Categories: Discover the PhilippinesLeyteVisayas

Red Beach – Not Because the Water Was Red; The Code for the River Was “Red”

RED BEACH

Photo from: http://www.govisitphilippines.com/quick-facts.php?province=Leyte

Red Beach is one of the most popular on Leyte. The beach, only six miles from Tacloban City in Palo, is the site where MacArthur led the landing of Allied forces on his return to the Philippines. A park and memorial to the general are located at the beach. Red Beach’s historical significance, naturally, draws many Filipino and international visitors to the area. Resorts, restaurants and shops have sprung up in the area to accommodate the influx of tourists. Red Beach is a clean crescent of white sand that slopes gradually into the warm Pacific waters. Read More: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/beaches-leyte-island-philippines-54943.html

Photo from: http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2016/04/macarthur-landing-memorial-national-park-leyte.html

When the Allied Forces led by returning Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed in Leyte on October 20, 1944, they assigned code names to the beaches of the province facing Leyte Gulf where the huge liberating forces were going to land – from San Jose, Tacloban City all the way down the coast to the town of Dulag.

What are commonly known are White Beach in Tacloban, Red Beach in Palo and Blue Beach in Dulag. What most do not know is that in Dulag alone, the liberation planners code-named four beach areas, namely: Yellow, Blue, Violet & Orange Beaches. Read More: https://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/yellow-blue-violet-orange-beaches/

Photo from: http://leylander.net/macarthur-park-leyte/

“I shall return”…this is the famous statement of the late General Douglas MacArthur whose participation in the history of our country and liberation from foreign domination cannot be discounted. As a tribute to the fulfillment of his promise to return to the Philippines after the Japanese occupation during the World War II…this historic memorial was built in Candahug Palo, Leyte.

The memorial has been a part of every travelers itinerary in Region VIII and every October 20 of each year, a reenactment of the said landing is being held, attended by local and foreign dignitaries.

The memorial is situated at the Red Beach of Candahug, Palo, Leyte, which is 5kms away from the Provincial capital of Tacloban City. When flights back to Manila or other destinations are delayed by hours, you may actually still have time to wander in the said park and take photos as souvenir, as the site is near the DZR Airport as well. Read More: http://www.lakwatserongtsinelas.com/2012/02/leyte-landing-memorial.html