Crossing the San Juanico bridge has always been my childhood dream. Ever since I was a kid I wondered how long it would take for me to cross such an enormous distance but now that I have at long last stepped foot on it, I finally found the answer: 40 minutes!
Spanning a length of 2.16 kilometers, this is the longest bridge in the Philippines and is considered as one of the most beautifully designed bridges in the country thanks to its arch-shaped truss design. Also known as the Marcos Bridge, it connects Samar and Leyte with its design shaped like the letters S and L which stands for the initials of the two provinces. Some people also call it as the Bridge of Love because it is said to have been given as a gift by the late President Ferdinand Marcos to his wife Imelda.
It is was around 9am when Pinky and I were dropped off at the end of the bridge in Tacloban. During that time, I was thinking that Pinky might back-off because of the heat of the sun but it turns out she was excited as I am. I even remember her telling me, "Nakakatuwa no? Dati nakikita mo lang sya sa mga textbooks nung bata ka tapos ngayon andun ka na."
Walking over the bridge isn't actually that stressful thanks to the picturesque views of the San Juanico Strait that divides the two provinces. We even saw several cyclists stopping over at the highest point of the structure to take a rest and take pictures. With a spectacular view of the sea and the surrounding areas, it was indeed a good place to relax those muscles.
I only used to see this huge infrastructure in textbooks back in my grade school years but now that I finally got to see it for real and even experience walking over it, I can't help but smile knowing that I was able to fulfill this childhood dream. It was such a beautiful sight to behold and an experience that I will carry with me lifelong.
How to get there:
From the Tacloban Bus Terminal, you can take any bus or jeepney bound for Samar (Basey or Marabut). Travel time is just around 10 minutes.
