Philippine Culture and Geography

• The Philippines has abundant natural resources, scenic spots, and friendly people
• The country offers captivating coastlines and unique native crafts and food

Fast Facts

• Official name is Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas)
• Nicknames/Sobriquets include Pearl of the Orient and Pearl of the Orient Seas
• The anthem is Lupang Hinirang
• National costumes are Barong Tagalog for men and Baro at Saya (Filipiniana) for women
• Manila City is the capital
• The time zone is GMT +8 hours
• The flag carrier is Philippine Airlines
• The motto is Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (For God, People, Nature, and Country)

Languages and Dialects

• The official languages are Filipino and English
• Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national language
• There are eight major dialects: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Kapampangan, and Pangasinense
• There are also over 120 other languages
• Filipino serves as a communication language between ethnic groups
• English is used widely and is a medium of instruction in higher education
• The Philippines is considered one of the largest English-speaking countries

Currency

• The Philippine Peso (P; PHP) is the official currency
• 100 centavos or sentimos equals one peso
• Foreign currency can be exchanged at hotels, large stores, banks, and authorized shops
• Most stores, restaurants, hotels, and resorts accept major credit cards
• The best currency to use while in the Philippines is the local peso

People and Religion

• Filipinos are mainly of Malay descent with Chinese, American, Spanish, and Arab heritage
• Their character is a blend of cultures, including Malay (kinship/camaraderie), Chinese (family ties), and Spanish (religiousness)
• Hospitality is a common trait
• Filipinos are among the few English-proficient Asian populations
• The population can be geographically/culturally divided into regions
• Ilocanos are known to be sturdy and frugal
• Tagalogs are known to be industrious
• Visayans are carefree
• Moslems of Mindanao are religious and colorful
• Two major religions are embraced: Islam and Christianity
• Islam was introduced in the 14th century and is limited to the southern region
• Christianity was introduced in the 16th century with Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in 1521
• Protestantism arrived in 1899 with American missionaries
• Two independent Filipino churches were founded at the turn of the century, including the Aglipay and Iglesia ni Cristo churches

Geographical Characteristics

• The Philippines is an archipelago in southeastern Asia between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean
• As of July 2022, it consists of 7,641 islands
• The country is divided into three main island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao
• Luzon is the largest, northernmost island
• Visayas includes the major islands of Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and Masbate
• Mindanao is the second-largest island, found at the southern end
• The highest point is Mount Apo in Mindanao, at 2,954 meters above sea level
• The lowest point is the Galathea Depth in the Philippine Trench, at 10,540 meters below sea level

Philippine Climate

• The Philippines experiences tropical weather year-round
• January to May is considered the dry season
• November to February is cool
• March to May is hot and dry
• June to October is rainy, with typhoons between July and September
• The average temperature is 78°F/25°C
• The average humidity is 77%
• Parts of the country, like Cebu, Leyte, and Davao, offer warm and comfortable weather in all seasons

Biodiversity

• The islands host various species of flowering plants and ferns, including orchids
• Tall grasses have replaced forests lost to logging, mining, and development
• It is inhabited by 200+ mammal species, including monkeys, squirrels, lemurs and deer
• Hundreds of bird species inhabit the country
• Examples of animals the binturong, tamaraw, and Philippine eagle
• The binturong or Asian bear cat, found in Palawan, has cat-like features and a prehensile tail
• The tamaraw is a small water buffalo found only in Mindoro
• The Philippine Eagle, is the country’s national bird
• Both the tamaraw and Philippine eagle are endangered

Landforms

• Islands are land surrounded by water
• A group of islands is called an archipelago, like the Philippines
• Beaches are sandy or stony areas near the ocean or other water
• It was voted as Asia's leading beach destination in the World Travel Awards (2020, 2013, 2016, and 2018)
• Examples of islands and beaches are White Beach (Boracay), Cloud 9 Beach (Siargao), and Nacpan Beach (El Nido)
• Mountains are landforms that reach 1000+ meters
• Mt. Apo (Davao) is the highest mountain in the Philippines (2,954 meters)
• Mt. Dulang-Dulang (Bukidnon) is the second highest (2,938 meters)
• Mt. Pulag (Nueva Viscaya/Ifugao) is the third highest (2,922 meters)
• Mountain ranges serve as natural barriers against typhoons
• Cordilleras is the largest mountain range, located in North Luzon
• Caraballo Mountain range is in central Luzon
• Sierra Madre spans from Cagayan to Quezon
• Hills are small land formations
• Chocolate Hills in Bohol is the most popular group of hills
• Elly Hills are also in Tagbilaran City
• Hills can be found in Quezon, Antipolo, Bulacan, and Batangas
• Volcanoes are impressive and active
• Mayon Volcano (Albay) is 2,429 meters high
• Taal Volcano (Batangas) is the smallest Other active volcanoes are Hibok-hibok in Camiguin, and Kanlaonin Negros
• Volcanoes are a rich source of minerals and have hot springs for recreation
• Caves are hollow spaces underground or in mountains
• Spelunking (cave exploration) is a great activity
• The Calbiga Caves in Samar is the largest system in the Philippines
• Other known caves are Hinagdanan Cave (Bohol), Callao Cave (Cagayan), and Tabon Caves (Palawan)

Bodies of Water

• Oceans are the greatest bodies of water
• The Earth has one global ocean divided into the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic
• The Pacific Ocean borders the Philippines in the east
• Seas are large bodies of water
• The South China Sea bounds the Philippines in the west
• The Sulu and Celebes Seas are in the south
• Other seas include the Bohol Sea, Camotes Sea, Samar Sea, Sibuyan Sea, and the Visayan Sea
• Rivers are natural waterways that flow into the sea
• Rio Grande de Cagayan is the longest and largest in the country (505 kilometers), located in the Cagayan Valley
• Other notable rivers include the Agusan, Marikina, Pasig, Mindanao, and Agno Rivers
• Gulfs are inlets of a lake or ocean bounded by land
• Examples includes Leyte Gulf and Lingayen Gulf
• Lingayen gulf is northwest of Luzon and spans 56 kilometers
• Leyte Gulf resides of the Eastern Visayas region and the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean
• Lakes are large areas of water surrounded by land and are connected to the ocean via rivers/streams
• Many lakes come from volcanic and tectonic disturbances
• Taal Lake (Batangas) is a freshwater volcanic crater lake and the third largest lake of the Philippines
• Its basin was declared as a national park in 1967
• Additional examples of bodies of water are Lake Sebu (South Cotabato), Barracuda Lake (Coron, Palawan), and Lake Danao (Ormoc)
• Waterfalls appear where water flows down a steep cliff into a pool
• Pagsanjan Falls is a popular tourist location in Laguna
• Maria Cristina Falls (Iligan City) and Kawasan Falls (Badian, Cebu) are other well-known waterfalls

Tourism

• Tourism is a global phenomenon that relies on the physical environment and natural resources
• It can impact the environment but can also contribute to its conservation with proper management
• Opportunities are available in tourism, manufacturing, and sustainable development
• The Department of Tourism (DOT) promotes and develops tourism as a significant socio-economic activity

Explore the diverse aspects of Philippine culture and geography. Test your knowledge on Filipino values like kinship, historical influences, and regional traits. Learn about the archipelago's islands, climate, and unique wildlife.