Image credits to http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com

The province of Leyte celebrates its annual Pintados Kasadyaan Festival in Tacloban City in honor of the Santo Niño. Unlike other cities, such as Cebu and Iloilo, Leyte celebrates the feast of Senior Santo Niño in June instead of January. The entire month of June is filled with numerous events, such as band concerts, dancing contests, carnivals and fairs. While the most-awaited big event is held on the 29th of June where the avenues are crowded with people watching and bouncing with the vibrant street-dancing parade.

“Kasadyaan” in the dialect means merriment. All municipalities in Leyte as well as from nearby provinces come together in Tacloban to witness and participate in the celebration. The name “Pintados” is derived from the native warriors, whose bodies were adorned with tattoos. The bravest warriors were adorned with tattoos as a mark of great courage. Participants of the parade usually have their bodies painted as a symbol of honor to the native warriors.

My most favorite part of the Tacloban fiesta are the jamming nights at the Balyuan Park and along the Magsaysay boulevard. Several establishment owners setup barbecue and drinking stands where most of the people gather to gimmick all night long. You may also do some budget shopping along the baratillo stands in the RTR plaza.

The mouth-watering and tasty Chocolate Moron is made from rice flour and chocolate paste (tableya), rolled and wrapped in banana leaves then either steamed or boiled. It is a well-known delicacy originated from the province of Leyte. This is one of the top 4 pasalubongs from Leyte along with binagol, sagmani, and pastilyas. The best pasalubong store can be found in Tacloban, which is Tita Aida’s delicacies located at P. Zamora Street (across chowking).

When I was still young, about 4 or 5, I was already very much fond of the Chocolate Moron. I remember one time at home, I was holding this one slice of the Chocolate Moron my mother put aside for me. I was so greedy for it that I would only eat a small bite one at a time so as to taste it longer. Then, all of a sudden, it slipped from my hands due to my clumsiness. And I remember crying sooo hard that I felt so depressed of dropping that one last piece of it. How awful… *sniff*

Was that a sad story or what? *lol*

This delicacy is mostly served during fiestas as well. I love fiestas because of the eat all you can buffets. *I used to have been a pigout addict, until I grew up and met diet (Deither Ocampo?!?)*. Well, anyways moving on, the famed chocolate moron is not only for meal serving or pasalubong but even as a gift. When I was about to graduate in college, my groupmates and I ordered one box of Chocolate Moron and gave it to our Class Adviser to let us pass our thesis subject. *Nice strategy, huh? Do not do this at home. Aww!*

Now, every time I get back here in Cebu after a vacation from our province in Samar, I habitually drop by in Tacloban, Leyte to buy a pack of Chocolate Moron for pasalubong. My friends here in Cebu loves it very much! It makes me miss home a lot. I gotta look at the picture above again. Yummy, huh? Come and grab one! *slurp*