Lesson 1: The Philippines: It’s Land and People

Learning Outcome:

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

1. Describe the location and climate of the Philippines.

2. Prove the statement that the Philippines are rich in natural resources.
3. Explain the traits and values that make the Filipino a distinctive nation.
4. Determine the major characteristics of the physical features of the country.
The Philippines lies in Southeast Asia.

Surrounded by deep seas such:

Bashi Channel in the north, Philippine Deep in the east, South China Sea in the
west, Celebes Deep in the south.
 It is an archipelago - consisting of 7,107 islands, Islets in which 2,773 are named
and 1,190 are inhabited, with a total area of approximately 300,000 square
kilometers.
 On June 11, 1978, the area of the Philippines was increased due to the
government‘s claim to the Spratly Islands through Presidential Decree 1596
 signed by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, declaring the island as part of the Philippines,
to be administered as a municipality of the province of Malampaya, Palawan.
The populated and mountainous islands are grouped into three:
1. Luzon – 141,395 sq. km.
2. Visayas – 56,606 sq. km.
3. Mindanao – 101,999 sq. km.
The country consists of 18 Administrative Regions, 82 provinces, 149 cities,
1,493 municipalities and 42,004 barangays.

POLITICAL REGIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

REGION ISLAND GROUP COMPONENT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNITS
National Capital Region Luzon Caloocan (17)
Las Pinas
(Regional Center: Manila) Makati
Malabon
Mandaluyong
Manila
Marikina
Muntinlupa
Navotas
Paranaque
Pasay
Pasig
Pateros
Quezon City
San Juan
Taguig
Valenzuela
Cordillera Administrative Luzon (Regional Center: Abra
Region (CAR) Baguio) Apayao
Baguio
Benguet
Ifugao
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ilocos Region Luzon (Regional Center Dagupan
(Region I) San Fernando) Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Pangasinan
Cagayan Valley Luzon (Regional Center Batanes
(Region II) Tuguegarao) Cagayan
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Quirino
Santiago
Central Luzon Luzon (Regional Center Angeles City
(Region III) San Fernando) Aurora
Bataan
Bulacan
Nueva Ecija
Olongapo
Pampanga
Tarlac
Zambales
CALABARZON Luzon (Regional Center Batangas
(Region IV-A) Calamba Cavite
Laguna
Lucena
Quezon
Rizal
MIMAROPA Luzon (Regional Center Marinduque
(Region IV-B) Calapan) Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Palawan
Puerto Princesa
Romblon
Bicol Region Luzon (Regional Center Albay
(Region V) Legazpi) Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes
Masbate
Naga
Sorsogon
Western Visayas Visayas (Regional Center Aklan
(Region VI) Iloilo City) Antique
Capiz
Guimaras
Ilo-ilo
Ilo-ilo City
Negros Island Region Visayas (Regional Center Bacolod
(NIR) Bacolod and Dumaguete) Negros Occidental
Interim/de facto Negros Oriental
Siquijor
Central Visayas Visayas (Regional Center Bohol
(Region VII) Cebu City) Cebu
 Cebu City
Lapu-Lapu
Mandaue
Eastern Visayas Visayas (Regional Center Biliran
(Region VIII) Tacloban) Eastern Samar
Leyte
Northern Samar
Ormoc
Samar
Southern Leyte
Tacloban
Zamboanga Peninsula Mindanao (Regional Center Isabela City
(Region IX) Pagadian) Zamboanga City
Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay
Northern Mindanao Mindanao (Regional Center Bukidnon
(Region X) Cagayan de Oro) Cagayan de Oro
Camiguin
Iligan
Lanao del Norte
Misamis Occidental
Misamis Oriental
Davao Region Mindanao (Regional Center Davao City
(Region XI) Davao City) Davao de Oro
Davao del Norte
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental
Davao Oriental
SOCCSKSARGEN Mindanao (Regional Center Cotabato
(Region XII) Koronadal) General Santos
Sarangani
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat

Caraga Region Mindanao (Regional Center Agusan del Norte

(Region XIII) Butuan) Agusan del Sur
Butuan
Dinagat Island
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur
Bangsamoro Mindanao (Regional Center Basilan
(BARMM) Cotabato City) (Excluding Isabela)
Cotabato City
Lanao del Sur
Maguindanao del Norte
 Maguindanao del Sur
Sulu
Taw-Tawi

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE PHILIPPINES:

Volcanoes:

Based on Geosciences Bureau of DENR, there are 402 volcanoes throughout

the archipelago. Out of this, 22 are active, 27 are potentially active, and 353 are
inactive.
Mt. Mayon in Albay, with its nearly perfect cone, is the most active and popular
volcano. Erupted last February 4, 2024.

Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the country, found in Mindanao.

Taal Volcano in Batangas is considered the world’s smallest volcano. The volcano
erupted last March 26, 2022.

Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales is the world’s most destructive volcano it was erupted
in 1991. Recorded data revealed that Pinatubo’s eruption affected over 1.5 million
Filipinos, killing 900 and rendering 300,000 homeless.
RIVER AND FLUVIAL SYSTEM:

Notable river systems in Luzon are the Rio Grande de Cagayan, Agno Grande,
Abra River System and Rio Grande de Pampanga. Rio Grande de Cagayan is the
longest river in the Philippines. It begins its 350 km course in Sierra Madre Range and
flows north into an 80 km wide fertile valley and then to the coast.

Rio Grande de Pampanga – is the second largest river in the Philippines at 260
km. It runs through the provinces of Nueva Ecija, part of Bulacan, Tarlac, Quezon and
almost the whole of Pampanga.

Agno Grande is the third longest river at 221 km. Its headwaters are found in the
Cordillera Region. The river system passes through the province of Pangasinan in
Luzon and Benguet in the Cordilleras.

Mindanao has the largest river systems. Rio Grande de Mindanao is

approximately 182 km long, with water sports and boat racing activities as its main
attraction. Agusan River – is 220 km. in length, passing through the entire province of
Agusan. This river is used as a transportation channel for logs that are floated
downstream to mills for processing into lumber and plywood.

Laguna de bay is the largest lake in the Philippines and the second largest lake
in Southeast Asia.

NATURAL RESOURCES:

Flora and Fauna

15,000 known plant species

8,120 flowering plants and some famous tropical hardwoods like Apitong,
Tangile, Yakal,Bagtikan, Palosapis and etc.
 There are about 170,000 species animals in the country. Out of the 230
mammalian species, 98 are endemic, including one of the world’s smallest primates, the
Philippine Tarsier.

Mineral Resources:

Our deposits of gold, copper and chromite are among the ten largest in the world.
The country is the second largest producer of gold in Asia. The country’s dominant
metallic resource is copper, while limestone is its leading non-metallic resource.

The tropical climate of the country is classified in four types:

1. Dry and Hot season – from March till May

2. Rainy Season – in June until November and Cool Dry Season – December to
February
3. Seasons are not relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the
year.
4. Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed through the year.

THE FILIPINO PEOPLE:

Filipinos are generally classified into four (4) groups, namely:

1. Christian Filipinos compromise 85%of the total population of the country. They
include the Ilocano, Pangasinan, Tagalog, Bicol, Waray, Cebuano, Illonggo, and
other groups. Outside the bounds of their religion, they have extremely diverse
lifestyles. Even methods of practicing Christianity differ from region to region.
2. Muslim Filipinos inhabit the southern part of the country, specifically in the Sulu
Archipelago and the Southwestern part of Mindanao. They belong in the various
cultural communities in Mindanao and Sulu like Maguindanao of Cotabato,
Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao Province; Maranao of Lanao del Sur and
Lanao del Norte; Tausug of Jolo; Sama groups of Sulu Archipelago; Yakan of
Basilan; and Jama Mapun of Cagayan Island. The people of Sulu and
 Southwestern Mindanao were converted to Islam in the 13 th century. Q’uran or
the holy book of Islam and Shari’ah or the holy law of Islam.
3. Indigenous Filipinos or cultural communities comprise 9% of the country’s
population. Some of them are the following: the Ifugao, Kalinga, Bontoc, Agta,
Aeta, Mangyan, Tagbanua, Bagobo, Bilaan, and T’boli.
4. Chinese Filipinos they constitute only 1-2% of the population, they are very
visible group. They had been the focus of racism in the country due to their
speaking Chinese, eating Chinese Food, observance of their own holidays and
religion.

FILIPINO TRAITS AND VALUES:

1. Warm, Friendly and Intimate People
2. Caring and Sharing People
3. Family-Centered People
4. Highly Spiritual People
5. Amor Propio
6. Pakikisama
7. Pagsasarili
8. Sensitivity to Personal Affront
9. Euphemism
10. Cleanliness
11. Propensity for Gambling
12. Extravagance
13. Hospitality
14. Respect for Elders
15. Fatalism
16. Loyalty to a friend of benefactor
17. Tendency to be Indolent
 18. Individualism or Kanya-kanya Syndrome
19. Lack of Initiative
20. Regionalism

Activity No. 1 – HEROISM

Directions: Draw or trace your left or right hand and answer the following questions.
Title: BEING A FILIPINO
1. Thumb – I am proud of __________________________________
2. Index Finger – My image of politicians are ___________________________
3. Middle Finger – I am afraid of ____________________________
4. Ring Finger – My dream for our country is ____________________________
5. Pinkie Finger – My mission in life as a Filipino citizen ___________________
6. Palm - I admired President _______________ because of his/her ________

Activity No. 2
Directions: Choose one question and answer it briefly but concisely. (5 points)
1. Why is there a need for us to understand our country’s history? Point at least two
reasons.
2. What benefits can a student derive from a study of our country’s history? Cite at
least two benefits.