Tugbong

Tugbong is a barrio situated in the municipality of Kananga, Leyte in the Philippines. It is about 2.3 kilometers from the town of Kananga through the Escalo Rd (direct connector rd) and 23 kilometers from Ormoc City through Libongao-Tugbong connector Rd also known as AbeAbe Rd.

Tugbong was once the choice to become the municipality instead of now the municipality of Kananga. It had a larger commerce than Kananga before World War II, mostly of Chinese merchants who brought their goods from Palompon, Tacloban and Ormoc. Tugbong and Kananga both belonged to Ormoc then. The eventual selection of Kananga to become municipality was due to the increased traffic of commerce between Ormoc and Tacloban.

In early 1920s Barrio Tugbong was mostly owned by Don Gomercindo Escalo and Dona Filomina Abeabe-Escalo from Valencia,Ormoc. Having bought large parcels of land, the couple settled in Tugbong and turned the most of the area into their own abaca and cacao farm with many of the barrio's population work in their farm. Commerce was likewise a boom among the traders who brought in their products from Palompon, Tacloban and Ormoc as the roads were through their properties. The Escalos realized their role in the community having literally owned the whole barrio, obligated themselves in providing amenities for the general population of the locality. They allowed the building of recreational areas now known as the tennis courts and stage areas, a chapel and a school site. Barrio Tugbong with its generous amenities provided by the Escalo's drew more people into it that its population and commerce grew to match of Kananga at the time. The Escalos became an icon in the province known by many politicians from Ormoc, Tacloban, Palompon and many parts of Leyte. The "White House" of the Escalos in Tugbong was a prominent statement of the barrio itself now only manifested by its leftover grand semi-circular concrete stairs in the middle of a corn farm. As the barrio grew and the provincial road became and essential aspect of the barrio's growth, the Escalos were asked to provide another parcel of land move the school to the now present site of the Tugbong Elementary School. It was not until the Escalos was approached by a graduate teacher from Manila who married into the family allowed the construction of a new school site along the provincial road. The move was most welcomed by all of the school officials in the district and by the provincial office of the Department of Education. Houses mushroomed around the school and along the road. The school became the focal point institution of the barrio as time went on. Many of the teachers of this school has been its former students. Today. The school boast its elevation to become "Tugbong District School" subordinating many other schools from different surrounding barrios. Tugbong now enjoys many of the modern conveniences. It has electricity, water, televisions, cellphone and Internet access. The post war bridge made of GI trusses is now a well engineered concrete bridge. It has barangay hall, a well constructed basketball/tennis court, Church and an all purpose stage for community affairs.