Module 1: Lesson 1 - Origin and Geography of the Philippines Quiz

Origin of the Philippines

• Christians believe that God created the land forms as part of his creation
• Many continents and islands emerged after the Great Flood in Noah's time
• Legends and myths from different tribes and religions explain the origin of the land in a colorful way
• Scientists have different opinions about the origin of the Philippines
• One theory is that the Philippines was part of the prehistoric continent called "Mu" or "Lemuria" in the Pacific Ocean
• Another theory is that the Philippines was part of the "Sunda Shelf" or the continental shelf of Asia

Location and Boundaries

• The Philippines lies in Southeast Asia, a little above the Equator, between latitudes 4'23'N and longitude 116° E and 127°E
• It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the South China Sea to the west, the Bashi channel, and the Zulu and Celebes Seas to the south
• The northernmost island is Y'ami, and the southernmost island is Saluag Isle

Importance of the Philippines' Location

• The Philippines is the only Christian nation in the non-Christian Asian world
• It is a melting pot of races and cultures, with a unique heritage from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America
• It is the bridge that links the Occidental and Oriental worlds

Area and Geography

• The total land area of the Philippines is 300,780 sq. km. or 0.2% of the world's land mass
• It has 7,107 islands, making it one of the world's largest archipelagos
• The 11 main islands and their areas are: Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Panay, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, and Masbate

Topography

• The Philippines is an inverted Y-shaped archipelago of numerous islands, islets, coral reefs, abundant rivers, lakes, and bays
• It has the longest discontinuous coastline in the world - 34,600 km
• It has 61 natural harbors and 20 landlocked straits
• Manila Bay is the finest harbor in Asia and also the largest Bay in the Philippines