Natural Resources

The Philippines is rich in natural resources. It has fertile, arable lands, diverse flora and fauna, extensive coastlines, and rich mineral deposits.

Our Land
The Philippines primary source of livelihood is its fertile land. Rich, wide plains suitable for farming are found in the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, South western Bicol, Panay, Negros, Davao, Cotabato, Agusan and Bukidnon. The countrys six major crops are rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, abaca and tobacco. Except for rice and corn, all these products are exported, along with bananas and pineapples.

Our Forests
The Philippines also boasts of wide tracts of lush, green forests. In fact, almost half of the countrys total land area is forested. Sixty percent of these forests are found in Mindanao.

Mineral resources
Except for petroleum and a number of metals, mineral resources abound in Philippine soil. The countrys mineral deposits can be classified into metals and non-metals. Our metal deposits are estimated at 21.5 billion metric tons, while non-metal deposits are projected at 19.3 billion metric tons. Nickel ranks first in terms of deposits and size, it is found in Surigao del Norte, Davao, Palawan, Romblon and Samar. Iron is found in Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte and Cotabato. While copper in Zambales, Batangas, Mindoro, Panay and Negros. Among non-metal deposits, the most abundant are cement, lime, and marble. Other non-metals include asbestos, clay, guano, asphalt, feldspar, sulfur, talc, silicon, phosphate, and marble.

Fishery Resources
With its territorial waters measuring as much as 1.67 million square kilometers and located in the worlds fishing center, the Philippines is definitely rich in marine resources. Of the 2,400 fish species found in the country. 65 have good commercial value. Other marine products include corals, pearls, crabs and seaweeds. Some of the countrys best salt water fishing areas are found in Sintangki Island in Sulu Estancia in Bohol, Malampaya in Palawan, Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, San Miguel lake in Camarines Norte, Bantayan Channel in Cebu, and the seas of Quezon and Sorsogon. On the other hand, among our biggest fisher water fishing areas are Laguna de Bay, Bombon Lake in Batangas, Bato Lake in Canmarines Sur, Naujan Lake in Mindoro and Mainit lake in Agusan del Norte.

Common Traits of the Filipino

Filipinos are famous not only for their warm hospitality, but also for their close family ties. Filipinos are a liberty-loving and brave people.

 Gratitude is another sterling trait of the Filipinos. They are grateful to those who have granted them favors or who are good to them. Their high sense of gratitude is expressed in the phrase Utang na loob (debt of honor). Filipinos are cooperative. They value the virtue of helping each other and other people. They cherish the ancestral trait of bayanihan, which means cooperation.

Regional Traits of the Filipinos

Ilokano or Samtoy The small pice of land that they cultivate does not yield sufficient crops. Such situation produces who are.. 1. Adventurous 2. Industrious 3. Hardworking 4. Patient 5. Frugal people Central Plains Tagalog Belt The center of cultural and commercial life. It is this accident that makes him feel superior to the other Filipinos. 1. He is neither thrifty nor extravagant. 2. He is not a wandering person. 3. He stay put in his locality and tries to make the most out of his life. 4. He developed the strongest tendency to live with his parents or in laws even after marriage. Bicol Region 1. He is known for his mild temper and religiosity. 2. He knows how to enjoy life. 3. He is fond for spicy food with hot pepper and coconut. 4. If he is not enjoying his life, he finds his way to seminary or the convent. 5. Many Filipino dancers and priests come from the Bicol Region Muslim Land The fiercest lover of freedom. 1. He is Adventurous. 2. He is man of honor who sticks to his words. 3. He braves the danger just to redeem his province. 4. He is easily the best friend one have and certainly the worst enemy. 5. He is the best pearl diver and seafarer in the world. Visayas 1. They are extravagant, carefree, happy go-lucky guy. 2. They love nice clothes, fine jewelry and gay parties. 3. They prefer a good time than to hard work 4. They are willing to spend their last centavo to enjoy life.