Chapter 2 The Land and the People

1. Chapter 2The Land and the People

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 17 Regions • Region I (Ilocos Region)Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinanregional center: San Fernando City • Region II (Cagayan Valley)Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirinoregional center: Tuguegarao City • Region III (Central Luzon)Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambalesregional center: San Fernando City

6. Region IV (Southern Tagalog) IV-A (Calabarzon) - Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizalregional center: Calamba CityIV-B (Mimaropa) - Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblonregional center: Quezon City • Region V (Bicol Region)Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogonregional center: Legazpi City • Region VI (Western Visayas)Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidentalregional center: Iloilo City

7. Region VII (Central Visayas)Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijorregional center: Cebu City • Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Samarregional center: Tacloban City • Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur, ZamboangaSibugayregional center: Pagadian City

8. Region X (Northern Mindanao)Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao Del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Orientalregional center: Cagayan de Oro • Region XI ( Davao Region)Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Davao Orientalregional center: Davao City • Region XII (Soccsksargen)North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudaratregional center: koronadal City

9. CaragaAgusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Surregional 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-Tawiregional center: Cotabato City • CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Provinceregional center: Baguio City