What is Geography?

- it comes from the Greek words geo (“the earth”)

and graphos (“to write” or “to describe”)

- “the field of knowledge that studies the

relationship between the earth and its people”

- the science that deals with the study of the Earth

and its lands, features, inhabitants, and
phenomena (Wikipedia)
THE PHILIPPINE GEOGRAPHY
Theories on the Origin of the Philippines
1. Mythical Theory
- man-made/imaginative stories about how the
earth and the Philippines began

2. Biblical Theory
- from the Book of Genesis

3. Scientific Theory
- based from studies, researches and experiments
Scientific Theories
a. Pacific/Magmatic Theory
- the Philippine archipelago originated from
volcanic eruptions

b. Continental Drift Theory

- the formation of the continents are due to the
movement of the Earth’s crust (Pangaea – the
world as one plate; Panthalassa – one big body of
water)
c. Plate Tectonics Theory
- also known as seafloor spreading
- the plates of the earth move
- This theory explains that the lithosphere move
sideways above a less rigid layer called the
asthenosphere, which is under extreme pressure.
d. Ice Age Theory
- also called Glacial Period wherein most parts of
the world were covered in ice thus the Land
bridges emerged
e. Land Bridges Theory
- wider land connection between otherwise
separate areas
- Five Land Bridges
a. Palawan-Borneo d. Celebes-Mindoro
b. Philippines-Taiwan-Asia e. New Guinea-Mindanao
c. Borneo-Sulu-Mindanao
Geological Foundation
According to present estimates, the planet earth is
between 4.6 and 4.8 billion years BP.

The first dinosaurs were believed to have

appeared during the Mesozoic Era (225 million
years ago).

At about 65 million years ago, the dinosaurs that

once occupied the valleys, plains and swamps
became extinct.
The land structure of the Philippines was defined
during the Tertiary period of the Cenozoic Era (54
million – 2 million years BP).

The Philippine archipelago was believed to be

adjoined to Formosa (now Taiwan) during the
Eocene (53 – 54 million years BP) and Oligocene
epochs (37 – 38 million years BP) but the
connection was severed during the Miocene
epoch (26 million years BP).
The emergence of man on earth was estimated at
5 million years BP.

The earth underwent a series of alternating warm

and cold climates during the Pleistocene epoch
(1.6 million years – 10,000 years BP) which marked
the beginning of evolutionary process in both flora
and fauna.

Based on recent studies, the earth has undergone

20 cycles of glaciation over the past 2 million
years.
The earth’s climate which began warming some
18,000 years ago caused the oceans to regain their
present levels.

During the glacial periods, ocean levels were much

lower thereupon exposing the Sunda Shelf and
Sahul Shelf.
The Archipelago’s Name
During the pre-Spanish era, early Chinese traders
and geographers referred the islands as Ma-yi.

In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan named the islands,

Islas de San Lazaro when he first set on our native
soil.

Ruy Lopez de Villalobos (1543) gave the name

Filipinas to our country.
Fr. Juan J. Delgado (1751), a Jesuit historian called
Manila Pearl of the Orient.

Jose Rizal gave the name Pearl of the Orient Seas

to his nativeland on the eve of his execution.

During the American colonial era, the Spanish

Filipinas was later changed to Philippine Islands.

It was renamed Republic of the Philippines (RP)

after the recognition of its independence in 1946.
Geography and Resources
A. Continent
Asia

B. Location
4°23’ - 21°25’ North Latitude
116° - 127° East Longitude

C. Surrounding Bodies of Water

North – Bashi Channel East – Pacific Ocean
South – Celebes Sea, West – West
Sulu Sea Philippine
Sea
D. Neighboring Countries
North – China, Taiwan, Japan
South – Brunei, Indonesia
West – Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia,
Vietnam

E. Northernmost Island
Y’ami Island

F. Southernmost Island
Saluag Island
G. Number of Islands
7,641 islands

H. Total Land Area

300,000 square kilometers

I. Capital
Manila

J. Three Major Islands/Geographical Groups

Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
K. Coastline
36, 289 kilometers

L. Number of Regions
17 regions

M. Number of Provinces
81 provinces

N. Climate
Tropical with 2 distinct seasons: wet and dry
Dry Season: November to May
Wet Season: June to October
 O. Shape of the Philippines
elongated and fragmented
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Longer coastline, wider
Harder to communicate,
fishing grounds, harbors,
travel, govern and unite
beaches, hard to conquer

P. Typhoons
An average of 20 typhoons per year