Leyte is a big island in the Philippines. It's like a giant puzzle piece that fits right next to other islands like Samar and Mindanao. Leyte has lots of mountains, rivers, and forests, and you can find lots of cool plants and animals there.
Leyte is really important in Filipino history because it's where one of the most important battles of World War II happened. In 1944, American and Filipino soldiers fought against the Japanese army in what's now called the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The fighting was really intense, with lots of guns and bombs going off all over the place!
But the Americans and Filipinos won the battle, and that helped to turn the war around. That's why Leyte is often called the "Island of Heroes" because so many brave people fought to win that battle.
These days, Leyte is still an important part of the Philippines. It's a great place to explore nature, learn about history, and meet new people. And even though the battle happened a long time ago, people still remember and honor the heroes who fought on Leyte all those years ago.