Geography and History of the Philippines

Geography of the Philippines

  • Type of Landform:
    • The Philippines is classified as an archipelago.
  • Composition:
    • Composed of 7,110 islands and islets.
  • Location:
    • Situated in the Northern Hemisphere.
    • Located in the Southeast Asia region.

Major Islands of the Philippines

  • Largest Island:
    • Luzon.
  • Second Largest Island:
    • Mindanao.
  • Third Largest Island:
    • Samar.

Geography: Mountains and Rivers

  • Highest Mountain:
    • Mount Apo.
  • Longest Mountain Range:
    • Sierra Madre.
  • Notable Mountain Ranges:
    • Zambales Range.
    • Western Caraballo.
  • Long Rivers in Luzon:
    • Cagayan River (longest in Luzon).
    • Agno River.
    • Abra River.
    • Pampanga River (Central Luzon).
  • Major Rivers in Mindanao:
    • Mindanao River.
    • Agusan River.

Administrative Divisions

  • Regions:
    • The Philippines consists of 17 regions.
  • Provinces:
    • Total of 80 provinces.
  • Cities:
    • 122 cities recorded.
  • Municipalities:
    • 1,512 municipalities.

Breakdown of Regions

  • Region I:
    • Ilocos Region.
  • Region II:
    • Cagayan Valley.
  • Region III:
    • Central Luzon.
  • Region IVA:
    • CALABARZON.
  • Region IVB:
    • MIMAROPA.
  • Region V:
    • Bicol Region.
  • Region VI:
    • Western Visayas.
  • Region VII:
    • Central Visayas.
  • Region VIII:
    • Eastern Visayas.
  • Region IX:
    • Zamboanga Peninsula.
  • Region X:
    • Northern Mindanao.
  • Region XI:
    • Davao Region.
  • Region XII:
    • SOCCSKSARGEN.
  • Region XIII:
    • CARAGA.
  • NCR:
    • Stands for National Capital Region.
  • CAR:
    • Stands for Cordillera Administrative Region.
  • Former ARMM:
    • Was known as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Early Filipino History

  • Natives Reference:
    • The term Filipino used by Rizal and other propagandists in the 19th century.
  • Mythological Beginnings:
    • According to mythology, the first Filipinos were Malakas and Maganda.
  • Discovery of Tabon Man:
    • Discovered by Dr. Robert Fox.
    • Existed around 22,000 BC.
  • Early Filipino Housing:
    • Common structure was the Bahay Kubo or nipa hut.

Cultural Practices

  • Materials for Bahay Kubo:
    • Constructed using bamboo wood, nipa palm, cogon, and other native materials.
  • Tribes on Hilltops:
    • Tribes such as the Kalingas and Igorots built houses on hilltops.
  • Sea Gypsies:
    • Known as Badjaos, who resided in boat houses.
  • Clothing of Early Filipino Men:
    • Kanggan (short-sleeved jacket).
    • Bahag (cloth worn around the waist).
  • Clothing of Early Filipino Women:
    • Baro or camisa (upper garment).
    • Saya or patadyong (lower garment).

Social Structure

  • Precolonial Social Classes:
    • Consisted of nobles, free men, and dependents.
  • Title for Nobles:
    • Nobility held the title Gat or Lakan.
  • Dependent Class Types:
    • Aliping namamahay and aliping sagigilid.
  • Early Written Law:
    • Example is the Maragtas Code.
  • Basic Political Unit:
    • The barangay served as the basic political unit.
    • Typically composed of 30 to 100 families.
    • Governed as a monarchy.
  • Barangay Leadership:
    • The leader was referred to as Datu Hari or Raja.
    • The Datu's powers included being the chief executive and chief judge.

Migration Patterns

  • Early Migrations:
    • Ancient Negroid people migrated around 25,000 BC.
    • New Stone Age migrants arrived between 5,000 BC and 3,000 BC.
  • Sailing Migrants:
    • Malays from Indonesia were sea-faring migrants during this era.
  • Shipload Reference:
    • A shipload of migrants was called a barangay.
  • Second Wave of Malay Immigrants:
    • Arrived between 3,000 BC and 1,000 BC.
  • Borneo Influence:
    • Migration from Borneo to the southern Philippines occurred from 1200 to 1300.
  • Hindu Influence:
    • The Majapahit Empire influenced the Philippines during the 1300s.
  • Introduction of Islam:
    • Islam reached southern Philippines in 1380.

Spanish Colonization

  • Spanish Expedition:
    • Led by Ferdinand Magellan who reached the Philippines in 1521.
  • Landing Location:
    • Magellan first landed on Homonhon Island.
  • Ships of Magellan:
    • The fleet consisted of Concepcion, Trinidad, and Victoria.
  • Naming the Islands:
    • Magellan named them the San Lazaro Islands.
  • Local Leadership:
    • Rajah Kulambo ruled Limasawa upon Magellan's arrival.
  • First Blood Compact:
    • Historic event between Magellan and Kulambo on March 29, 1521.
  • First Mass Celebration:
    • Held on March 31, 1521 in Limasawa.
  • Cebu Leadership:
    • Rajah Humabon was the ruler of Cebu.
  • Death of Magellan:
    • Killed by Lapu-Lapu in Mactan.
  • Naming of the Philippines:
    • Named by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos after Prince Philip, later King Philip II.
  • First Permanent Settlement:
    • Established by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in Cebu.

Early Governance

  • First Spanish Governor General:
    • Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
  • Tribute Paying Age:
    • Tribute was required from Filipino males aged 19 to 60.
  • Treaty of Tordesillas:
    • Divided the spheres of influence between Spain and Portugal.
  • Manila Governance:
    • Rajah Suliman ruled Manila at the time of Spanish arrival.
  • Capital Change:
    • Manila was designated as the capital on June 24, 1571.
  • Succession of Governors:
    • Guido de Lavezares succeeded Legazpi after his death.
  • Attack on Manila:
    • The city faced an attack by Chinese pirate Limahong in 1574.
  • Revolt in Tondo:
    • Led by Lakandula in 1574.
  • Forced Labor System:
    • Polo y servicio imposed on males aged 16 to 60.
  • Compulsory Sale:
    • Known as Bandala.
  • Manila-Mexico Trade:
    • Trade was established via the Galleon Trade, beginning in 1600.
  • Bohol Revolt:
    • The Dagohoy Revolt lasted approximately 85 years.
    • Francisco Dagohoy led this revolt.

Foreign Occupation and Historic Events

  • British Occupation of Manila:
    • Occurred on September 22, 1762.
  • Ilocos Revolt Leader:
    • Led by Diego Silang during British occupation.
  • End of British Occupation:
    • Concluded with the Treaty of Paris 1763 which ended the Seven Years War.
  • Suez Canal Opening:
    • Opened in 1869, facilitating direct travel between the Philippines and Europe.
  • Gomburza Martyrs:
    • Included Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, executed on February 17, 1872.
  • Inspired Movements:
    • Their execution inspired the Propaganda Movement.

Jose Rizal and the Propaganda Movement

  • Principal Works:
    • Noli Me Tangere, authored by Jose Rizal, published in 1887.
    • El Filibusterismo is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere.
  • La Liga Filipina:
    • Founded by Rizal on July 3, 1892.
  • Katipunan Founding:
    • Established by Andres Bonifacio on July 8, 1894.
  • Philippine Revolution Start:
    • Cry of Balintawak marked the revolution beginning on August 23, 1896.
  • Rizal’s Execution:
    • Executed at Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896.
  • Revolutionary Government Leader:
    • Emilio Aguinaldo led the revolutionary government in Cavite.
  • First Republic Established:
    • Biak na Bato Republic was created in 1897.
  • Biak na Bato Agreement:
    • Agreement that ended the political republic.
  • Declaration of Independence:
    • From Spain on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.
  • Independence Proclamation:
    • Made by Emilio Aguinaldo.
  • Malolos Congress Function:
    • Drafted the Malolos Constitution.

Transition to American Rule

  • Malolos Republic Inauguration:
    • Held on January 23, 1899.
  • Treaty Transition:
    • Treaty of Paris 1898 transferred the Philippines from Spain to the United States.
  • Cost to the U.S.:
    • The United States paid 20 million dollars for the Philippines.
  • Independence Promise:
    • Jones Law ensured eventual independence in 1916.
  • Commonwealth Establishment:
    • Tydings McDuffie Law established the Philippine Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Era

  • Republic Inauguration:
    • The Commonwealth government was inaugurated on November 15, 1935.
  • First President:
    • Manuel L. Quezon served as the first president of the Commonwealth.

World War II Era

  • Japanese Attack:
    • The Philippines was attacked by Japan on December 8, 1941.
  • Bataan Death March:
    • A tragic event that followed the fall of Bataan.
  • General MacArthur's Return:
    • Returned to the Philippines on October 20, 1944.
  • Liberation from Japan:
    • Officially liberated on July 5, 1945.

Recent History

  • Martial Law Declaration:
    • Declared by Ferdinand Marcos in 1972.
  • People Power Revolution:
    • Event in 1986 that removed Marcos from power.
  • President in 2010:
    • Benigno Aquino III became president.