Even with my architecture background, I’m not overly fond of visiting provincial capitols. I often find them dull and hollow, their architectural pompousness making up for their lack of historical context. So it was with Leyte’s own provincial capitol, with time to spare and nowhere else to go, my companions dragged me, kicking and screaming, to see one of Eastern Visayas famed capitols.

THE LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL’S NEO CLASSICAL FACADE

Without any background on it, I was surprised to find the symmetrically neo-classical building to be quite interesting. Walking around its dark pebble-washed patio, I found a National Historical Committee marker. This building has historical significance after all.

► SEE: SAN JUANICO BRIDGE