Southern Leyte's Limasawa is a small yet thriving town. Every Filipino may have heard about the location, as it was where the first Christian mass was held in the nation and Asia.
Due to its abundant attractions, including beaches and deep blue lagoons, it is also a popular vacation spot for locals and visitors. Visitors to this little island can simultaneously take in the natural beauty and learn about the nation's history as a whole.
Some can even perceive the island as where the first seeds of a nation were planted.
Rich history
This municipality's original name was "Mazaua." The Spanish settlers coined it because of its natural beauty. Everybody in the area started referring to it as "Le Mazaua" since it is customary for them to add the prefix "Le" to a name.
Later, the local Filipino population combined the two words into "Limasawa" by changing the spelling.
A few of the most popular locations that provide tourists with the unique opportunity to retrace the historic steps of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521—the year that marked the advent of Christianity in the nation—are the First Cross and the First Mass Shrine.
Retracing the steps of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, who cleared the path for establishing Christianity in the nation, is an opportunity travelers rarely enjoy. Two of the most popular locations in Limasawa are the First Cross and the First Mass Shrine, both affiliated with Magellan's expedition.
Exciting potential
Being the location of the nation's first Christian mass, the municipality of Limasawa is among the places with significant tourism potential.
Limasawa was established as a tourism zone on July 25, 1994, when Republic Act 7822 was issued. This proclamation led to the preparation of the municipality's tourism master plan.
Numerous initiatives to improve tourism have already been implemented on the island with assistance from the Department of Tourism, the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte, and other governmental organizations.
Limasawa is blessed with beautiful and cool views of white sand beaches and fish sanctuaries ideal for trekking, camping, snorkeling, and scuba diving, in addition to its religious and historical sites.
The east coast has the nicest white-sand beaches, the largest of which is at the Dakdak Beach Resort in Barangay Lugsongan.
Accessible via 84 steep concrete steps, the gorgeous Island Lagoon Resort is a lonely cliffside resort located on the northern tip of Limasawa. It boasts rock formations surrounded by limestone cliffs close to the North Lighthouse.
Getting there
Flying into Tacloban, travelers can take an aircraft from Manila to Southern Leyte. Local airlines operate flights to Tacloban, the entry point to Southern Leyte, departing from Manila. Next, take an FX van from Tacloban to Hinunangan, a village in Southern Leyte.
The island is accessible from Maasin City after a 30-minute ride to the municipality of Padre Burgos and an additional 40-minute banca/boat ride.
A van or bus trip to Maasin City takes two to three hours from Tacloban City and Ormoc City.
