Philippine Geography:

Philippines is an archipelago of 7100 islands with irregular coastline.

Land area more or less 300,000 sq.km. / 116,000 sq. miles.
Location 4 to 21 degrees North latitude and 115 to 127 East longitude.
Gateway to Southeast Asia from the Pacific stream.
It is within the typhoon belt and the earthquake belt.
Northernmost island Yami
Southernmost island Salauag.
Names of the Country:
A. Chinese
1. Mai/Mayi Mayi Land of the barbarians
2. Chin San Mountain of Gold
3. Liu Shung Land adjacent to the mainland.
B. Spaniards
1. Archipelago de Saint Lazarus
2. Las Islas Filipinas
C. Rizal Pearl of the Orient Seas
D. Claudius Ptolemy, an Egyptian explorer Maniolae
E. Romantic writers Emeral island of the Pacific
F. Other names are: Isles of Hope, Gem of the East, Orphan of the Pacific.
Theories on the origin of the Philippines
1. Divine Creation
3. Scientific:
2. Folkloric
a) Geologic
b) Geographic
c) Popular
Climate Tropical Monsoon with three distinct seasons
1. Hot dry high temperature and no rainfall
2. Hot wet high temperature and heavy rainfall.
3. Cool dry low temperature and no rainfall.
Monsoon winds large scale winds which blow in opposite direction in a
course of a year.
Topography:
A. Land Forms
1. Island a piece of land surrounded by water
2. Peninsula a land almost surrounded by water and is attached to the
mainland.
3. Mountain an elevation from the ground.
4. Mountain Ranges a group, series or chain of mountains.
5. Volcano a mountain with magma

6. Hills an elevation lower than a mountain.

7. Valley a lowland between two mountains.
8. Plateau a flat land on a mountain.
9. Plains a vast area of flat lands.
10. Delta land form at the mouth of the river.
11. Cape a sharp angle of a coast line
12. Bay a portion of land which almost enclosed a sea.
13. Isthmus narrow piece of land connecting 2 areas or places
B. Water forms
1. Ocean the biggest body of water
2. Sea a larger body of salty water usually surrounding an island.
3. River a water flowing on a soft spot of the earth known as the river bed.
4. Water falls water falling from the top or an elevation.
5. Lake a body of fresh water surrounded by land.
6. Brook a small river usually flowing on a mountain side.
7. Rill a smaller brook.
8. Stream a water flowing slowly (or sometimes stagnant) on a flat land.
9. Swamp a body of water usually near the sea and the river with vegetation
growing on it.
10. Channel a water way usually connecting two larger bodies of water.
11. Strait a narrow body of water near an island or between two islands.
12. Gulf a water way that usually connects a larger and a smaller body of
water.
13. Spring underground water that sprout into the surface.
Resources the wealth of the nation.
There are two types:
Human resources pertains to the population of the state.
Natural resources nature-given resources. These natural resources can be:
Extractive resources that can be depleted. This cannot be restored nor replace
Genetic resources that can be regenerate or reproduce.
Resources which are dispensable to man
Resources which are indispensable to man.
A. Kinds of Natural Resources
A. Mineral Gold in Northern Luzon and Bicol, Copper found in Luzon,
Negros province, Zambales, and Rapu-Rapu island. Iron in Surigao and
Chromite in Zambales.

B- Forest Source of the following products commercial and non-commercial

timber, Dyewoods, medicinal plant, nipa palms and rattan.
C-Non-Mineral Coal is found in Cebu, Masbate and Sorsogon. Marble is in
Mindoro and Romblon. Stonewash in Northern Luzon and Visayan islands
D-Marine 2000+ species of fish and 6000 of shell species. Pearls, corals and
seaweed Pearl of Allah the biggest pearl,
Conus Gloria Maris the
rarest and expensive shell and Pandaka Pygmea smallest fish
E. Energy Oil and natural Gas- found in Palawan and Cagayan Valley.
Hydroelectric power Ambuklao and Maria Christina
Geothermal energy in Tiwi Albay and the Makban in Laguna.
Coal Cebu and Batangas
G. Flora and Fauna- 750 species of bird with Sharpes Crane as the biggest. This
is known as Tipol in Luzon and labong in Visayas. Monkey Eating Eagle,
Kalaw which is known as the clock of the mountain, Katala the talking bird,
Falconet is the worlds smallest falcon, and the most beautiful Peacock Pheasant
of Palawan.
Three rarest animals:
Tamaraw of Mindoro, Tarsiers of Bohol and Mousedeer of Palawan, (Pilandok)
Flora Pungapong (Raflesia) largest wild flower in the world. (1 foot in
diameter)
1000 varieties of orchids (the famous Waling-waling or Vanda Sanderiana). Our
popular fruits mango and durian.
H. Scenic and Natural Wonders
Boracay, Panglao, Banawe Rice Terraces, Hidden Valley, Tiwi Hot Spring,
Maria Cristina Falls, Underground river of Palawan. Hundred Islands, Sagada
Mountains etc.
B. The Filipino People as the human Resource
The Filipinos are mixture of races but basically Malay, a blending of the east
and west in physical appearance and most especially in culture.
The Mestizo class the result of the intermarriage between the natives and the
Chinese, the Spaniards and the Americans.
The relationship between the mestizo and the natives is a barrier to unity
and development, characterized by hostility and resentment.

The mestizos are of higher social and financial status-look down on the natives,
and have feelings of superiority as if they were Spaniards or Americans.
During the colonial era the mestizos were considered Janus faced he is still a
native to the Spaniards and a Spaniard to the Filipinos.
Hostilities were carried over to the coming of the Americans particularly
on the issue of US bases. They were labelled as PX goods.
The National and Regional Traits of the Filipinos: Their strength and
weaknesses
The Philippine Society Pyramidal in form with the upper class occupying
the apex, with the working class in the middle and in the lowest stratum are the
masses.
A. National Traits
1. Hospitality characterized by being too friendly with strangers, trying to
please the visitors for we wanted them to feel at home. But being hospitable is
misunderstood by the foreigners. It was interpreted as a sign of inferiority,
submissiveness and obsequiousness.
2. Close family Ties characterized by extended family not nuclear. Roles of
the father and the mother are typically identified and dominant. There is a great
influence of the part of the grandparents in rearing their grandchildren. This trait
leads to unity, helpfulness and dependability. As its weakness this practice has
been described as tyranny of the elders
3. Respect for elders Filipino parents exercised absolute powers over their
children as there is collective responsibility on the role of elders. Elders
believed to be obeyed whether they are right or wrong, . You may have the
academic degrees but they have the experience, you may have the knowledge
but they have the wisdom. Their decisions were sought in important matters.
Children were taught how to use po and opo and the second personal pronoun
kayo, ninyo, inyo, instead of mo, ikaw and ka. Its negative effects were late
development of nationalism and the better off relatives were expected to care of
the less fortunate ones.
4. Fatalistic - means that whatever happens, it is a work of fate. The bahala Na
attitude is a manifestation of the fatalism. It breeds a sign of resignation on
disaster and tragedy, indifferent in the face of graft and corruption and
impassive in the face of personal misfortune. At least on the brighter side, this
trait prevents the Filipinos to become a crackpot.
5. Loyalty to a friend or benefactor means that friendship is sacred and
implies mutual help. One should not betray a friend for he is treated as a family

member. This is extended to the Philippine politics today as it is the politics of

reward and patronage. There is a tendency for the Filipino to sulk if favour
asked was not granted. Americans cant understand this trait, because they are
business like, professionals and no sentimentalism.
6. Lack of Initiative The Filipino fears competition, He is not competitive but
cooperative. As observed from classroom setting, Filipino students do not read
more than what the teacher prescribed. They are contented with the grade of 75.
The businessmen craves for higher profit but does not want to take the risk by
investing more. In short a Filipino is segurista.
7. Tendency to be Indolent the Filipinos have the tendency to be indolent
because of the following reasons:
1. the warm climate.
2. close family ties
3. abundance from nature
8. Naturally Curios- it is easy for Filipinos to information on income, family
life, and other private matters. His curiosity is tainted with sympathy-nothing
wrong on the Filipino inquirie4s but it is actually an invasion of ones privacy.
9. Individualistic despite our bayanihan spirit, the Filipinos have the
tendency to be individualistic. Our concern for others is not carried out at all
times. The case of a jeepney driver who is seeking help because his jeepney
wont start and a push from behind is being ignored by his fellow drivers,
Instead you can see them handing a match on him.. But insult one jeepney
driver and the whole brood will gang up on you.
10. Jealousy this requires complete faith and loyalty to his wife and
girlfriend, he does not want woman to flirt with others. Many bloody incidents
happened because of jealousy. Blood is required to wash the stain of his honour.
This character trait cannot be understood by foreigners.
11. Regionalistic Filipinos do not think in national boundaries, the one
known to him even bad is better than the unknown. Government officials
appoint kababayan to position when elected. Filipino of one region look down
upon his countrymen of another region. Example an Ilocano revolt was crushed
down by Pampangos during Spanish time.
12. Pakikisama spirit of comradeship the main elements are unselfishness
and good faith. You are mabuting makisama if you are cooperative and helpful
and you are masamang makisama if you are selfish and isolationist. But the
Filipinos changed these meanings the concept is denuded: You are mabuting
makisama if you are dishonesty, unprincipled, subverting justice in order to be
in good graces, if it would help relatives to gain position, if he promotes
undeserving employees, and masamang makisama if he insist on merit alone,
and refuses to steal.
B. Regional traits

A. The Ilocanos Pet name is Samtoy, not a spendthrift, not born humorist due
to hardlife in a barren land. The environment made him an adventurer to seek
greener pasture in a foreign land. His life of struggles is reflected in his literary
style not lyric but epic dragging in style. The Ilocanos are the most
regionalistic.
B. The Kapampangans people of central Luzon, known for their generosity
and hospitability to visitors. The most beautiful and handsome breed among
Filipinos. Superb cooks sage in business, their males are known to be good and
kind while their women are industrious but annoying and gossipy. Pretentious
and ambitious to be wealthy in general and branded as traitors in history
because of collaboration issue with the enemies (Dugong Ahas).
C. The Tagalogs the heart of the region they have the feeling of superiority,
because of their role in history and most heroes came from them. Neither frugal
nor extravagant, with the strictest code of ethics, - fierce pride, and is attached
to home and family (close family ties) The tagalong enjoy finer things in life, a
lover, a born poet and musician. He is a dreamer burst into declamation and
with a singsong nature (balagtasan). Most of them are good writers and excel in
music.
D. The Bicolanos known for their temper and religiosity, view life with
calmness and seldom shows their rough edges. He knows how to enjoy life and
take its offering with philosophical equanimity. Fondness for spicy food and has
the ability to suffer. However, extremes traits show when away from home
theres a lot of taxi dancers and priests who are Bicolanos.
E. The Visayans happy go-lucky people, interested in the present than the
future. Exceeds the Tagalogs in love for finer things in life. A spendthrift, for
there is no need to work hard due to a kinder environment, the most
independent and self-reliant are the Visayan women. A Hedonist a happy
person with a passion for music. Many of them are good singers.
F. The Muslims They are fiercest lover of freedom, also adventurous, man
who sticks to his word. He will brave dangers to redeem his vow or promise. He
can be the best of friend but worst enemy. He is very proud of his culture and
does not offer meek apologies for it. Like Samtoy he produced epics. He loves
being a Moro and distrust the Christians. He is antagonistic to the Christians
because he believed that conversion offer is a necessary and not because he is
loved.
Early Contacts with Asian neighbours: Their cultural influences on Filipinos
A. The Chinese Relationship with the Philippines started around 10th century
AD and they came for economic reason: Trade

1. Language
2. Games
3. Use of umbrella, gongs and porcelains.
4. Metallurgy
5. Mining methods
6. Mode of dressing
7. Manufacture of gun powder
8. Culinary arts and diet
9. Customs like, the use of the go-between, arranged marriages and
mourning customs.
10. Duck breeding
11. Tong collection
B. Indian Influences reached the Philippines about 1st century AD due to the
rise of two Indo-Malayo empires
a) The Shri Vidjaya Sumatra
b) The Madjapahait Java
1. Language-25% 0f the Tagalog dialect came from the Sanskrit language, terms
for emotions, intellectual acts, numerals, titles, religion, government and
commerce.
2. Religion Indra Batara Great King of Heaven from which the term Bathala
was derived. The concept of Darma and Karma.
3. Cloth weaving (Hablon cloth from Iloilo) and handicrafts (brass from the
Muslims)
4. Wedding ceremonies such as the use of cords and veils and the exchange of
garlands.
5. Mode of dressing the use of head scarves.
6. Literature, writing and customs the epic Bantugan, the alphabet Baybayin,
superstitious beliefs like tooth falling, cravings during pregnancy, and singing in
front of the stove.
C. Arabic Influences
1. The Islamic faith
3. Language
5. Law and government
7. Art design like
Okir and Zigzag
D. The Japanese Influences
1. Love of labour
3. Tanning of deer skin

2. Sultanate form of government

4. Royal titles
5. Sarimanok motif
8. Wedding ceremonies

2. Hard work and industry

4. Manufacture of tools and weapons.

Match the following regional traits with the people who possessed them.
A
1. Serious minded and pikon

B.
A- Ilocanos

2. Treat life with equanimity

3. Carefree go lucky people
4. Great sense of pride
5. Dugong ahas
6. Fiercest defenders of freedom
7. Adventurous and stingy
8. Hardly shown their rough edges.
9. Fondness for finer things in life.
10. Most hospitable Filipinos.
11. People with strictest code of conduct
12. Best of friend but can be the worst enemy.

B-Bicolanos
C-Visayans
D-Tagalogs
E- Kapampangan
F-The Muslims