Introduction to Philippine History

Philippine Geography

GEOGRAPHY

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. The Philippines is surrounded by three major bodies of water: the Pacific Ocean to the east, the South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south

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.

Southeast Asia

The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia.

Ring of Fire
Situated on the western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity

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

Climate

The Philippine climate is tropical and monsoonal in character.

There are three seasons: tag-init or tag-araw, the hot dry season or summer from March to May; tag-ulan, the rainy season from June to November; and tag-lamig, the cool dry season from December to February

The southwest monsoon (from May to October) is known as the Habagat, and the dry winds of the northeast monsoon (from November to April), the Amihan. Sitting astride the typhoon belt, most of the islands experience annual torrential rains and thunderstorms from July to October, with around 19 typhoons entering the Philippine area of responsibility in a typical year and 8 or 9 making landfall

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population

As of 2010, the Philippines has become the world's 12th most populous nation, with a population of over 94 million There are about 11 million Filipinos outside the Philippines. 3.1 million are in the United States and 2 million are working in the middle east with 1 million in Saudi Arabia

Half of the population resides on the island of Luzon Manila, the capital city, is the 11th most populous metropolitan area in the world. The population of the Greater Manila Area is around 20 million

Language

According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino and English are the official languages Both Filipino and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business The constitution designates regional languages such as Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Tagalog, and Waray-Waray as auxiliary official languages Filipino language based on Tagalog

78 languages and 500 dialects have been identified in the Philippines The eight major language groups are Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano, Hiligaynon (aka 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

Philippine languages are often referred to by Filipinos as dialects, partly as a relic of the inaccurate vocabulary used in literature during the American period The basic measure in distinguishing between a language and a dialect is mutual intelligibility

Ethnolinguistic groups

According to the 2000 census 28.1% of Filipinos are Tagalog, 13.1% Cebuano, 9% Ilocano, 7.6% Bisaya/Binisaya, 7.5% Hiligaynon, 6% Bikol, 3.4% Waray, and 25.3% are classified as other These general headings can be broken down further to yield more distinct non-tribal groups like the Moro, the Kapampangan, the Pangasinense, the Ibanag, and the Ivatan There are also indigenous peoples like the Igorot, the Lumad, the Mangyan, the Bajau, and the tribes of Palawan

Religion

More than 90% of the population are Christians: about 80% belong to the Roman Catholic Church while 10% belong to other Christian denominations Between 5% and 10% of the population are Muslim, most of whom live in parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelagoan area known as Bangsamoro or the Moro region

Philippine traditional religions are still practiced by many aboriginal and tribal groups, often syncretized with Christianity and Islam

POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

Government

The Philippines is a constitutional republic with a presidential system of government The country is governed as a unitary state with the exception of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao

Executive

The President functions as both head of state and head of government and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces The president is elected by popular vote for a single six-year term, during which he or she appoints and presides over the cabinet

The president is elected to a single 6-year term A tenure increased from four years to allow sufficient time for economic and political achievement The 1987 Constitution has weakened the presidents ability to keep the country under martial law (or in a state of emergency) for any length of time

The Executives responsibilities Oversees all departments and agencies of the state Releases funds appropriated by Congress Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Legislature

The bicameral Congress is composed of the Senate, serving as the upper house, with members elected to a six-year term, and the House of Representatives, serving as the lower house, with members elected to a three-year term

The senators are elected at large while the representatives are elected from both legislative districts and through sectoral representation

The Senate is composed of 24 Senators House of Representatives 206 district-based congressmen 250 mandated limit for the number of congressmen Remaining number seats reserved for party-list members

Legislatures responsibilities Authority over the national budget Officially proclaims the president and vice president Promotions in the military Conducts investigations into the performance of executive officials

Judiciary

The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, composed of a Chief Justice as its presiding officer and fourteen associate justices, all of whom are appointed by the President from nominations submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council

Regional Administration

As of March 2010, the country is divided into 17 regions, 80 provinces, 138 cities, 1,496 municipalities and 42,025 barangays

ECONOMY

Economy

the Philippine economy has been transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing It now has a mixed economic system, important sectors of Philippine industry include food processing, textiles and garments, and electronics and automobile parts

Most industries are concentrated in the urban areas around Metro Manila, while Metro Cebu is also becoming an attraction for foreign and local investors

Mining has great potential in the Philippines, which possesses significant reserves of chromite, nickel, and copper Recent natural gas finds off the islands of Palawan add to the country's geothermal, hydro, coal, and oil exploration energy reserves Primary exports include semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits

Major trading partners include China, Japan, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia Unit of currency is the Philippine peso ( or PHP).

CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Culture

Philippine culture is a combination of Eastern and Western cultures. The Philippines exhibits aspects found in other Asian countries with a Malay heritage, yet its culture also displays a significant amount of Spanish and American influences

One of the most visible Hispanic legacies is the prevalence of Spanish names and surnames among Filipinos - the names of many streets, towns, and provinces are also in Spanish Traditional festivities known as barrio fiestas (district festivals) to commemorate the feast days of patron saints are common

Spanish architecture has left an imprint in the Philippines Some examples remain, mainly among the country's churches, government buildings, and universities Four Philippine baroque churches are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the San Agustn Church in Manila, the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, the Nuestra Seora de la Asuncin (Santa Mara) Church in Ilocos Sur, and the Santo Toms de Villanueva Church in Iloilo Vigan in Ilocos Sur is also known for the many Hispanicstyled houses and buildings preserved there

The common use of the English language is an example of the American impact on Philippine society Ready acceptance and influence of American pop cultural trends seen in Filipinos' love of fast food, film, and music

Cuisines

Philippine cuisine is a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences that have been adapted to local ingredients and the Filipino palate to create distinctively Filipino dishes Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to the elaborate, such as the paellas and cocidos created for fiestas

Popular dishes include lechn, adobo, sinigang, kare-kare, tapa, crispy pata, pancit, lumpia, and halo-halo Unlike many of their Asian counterparts, Filipinos do not eat with chopsticks; they use western cutlery. The main pairing of utensils seen at the Filipino dining table is that of spoon and fork

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 ones 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 ones dignity and respect. This is manifested in a basic regard for justice and fairness to others. Pakikiramay, the sensitivity to peoples feelingspakikiramdam 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 Gods will and plan. Filipinos live very intimately with religion and prayers have been important part of their lives.

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 Gods will and plan. Filipinos live very intimately with religion and prayers have been important part of their lives

Weakneses 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 ones office and power to promote the interest of ones 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 ones 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 ones fate, even if they are oppressed or exploited

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

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 'mountainto-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 National Sites

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 perfectlyshaped 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.

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