo, Leyte, Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zamboanga.com: https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?

title=Palo,_Leyte,_Philippines#History_of_Palo.2C_Leyte.2C_Philippines

Palo: Province of Leyte. (n.d.). Retrieved from PhilAtlas:

https://www.philatlas.com/visayas/r08/leyte/palo.html#sectionDemog

EMSR058_04PALO_REFERENCE_OVERVIEW_v1_300dpi.pdf. (n.d.). Leyte, Philippines.

https://emergency.copernicus.eu/mapping/system/files/components/EMSR058_04PALO_REFER
ENCE_OVERVIEW_v1_300dpi.pdf