SOC SCI 2

PHILIPPINE HISTORY
BY: MICHELLE L. BOROROMEO

CHAPTER 1-PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

PHLIPPINES NAMES:
• Claudius Ptolemy – Maniolas
• Chinese – Mai-i (Ma-yi)(Mindoro) – Land of Gold
– Mintolang (Mindanao)
– Malilu (Manila)
– Luzon (Lusong)
• Ruy Lopez de Villalobos – Las Islas Felipinas in honor of Prince Felipe
• Ferdinand Magellan – Archipelago of St. Lazarus
• American Colonization – Philippine Islands
• Islas de Poniente (Islands of the West) – Europeans
• Pearl of the Orient Seas – Fr. Juan J. Delgado (1751) Dr. Jose P. Rizal (1892)
Origin of the Philippines
• Biblical – Genesis 10:4 “ From these the maritime people spread out into their territories by their clans within
nations, each with its own language”.
• Legends (Philippines came from a giant who was carrying a huge rock and a quarrel between sky and the sea)
• Science (Claim that it was part of the remnant of Pre-historic Continent called “Mu” or “ Lemuria”) Volcanic
Eruptions
– Continental Shelf Theory-(SUNDA SHELF) about 25,000 years ago the ice age ended, the worls ice meltef
and the rising sea level flooded the land bridges connecting the continent of Asia and the Philippines.
– Volcanic Theory-eruptions of sea volcanoes caused gradual emergence of the islands above the ocean.
Location, Area and Natural Resources
• Southeast Asia
• 4°23’ N & 21°25’N Latitudes and 116°E & 127°E
• Northernmost Island: Y’ami – 240 km from Taiwan
• Southernmost Island: Saluag Isle – 24 km. from Sabah, Malaysia
• Total Land Area: 300,780 sq.km. or 0.2% of the world's land mass
• Bigger than United Kingdom and almost as large as Italy and slightly smaller than Japan
• 7,107 islands
• 3 Island Groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
• PD 1596 – declaring the Kalayaan Islands a part of the Philippines – as Municipality under Palawan
• Philippine Seas – increased due to UNCLOS of December 10, 1982:
• Recognition of Archipelagic Doctrine
• A 12-mile belt of territorial waters
• 200-miles EEZ
11 main Islands
– Luzon
– Mindanao
– Samar
– Negros
– Palawan
– Panay
– Mindoro
– Leyte
– Cebu
– Bohol
– Masbate
Climate
• Tropical and Monsoonal in Character
• 2 distinct seasons: the dry season (from December to May) and wet season (from June to November)
Plant Life: Aurora, marigold, bandera española, cadena de amor, dama de noche, gumamela, kamuning, kalachuchi,
jasmin and ilang-ilang
Animal Life:
– Water Buffalo
– Eastern Sarus Crane or Tipol in Luzon and Labong in Visayas – biggest bird
– Philippine Monkey Eating Eagle (Philippine Eagle)
– Kalaw – clock in the mountain
– Katala – can talk like human
– Palawan Peacock
– Tamaraw in Mindoro
 – Tarsier in Bohol
– Mouse deer in Balabac Is. in Palawan
Fish and Marine Resources:
– Rhincodon typus (Whale Shark) Largest Fish
– Pandaka Pygmaea (Tabios) Smallest Fish
Minerals
– Iron-bearing areas: Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur/ Angat, Bulacan, Larap, Camarines Norte,
Marinduque and Samar
– Chromite Deposits: Masinloc, Zambales
– Nickel: Surigao del Norte
– Coal: Cebu, Polillo Is, Masbate and Mindanao
– Asbestos: Ilocos Norte and Zambales
– Asphalt: Leyte
– Lead and Zinc: Masbate
– Cement: Cebu, La Union and Rizal
– Sulphur: Biliran, Camiguin and Mt. Apo
– Tin and Quicksilver: Palawan
Energy
– Maria Cristina Falls (Hydro-electric)
– Dams
– Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant
Philippine Geography/ Facts:
• Mt. Apo, Tri-boundaries of Davao City, North Cotabato and Davao del Sur – highest peak
• Mt. Dulang-dulang, Bukidnon – 2nd highest Peak
• Sierra Madre – longest Mountain Range, from Cagayan to Quezon
• Philippine Deep – deepest depths
• Luzon – largest Island, Mindanao- 2nd Largest Island- Most Populated
• Davao City – largest City, Puerto Princesa City – 2nd Largest City
• Pearl of the King – largest Pearl (9 kilos)
• As of 2014, Philippine Population estimated: 105 Million people, 2nd in Southeast Asia and 12th in the World
• Manila – (May Nilad) Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad, The Distinguished and Ever Loyal City) Capital City – June
24, 1571(ML. Legaspi) July 17, 1948 (PD 940)
• Quezon City – (Largest City in the Philippines-according to Population) Capital City (July 17, 1948-June 14, 1976 /
RA 333)
• Cebu City – oldest city (San Miguel, Ciudad de Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, City of Most Holy Name of Jesus)
• Rio Grande de Cagayan/ Cagayan River – largest and longest river
• Rio Grande de Mindanao – 2nd Largest and longest river
• Famous Volcanoes/ Mountains:
• Mt. Mayon - Albay (Region 5)
• Mt. Hibok-hibok – Camiguin (Region 10)
• Mt. Canlaon between 2 Negros provinces (Region 6 & 7)
• Mt. Taal – Batangas (Region 4a)
• Mt. Banahaw – Quezon province (Region 4a)
• Mt. Bulusan – Sorsogon (Region 5)
• Mt. Pinatubo – Zambales (Region 3)
• Mt. Musuan- Valencia City, Bukidnon (Region 10)
• Mt. Iriga – Camarines Sur (Region 5)
• Mt. Iraya – Batanes (Region 2)
• Mt. Matutum – South Cotabato (Region 12)
• Mt. Makiling – Laguna (Region 4a)
• Mt. Arayat – Pampanga (Region 3)
• 17 Regions
• National Capital Region (16 cities and 1 municipality)
• ARRM – Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
• CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region
• 81 – Provinces (Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental (Malita) RA 10363