Introduction to

Philippine History
 Geographical
characteristics
 Philippines
 The Philippines is an archipelago of 7, 107 islands of
which 2, 773 are named.
 It has a total land area of 115, 707 sq. miles or 299, 681
sq. km.
 Philippines is an inverted Y- shaped archipelago of
numerous islands, islets, coral reefs, abundant rivers,
lakes and bays, mountains and valleys, cool plateaus,
and scenic volcanoes.
 The country is divided into three major regions: the
largest island, Luzon, in the north; Visayas, an island
group in the center; and Mindanao, the second largest
island.
 Regions
 Region 1- Ilocos Region
 Region 2- Cagayan Valley
 Region 3- Central Luzon
 Region 4A- CALABARZON
 Region 4B- MIMAROPA
 Region 5- Bicol Region
 Region 6- Western Visayas
 Region 7- Central Visayas
 Region 8- Eastern Visayas
 Region 9- Zamboanga
Peninsula
 Region 10- Northern Mindanao
 Region 11- Davao Region
 Region 12- SOCCSKSARGEN
 Region 13- CARAGA
 CAR- Cordillera Administrative
Region
 NCR- National Capital Region
 ARMM- Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao
 Climate
 The Philippine climate is tropical and monsoonal in
character.
 The two distinct seasons are dry season and wet season.
 The temperature varies from 21 degree Celsius to 32
degree Celsius.
 The coldest month is January and the Hottest is May.
 Ring of Fire

 The Philippines lies within the Pacific seismic belt and

has consequently experienced severe earthquakes
 Volcanoes dot the three geographic regions of the
country and have been for centuries one of the natural
causes of destruction of life and property
– Iraya in Batanes Island; Taal in Batangas; Banahaw in Quezon;
Mayon in Albay; Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin Island; Makaturing in
Lanao; and Apo in Davao
 The Philippines also had its share of tsunamis in the past
 Natural Resources
 Soil is the most important natural resources in the
Philippines primarily of most people earn a living from
tiling the land.
 The country has rich plant life. Agricultural experts
believed that 8,120 species of plants grow in the
country, that is, about 1,000 varieties of orchids, 1,000
species of rice, and 3,000 species of trees.
 850 species of birds are found in the Philippines.
Carabao is the most useful animal for it serves as
farmer’s best friend.
 At least 2,000 species of fish are found in the waters of
the Philippine archipelago.
 Rice, the staple crop of the country, and produced
largely in Luzon
 Copra, abaca, gums, resins, rubber, and sugar have
found ready markets abroad
 Lumber, minerals and metals have been exported in
large quantities
 The Philippines' proven oil deposits currently stand at
138 million barrels. The country's rate of extraction is
25,000 barrels a day, which is far below the
consumption.
World Heritage Sites
Banaue Rice Terraces
 For 2,000 years, the high rice
fields of the Ifugao have
followed the contours of the
mountains. The fruit of
knowledge handed down from
one generation to the next,
and the expression of sacred
traditions and a delicate social
balance, they have helped to
create a landscape of great
beauty that expresses the
harmony between humankind
and the environment.
Historic Town of Vigan
 Vigan is an exceptionally
intact and well preserved
example of a European
trading town in East and
South-East Asia.
 Vigan represents a
unique fusion of Asian
building design and
construction with
European colonial
architecture and
planning.
Barouque Churches of
the Philippines
 These four churches, the
first of which was built by
the Spanish in the late
16th century, are located
in Manila, Santa Maria,
Paoay and Miag-ao. Their
unique architectural style
is a reinterpretation of
European Baroque by
Chinese and Philippine
craftsmen.
Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River
 This park features a
spectacular limestone karst
landscape with an
underground river. One of the
river's distinguishing features
is that it emerges directly into
the sea, and its lower portion
is subject to tidal influences.
The area also represents a
significant habitat for
biodiversity conservation. The
site contains a full 'mountain-
to-sea' ecosystem and has
some of the most important
forests in Asia.
Tubbataha Reef
 The Tubbataha Reef Marine
Park covers 130,028 ha,
including the North and South
Reefs. It is a unique example
of an atoll reef with a very
high density of marine species;
the North Islet serving as a
nesting site for birds and
marine turtles. The site is an
excellent example of a pristine
coral reef with a spectacular
100-m perpendicular wall,
extensive lagoons and two
coral islands.
Other Beauty Spots
Mayon Volcano
 Mayon Volcano is an active
volcano in the Philippines on
the island of Luzon, in the
province of Albay in the Bicol
Region. Its almost perfectly-
shaped cone is considered by
some to be the Philippine
equivalent of Mount Fuji in
Japan. 15 kilometers to the
southeast of the volcano is
Legazpi City.
Manila Bay
 Manila Bay is a natural
harbor that serves the
port of Manila. The bay
is considered one of the
best natural harbors in
Southeast Asia and one
of the finest in the world.
 The Filipino
 The Filipino belongs to a mixture of races, although
basically he is a Malay.
 Filipinos are distinguished by ethnoliguistic groups
originally corresponding to geographical areas.
 78 languages and 500 dialects have been identified, with
the 8 major languages being Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano,
Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and
Pangasinense.
 The politically dominant language over the last century
has been Tagalog, the language of Manila and the
surrounding provinces.
 Visayan has the most native speakers, its major dialect is
Cebuano
 Filipinos are also differentiated by religious affiliation:
Roman Catholic (82.9 percent), various Protestant
denominations (5.4 percent), Islam (4.6 percent),
Philippine Independent Church (2.6 percent), Iglesia ni
Kristo (2.3 percent) and others (2.2 percent).
 Filipino Traits
Strengths of the Filipino Character
 Family Orientation- It refers to a genuine and deep
love for the family. For the Filipinos, the family, as the
basic social institution, includes not only the father, the
mother, their brothers and sisters, but also the
grandparents, the aunts, the uncles, the cousins, and
even the ceremonial relatives. Concern for the family is
eloquently manifested in the honor and respect given to
parents and the elders, in the care given to children, the
generosity extended to a kin in need, and in the great
sacrifices one endures for the welfare of the family.
 Hard Work and Industry- It refers to one’s
willingness to risk taking jobs in a foreign land with a
different culture, not to mention the social cost.
 Flexibility, Adaptability, and Creativity- Filipinos
have the capacity to adjust and to adapt to conditions
and circumstances in a given environment, both physical
and social. They have the ability to improvise and make
use of whatever is on hand in order to create and
produce new things out of discarded scraps, for survival.
 Pakikipagkapwa- tao- It refers to a deep sense of
concern for one’s dignity and respect. This is manifested
in a basic regard for justice and fairness to others.
“Pakikiramay”, the sensitivity to people’s feelings-
“pakikiramdam” and “pagtitiwala” are bonds that
promote feelings of closeness to one another and
become the foundation of unity.
 Joy and Humor- It refers to propensity to cheer and
laugh and have a fun loving approach to the ups and
downs of life. Laughing at themselves and the mess they
are in is an important coping mechanism.
 Faith and Religiosity- Filipinos have a deep faith in
God. Their innate religiosity enables them to
comprehend and genuinely accept reality in the context
of God’s will and plan. Filipinos live very intimately with
religion and prayers have been important part of their
lives.
Weaknesses of the Filipino Character
 Extreme Personalism- It refers to the extent to which one is able
to relate personally to things and people which determines the
recognition of their existence and the value attached to them. This
extreme personalism often leads to graft and corruption and other
malpractices in our government institutions.
 Extreme Family Centeredness- The extreme excessiveness of
family centeredness becomes detrimental to the welfare of a larger
community. The use of one’s office and power to promote the
interest of one’s family results in the utter lack of concern for the
common good.
 Lack of Discipline- This results in the use of shortcuts or the
“palusot” syndrome, “nakaisa”, “nakalamang”, and “nakadaya”, in
the Filipino vocabulary, words loaded with implied values. In several
instances, Filipinos are guilty of the “ningas- cogon” tendency. They
start their projects with full enthusiasm and interest, which abruptly
die down, leaving things unfinished. What a waste!
 Lack of National Consciousness- A proper understanding of
one’s history is a very important factor in the development of
national consciousness because it will serve to demonstrate how the
present is influence by the past.
 Colonial Mentality- These conditions are attributed to two
dimensions- lack of patriotism and national integration and the
strong preference for imported goods, foreign ideas and ways.
 Passivity and Lack of Initiative- While it is true that Filipinos
can adjust to circumstances in a given environment and posses
some creative talents; they are generally passive and lacking in
initiative. One has to be told what has to be done. They can tolerate
inefficiency, poor service, and even violation of human rights. In
many ways, it can be said that Filipinos are too patient for long
suffering (“matiisin”), easily resigned to one’s fate, even if they are
oppressed or exploited.
end