TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Food Apparel Technology Department

PHILIPPINE TOURISM, GEOGRAPHY AND

CULTURE
(HRM 211-M)

Group 1

Submitted to:
Prof. Rolando S. Mangada

Submitted by:

Bantugan, Jayraldyn R.
Lapidez, Maria Elizabeth G.
Liwanag, Prince Morton B.
Tabinas, Daniel C.
Objectives:

This lesson aims to:

1. To introduce Philippines’ tourism to the class;

2. To understand the geographical background, government and politics of the Philippines;
3. To widen everyone’s knowledge about tourism;
4. To know more about culture when it comes to tourism.

Topic Contents:

A. The Physical Geography of Tourism

B. Political Structure and Function
C. Philippines Cultural Tourism and Products
D. Consumption of the Culture
E. Cultural Barriers
F. Tourism System

A. THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF TOURISM

Physical geography (also known as physiography) is one of the two fields of geography, Physical
geography is the branch of natural science which deals with the processes and patterns in the natural
environment such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere, as opposed to the
cultural or built environment, the domain of human geography.

The physical geography of Philippines

-Official name: Republic of the Philippines
-Form of government: republic
-Capital: manila
-Populutation:109.6 million (2020)
-Official Language: Filipino(based on Tagalog). English
-MONEY: Philippine peso
-AREA: About 115,831 square miles
(300,000 square kilometers)

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES

• Ferdinand Magellan first landed in the Philippines in 1521. The name Philippines comes from
Philip II who was the king of Spain during the 16th century when the country became a Spanish
colony.
• The Philippines was granted to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In
1935 the Philippines became self-governing, but their independence was delayed by World War II
and the invasion of Japanese troops.
• The islands were liberated by U.S. forces in 1944-45, and the Republic of the Philippines was
proclaimed in 1946, with a government patterned on that of the United States. |
• In 1965 Ferdinand Marcos was elected president. He declared martial law in 1972, which lasted
until 1981. After 20 years of rule, Marcos was driven from power in 1986. Corazon Aquino became
president and instituted a period of democratic rule in the country.

Geography the Philippines is an archipelago, or string of over 7,100 islands, in southeastern Asia
between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The two largest islands, Luzon and Mindanao,
make up for two-thirds of the total land area. Only about one third of the islands are inhabited.

Three Geographical Areas:

Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao

As of June 30, 2019, the Philippines is divided into 17 regions. The traditional island groups of
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are composed of eight (Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, CAR, and
NCR), three (VI, VII, and VIII), and six (IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, and BARMM) regions, respectively.

GOVERNMENT
Filipinos elect their president. The president is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the
armed forces and serves a six-year term.

The economy is based on agriculture, light industry, and services. The country produces bananas,
rice, coconuts, corn, fish, mangos, pineapples, sugarcane, pork, and beef.

NATURE
The islands are home to many species of flowering plants and ferns, including hundreds of species of
orchids. Tall grasses have replaced the forests, which have disappeared due to logging, mining, and
development.

The Philippines is inhabited by more than 200 species of mammals, including monkeys, squirrels,
lemurs, mice, pangolins, chevrotains, mongooses, civet cats, and red and brown deer, among others.

The binturong, or Asian bear cat, was once prominent, but now this furry mammal is vulnerable. The
tamaraw, a species of small water buffalo found only on Mindoro, is critically endangered.

Hundreds of species of birds live in the Philippines, either for all or part of the year, including
peacocks, pheasants, doves, parrots, kingfishers, sunbirds, tailorbirds, weaverbirds, and hornbills.
The endangered Philippine eagle, which eats monkeys, is barely surviving deforestation.
 FAMOUS MOUNTAIN IN THE PHILIPPINES

Mount Apo - This is the country’s highest point at 2,954 metres, and this isn’t the only thing that is
awe-inspiring about Mount Apo. Located between the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao, this
mountain showcases terrain that is well-laden with moss and nourished by ample water flowing from
the Agco River.

Mount Kabunian - This mountain, which is located in the Northern Philippines, offers a unique
hiking experience aside from the incredible views that await the travellers who will reach the
summit. Mount Kabunian is considered a sacred ground, and numerous hanging wooden coffins can
be viewed on the side of the steep walls up to the summit. The starting point already offers an
amazing panoramic view, and that is just the beginning of the journey that reveals a summit that is
like touching the heavens.

Pico De Loro - Pico-de Loro translates to “Parrot’s Beak,” which is exactly what the place
resembles. is a dormant volcano located on the border of Cavite and Batangas, in the island of
Luzon, Philippines.
 Mt. Pulag - National Park lies on the north and south spine of the Grand Cordillera Central that
stretches from Pasaleng, Ilocos Norte to the Cordillera Provinces.

Mt.Ugo - is a popular hiking destination located in the borderline province of Nueva Vizcaya
and Benguet. It has an elevation of 2,200 meters above sea level or 7,217 feet. Mt. Ugo offers
marvelous views of the surrounding mountains of the Cordillera region, pine forests, villages, and
highland rice paddies.

Mt. Kanlaon - is an active stratovolcano on the island of Negros and the highest point in Visayas
with an elevation of 8,087 feet above sea level. Plane From Manila ride a plane bound for Bacolod.
 Mount Batulao - is an inactive stratovolcano in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines, located
in northwest Batangas province along its border with Cavite.

Mount Talinis - is a complex volcano in the Philippine province of Negros Oriental. At about 1,903
metres (6,243 ft) above sea level, it is the second highest mountain on Negros Island after Mount
Kanlaon, and the tallest peak in the mountain range known as the Cuernos de Negros.

Mount Pinatubo- a volcano in western Luzon, Philippines, that erupted in 1991 (for the first time in
600 years) and caused widespread devastation. Mount Pinatubo is located about 55 miles (90 km)
northwest of Manila and rose to a height of about 4,800 feet (1,460 m) prior to its eruption.
 Mt. Manabu's - Located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, the name of this beautiful mountain is a
portmanteau of the Tagalog phrase “Mataas na Bundok,” which means “a mountain that is high.” Mt.
Manabu's name suits it perfectly because the higher parts of the mountain are usually covered in
clouds.

Mt. Daraitan - It is located in Barangay Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal. Mt. Daraitan has a height of 739
meters above sea level or 2,424 feet.

Mt. Gulugod Baboy - is located at Mabini, Batangas. If you wish to take the longer trail, you should
proceed at the jump off at Barangay Anilao, Mabini, Batangas.

Mount Mariveles - lies at the southern end of the Zambales Mountains in the Bataan Peninsula,
west of Manila Bay. Bataan province belongs to the Central Luzon (Region III), of the Philippines
 Mount Guiting-Guiting - is the highest mountain in the province of Romblon, located in Sibuyan
Island, in the Philippines, with an elevation of 6,752 ft (2,058 m) above sea level.

B. THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government wherein power is equally
divided among its three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The government seeks to act
in the best interests of its citizens through this system of check and balance.

❑Legislative
❑Executive
❑Judiciary

Executive

The Executive branch is composed of the President and the Vice President who are
elected by direct popular vote and serve a term of six years. The Constitution grants the President
authority to appoint his Cabinet. These departments form a large portion of the country’s
bureaucracy.

The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the President, Vice
President, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, boards, commissions, and
committees.
  The President leads the country. He or she is the head of state, leader of the national
government, and Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines. The President serves
a six-year term and cannot be re-elected.

- The Vice President supports the President. If the President is unable to serve, the Vice
President becomes President. He or she also serves a six-year term.
- Cabinet members serve as advisors to the President. They include the Vice President and
the heads of executive departments. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must
be confirmed by the Commission of Appointments

Legislative

- The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal them through the power
vested in the Philippine Congress. This institution is divided into the Senate and the House of
Representatives
.
- The Legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects Presidential appointments, and
has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of
Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to Congress.
- The Senate is composed of 24 Senators who are elected at large by the qualified voters of the
Philippines.

- The House of Representatives is composed of about 250 members elected from legislative
districts in the provinces, cities, and municipalities, and representatives elected through a party-list
system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.

The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per cent of the total number of representatives
including those under the party list. For three consecutive terms after the ratification of this
Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by
law, by selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities,
women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector.
JUDICIARY

The Judicial branch holds the power to settle controversies involving rights that are legally
demandable and enforceable. This branch determines whether or not there has been a grave abuse of
discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part and instrumentality of the
government. It is made up of a Supreme Court and lower courts.

The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if
laws violate the Constitution. The judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such
lower courts as may be established by law

Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches as

follows:
 The President can veto laws passed by Congress.
 Congress confirms or rejects the President's appointments and can
remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances.
 The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional
laws, are appointed by the President.

The Constitution expressly grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial
Review as the power to declare a treaty, international or executive
agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction,
ordinance or regulation unconstitutional

PHILIPPINE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 C. PHILIPPINES CULTURAL TOURISM AND PRODUCTS

What is Cultural Tourism?

Cultural tourism is movements of persons for essentially cultural motivations such as study tours,
performing arts and cultural tours, travel to festivals and other cultural events, visits to sites and
monuments, travel to study nature, folklore or art, and pilgrimages.

What is Cultural Tourism and Products in the Philippines?

•The country is known for having its rich biodiversity as its main tourist attraction.

•Popular destinations among tourists in the Philippines include Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao. This
can include many activities such as; attending events and festivals, visiting museums and tasting the
local food and drinks

• Despite potential in the Philippine Tourism, the Philippines has delayed in tourism industry behind
some of its Southeast Asian neighbors

•Philippine Cultural Tourism provides endless opportunities to learn about the way other people live,
about their society and their traditions.

•In terms of tourism products, the Philippines strength lies in sun and sea, diving, cuisine, crafts,
nature, and education tourism. Still being developed is farm, leisure, and cruise tourism.

PALAWAN

Culture – Kulambo Festival

 Kasadyaan Festival

PRODUCTS
Pearl

Palawan Tribal Crafts

 Tingkop

Boracay

CULTURE
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
PRODUCTS

CEBU

CULTURE
 D. CONSUMPTION OF THE CULTURE

According to Rössel, Schenk, and Weingartner in 2017, cultural consumption is “the consumption of
goods and services with primarily aesthetic functions and only secondarily instrumental uses.”

Tourist consume culture as part of their interaction with the places they go to.

 Cultural Consumption is hard to measure

 Tourists engage with places in varying ways

Examples of Culture Consumption in the Philippines

1. Mambabatok Culture

Tourist that travels to the Summer Capital of the Philippines often had the idea of getting a tattoo
from a mambabatok in mind. Tourist consume culture by participating in the practice of pambabatok
which in turn, gathers more attention through publications and any form of media presence.

2. Philippine Festivals

Tourists’ cultural consumption of festivals is either due to actively participating in them, watching
live performances, or buying goods related to the festivals for aesthetic purposes.
3. Tourists Trying Local Cuisine

By actively participating in the buying and consuming of goods from a culture (i.e. food), tourists
also take part in the consumption of culture and heritage.

4. Viewing of Live Cultural Performances Live

Viewing of performances that is rooted from local culture is also a form on consuming culture and/or
cultural tourism.

E. CULTURAL BARRIERS

Going from one country, city, or town to another can be difficult. When there’s work to be done
when we get there, it’s even harder.
Some people assume all cultures are more similar than they actually are. Or even if they’re aware of
the differences, dealing with them sensitively is difficult for them. While we all have a lot in
common, there is also a lot that separates us. particularly in the workplace. And communication is
often the first problem to arise as a result.
While handling examples of cultural barriers to communication, it’s important to determine if the
issue is a socio-cultural one or a cross-cultural one.
For instance, a manager may not understand how to process a request from a colleague if he doesn’t
know how the colleague communicates.
With a socio-cultural barrier, the message may be understood, but a barrier exists in the receiving
party’s ability to respond. It can even occur between two people who belong to the same culture. It
can be caused by confusion or discomfort about how to express oneself respectfully. There are
cultures, for instance, where hierarchy plays an important part in society, in which a junior will
hesitate before contradicting a senior. That’s a socio-cultural barrier.
FIVE CAUSES OF CULTURAL BARRIERS

1. Language. Not speaking the same language (well) can cause a myriad of misunderstandings
and is considered the most crucial barrier in cross-cultural communication.
2. Stereotypes and prejudices.
3. Signs and symbols.
4. Behaviors and belief
5. “Us” versus “them” (ethnocentrism)

How To Overcome Cultural Barriers

1. Maintain etiquette  
2. Avoid slang 
3. Use slow, deliberate speech.
4. Keep it simple.
5. Engage in active listening.
6. Take turns talking
7.Make a list of everything.
8. Avoid asking closed questions.
9. Be careful with humor.
10. Be encouraging 

F. TOURISM SYSTEM

The tourism system is a complex network of human, geographical, and institutional

relationships. Besides the human focal point of the tourist, the destination is the main driver
within the industry and the raison d’être of tourism.

Tourism system is presented in a manner that would describe how the tourism industry
functions.

The Tourism System framework

Constituents of Tourism Industry

The constituents of tourism industry divided into two categories:

Primary/major constituents, and

Secondary constituents.

PRIMARY CONSTITUENTS

Very essential constituents are listed under this category.

Transport - Transport is an essential constituent of Tourism. A mode of transport is needed

to move from one place, to another.

Accommodation - Tourist needs a place to stay that is good accommodation, which could be
of any types from cottages to tourist lodges, hotels, a house boat, etc.

Catering, food and entertainment - Tourist also needs something to eat, and hence comes
the role of catering and food. Different forms of entertainment is also provided as attractions
at the destinations.

Intermediaries - The intermediaries constitute the travel agency, tour operator and guide
services. The constituent which co-relates all the components of tourism is the travel
agent/tour operator.

Government Departments/Tourist information centers etc - Many National and

International organizations related to tourism form part of the Tourism industry.

SECONDARY CONSTITUENTS

These are those services which are directly or indirectly related to tourism.

1. Shops and Emporiums: These sell various products to tourists.

2. Handcrafts and Souvenirs,
3. Local taxi/transportation,
4. Hawkers and Coolies,
5. Communication services at destination,
6. Touts and Brokers,
7. Advertisement and Publishing industry, and
8. Artists, performers, musicians etc.
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