Lesson 4:

GEOGRAPHY
The geography of the
Philippines is fragmented
and along with this
fragmentation has come
divergent development
that reflects local resource
potential and varying
social and political
agendas.
• “By 2040, the Philippines shall be a
prosperous, predominantly middle-
class society where no one is poor. Our
peoples will enjoy long and healthy
lives, are smart and innovative, and
will live in a high-trust society.”

AmBisyon Natin 2040

Geographical Resource

qMountains
• Major Mountain Ranges
• Sierra Madre(largest and Longest
Range in the country), Cordilllera,
Caraballo (all in Northern Luzon);
• Diwata Range, Kalatungan-Kitanglad
Range, Mt. Tago and Apo Ranges ( in
Mindanao)
• Mt Apo (9,690ft)--country’s highest
peak, located in Davao-Cotabato
boundaries.
• Banaue Rice Terraces, known as The “Stairways in the Sky”, is located in The
Cordilleras. It was built by the Ifugaos more than 4,000 years ago.
Banaue Rice Terraces
Banaue Rice Terraces
Baguio City, “City of Pines”
Mt Apo, “ King of the Philippine Mountains”
Mt Apo, Davao-North Cotabato Border
qVolcanoes
§ Located at the “Pacific Ring
of Fire”, The country has
over 50 volcanoes, 22 active.
§ Mt. Mayon-world’s
famous for its near-
perfect conical shape,
located in Legazpi, Albay
§ Other major active
volcanoes include Mt.
Pinatubo, Mt. Kanlaon,
Didicas Island and
Halcon.
Mayon Volcano, the “Fujiyama of the Philippines”
Mt Mayon, Legazpi City
Mt Pinatubo Eruption, 1991
Mt Pinatubo Eruption, 1991
Mt Pinatubo Eruption: Aftermath
Mt Pinatubo Today
Mt Pinatubo Crater Lake
Getting There: Mt Pinatubo Crater Lake
• Taal Volcano- the world’s smallest volcano, is a volcano within a
dormant volcano. It is located in Batangas.
• Tagaytay City
Taal Volcano, a “volcano within a volcano”
q Hills
§ Chocolate Hills, located in the towns of
Carmen and Sagbayan, Bohol
§ Are compared to mounds of Hershey’s
in summer as the barren peaks turn
brown. During rainy months, the fertile
hills become beautiful green grassy
fields.
§ It is considered one of the geologic
wonders of the world along with:
§ Montalban Gorge, Rizal
§ Sand Dunes, Ilocos Norte
§ Hundred Islands, Pangasinan
§ Taal Volcano, Batangas
§ The landforms already declared by the
National Committee on Geological Sciences
[NCGS] as National Geological Monuments
Chocolate Hills, “Mounds of Hershey's”
Chocolate Hills, Carmen, Bohol

Montalban Gorge, Rizal

Hundred Islands
Hundred Islands, Alaminos Pangasinan

Sand Dune, Ilocos Norte

qCoastlines
• The Philippines has the longest irregular coastline in the world, with 36, 290
km in length.
• Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan- dubbed as one of the world’s finest beaches
because of its kilometer-long stretch of powdery white sand and pristine
waters.
Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan
Boracay, where beach party starts from dusk ‘til dawn
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido
Talikud Island, Davao
Gumasa, Sarangani, the “Little Boracay of Southern Mindanao
Dahican Beach-surfing destination haven
qLakes
• Laguna de Bay- the country’s largest freshwater lake, and the second
largest in Southeast Asia, after Ton Le Sap in Vietnam
qRiver System
• Cagayan River- the longest river in country with a length of 513 kilometers. Other
Major rivers include Abra, Agusan, Bicol,Chico, Pampanga, and Pulangi.
Agusan Marshland
Villages in Agusan Marsh
Lake Lanao, Marawi
St. Paul Subterranean River, Puerto Princesa
Palawan’s Underground River has been declared as the new
seven wonders of nature
Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Lake Sebu, the homeland of the T’bolis

qWaterfalls
• Tinuy-an Falls, Bislig Surigao del Sur- dubbed as the “Little Niagara
of the Philippines”, the country’s widest and largest waterfalls.
Other Important Waterfalls as Tourist Attractions:
• Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna,
• Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan
qStraits
• San Juanico Strait- the world’s narrowest strait, connecting Samar and Leyte.
qFlora and Fauna
• Three unique mammals found only in the country, and now included in the endangered list
• Tarsier(Tarsius) - smallest monkey in the world
• Calamian Deer (Cervus Calamanianes)-known as Pilandok, considered the smallest deer in
the world
• Tamaraw(Bubalus Mindorensis) – a smaller version of a carabao, found only in Mindoro
Philippine
Eagle(Pithecopaga
Jefferyi)-”King of
the Philippine Bird”,
Kalaw(Buceros
officially named as
Hydrocorax)-
the National Bird of
“Clock of the
the country.
Mountain”.

Talking Myna,
Katala (Philippine
Cockatoo)-mumbles
and croons like a
man
• Rousette Fruit Bat
(Rousetteus
Amplexicaudatus) –
its largest number
found in Samal Island,
listed as the world’s
single biggest colony-
sanctuary by the
Guinness Book of
Records.
Monfort Bat Cave, Samal Island
Waling Waling(Vanda Sanderiana)- “Queen of Philippine Orchids’

Rafflesia- the world’s biggest

flower
Taklobo(Tridacna-Gigas)-the world’s largest
shell

Glory of the Sea

Psidum – the (Connus
world’s Gloriamaris)- the
smallest shell world’s rarest shell
Pating Bulik (Whale Shark)- the world’s biggest
fish, locally known as Butanding in Donsol
Sorsogon.
EFFECTS/INFLUENCES OF GEOGRAPHY ON THE
HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE FILIPINOS
OCCUPATIONAL
INFLUENCE:
OCCUPATIONAL
INFLUENCE:
OCCUPATIONAL
INFLUENCE:
SOCIO-POLITICAL
EFFECTS:
SOCIO-CULTURAL
EFFECTS:
SOCIO-CULTURAL
EFFECTS:
qGeographical Features:
qLocation:
qLocated in the western Pacific Ocean,
southeastern Portion of Asia.
qIt lies above the equator.
qIt has an astronomical location of
40°23'-21°25' N. latitude and 116°-
127°E. longitude
qBoundaries:
qNorth----Taiwan;
qSouth---- Celebes Sea and Indonesia;
qEast---- Pacific Ocean,
qWest---- South China Sea and
Vietnam;
qSouthwest--- Malaysia and Singapore
West Philippine Sea [South China Sea]
§ An archipelago of 7,107 (old) islands and islets
ü Total Land Area: 300, 000 sq km
ü Manila is the capital. It is also the chief
port and main commercial center of the
islands.
ü The current population of the Philippines is
117,813,569 as of Sunday, October 8, 2023,
based on Worldometer elaboration of the
latest United Nations data.
ü Three geographical groups
§ Luzon (141,395 sq km),
§ Mindanao (101, 999 sq km)
§ Visayas (56, 606 sq km)
ü Northernmost Point is Mavulis Island (Y’ami
Amianan); 78 km away from Taiwan;
ü Southernmost Point is Saluag Isle of Tawi-
Tawi, 34 km east of Borneo
Mavulis Islands/Y’ami

Saluag Isle,Tawi-Tawi
§ National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority (NAMRIA)
üThe newly discovered 534 new
islands in the Philippines.
üFrom 7,107 the Philippines now
has a total of 7,641 islands.
§ The country has 18 regions to 17
regions
üExecutive Order No. 183 signed
by President Benigno Aquino III.
üBeginning May 29, 2015, they are
now the Negros Island Region
(NIR).
§ to promote efficiency in the
government, accelerate social
and economic development,
and improve public services in
its provinces.
EO No 183 vs. EO No. 38
q Executive Order (EO) No. 38, signed by Duterte on
August 7, 2016 revokes EO No. 183
§ The new EO reverts the provinces of Negros
Occidental to Western Visayas (Region VI)
and Negros Oriental to Central Visayas
(Region VII).
q Duterte's EO states that there is not enough
funding for the NIR given other priorities of the
administration.
§ "The establishment of regional offices (ROs) of
departments and agencies in the NIR requires
substantial appropriation to be fully operational,
thus competing with government priority
programs and projects for funding….I was
confronted with a P19 billion…”
• The number of provinces has increased to 82
Region Provinces Cities Municipalities Barangays

149
33 HUC
5 ICC
111 CC
17 82 1,490 42,036
As of July 8, 2023,
of the Local
Government Act
1991

• Compostela Valley in 2000,

• Zamboanga Sibugay in 2001,
• Dinagat Island in 2006,
• Davao Occidental in 2013
üthrough the enactment of the Republic Act 10360 on July 23, 2013, with Malita as the
provincial capital.
üIt was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate on November 28, 2012, and
December 5, 2012, respectively, and later on signed by former President Benigno Simeon
Aquino III on January 14, 2013, as per record of the Philippine Standard Geographic Code
(PSGC).
• A province is created by an Act of Congress and duly ratified by the affected voting
population in a plebiscite.
üan average annual income of at least 20 million Philippine Pesos (₱20 M),
üa contiguous territory of at least 2,000 square kilometers, or
üa minimum population of 250,000
• There are eighty-two (82) provinces in the Philippines
ü38 in Luzon,
ü27 in the Visayas, and;
ü17 in Mindanao
• Maguindanao is a province situated in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ---- occupying the Sulu Archipelago and the provinces
of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in central Mindanao. Its capital was the
Municipality of Shariff Aguak.
• Republic Act No. (RA) 11550, signed by Pres. R. Duterte on May 27, 2022
• Maguindanao del Norte (with Datu Odin Sinsuat as its capital),
and Maguindanao del Sur (with Buluan as its capital)—following a September
2022 plebiscite.
Maguindanao
Cities
• Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs)
ühave a minimum population of 200,000 and an annual income of at
least fifty million Philippine pesos (₱50 M).
• Component Cities (CCs)
ücities that do not meet the above requirements.
üare considered part of the province where they are located.
• Independent Component Cities (ICCs)
üTheir charters prohibit their voters from voting for elective provincial officials
and they are independent of the provinces where they are located
üonly five (5) ICC are Dagupan in Pangasinan, Naga in Camarines
Sur, Ormoc in Leyte, Santiago in Isabela, and Cotabato City.
üZamboanga City is an independent, chartered city and was designated highly
urbanized on November 22, 1983, though it grouped with the province of
Zamboanga del Sur for statistical purposes.
Classification: City and Municipality
§ Class Average annual
§ Class Average annual income (₱)
income (₱ million)
• First At least 400 • First At least 55,000,000
• Second 320+ but < 400
• Second 45,000,000- 4,999,999
• Third 240+ but < 320
Third 35,000,000-44,999,999
• Fourth 160+ but < 240 •
• Fifth 80+ but < 160 • Fourth 25,000,000-34,999,999
• Sixth < 80 • Fifth 15,000,000-24,999,999
§ Malaybalay City 1ST Class CC, "South Summer
Capital of the Philippines“, February 11, 1998 • Sixth At most 15,000,000
§ Valencia City 2nd class CC, January 12, 2001 § According to the 2020 census, the province is
§ September 01, 1914 inhabited by 1,541,308 residents.
§ Became a regular province by virtue of the creation § 20 municipalities and 2 cities
of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu.
§ March 10, 1917, the province of Bukidnon was § 4 Legislative Districts
created under Act 2711.
§ Home of the 7 tribes namely Higaonon,
Talaandig, Bukidnon, Manobo, Matigsalug,
Tigwanahon and Umayamnon.
§ ARMM was created by Republic Act No. 6734 in 1989.
üThe region has jurisdiction over administrative organizations, family
relations, natural resources, and economic, social, and tourism
development.
üIt does not have powers over certain matters, including national defense
and security, monetary and fiscal policies, citizenship, international
relations, and foreign trade.
üThe ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del
Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan.
§ Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officially designated
as BARMM, is an administrative region in the Philippines grouped under
the Mindanao island group.
üOn July 27, 2018, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law Republic Act
No. 11054, effectively replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao. The law was ratified in a plebiscite on January 25, 2019
üIt covers 5 provinces, namely, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao,
Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
üThe regional center is the City of Cotabato.
From BOL to OLBARMM =ARMM to BARMM
§ In 1751, Fr. Juan J. Delgado, a Jesuit historian called
Manila, Pearl of the Orient
§ became a rich outlet of Asian trade even prior to the coming of the
Spaniards in the archipelago.
§ Dr. Jose Rizal gave the name Pearl of the Orient Seas to his
native land on the eve of his execution in 1896.
§ The name Filipinas first appeared in a rare map published in
Venice in 1554 by Giovanni Battista Ramusio, an Italian
geographer.
§ The Spanish Filipinas or Felipinas were later changed to
Philippine Islands (P.I.) during the American colonial era.
§ It was renamed the Republic of the Philippines (R.P.) after the
recognition of its independence in 1946.
•Other names:
• Mai/Mayi----Chinese; Chu jua kua
• Rizaline Republic--- Artemio Recarte
• Maharlika--- Ferdinand Marcos
The Filipino Society and Culture
Ethno-Linguistic Groups in the
Philippine
qTagalogs live in Metro Manila, Central
Luzon, and Southern Luzon. People from
certain Tagalog region provinces like
Batangas, Bulacan, and Quezon have
their own intonations.
qThe Cebuanos, Ilonggos, and Waray-
Waray comprise a large number of the
Visayans.
§ The Ilonggos live in Western Negros,
Southern Mindoro and in Panay
Islands.
§ The Cebuanos predominate in Cebu,
Western Leyte, Bohol, Eastern Negros
and in some coastal areas of
Mindanao.
§ The Waray-Waray are living in the
Samar-Leyte Provinces.
qIlocanos - considered as the third biggest group. They live
particularly in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union.
qPangasinenses live in Lingayen Gulf region
qPampaguenos or Kapampangan live in Central Luzon,
particularly in Pampanga
qZambals living primarily in the province of Zambales and
the Pangasinense municipalities of Bolinao and Anda
qIbanags live in the Nueva Vizcaya, Luzon, Isabela and
Cagayan provinces. The Ibanag derive their name from the
word "I" which means "people" and the word "Bannag"
which means "river.”
qBicolano are the fourth-largest Filipino ethnolinguistic
group. Males are usually referred to as Bicolano, and
Bicolana is used for females. Their native region is
commonly referred to as Bicolandia, which comprises the
entirety of the Bicol Peninsula and neighboring minor
islands, all in the southeast portion of Luzon.
Indigenous Tribes in the
Cordillera
qIfugaos, Bontoks, and Igorots
are considered the most
sophisticated mountain
region people because they are
exposed to lowland life
qIbalois, Kankanays, and
Kalingas tattoo their bodies as
a sign of bravery and as a
status symbol
qIsnegs of Apayao
Other Indigenous Groups
qGaddangs of Isabela
qNegritos or Aetas of Zambales
qMangyans of Mindoro
qTagbanuas, Batak, Tao’t Bato,
Molbogs and Jama Mapuns of
Palawan
qMamanwas (A Negrito Group)
of Surigao del Norte
qKalibugans, Subanen and
Samals of Zamboanga del Sur
qManobos, Tirurays , Iranuns and T’bolis
of Maguindano, Cotabato and Sultan
Kudarat
qMandayas of Davao Oriental
qBagobos and B’laans of Davao del Sur.
qYakans of Basilan
qTausug of Sulu Archipelago
qBadjaos of the Sulu Sea, also known as
the ‘sea gypsies’ or ‘sea roving people’ in
the Philippines
qMaguindanaos the largest Muslim ethnic
group in the Philippiness
qMaranaos or the lake people of Lanao
The Filipino Character
qStrong Belief in the existence of a Supreme Being or Poong
Maykapal who could be called by various names like the Christian
“Dios” or the Islamic “ Allah” or Bathala among the early Tagalog or
Igorot’s Kabunian, and others.
§His assistance in times of need and trouble is always called upon:
ØTulungan nawa tayo ng poong maykapal (May the Almighty
help us) Kaawaan nawa tayo ng maykapal (May the Almighty
have mercy on us)
ØSalamat sa maykapal (Thanks be to the Almighty)
ØIpapasadios nalang- leaving to the Almighty if the desired
retribution is not obtained by social justice.
qReligiosity of the Filipinos
§ observance of religious events and
practices like Holy Week, Christmas
and Easter Sunday among Catholics;
Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Eid Ul-Adha
among the Muslims.
§ Keeping religious items at home,
places of work, and vehicles to
ward off evil, and avoid accidents
and other mishaps.

Moriones Festival, Romblon

Sinulog Festival Cebu
Penafrancia,Naga
Panata during Lent
• Religiosity is sometimes carried
beyond the prescription of
religions, such as the use of
charms, amulets, and
medallions to keep away evils.
• These “anting-antings” which
are prayed upon by shamans,
are believed to bestow their
own powers besides protection
from harm.
qSegurista or assurance
of good results.
§ A Patient, after seeing a
doctor may still go to
albularyo to cure the
same disease.

q Respect for Elders they are

addressed in the third person plural
such as ‘inyo, kayo, or ninyo” and
conservations are ended with “ po”
and opo” as signs of respect.
qClose Family Ties
§Extended families consist of parents and immediate
parents, or grandparents and grandchildren staying under
one roof or in close proximity.
§Filipino family is patriarchal in nature, with the
father being the head of the family but the
grandfather is always its sage and fountain of
wisdom.
§Parents would encourage their children to interact
with those who came from a Buena Familia and avoid
those with a bad reputation
qHigh regard for women
§During the pre-Hispanic era,
women had the same rights as
men.
§Some women became rulers and
others served as religious leader
like catalonas and babaylanes
or baylan who were believed to
have the power to communicate
with the spirit world.
§Women walked ahead of men
and they took care of the
household and the farms while
men hunted and fished.
§During the Spanish Colonial time, the status of women was
reduced to household chores and only became secondary to
their husbands.
§The powerful catalonas and babaylanes were demonized as
witches and sorceresses.
§Filipino society is matriarchal compared to the Chinese and
the Japanese.
§ This is reflected in how the Filipinos call their country “Inang
Bayan” or motherland instead of “Fatherland”.
§The husband is sometimes jeered as ander d’ saya or a
cuckold if he is dictated upon by his wife.
qHospitality
§Always accommodating and
welcoming to the visitors to
his humble home even if they
are complete strangers.
§This trait shines during feasts
when families prepare to look
their best and cook the finest
dishes.
§Visitors are invited to enter
every house and sample food,
and to refuse the offer is an
insult.
qFond of Humor / Positive
Outlook in Life as friendly
people, one would meet the
person he knows and even
strangers by smiling and
greeting.
§ We Filipinos are fond of
telling jokes as a means of
entertainment and
diversions from the
drudgeries of life.
Masskara Festival
qNon-confrontational- diplomatic way of telling what he would really like
to say if it would hurt his ego or cause embarrassment.
qHiya- a trait connected to self propriety
qDelicadeza - a sense of becoming proper, ethical, and giving
consideration to others.
qKapit-Tuko- a contrast of delicadeza, compared to a lizard-like creature
which could be pried out of its hold with much difficulty.
qAmor propio – a Spanish word translated as high self-regard or title
conscious.
qPalabra de honor – a man’s word as his bond or obligation. Betrayal of
honor is paid in blood.
qUtang na Loob – a debt of gratitude as a payment of loyalty and cannot
be paid in money.
qPakikisama – the demand for belongingness to a group to develop a deep
sense of camaraderie
qDehado – a Cinderella syndrome or empathy for the underdog.
qCrab Mentality – jealousy to the progress of others and would try to find the other person’s
defects or even indulge in matters that may hamper his progress.
qFatalism – this “bahala na attitude” has been ingrained in the Filipino psyche in which he
believes things are because of fate.
q“Pwede na Yan attitude”- complacency tendency of the Filipino
qColonial Mentality/ “faddish”- propensity to imitate things that are foreign
qNingas Cogon- initial enthusiasm that fades in the long term due to lack of discipline, conviction
of resolve, and consistency.
qRegionalistic – the tendency to give more consideration to their place of origin, province, or
region than the nation
ü The Ilokanos have been characterized as thrifty and hardworking.
üThe Pampanguenos are stereotyped as traitors because of being loyal soldiers during the
Spanish colonial time.
üThe Tagalogs have a superiority complex, his dialect being the basis of the national language
and his region as the political and commercial capital of the country.
üThe Bicolanos are characterized as very religious and even-tempered. Their preference for
spicy food was viewed as a sign of bravery or ability to endure.
üThe Visayans love to live life to the fullest. They are good singers, musicians, and composers.
üThe Moros are imbued with adventurous spirit and proud of their rich history and religion.
End of discussion!