An Invitation to all Dulagnon

If you have pics about Dulag especially related to History of Dulag which is worth sharing, you may send it to me - ilovedulag@gmail.com and I'll be proud to publish it here. 

Or any old pics of Dulag. This is the greatest treasure that we can share to the next generation of Dulagnon. 

Thank you.

History of Dulag

The Airfield in Dulag in 1944

Dulag is one of the few barangays in Leyte that antedated the discovery of the Philippines in 1521. It is situated in the eastern coast of Leyte. There are several versions as to how Dulag got its name. The first was that in the early years of the 18th century, the town was already a flourishing community, the center of trade and commerce in eastern Leyte. The town then was considered the center of commercial activities going on thus it was named Dulag, the German term for center.

Another version states that it is the etymological variation of a certain herb called "dulao" which grew abundantly in the area. Dulao is a kind of plant which is yellowish-green in color used as a food seasoning for a local dish. Because of its abundance, the place was called after this herb.

Images in the History

Church Ruins

The Church of Dulag after the World War II, destroyed by bombing, with Army jeeps in foreground. The caption hand-written on the back says: "Dulag - Leyte. Where Japs made airborne landing and held fighter strip for 24 hours"

From the personal scrapbooks of Lt. Col. O. Howard Davidsmeyer, Sr.

A Journal Entry of a Foreign Visitor to Dulag

Yesterday I took a bus to a nearby town, Dulag, the same place where the US 96th Infantry Division built its own park on Hill 120 (link to Hill 120 entry in World War II section) , where the US flag was first put up on the day of liberation. The last time I went I just stayed at the flag raising site, about 4 km out of town, but never saw the town itself. But I'd read in a guidebook that there's another monument on the beach itself and so I wanted to see that. The guidebook wasn't clear about where it was though. I started again at Hill 120, alongside the highway, revisited it and found it curious that there were no flags flying like the other time. Maybe it's just on weekends.

I wasn't sure where to look for that beachside monument so I asked at a house near the hill and a woman said it's just down the beach. So I cross the highway and walk maybe 200 meters to the end of the road but there's a gate and house behind it. A lady sees me and I ask about going to beach; she lets me pass and shows me the path. I go down there but don't see any monument. That beach is wide and nicely angled for amphibious vehicles to easily go on up and then keep moving without causing congestion for other traffic coming up behind. I can see why they chose that area. The MacArthur landing site at Palo is all forest and brush and must have been hell on landing day. All that area 60 years ago must have been a real mess of mud and pallets and trucks and tanks and just plain chaos. But at Dulag they have that wide beach and clear area beyond it, with Hill 120 just 300 meters or so beyond it. The Japanese on the hill must have gotten a really good view of the landing . . . and lots of artillery too from ships' guns. Seeing that setup I can see why the infantry moved away from the beach without too much trouble and was able to take the hill and plant the flag just 42 minutes after landing.

Mga Sinaunang Kwento

Ang Pulo Ng Leyte

ABOT SA 480 kilometro ang sukat paikot sa pulo ng Leite (Leyte). Ang haba nito, dahil makitid ang pulo, ay kulang-kulang 200 kilometro, hati halos sa gitna ng malaking bunduk-bundok na tinawag na Carigara.

Dahil sa bunduking ito, magkaiba ang panahon sa magkabilang panig ng pulo. Kapag tag-ulan sa hilagang bahagi ng Leyte, sa kabila, ang timog na bahagi, ay tag-araw naman.

Sa kalagitnaan ng taon, nagpapalit ang panahon sa magkabilang panig. Kaya kapag nagsasaka sa isang bahagi ng Leyte, nag-aani naman sa kabila. Kaya laging 2 ang ani nila taon-taon, minsan sa hilaga, susunod sa timog. At kapwa mayaman ang ani.

Maraming mas maliit na pulo sa paligid ng Leyte, bagaman at malaki rin naman ang iba. Walang tao sa lubhang maliliit na pulo.

Puno ng isda ang dagat at mga ilog sa pulo-pulo, may mga vaca (cattle) mula sa China, at maraming mga manok, usa, baboy at mga baboy-damo. Sagana sa mga tanim, mga gulay at mga bungang kahoy, at sari-saring camote, gabi at ube. Maraming tao ang nakatira sa mga bara-baranggay na hindi nagkakalayo mula sa isa’t isa. At ang bawat baranggay ay nasa tabi ng mainam na ilog at pina-paligiran ng mga puno ng niyog.