Back in our van, we made our way back to the city proper. Near the wharf, we made another stopover at the CAP Building. Formerly the Price Mansion, this American colonial house was built in 1910 by American businessman Mr. Walter Scott Price, founder of the Leyte Transportation Co., Ltd. (Letranco). During World War II, it was used as a Japanese Officer’s Club.
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| CAP Building |
For three months during the liberation, it served as Gen. Douglas MacArthur‘s headquarters and residence. Here, the general escaped injury when a Japanese bomb penetrated the roof over his room but failed to explode. The hole left by that attack can still be seen. It is now the headquarters of the College Assurance Plan, Inc..
Aside from being the company’s office, the building also houses a MacArthur memorabilia room (second floor), an art gallery and a conference center. On the right side of the mansion, facing Romualdez St., is a statue of Gen. MacArthur and Pres. Sergio Osmena.
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| Statue of MacArthur and Osmena |
CAP Building: Justice Romualdez cor. Sto. Nino St., Tacloban City, Leyte. Tel: (053) 523-9856.