There are three words that best describe the Municipality of San Miguel at the north-eastern portion of Leyte island: jaw-dropping beauty. The moment one enters its territorial boundary, he is taken into a world so serene, so blissful it touches your soul. A seemingly endless color of green stretches forever on both sides of a well-paved road; it doesn’t matter whether the skies are blue on summer or gray on rainy days: the Municipality of San Miguel is picture-perfect, the view is always splendid.

        Blessed with spectacular natural sceneries such as waterfalls, agri-tourism sites and recreational activities, San Miguel, Leyte is fast becoming the next big star in Eastern Visayas’ tourism industry. The Municipal Government headed by Mayor Norman Dominguez Sabdao is currently pulling all stops to transform the town into the eco-tourism destination in this part of the island. The local government is developing natural heritage sites into sustainable tourism attractions.

        At the same time, the private sector has tapped the town’s potential by investing in facilities using the agricultural setting as their strength. The Nanay Delia’s Farm and The Farm in Guinciaman have evolved into magnets for tourists from other towns and provinces. The two agriculture-based tourism establishments are now bringing the banner for San Miguel in terms of tourism: restaurants, gardens, swimming pools, rides and spacious venues for special events serve as come-on for the two farms that also serve as showcases for farming vegetables, trees, as well as production of livestock like cattle and sheep. San Miguel is even host to the regional Cattle Experimental Breeding Station of the Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas. Its place in the tourism map of Eastern Visayas was also reinforced with the holding of the Leyte Music and Arts Festival in barangay Guinciaman. The event gathered thousands of people from all over Leyte to celebrate music and craftsmanship, the camaraderie among volunteers rebuilding the areas after super typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013, and the resiliency of the Waraynons after the worst tragedy that hit the country.

        San Miguel’s importance and contribution to the Province of Leyte goes way centuries back. In the book, “Ugmok, A Brief of History of Ormoc” writer Emil Justimbaste states that “During the first few years of 1900, practically no food products were produced in Leyte, except in the towns of Leyte, Alang-alang and San Miguel.”

        San Miguel is one of 40 municipalities and three cities that comprise the Province of Leyte. This 104-year-old town became part of the Municipality of Alangalang during the American occupation wherein the US, for easier administration, approved a law merging some towns with a bigger one.  Before that, in the early Spanish era, it was called the Pueblo de Sabang. The town reckons its founding day, however, on March 10, 1917 with the passage of the Revised Administrative Code of 1917 which enumerates the various municipalities in the country, including San Miguel, Leyte. 

        This town is easily accessible as it shares a boundary with Tacloban City, the provincial capital where an airport is located. Tacloban is only 40 kilometers or an hour-drive away from San Miguel.

        The fourth class agricultural town is composed of 21 barangays occupying 12,697 hectares of land. About 19,753 people, mostly speaking the Waray language, live in San Miguel where farming and fishing are currently the main source of livelihood. A huge chunk of its land area, about 30 percent, is timberland. Unlike other municipalities with vast territorial seawaters, San Miguel has only about 3,461 hectares of municipal waters.

        Visit San Miguel Leyte now and have a fun yet relaxing experience like no other. It matters not the season, as the warmth of the townsfolk and the charm of the town is constant and unyielding, defying the sun and rain. Take this road less travelled and you might find yourself a pleasant surprise tucked between the expansive green fields and the endless blue sky.