Philippines Geography Review PDF

# PHILIPPINES: An Overview ## Fast Facts: * **Administrative:** * Republic of the Philippines * Republic Government * Capital: Manila * Region: Southeast Asia * Currency: Philippine Peso * Land Area: 115,831 sq miles, 300,000 sq km * Population: 118M (2023) * Dialec...

# PHILIPPINES: An Overview ## Fast Facts: * **Administrative:** * Republic of the Philippines * Republic Government * Capital: Manila * Region: Southeast Asia * Currency: Philippine Peso * Land Area: 115,831 sq miles, 300,000 sq km * Population: 118M (2023) * Dialects: 187 * Regions & Provinces: 17 and 81 * Barangays: 42, 046 (2021) * Cities & Municipalities: 146 and 1,488 * **Culture:** * **Languages:** * 2 official languages: English and Filipino * 8 major dialects: Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon or llonggo, Bicol, Waray, Kapampangan, and Pangasinense. * **Religion:** * 83% Catholics * 5% Muslims * 12% small Christian dominations and Buddhist * **Values:** * "Po" or "Opo" is a form of acknowledgment when an elder's name is called. * Touching an elder's hand is a sign of respect. * Bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie * Hospitality * Piousness * Close family relations * Adaptive; Positive, and active ## Biggest Islands: | Rank | Island | Area | |---|---|---| | 1 | Luzon | 42,458 square miles | | 2 | Mindanao | 37,657 square miles | | 3 | Samar | 5,185 square miles | | 4 | Negros | 5,139 square miles | | 5 | Palawan | 4,706 square miles | | 6 | Panay | 4,637 square miles | | 7 | Mindoro | 4,082 square miles | | 8 | Leyte | 2,845 square miles | | 9 | Cebu | 1,725 square miles | | 10 | Bohol | 1,475 square miles | ## 8 Anchor Destinations in the Philippines: ### Manila * Country's capital * Fast growing metropolis * Showcase different cultures ### Davao * Industrial hub of Mindanao * Mt. Apo (Apo Sandawa)- highest peak in the country * Home of the Philippine Eagle ### Baguio * Country's Summer Capital and Creative City * 1500 meters above sea, 8 degrees cooler than lowlands * Jump-off point to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces ### Boracay * Known as Island paradise * Powder white sand, crystal blue waters * Located at northern tip of Panay island ### Palawan * Country's Last Frontier * Situated between Mindoro Island and North Borneo * Home to over 80 minority groups, Calamian deer, Palawan bearcat * White sand beaches, black marble caves, breathtaking dive sites ### Bohol * Country's 10th largest Island * Pristine white beaches, wonderful dive sites, Chocolate Hills and Tarsier * Site of historic Blood compact between Sikatuna and Legazpi ### Laoag/Vigan * Located in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur * Impressive wide highways and narrow cobble stoned homes, antiquated towns, Antillan ancestral homes ## Example of Major Attractions in the Philippines: ### National Attractions: * Callao Cave, Penablanca, Cagayan * Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Ilocos Norte * Enchanted River, Surigao del Sur * Kayangan Lake, Coron, Palawan * Chocolate Hills, Bohol * Borawan Island, Quezon * Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur * Ardent Hot Springs, Camiguin * Hundred Islands, Pangasinan * Tubbatha Reef, Palawan * Mt. Pico De Loro, Maragondon, Cavite ### Site Attractions: * Rice Terraces, Ifugao * Sumaguing Cave, Sagada * Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte * San Juanico Bridge, Samar & Leyte * Hanging Coffins, Sagada * Wind Mill, Ilocos Norte * Bilar, Bohol * Patapat Bridge, Ilocos Norte * Canopy Walk, Claveria, Misamis Oriental * Malinta Tunnel, Corregidor Island ### Event Attractions: * Sinulog Festival * Masskara Festival * Ati-Atihan Festival ### Man-made Attractions: * Intramuros Walled City of Manila * Hundred Islands, Pangasinan * The Creative City, Baguio * Fort Santiago, Manila * Casa Manila ## Luzon Regions: ### Luzon * Luzon is the Philippines largest island * 110,000 km² (43,000 sq miles) * Is the most populous island in the Philippines * Luzon is composed of the mainland area and numerous smaller islands * It has 7 regions * Luzon is divided into three (3) geographical regions: Northern, Southern, and Metro Manila * Luzon has four International airports #### Luzon Provinces: * **National Capital Region (NCR)** * Caloocan City * Las Piñas City * Makati City * Malabon City * Mandaluyong City * Manila City * Marikina City * Muntinlupa City * Navotas City * Parañaque City * Pasay City * Pasig City * Quezon City * San Juan City * Taguig City * Valenzuela City * **Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)** * Abra - Bangued * Apayao - Kabugao * Benguet - La Trinidad * Ifugao - Lagawe * Kalinga - Tabuk City * Mountain Province - Bontoc * **Region 1 (Ilocos Region)** * Ilocos Norte - Laoag City * Ilocos Sur - Vigan City * La Union - San Fernando City * Pangasinan - Lingayen * **Region 2 (Cagayan Valley)** * Batanes - Basco * Cagayan - Tuguegarao City * Isabela - Ilagan City * Nueva Vizcaya - Bayombong * Quirino - Cabarroguis * **Region 3 (Central Luzon)** * Aurora - Baler * Bataan - Balanga City * Bulacan - Malolos City * Nueva Ecija - Palayan City * Pampanga - City of San Fernando * Tarlac - Tarlac City * Zambales - Iba ### Region IV-A * **Region 4A (Southern Tagalog or Calabarzon)** * Batangas - Batangas City * Cavite - Trece Martires City * Laguna - Sta. Cruz * Quezon - Lucena City * Rizal - Antipolo City ### Region IV-B * **Region 4B (MIMAROPA)** * Marinduque - Boac * Occidental Mindoro - Mamburao * Oriental Mindoro - Calapan City * Palawan - Puerto Princesa City * Romblon - Romblon ### Region V * **Region 5 (Bicol)** * Albay - Legaspi City * Camarines Norte - Daet * Camarines Sur (Camsur) - Pili * Catanduanes - Virac * Masbate - Masbate City * Sorsogon - Sorsogon City ## Famous Attractions in Luzon Regions: * **Vigan City, Ilocos Sur** * **Intramuros Walled City of Manila** * **Sumaguing Cave, Sagada** * **The Creative City, Baguio** * **Pico de Loro, Cavite and Batangas** * **Mayon Volcano** * **Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan** * **Whaleshark, Donsol, Sorsogon** * **Hundred Islands, Pangasinan** * **Tagaytay** * **Pagsanjan Falls** * **Traveling Morion, Marinduque** * **Panagbenga Festival, Baguio** * **Sinulog Festival, Cebu** * **Ati-Atihan Festival, Kalibo, Aklan** * **Masskara Festival, Bacolod City**