Sugar Cane Trucks of Leyte – Philippines
It’s cane cutting season in Leyte right now. These pictures were taken yesterday at one of the transfer stations alongside the road near Ormoc.
Sugar cane harvesting in Leyte.
Sugar cane
Rene Tan is the owner of this place – kind of a cool guy that lived in California for a number of years.
Mr Tan verifies that most of these rigs were left over from WW2.
Cane trucks
These jalopies are used in the fields to get the cane to the road and then the load is transferred with slings to the more road worthy trucks which haul the raw cane to the refinery.
Cane trucks in Leyte. There was a lot of action in Leyte in WW2 and the Americans must have left behind a bunch of equipment when they left.
Sugar cane
Leyte
Sugar cane
Loading cane
Next stop – the sugar cane refinery!
Sugar Cane
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
Hi dp, maybe we should take a ride down to the refinery and ask em if we can have a guided tour. Nice
Great spotting DP. Where exactly are the sugar canefields in Ormoc. How big are they compared to the Negros fields? Hope you guys (DP and Dave) can give me some updates on Ormoc in the future. Planning to visit some time this year. What else beside geothermic engergyplants, fertilizer industry, sugercane and eggs farms are there in and around Ormoc industrywise?
Happy time overthere.
Rob
Hi Rob,
The cane fields are similar to the ones in Negros, but the harvesters in Negros bring the cane to the road with carabao instead of using these old army trucks.
The PNOC geothermal plants are a true wonder. The area is restricted, so casual tourists will not be allowed up the canyon road where the plants are located. There is a military base up there because it’s a matter of national security – the plant provides power for a large area.
There is a some spectacular scenery up there – waterfalls, raging rivers, wildlife (tarsiers and monkeys) etc. I think that Dave could get you up there if you asked him. He has contracted some work up there over the years and has the connections you will need.
Lake Danao is not in that area but is worth a visit too.
cheers
dp
Thanks Dp for the update. I will ask Dave when my plans are final for visiting. Is it still raining so heavily in Leyte? Remember in november 2009 it rained whole nights and also during daytime (near Agas Agas bridge where I stayed).
Are there any big farms in Leyte (Ormoc)? Did you find the chicken egg farm? Are there animal livestock markets in Ormoc or Leyte? How much would a carabao, horse, goat and a pig cost?
Rob
Hi RobRoy,
Rain is common all year long in Leyte and I haven’t yet figured out a pattern!
It rains heavily in the pass over the mountains and by Agas Agas which was one of the reason for so many landslides on the steep hills in the area.
There are a lot of cattle up on the hill on the way to Nueva Vista.
Horses and Cows in the Philippines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqXsBElHyUE
I bought a large pig (lechon) last year for 5000 pesos. They can range from 3000 for a small one up to 8000 for a large one.
I don’t know about the other stuff but it probably has a lot to do with your bargaining skills.
cheers
dp
Hi Dp,
Thanks for the update. I really appreciate it.
Is Nueva Vista near Ormoc (google maps give this)?
Many thanks for the youtube link. It give me some clues.
Karabow cloning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN10DOxQEkc&feature=related
Livestock auction market in Batangas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0cRxUbBRk4&NR=1
Do you know of any animal market going from Cebucity to south on Cebu island?
Rob
Hello RobRoy,
Nueve Vista is about 17 kilometers up the mountain near the geothermal plant.
Leaving Ormoc City towards Tacloban:
-go past the Coca Cola plant and take a right where the road forks
-continue up the mountain to the place where the road forks again. To the right you will end up in Lake Danao, to the left you will go towards the security gate for PNOC ( the geothermal plant)
– just before you get to the main gate there will be a big mango tree on the left side of the road. Turn left and follow a rough gravel road and you will end up at Nueva Vista and Ormoc Farms
———————
About livestock auctions – There is a big Wednesday auction at one of the towns between Car Car and Moaloal.
…sorry – can’t remember the name of the town.
dp
Hello Dp,
Very nice pictures of the old US Army trucks, I imagine a lot of the US surplus equipment left over from World War II is scarce now. Another left over from World War II is of course…the creation of the “Jeepney”.
There was a lot of action/combat in Leyte during World War II. An estimated 100,000 + Japanese soldiers were killed while the US Army and Filipino resistance took back Leyte from the Japanese.
A lot of history there in Leyte, I can’t wait to learn more about it.
My father had two cousins that died after Bataan and Corregidor fell to the Japanese forces.
I will be in Maasin City for a couple of months soon. Your blog of your adventures around Leyte are very interesting and informative…salamat kaayo!
Danny :)
Hi DP,
I have found your site by accident and I can see that you are more local than some of us who are born and bred in Leyte. It is very informative with a lot of local content which makes me feel homesick.
Cheers,
Jun
Hi June,
Thanks for the comment!
dp