CHAPTER 1

The Philippines and its People

GEOGRAPHY
Philippines is an archipelago lying southeast of the coast of the mainland of Asia located above the
equator thus, belongs to the northern hemisphere.

- 7, 107 islands and islets some 4,000 have no names.

BIGGEST ISLANDS
* Luzon
* Mindanao
* Negros
* Samar
* Palawan
* Panay
* Mindoro
* Leyte
* Cebu
* Bohol

The total land area, excluding the bodies of water surrounded by land, such as Laguna De Bay, Taal
Lake, Lake Lanao and many more like these, is 300,000 square kilometers. The coastline of the
Philippines is irregular and stretches for about 36, 289 kilometers, twice as the United States'
coastline, excludes Alaska and Hawaii.

On March 7, 1955 during the Philippine government to the UN, the Philippines is defined as "a
mid-ocean archipelagic state"

Philippine Deep- found in east of the Philippines near Samar and Leyte, is considered as one of the
deepest sea trenches in the world
Mount Apo- one of the mountainous and highest peak in Mindanao, standing approximately 2,954
meters high

LARGEST MOUNTAIN RANGES IN LUZON

* Western Caraballo Mountain Range
* Sierra Madre Mountain Range
* Caraballo de Baler

VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES

Most Famous of active volcanoes are Mayon and Taal. The Philippines is within what is called the
seismic belt, that is, it lies in the path of earthquakes.

CLIMATE
The Philippines has a tropical and maritime climate which is tempered by the breeze from the
Pacific Ocean on the east and China Sea on the west. The first governor- general of the Philippines
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi describing it to the King of Spain that "This country [the Philippines] is
salubrious and has a good climate..."

NATURAL RESOURCES
Nature has given the Philippines rich soil and plenty of natural resources. The rich valleys and
fertile plains are planted to crops. Has enough water resource for electricity. There is an abundant
supply of mineral and non metallic minerals. The Philippines also has oil called "black gold", its
discovery at Malampalaya, Palawan has encouraged foreign and Filipino firms to drill well for oil.
However, conservationist and civil society have expressed concern over the depletion of forests,
abuse and misuse of land resources and threats to marine and coastal ecosystems.

ECONOMY

Rice- is the main crop of the country and is cultivated in large quantities in Central Luzon, Western
Visayas and Mindanao. Its production, however, remains insufficient due to several factors.
- destructive typhoons and floods often destroy thousands upon thousands of rice lands
- agricultural sector remains backward despite government effort to modernize it through the
introduction of programs like the "Masagana 99" technique.
- production shift to sources of biofuels such as jathropa and other cash crops.
- massive conversion of farmlands for residential and commercial use has also contributed to low
rice productivity.
Philippines' major products include coconut oil, fresh bananas, pineapples, sugar, gum resins and
abaca, among others likely mining, lumber, metal woodcraft,furniture and petroleum. Philippines is
also among the world's supplier of semiconductors and manufactured goods.

POPULATION
Based on latest figures from the National Statistics Office (2008-2009), the Philippines has one of
the fastest-growing population with a birth rate of 26.42 births/1000. Due to the early trade contacts
and subsequent colonization by the Spaniards and later by the Americans, Filipinos today are a
mixture of races.

GOVERNMENT
The Philippines is a Constitutional Republic with three co-equal branches
* Executive
* Legislative
* Judiciary
For administrative purposes, the Philippines is subdivided into regions and provinces. Each
province is headed by a governor and has its own legislative body called Sangguniang
Panlalawigan. The country has undergone 5 constitutional changes since the Malolos Constitution
of 1899, which set up the First Filipino Republic with Emilio F. Aguinaldo as president. These
included:
1. The 1935 Constitution
2. The 1943 Constitution
3. The 1935 Constitution
4. The 1973 Constitution
5. The 1987 Constitution

FILIPINO TRAITS AND VALUES

The Filipino people have many common traits but most especially is their being hospitable.
Filipinos maintain close family ties. Respect for the elders is one of the best Filipino traits and they
are also very sentimental. Filipinos as a people have several values.
* pakikisama or sense of togetherness or comradeship
* utang na loob or debt of gratitude
* hiya/kahihiyan it means sense of shame