LECTURE NOTES

SS -13 │ 1. Philippines: Land and People

1. Creation Stories
 Creation Story (Bible) – Adam and Eve
 Continental Drift Theory – Alfred Wegener, The Origin of Continents and Oceans (1915) –
Pangea or in Greaek, “all land’
 Visayan Creation Story – Maguayan (Sea), Kaptan (Sky), Lidagat (daughter of Maguayan),
Lihangin (son of Kaptan), Sikalac and Sikabay
o Children of Lidagat and Lihangin:
o Likalibutan (whole of the world, rock)
o Liadlao (the day, gold)
o Libulan (the moon, copper)
o Lisuga (the light, silver)
 Igorot Creation Story – Lumawig (Great Spirit), Mayinit (owner of Salt), Samoki (owners of
pottery)
 Tagalog Creation Story – Bathala (god of the Sky), Aman Sinaya (goddess of the Sea),
Amihan/Manaul (Northeast Wind)
o Children of Malakas and
Maganda:
o Aetas (burning cauldron)
o Datu/Chieftains (rooftops)
o Commoners (trees)
o Hunters (mountains)
o Fishermen (seashore)

2. Geological Foundation
 Cenozoic Era (Tertiary Period) –
structure of the country was defined as
a nymph lying across the ocean
 Mu/Lemuria (Lost Continent) - remnant
of a con tinent of the Pacific together
with Marianas Islands, Bonneo, Java,
Sumatra and Celebes

 Pacific/ Magmatic Theory – came into

existence after the eruption of volcanoes
beneath the Pacific Ocean

Part I. Prehistoric and Pre-Colonial Philippines

LECTURE NOTES
SS -13 │ 1. Philippines: Land and People
 Asiatic Theory / Land Bridges Theory – part of
continental Asia
3. Name
 Sources of History
o Primary sources may
include diaries, letters,
interviews, oral histories,
photographs, newspaper
articles, government
documents, poems,
novels, plays, and music.
The collection and analysis of
primary sources is central to
historical research.
o Secondary Sources
analyze a scholarly
question and often use primary sources as evidence.These sources include books and
articles about a topic. They may include lists of sources, i.e. bibliographies, that may
lead you to other primary or secondary sources.

 Ma-yi/Ma-i- Chau Ju-Kua, Chinese trade official, 1225

 Islas de San Lazaro (Archipelago of St. Lazarus) – Ferdinand Magellan, 1521
 Filipinas – Prince Philip of Asturias = King Philip of Spain given by the Spanish Explorer Ruy
Lopez de Villalobos,1543
 Filipinas –Giovanni Basttista Ramusio, Itallian Geographer, Venice, 1554
 Manila, Pearl of the Orient –Fr. Juan J. Delgado, a Jesuit historian, 1751
 Pearl of the Orient Seas – Dr. Jose Rizal, 1896
 Philippine Islands- American Colonial Era
 Republic of the Philippines – 1946
o ARTICLE II, DECLARATION OF
PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES
o Section 1. The Philippines is a
democratic and republican State.
Sovereignty resides in the people
and all government authority
emanates from them.
 Others:
o Rizaline Republic- Artemio
Ricarte, Katipunan General
o Maharlika – Former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
(guerilla group)

4. Geography and Resources

Part I. Prehistoric and Pre-Colonial Philippines

LECTURE NOTES
SS -13 │ 1. Philippines: Land and People
 Philippines - An island country of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. It is an
archipelago consisting of some 7,100 islands and islets
 Manila (since 1595) is the capital, but nearby Quezon City is the country’s most-populous
city. Both are part of the National Capital Region (Metro Manila), located on Luzon, the
largest island. The second largest island of the Philippines is Mindanao, in the southeast. It is
the largest city of the country and the chief port and main commercial center.
o 1948 – Quezon City was declared the capital
o May 29, 1979, President Ferdinand Marcos’
Decree No. 940
 Found in Western Pacific Ocean
 Southeastern Portion of Asia
 Dubbed the “Crossroads of the Pacific Ocean”
 Astronomical Location:
o Latitude: 4º23’ - 21º25’N
o Longitude: 116º - 127ºE
 7, 107 islands and islets
 Total Land Area of 300,000 square kilometers
 Luzon – the biggest island in the 3 geographical
groups (141,395)
o Visayas (56,606), Mindanao(101,999)
 Philippine Fault - major inter-related system of geological faults throughout the whole of
the Philippine Archipelago
 The country has the longest
irregular coastline in the world
with 36,290 kilometers in
length.
 61 natural harbors which
includes Manila Bay, the finest
natural harbor in the Far East
(1,970 square kilometers)
 Palawan – 1,768 islands and
islets (subterranean caves,
unexplored dive sites,
unpopulated beaches, dense
tropical jungles)
 17 Regions (see photo)
 Philippine Ecosystems: forests,
ponds, grasslands, valleys,
plains, rivers and seas
 La Mesa Watershed – only
forest reserve in Metro Manila,
launced June 2, 2005 by ABS-
CBN Bantay Kalikasan Foundation, MMSS and Quezon City government

Part I. Prehistoric and Pre-Colonial Philippines

LECTURE NOTES
SS -13 │ 1. Philippines: Land and People
 Mount Banahaw and Makiling – known as mystic mountains for reflection and recreations.
(legendary and grandest of all the Southern Tagalog Mountains, known for its guardian spirit
Mariang Makiling)
 Three Major Mountain Range
o Sierra Madre Mountain Range - 1,915 m (6,283 ft) extending along the Pacific coast
from northern to central Luzon, is the longest mountain range in the country
o Cagayan to the north and Quezon to the south, forms eastern backbone
o Cordillera Ranges - 9,587 ft (2,922 m) (from old Spanish cordilla, “cord,” or “little
rope”), a system of mountain ranges that often consist of a number of more or less
parallel chains
o Caraballo Range –its range reaches an elevation of about 5,500 feet (1,680 meters)
and it joins the Cordillera Central to the north and the Sierra Madre to the east
o The mountains serve as the location of the headwaters of the Cagayan River
 Cordillera Region – most productive gold and copper mines in the country
 Banaue Rice Terraces – a system of irrigated rice terraces in the mountains of north-central
Luzon, Philippines, that were created more than 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao people.
Although located in several villages, they are collectively known as the Banaue rice terraces.
In 1995 various sections of the terraces were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site,
described as “a living cultural landscape of unparalleled beauty.” (Eight Wonder of the
World)
 4 Major Mindanao Mountain Ranges: The Diwata Range, Taga-Apo Range, Kalatungan –
Kitanglad Range and the Duguma Range
 Mount Apo- active volcano, south central Mindanao, 20 miles (32 km) west of Davao City; it
is the highest point in the Philippines, rising to 9,692 feet (2,954 metres). Part of the
Cordillera Central, it is covered by a forest of tall, tropical hardwoods; two subsidiary peaks
nearly match its height. Mount Apo National Park, established in 1936, has an area of
199,819 acres (80,864 hectares); it is the home of the rare Philippine eagle and features
numerous peaks and valleys, as well as Malasita Falls, Sibulao Lake, and the Kisinte Hot
Springs.
 The Philippines has over 50 volcanoes in the country with 24 active ones

 Mount Pinatubo –dormant for 611

years, April 2, 1991 emitted fumes
after a hydro-thermal explosion and
erupted from June 12-15, 1991
 Taal Volcano – a volcano within a
volcano, volcano island in a lake
with 33 recorded eruptions since
1572

Part I. Prehistoric and Pre-Colonial Philippines

LECTURE NOTES
SS -13 │ 1. Philippines: Land and People
 Mount Mayon – famous for its near-perfect conical shape, had its first recorded eruption in
1616 (47 eruptions in total so far, as of 2010)
 Kanlaon Volcano – erupted 6 times in 1985 and 3 times in 1986
 Chocolate Hills- turns brown in the month of February, hence the name. It is one of the
geological monuments of the country (Taal Volcano in Batangas, Montalban Caves in Rizal
Province, Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte and Hundred Island in Pangasinan). Department of
Environment (DENR), Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), and the National Committee on
Geological Sciences (NCGS) issued the declaration of national geological monuments to
highlight their protection.
 Cagayan River – the longest river in the country with a length of 513 kilometers which flows
from Caraballo Mountains near Nueva Vizcaya – Nueva Ecija down to the Babuyan Channel in
Northern Luzon.
 San Juanico Strait- narrowest strait in the world, located between Samar and Leyte
 Laguna de Bay - largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia
 Lake Calibato – deepest lake in Laguna which is 176 meters deep
 Tubbataha Reef – one of the sandbars and reefs known for its rich beautiful dive sites and
marine resources (12 miles) In 1987, it was declared a national marine park and was named by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site
 Boracay- located in Aklan Province, known for its blu waters, powder-fine white sand and a
palm fringed four-kilometer beach
 Central Plain in Luzon – Rice Granary in the Philippines
 Waling waling (Vanda Sanderiana) – Queen of Philippine Orchids
 Narra – executive proclamation of Governor General Frank Murphy dated February 1, 1934
 The country has over 201 species of mammals, 179 are terrestrial and 22 are marine
 Philippine Carabao- swamp type of domesticated water buffalo
 Philippine Eagle (Pithecopaga jefferyi) – found in the jungles of Luzon and Mindanao, this
monkey eating eagle was given the title “King of Philippine Birds”. 5 ½ in height and 7 in
wingspan. Officially proclaimed as the national bird in 1996
 Kalaw – “clock of the mountains”
 Glory of the Sea (Connus gloriamaris) – world’s rarest shell
 Tridacna gigas –largest shell (1 meter and weighs 600 pounds)
 R. M de la Paz and E. D. Gomez recorded a total of 2140 species of Philippine Fishes which
includes bangus (milkfish), dalag(mudfish), dilis(anchovy) etc.
 Pating bulik (striped shark)- whale shark, 50 ft or more in length, largest fish in the country
 Mount Diwalwal – Compostela Valley, site of the gold rush since 1983
 Mankayan – oldest and largest copper mine in the country

5. Climate
 The Philippines is situated in a Torrid Zone which has a tropical climate with a mean annual
temperature of about 27°C.
 Has 2 seasons : dry and wet
 Rainy season occurs from May to November
 Often the country experiences typhoons from June to October
 Dry season occurs December to April

Part I. Prehistoric and Pre-Colonial Philippines

LECTURE NOTES
SS -13 │ 1. Philippines: Land and People

6. The Filipino People

 Filipinos are a blend of Malay, Chinese, Negrito, Indian, European and American lineage
 In the 19th century, Filipinos are referred to as Christianized Malays
 1st biggest group - Cebuanos, Ilonggos and Waray-Waray people comprise a big number
among the Visayans
 2nd biggest group -Most Tagalogs live in Manila, Central and Southern Luzon
 3rd biggest group – Ilocanos, particularly from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union
 Other members of the populace includes Pangasinenses, Pampaguenos, Zambals,
Ibanags(Cagayanos), and Bicolanos.
 Indigenous groups have kept their cultural tradition distinct through the generations. These
includes mountain people of Cordillera (Isnegs of Apayao, Kalingas of Kalinga, Ifugaos, Igorots,
Ibalois, Kankanays and Bontocs of Benguet and Mountain province.
 They still uphold Animism (worship of deities and spirits)
 Kalingas – tattoo their bodies as a sign of bravery, which is a status symbol. Prestige can be
obtained through oratorical ability
 Ifugaos –have high regard for the family’s honor and dignity and are forbidden to induce
hostility, known for their rice culture
o Hagabi – indicates high position of the owner in the community, chair sculpted from a
large mass of wood
 Igorots – live on rootcrops and wild pigs, dear or fowl in the forests
 Bontoks – hunting and agriculture
o Bagbato – rituals for bountiful harvest
o Ulog – an unmarried woman stays in one place where she is visited by suitors
 Ibalois and Kankanays of Benguet and Southern Mountain Province – most sophisticated
mountain region people
 Other Indigenous groups are Gaddangs from Isabela, Negrito/Aetas of Zambalez and the
hinterlands, Mangyans of Mindoro, Tagbanuas, Batak, Tao’t Bato, Molbogs and Jama Mapuns
of Palayan, Mamanwa (a Negrito group ) of Surigao del Norte, kalibugans, Subanus and
Samals of Zamboanga del Sur, Manobos, Tirutays, Iranuns and T’bolis of Maguindanao,
Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, madayas of Davao Oriental , Bagobos and B’laans of Davao del
Sur, Yakans of Basilam, Tausigs of the Sulu Archipelago, Badjaos of the Sulu Sea and Muslim
groups in Mindanao
 Maguindanaos – largest Muslim group in the country
 Maranaos – “people of the lake” live near Lake Lanao
 The country has over 80 dialects. Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligayon (Ilonggo) are widely
spoken
7. Theories of the Origin of Filipinos
 Migration Theory of H. Otley Beyer - the ancestors of the Filipinos came in waves of
migration
o Dawn Man – similar to Java Man and other Asian Homo Sapiens of 250, 000 years ago
o Pygmy / Negritos – 2nd settlers, described to have black skin, dark kinky hair, black
eyes, flat noses with a usual 5 ft height

Part I. Prehistoric and Pre-Colonial Philippines

LECTURE NOTES
SS -13 │ 1. Philippines: Land and People
o Indonesian group – 3rd to arrive, tall, slender, light complexion and thin lips.
Indonesian B were shorter, bulkier, dark complexion and thick lips
o Malays- last to arrive, seafarers who introduced the Iron Age Culture
 Core Population theory – inhabitants are composed of a core population to which came
accretions of people who moved in from the region and shared common cultural traits or base
culture

Part I. Prehistoric and Pre-Colonial Philippines