Танауан: Филиппиннің Лейте провинциясының тарихы мен ағымдағы жағдайы

Municipality in Leyte, Philippines

Tanauan (IPA: [tɐn'ʔaʊɐn]), officially the Municipality of Tanauan (; ), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 57,455 people. Tanauan is one of the oldest towns in Leyte dating back to the year of 1710. It is composed of 54 barangays. The town was also known as the “Cradle of the Intellectuals” or the Bungto han Kamag araman since the Spanish colonial era. Tanauan is approximately 18 kilometers south of Tacloban City which is the capital of the Eastern Visayas Region. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Palo, Tolosa on the south, Dagami and Tabon tabon on the west side and on the east by San Pedro Bay. The town was also heavily damaged by the Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013. The town celebrates its fiesta annually on August 15.

In the 2020 census, the population of Tanauan, Leyte, was 57,455 people, with a density of .

Waray waray is the language spoken by the people of Tanauan. It is the lingua franca or common language of the Eastern Visayas region. However, Tagalog is the language that is widely understood and spoken by the locals when talking to other people coming from Manila and other provinces. English remains the language used by the local government and schools on official correspondences and documents. Waray waray is used as a medium of instruction in schools in the municipality from Kinder to Grade 3. Filipino and English languages are officially taught in schools as part of the primary and secondary education curriculum requirement.

Tanauan has a 100% Christian population. Almost 96 97% of the municipality's population are Roman Catholic Christians. Every village has its own Roman Catholic chapel aside from the parish church in the town proper. There are also adherents of other Christian denominations and sects like the Iglesia ni Cristo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Seventh day Adventists (Sabadistas), Evangelicals (Born Again Christians), Jehovah's Witnesses (Mga Saksi ni Jehova) and many more. The municipality's patron saint is the Our Lady of Assumption or Nuestra Señora de Asunción.

In 2005, the municipality registered a total income of PHP 47.6 million and went up to PHP 56.4 million in 2007, representing an average annual increase of over 9%, mostly coming from considerable increases in local taxes, permits & licenses and the Internal Revenue Allotment. The outstanding economic performance was attributed largely to the reforms and initiatives that were introduced by Mayor Roque Tiu, which streamlined the processes of getting business and license permits. As a result of these reforms, the municipality of Tanauan earned the Award of "2006 Most Business Friendly Municipality in the Country" during the closing rites of the 32nd Philippine Business Conference held at the Manila Hotel on October 20, 2006. then President Gloria Arroyo handed over the award to Mayor Roque Tiu and his wife PIA 8 Director Olive Tiu. Prior to winning this award, the municipality of Tanauan was adjudged as the Most Business Friendly Municipality in the Visayas Area. The businesses and industries that support the local economy are from agriculture, livestock, fishing, forestry & mining, trade and industry, and tourism. mat weaving, bolos, brooms, hats, bricks, pottery, nipa shingles, and virgin coconut oil most of which are made of local and indigenous materials. These trades have been the source of local pride, like the talented bricks and pottery makers of Barangay Canramos. Tanauan is also one of the best source of clays in the region. These trades are mainly promoted by the federation of Tanauan Women's Club with the support of the local government of Tanauan.

Tanauan still lacks an efficient infrastructure for its storm drainage system. Although storm drainage projects were constructed in the past, it was poorly planned and maintained that resulted in a failure to prevent occasional flooding in various places within the town proper due to sedimentation and clogging of existing drainage canals.

Tanauan currently has one large municipal plaza which is located right at the heart of the town across the back of the old municipal hall. It has a mini amphitheater and a large outdoor grounds which is often used as a venue for large open air activities such as the annual Pasaka Festival Competition and other various outdoor gatherings of the town, It also has two outdoor basketball court and one outdoor tennis courts. Surrounding the plaza are various centuries old acacia trees that is one of the well preserved in the Region.

Tanauan is accessible mainly by land using Public Utility Jeepney as the primary means of public transportation. Taxis are also available from Tacloban City and the Regional Airport but generally costs higher compared to the much cheaper Jeepneys. On the other hand, pedicabs and motor cabs are available when travelling within the local vicinity of Tanauan.

Most locals take off their slippers, shoes, or flip flops before entering a house. During weddings, it is customary for the bride and groom to do the traditional folk dance called Kuratsa and members of the families and guests alike are encouraged to pin money on their attire as a symbol of good luck and prosperity for the couple's future. Tanauan anons also observe fiesta celebrations annually in different barangays to honor their respective local catholic saints. During the fiesta, it is a tradition to prepare food in every house and invite guests and visitors to share their meal as a sign of thanksgiving.

The church is one of the six architectural heritage sites in Leyte. It was originally built by the Jesuit Missionaries in 1704 and was turned over to the Augustinians in the year 1768. Father Francisco de Paula Marquez spearheaded the repair and enlargement of the church from 1850 to 1860. He added a transept and constructed thick rock walls at the perimeter of the church with towers on each four corners for defense against pirates. The Church survived a hurricane and storm surge of 1897. The Church takes pride of its stations of the cross made of Spanish terracotta originally made in Mexico. The rectory and pulpit were restored.

Pasaka Festival started in 1991. The word "pasaka" means "assumption" which refers to the Virgin Mary as she was assumed into heaven. The festival, which runs from August 1 through 15, is seen as an opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Tanauan. It is a means of paying homage and thanksgiving to the town's patroness, Our Lady of the Assumption. It begins with a nightly cultural presentation being held from August 1 through 14 at the Tanauan Public Plaza, which showcases the best talents, culture, and tradition of the municipality participated in by various schools, the local government unit, and the non government organizations of Tanauan. In the afternoon of August 14, the traditional Pasaka Festival competition is held which features a colorful presentation of dance drama and street dancing that depicts a community paying homage to the blessed virgin as she is assumed into heaven. The competition is grouped into three categories: the Senior category participated in by high school students and the Junior category composed of elementary pupils and the merry makers. The festival culminates on August 15, the Feast of the town's patroness, Our Lady of the Assumption, and a Holy Mass is celebrated at the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church. It is also observed as Tanauan Day which is a local holiday.

Tinikling is the most popular and best known of Philippine dances and honored as the Philippine national dance. It is one of the oldest Philippine traditional dances and originated in Leyte province. The people of Leyte describe the tikling bird as one of the most unique in its movements walking around and between the tree branches and some grass stems. This bird was named "tikling" from which the tinikling dance got its name. Because of the creativeness of the Leyteños, they imitate this bird by using bamboo poles. In 2006, the attention of the then Mayor Roque Tiu was called regarding the 2005 calendar of the Philippine National Oil Corporation entitled sulyap (glimpse) which highlighted the looking back into the home of Filipino culture and taking a glimpse into one's roots in relation to moving forward in life. In the second page (March–April page), it featured the Tinikling with a brief description in Filipino: ”ang Tinikling ay nagmula sa Tanauan, Leyte. Isa ito sa mga pinaka kilalang Pilipinong sayaw sa buong mundo. Ang pagkamalikhain ng mga taga Leyte ay nagbigay buhay sa simpleng galaw ng ibong tikling, kung saan nakuhaang pangalan ng sayaw. Sa Tinikling naipamalas ang likas na halina at pagiging masayahin na nabubukod tangi sa mga Pilipino.” Since then, the municipal government of Tanauan requested historians and enthusiasts of culture and the arts to shed light on the issue so that the local government can initiate moves towards preserving the culture of the municipality, which has been entitled as the “Cradle of Intellectuals” or "Bungto Han Kamag araman" ever since the Spanish era. Another version of the story has it that the Tinikling really originated in Tanauan, Leyte, particularly in Barangay Kiling. The name “Kiling” is also derived from the tikling bird. This version of the story has yet to be authenticated.

Tanauan is recognized as the “Skimboarding Capital of the Philippines". It is told by tradition that skimboarding was first introduced in Tanauan in 2001, when a Palau national came to Tanauan to win the heart of a local lass. Since Tanauan is situated along the coast facing San Pedro Bay, the Palau national started making a skimboard which he eventually finished. However, he was not able to teach the local youths on how to use it since he needed to leave and go back to Palau. He left the skimboard, and the local youths started to train themselves on how to use it. Thereafter, young people from Barangay San Roque and Barangay Santo Niño started making prototypes of the skimboard which were then sold to enthusiasts. However, According to the locals. In the year December 1999, skimboarding was already being seen on tanauan shore before the Palau National came to Tanauan Leyte. And they called it "sulinap" using a plastic floater from a scrap of jetski, without knowing that the game they are playing is called skimboarding. The first ride happened at "Air Waves" now called as Sabang Surf Camp Dulag Leyte. Darwin De Veyra Maceda was the first rider of "sulinap". And he showed it to his brother Beben De Veyra Maceda, until they both embrace the game and teach the locals in Tanauan Leyte. It has also been told, however, that the first skimboarder in the Philippines, Michael Miranda, together with his friend Kim Ian "Dodot" Montaño made the first locally made skimboard, and with their enthusiasm for the sports introduced the skimboard and taught Tanauan locals how to ride it. The first skimboarding competition was organized by Darwin Maceda together with his friends Alexander Cumpio and Nerizza Reynera at Tanauan, Leyte's Bantay Dagat area on March 31, 2002. Since then, skimboarding started to spread to the nearby towns and later on throughout the country. Currently, national and international skimboarding competitions are held annually at the Bantay Dagat area in Tanauan.