Sogod is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. It is located on the eastern coast of the province and is known for its beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and other natural attractions.
One of the most popular attractions in Sogod is the Agas-Agas Bridge, which is the highest bridge in the Philippines. It stands over 292 feet tall and spans a deep gorge, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
Sogod is a charming town with plenty of natural and cultural attractions to explore, making it a popular destination for tourists in Southern Leyte.
History
The early days of the village that would eventually be named “SOGOD” were dominated by a remarkable character named Mangkaw, who was both a chief and an enthusiastic fisherman.
Mangkaw was so passionate about fishing that he would abandon everything else just to go fishing with his throw net, which he was highly skilled at using. Watching Mangkaw perform his fishing rituals was a beautiful sight, as he had a graceful and artistic style.
During this time, the village houses were mostly located along the seashore, close to the Balwarte watchtower, which served as a warning system during Moro pirate raids. Fishing was the main source of income, and the area was abundant with fish.
As time passed, there was a desire among the villagers to give the village a permanent name. At every meeting presided over by Mangkaw, a school of fish would ripple nearby, distracting him from the discussions and causing him to drop everything and begin fishing. The villagers eventually became accustomed to this behavior and began to use the word “Sogod” to signal the start of each meeting.
Thus, the village became known as Sogod.
Native Delicacies
Like many towns and cities in the Philippines, Sogod has its own unique and delicious native delicacies that are worth trying.
Some of the popular native delicacies in Sogod, Southern Leyte include:
- Budbud – a sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves and served with hot chocolate or grated coconut.
- Pintos – a sweet rice cake made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, and sugar. It is baked in a clay pot lined with banana leaves.
- Pastillas – a sweet milk candy made from condensed milk, sugar, and powdered milk.
- Moron – a combination of suman and chocolate. It is made by adding cocoa powder or melted chocolate to the suman mixture.
- Binakhaw – a crunchy snack made from ground rice flour, sugar, and coconut milk. It is then deep-fried until golden brown.
These are just some of the popular native delicacies in Sogod, Southern Leyte. Each delicacy has its own unique taste and texture that is worth experiencing.
How to get there?
Sogod is a municipality located in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. Here are the different ways to get to Sogod:
- By Air: The nearest airport to Sogod is the Hilongos Airport, which is around 30 kilometers away. However, there are only a limited number of flights available, and it may not be the most convenient option.
- By Land: There are buses and vans available from major cities such as Tacloban, Cebu, and Ormoc. The most common route is to take a bus or van from Tacloban City to Sogod. The travel time is approximately 3-4 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions.
- By Sea: There are regular ferries from Cebu City to Hilongos Port, which is the nearest port to Sogod. From there, you can take a bus or van to Sogod.
Once you arrive in Sogod, you can hire a tricycle or a motorcycle to get around the town or to your destination.
