Chapter 2
The Land and the People
The Philippines is located in the southeastern portion of
Asia. Because of its central location in the Southeast, it
has been dubbed with so many names being at the
gateway of Asia.
The Philippine islands are an archipelago of over 7,107
islands lying about 500 mi (805 km) off the southeast
coast of Asia. it covers a total land area of 300,000
square kilometers. This makes the country bigger than
New Zealand, Greece and even Great Britain.
There are three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao. The country is divided into 17
administrative regions, 78 provinces, 115 cities, 1,496
municipalities, and 41,939 barangays or villages.
Origin of the Philippines
Lemuria or Mu – the lost pacific continent which sunk during the
pre-historic times.
Land Bridge Theory - another well-known theory was the which
believed that the Philippines was once a component of
continental Asia.
Dr. Fritjof Voss conducted a rigorous study in the Philippine geology
and indicated from earlier geological studies that the country was
a result of earthquakes due to the moving of tectonic plates.
Dr. Bailey Willis theorized that the Philippines was of volcanic origin
stating that it came into existence from the series of volcanic
eruptions beneath the ocean
The largest are Luzon in the north (40,420 sq mi; 104,687
sq km), Mindanao in the south (36,537 sq mi; 94,631
sq km), and Visayas (23,582 sq mi; 61,077 sq km). The
ten largest islands are: Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan,
Negros, Samar, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, and
Bohol.
The islands are of volcanic origin, with the larger ones
crossed by mountain ranges. The highest peak is
Mount Apo (9,690 ft; 2,954 m) on Mindanao.
The northernmost point is Y’ami isle which is about 78
miles from Taiwan while the southernmost point is
Saluag Isles, which is only 34 miles east of Borneo.
17 Regions
• Region I (Ilocos Region)
Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan
regional center: San Fernando City
• Region II (Cagayan Valley)
Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino
regional center: Tuguegarao City
• Region III (Central Luzon)
Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga,
Tarlac, Zambales
regional center: San Fernando City
• Region IV (Southern Tagalog)
IV-A (Calabarzon) - Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon,
Rizal
regional center: Calamba City
IV-B (Mimaropa) - Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro,
Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon
regional center: Quezon City
• Region V (Bicol Region)
Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes,
Masbate, Sorsogon
regional center: Legazpi City
• Region VI (Western Visayas)
Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental
regional center: Iloilo City
• Region VII (Central Visayas)
Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor
regional center: Cebu City
• Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)
Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar,
Samar, Southern Samar
regional center: Tacloban City
• Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)
Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del
Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
regional center: Pagadian City
• Region X (Northern Mindanao)
Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao Del Norte, Misamis
Occidental, Misamis Oriental
regional center: Cagayan de Oro
• Region XI ( Davao Region)
Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur,
Davao Oriental
regional center: Davao City
• Region XII (Soccsksargen)
North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan
Kudarat
regional center: koronadal City
• Caraga
Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Norte,
Surigao Del Sur
regional center: Butuan City
• National Capital Region (17 local government units)
regional center: Manila
• ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)
Basilan, Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi
regional center: Cotabato City
• CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)
Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province
regional center: Baguio City