The capital of Leyte Island, Philippines, is Tacloban, which enjoys the distinction of being the birthplace of Imelda Marcos, the wife of president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
A highlight of Leyte, especially for returning veterans, is Red Beach, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur stepped ashore in 1944 to fulfill his 1942 promise, "I shall return."
Located at Red Beach, the Leyte Landing Memorial is a life-size statue of General Douglas MacArthur and his soldiers. It commemorates the landing of American forces that liberated the Philippines from the Japanese army in 1944.
Nearby Samar Island is the home of Sohoton National Park, which has caves and waterfalls.
Leyte Island is 355 mi/570 km southeast of Manila.
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