Philippine National Symbols Trivia

National Symbols

• The Philippine eagle is considered one of the rarest and most powerful birds in the world and is the national bird of the Philippines.

• Killing the Philippine eagle is punishable by 12 years of imprisonment or high fines.

• The carabao is a freshwater buffalo that represents hard work and perseverance, and is the national animal of the Philippines.

• The carabao is significant in Philippine mythology.

• The baro't saya is a traditional dress ensemble worn by women in the Philippines and combines elements from both precolonial native Filipino and colonial Spanish clothing styles.

• The baro't saya is the national dress of the Philippines.

• The barong tagalog is an embroidered long-sleeved formal shirt for men and is a national dress of the Philippines.

• José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda is considered a national hero of the Philippines.

• He was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines.

Geography of the Philippines

• The Philippines is an archipelago located in Southeastern Asia, consisting of 7,107 islands.

• The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system characterized by active volcanoes.

• The country has a total area of 115,830 square miles and a coastline of 22,549 miles.

• The length of the Philippines is 1,851 km (1,150 mi) from SSE to NNW, and its width is 1,062 km (660 mi) from ENE to WSW.

• The country is bordered by the Luzon Strait to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Celebes Sea to the south, and the South China Sea to the west.

• The Philippines has a mostly mountainous terrain, with all islands prone to earthquakes.

• The lowest point is the Philippine Sea, and the highest point is Mount Apo, which stands at 9,691 feet.

• The Philippines has the longest irregular coastline in the world, measuring 36,290 kilometers in length.

• It has 61 natural harbors, including 20 landlocked straits, with Manila Bay being the finest harbor in the Far East.

Regions and Provinces

• There are 17 regions in the Philippines, including:
  • Region I – Ilocos Region
  • Region II – Cagayan Valley
  • Region III – Central Luzon
  • Region IV – CALABARZON
  • Region V – Bicol Region
  • Region VI – Western Visayas
  • Region VII – Central Visayas
  • Region VIII – Eastern Visayas
  • Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
  • Region X – Northern Mindanao
  • Region XI – Davao Region
  • Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
  • Region XIII – Caraga Region
  • MIMAROPA Region
  • NCR – National Capital Region
  • CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region
  • BARMM – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Islands Claimed by the Philippines

• The Philippines has claimed several islands, including:
  • Spratly Islands
  • Sabah
  • Scarborough Shoal
  • Palmas or Miangas Island
  • Sangir Islands
  • Orchid Island
  • Marianas Islands
  • Caroline Islands