TACLOBAN CITY - After eight years of being devastated by the strongest typhoon recorded in Eastern Visayas, the historical Palo town in Leyte, one of the worst-hit by Supertyphoon 'Yolanda' (Haiyan) is now back on its feet, and is aiming to be a top culinary destination in the province.
With the rehabilitation of the 800-m Bangon Riverwalk stretching along Brgys. Luntad and Purisima under the Yolanda rehabilitation fund worth P50 million by the Department of Tourism, small businesses start to flourish by soon promoting authentic Waray-Waray cuisine among tourists.
Chef Mark Sabayan, the first DOT-accredited culinary trainer in the region taught the participants how to organize their kitchen and prepare original Waray-Waray dishes such as fish kinilaw, fish tinola, sinugba (grilled fish wrapped in banana leaves), ginataang alimango, and pako (fern salad).
Chef Sabayan said he wants to promote the Waray-Waray culture and identity through food.
"We have a lot of local cuisines that are slowly being forgotten because of the influence of other cultures. We want to show our guests what we have by having them taste our food," he shared.
Saturnina Dagami, 75, the oldest concessionaire in Bangon Riverwalk, said she joined the training to gain more knowledge in running her business.
Her house is located along the Bangon River. She used to be unemployed before they were organized to build small businesses along the river.
Although she owns a souvenir shop, she participated in the training to prove that it is never too late to learn new things.
"We were informed by the Department of Tourism of the opportunities that we took advantage of. Despite my old age, I want to earn for myself and not depend on others for food," she shared.
Bangon Riverwalk is located along the Purisima Bridge, the first steel bridge in the province, and Bernard Reed Bridge.
It has a footway and trellis adorned with artificial bamboos and thousands of artificial flowers just like in Cebu and Baybay City.