List of Philippine Medicinal Plants

List of the ten (10) medicinal plants that the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) through its "Traditional Health Program" have endorsed. All ten (10) herbs have been thoroughly tested and have been clinically proven to have medicinal value in the relief and treatment of various aliments:

1. Lagundi (Vitex negundo) - known in English as the "5-leaved chaste tree". It's main use is for the relief of coughs and asthma.

2. Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii) - commonly known as Peppermint, this vine is used as an analgesic to relive body aches and pain. It can be taken internally as a decoction or externally by pounding the leaves and applied directly on the afflicted area.

3. Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) - known as "bitter gourd" or "bitter melon" in English, it most known as a treatment of diabetes (diabetes mellitus), for the non-insulin dependent patients. 

4. Bawang (Allium sativum) - popularly known as "garlic", it mainly reduces cholesterol in the blood and hence, helps control blood pressure.

5. Akapulko (Cassia alata) - also known as "bayabas-bayabasan" and "ringworm bush" in English, this herbal medicine is used to treat ringworms and skin fungal infections.

6. Ulasimang Bato (Peperomia pellucida) - also known as "pansit-pansitan" it is effective in fighting arthritis and gout. The leaves can be eaten fresh (about a cupful) as salad or like tea. For the decoction, boil a cup of clean chopped leaves in 2 cups of water. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, let cool and drink a cup after meals (3 times day).

7. Bayabas (Psidium guajava) - "guava" in English. It is primarily used as an antiseptic, to disinfect wounds. Also, it can be used as a mouth wash to treat tooth decay and gum infection.

8. Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)- English name: Blumea camphora. A diuretic that helps in the excretion of urinary stones. It can also be used as an edema.

9. Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.) -  is a vine known as "Chinese honey suckle". It is effective in the elimination of intestinal worms, particularly the Ascaris and Trichina. Only the dried matured seeds are medicinal -crack and ingest the dried seeds two hours after eating (5 to 7 seeds for children & 8 to 10 seeds for adults). If one dose does not eliminate the worms, wait a week before repeating the dose.

10. Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.) - Prepared like tea, this herbal medicine is effective in treating intestinal motility and also used as a mouth wash since the leaves of this shrub has high fluoride content.

Tips on Handling Medicinal Plants / Herbs:

A) If possible, buy herbs that are grown organically - without pesticides.
B) Medicinal parts of plants are best harvested on sunny mornings. Avoid picking leaves, fruits or nuts during and after heavy rainfall.
C) Leaves, fruits, flowers or nuts must be mature before harvesting. Less medicinal substances are found on young parts.
D)After harvesting, if drying is required, it is advisable to dry the plant parts either in the oven or air-dried on screens above ground and never on concrete floors.
E) Store plant parts in sealed plastic bags or brown bottles in a cool dry place without sunlight preferably with a moisture absorbent material like charcoal. Leaves and other plant parts that are prepared properly, well-dried and stored can be used up to six months.

Tips on Preparation for Intake of Herbal Medicines:

A) Use only half the dosage prescribed for fresh parts like leaves when using dried parts.
B) Do not use stainless steel utensils when boiling decoctions. Only use earthen, enamelled, glass or alike utensils.
C) As a rule of thumb, when boiling leaves and other plant parts, do not cover the pot, and boil in low flame.
D) Decoctions loose potency after some time. Dispose of decoctions after one day. To keep fresh during the day, keep lukewarm in a flask or thermos.
E) Always consult with a doctor if symptoms persist or if any sign of allergic reaction develops.

Ang Alamat ng Kasoy

Noong unang panahon, katulad ng ibang prutas, nasa loob din raw ng bunga ang buto ng kasoy. Subalit ayon sa sabi-sabi mainipin daw ang buto nito.

"Ang lungkot naman dito, nakakainip. Gusto kong lumabas. Gusto kong makita ang kagandahan ng kapaligiran," wika ng buto ng kasoy.

Narinig ito ng Diwata ng Kagubatan. "Nais mo ba talagang makita ang kariktan ng kapaligiran? Gusto mo bang lumabas sa iyong bunga?", ana ng Diwata.

"Opo, Inang Diwata, gusto ko po sana, kung iyong mamarapatin," pahayag ng mainiping buto.

"Maganda nga sa labas ngunit ito'y mapanganib. Kaya mo bang harapin ang init at lamig sa labas? Mababasa ka pag bumuhos ang ulan. Mahihirapan kang makakita pag sapit ng gabi. Mas komportable at tahimik sa loob ng iyong bunga," paliwanag ng Inang Diwata.

"Opo. Kakayanin ko po, basta't makita ko lamang ang nasa labas," panindigan ng makulit na buto.

"O siya. Maari kong pagbigyan ang iyong hiling, subalit hindi ko na maari pang bawiin ang aking mahika. Hindi ka na maari pang bumalik sa loob," kundisyon ng Diwata.

"Sige po. Hindi ko po hihilinging makabalik pa ulit sa loob ng bunga ko," pangako ng buto.

Kumumpas ang Inang Diwata. Namulat ang buto ng kasoy sa kagandahan ng kapaligiran. Galak na galak ang buto sa kanyang nakita. "Hindi ko akalaing ganito pala kaganda ang mundo. Salamat Inang Diwata, pinasaya mo ako ng lubos," tuwang sambit ng buto.

"Walang anuman, mahal na buto. Tandaan mo lang ang iyong pangako," sambit ng Diwata at naglaho.

Magdamag na nagmasid ang buto habang nakatungko sa ulunan ng kanyang bunga. Nang unti-unting dumilim ang paligid, nakaramdam ng pangamba ang munting buto. Nangutim ang mga ulap, nagbabadya ng mabigat na pag-ulan. Nagpalitan ng galit? ang kulog at kidlat.

"Inaykupo. Bakit nagging ganito? Nakaktakot pala ditto. Gusto ko nang bumalik sa loob. Brrrr. Nanlalamig na ako," nanginginig na saklolo ng buto. Naisip niyang tawagin ang Inang Diwata upang humingi ng saklolo. Subalit naalala niya ang pangako niya sa Diwata na hindi na siya maari pang humiling na makabalik sa loob.

"Tama nga ang Inang Diwata. Sana'y hindi na ako nagmatigas na masunod ang gusto ko," malungkot na wika ng nanlulumong buto.

Ang Alamat ng Pinya

Legend of Pineapple

Nuong unang panahon sa isang malayong nayon ay may naninirahang isang batang babae. Ang pangalan niya ay Filipina at ang kanyang palayaw ay Pina.

Bata pa si Pina nang maulila kaya siya ay kinupkop ng kanyang tiyahing si Marta.

Si Pina ay mabait, masipag, at mapagtiis samantalang ang kanyang tiyahin ay tamad, masungit, at pabaya sa buhay. Nang bata pa si Pina ay nagkasakit siya ngunit hindi siya ipinagamot ni Marta bagay na naging dahilan upang manlabo ang kanyang mga mata. Napilitan siyang huminto sa pag-aaral dahil hindi na niya mabasa ang mga aralin sa paaralan. Kuntento na lamang siya na tumulong sa mga gawaing bahay at makipaglaro sa mga kapwa bata.

Lumipas pa ang maraming araw at mas lumubha ang panlalabo ng kanyang mga mata. Kadalasan kapag sila ay naglalaro ng taguan ang mga salbaheng bata ay hindi na nagtatago at sa halip ay nanatiling nakapaligid sa kanya.

Sapagkat bahagya niyang naaaninang ang mga kalaro ang mga salbaheng bata ay kinukurot siya sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng katawan habang kinukutya ang kanyang kapansanan. Ang lahat ng mga eto ay kanyang pinagtitiisan.

Isang araw habang siya'y naglalaro sa harapan ng kanilang bahay ay galit na tinawag siya ni Marta.  "Pina, maghugas ka ng mga pinggan at kaldero sa kusina.

Ang tamad- tamad mo!" sigaw si Marta. "Pagkatapos mong maglinis sa kusina ay maglaba ka."

Agad namang iniwan ni Pina ang paglalaro at nagtungo sa kusina upang maghugas. Ano ba't dahil sa panlalabo ng kanyang mga mata ay di sinasadyang natabig niya ang lalagyan ng mga pinggan at baso, at bumagsak ang mga gamit sa sahig. Nang makita ni Marta na nabasag ang ilang plato at baso ay labis siyang nagalit. Kinuha niya ang walis tingting at malakas na pinagpapalo si Pina sa kanyang mga binti.

"Wala kang silbi! Dapat ang ulo mo'y napaliligiran ng mga mata para nakikita mo ang lahat ng nasa paligid mo!" malakas na sigaw ni Marta habang pinapalo pa rin si Pina.

"Tiya, patawarin po ninyo ako. Hindi ko po sinasadya," pagmamakaawang pakiusap ni Pina. Ngunit lalo pang nilakasan ni Marta ang pagpalo sa kanya.

Nang di na matitiis ni Pina ang sakit ng pagpalo sa kanya ay umiiyak siyang tumakbo sa labas ng bahay patungo sa kalapit na kagubatan. Lumipas ang maghapon at hindi bumalik si Pina. "Babalik din siya kapag siya ay nagutom, " sabi ni Marta sa kanyang sarili.

Lumipas ang maghapon, gumabi, at nag-umaga ngunit hindi bumalik si Pina. Hindi rin nakatiis si Marta at kasama ang ilang bata ay hinanap nila si Pina. Ngunit siya ay naglaho na parang bula. May mga nag-isip na si Pina ay kinupkop ng isang diwata sa kagubatan na naawa sa kanyang kalagayan.

Lumipas pa ang maraming araw. Isang umaga ay nagulat na lamang ang lahat nang may nakita silang halaman na umusbong sa harapan ng bahay ni Marta.  Ang halaman ay nagbunga ng isang prutas na korteng ulo at may mga mata sa paligid. Bigla nilang  naalala si Pina at ang sinabi ni Marta sa kanya:  "Dapat ang ulo mo'y napaliligiran ng mga mata para nakikita mo ang lahat ng nasa paligid mo."

"Si Pina siya!" biglang nasambit ng isang kapitbahay sa kanyang mga kasama.

Ilang salbaheng bata ang lumapit upang maki-usyoso. Subalit paglapit nila ay pawang nangatusok sila ng matutulis na tinik sa dulo ng mga dahon ng halaman.

Naalala nila ang ginawang pag-aapi kay Pina. "Si Pina nga siya," anang isang salbaheng bata.

"Ayaw na ni Pina na nilalapitan natin siya." Sigaw ng isa pang salbaheng bata.

"Ayaw niyang kinukurot natin kaya tayo naman ang tinutusok ng kanyang mga tinik." "Si Pina nya! Si Pina nya!" magkakasabay na sigaw ng mga bata habang itinuturo nila si Marta na nasa harapan ng bahay at nakatingin sa kanila.

Mula nuon tuwing makikita ng mga tao ang halaman at ang prutas nitong hugis ulo na maraming mata ay tinatawag nila etong si Pina nya. Nang lumaon ay naging Pinya na lamang ang naging tawag nila dito.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

1. Patrol 117    (632) 117

2. Bantay Bata  (632) 163

3. Kapuso Foundation   (632) 9284299

4. Meralco    (632) 16211     (632) 6311111

5. Manila Water Company, Inc.  
489 Katipunan Road, Balara, Quezon City 1105 Philippines
Tel No.: (632) 926-7999 / 981-8181

6. Maynilad Water Services, Inc.    (632) 1626

7. National Poison Control    (632) 5241078

8. MMDA   (632) 136

9. Volunteer Fire Association    (632) 16016

10. Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigades, Inc.    (632) 5222222

11. Civil Defense Operation Center    (632) 9115061

12. Philippine National Red Cross   (632) 143

13. Blood Bank   (632) 527 0861

14. Pag-asa  (632) 4338526

15. Philippine Coast Guard Action Centre    (632) 527 3880

HOSPITAL-REGION VIII

Tacloban City, Dr. Earl Viernes
Leyte Bethany Hospital, Real St., Tacloban City, 6500 Leyte
Clinic Hours: 8:30am - 12:00nn
Tel. No: Hospital: (053)321-2427; 325-9065; 325-5919
Telefax: (053) 325-6192
Res: (053) 321-4009


Ormoc, Dr. Jaime Gatchalian, Sr. (General Surgery)
Leyte Clinica Gatchalian & Hospital, Ormoc City, 6541 Leyte
Clinic Hours: 8:00-12:00nn; 2:00-6:00 pm
Tel. No: Office: (053) 225-2203; 561-7937
Res: (053) 225-2203
Fax no.: (053) 161-7937

Oldest in the Philippines

Oldest Province

Aklan, originally known as Minuro it Akean, is considered as the oldest province in the country and believed to have been established as early as 1213 by settlers from Borneo. Its first ruler was Datu Dinagandan. In 1399, Kalantiaw grabbed the throne. In 1433, Kalantiaw III formulated a set of laws that is known today as the Code of Kalantiaw.

Oldest Town

Unisan, Quezon could be the oldest town in the Philippines. The people of Unisan claimed that their town is now 481 years old, having been established in 1521, the same year that Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines. All other towns in the country were established not earlier than 1565, when Spain formally occupied the Philippines as a colony.

A Malayan queen named Ladya reportedly founded Calilayan, the old name of the town. In 1876, Calilayan was renamed Unisan which was derived from the Latin word uni-sancti, meaning "holy saint". (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Oldest City

Cebu City is considered as the oldest city in the country, as this was the site of the earliest European settlement established by Spanish conqueror Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565.

Oldest Fort

The first Spanish settlement in the country, Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, was located inside Fort San Pedro in Cebu City. The fort's construction began in 1565.

Oldest Street

Calle Colon in Cebu City is considered as the oldest street in the country. Named after explorer Christopher Columbus, Calle Colon was first constructed in 1565 by men of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

Oldest Stone Church

The Baclayon Church in Bohol is considered as the oldest stone church in the Philippines. But some historians disagree, claiming that San Agustin Church in Manila deserves the title.

Church historians claim that the cornerstones of San Agustin Church were laid as early as 1571, 25 years before Baclayon Church was built in 1596. But most people believe the title should be kept by the latter, since it is situated in the island first occupied by the troops of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the country's first Spanish governor general.

Bohol was where a friendship was sealed with blood between chieftain Rajah Sikatuna and Legazpi. The event is known today as ''The Blood Compact.''

Oldest Hospital

The San Lazaro Hospital could be the oldest hospital in the country. According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the San Lazaro hospital was established in 1578; Enfermeria de Naga, 1583; and Hospital de San Juan de Dios, 1596.

Oldest Church Bell

The oldest church bell in the country is said to be the one found in Camalaniugan, Cagayan. That bell was reportedly forged in 1595.

Oldest Bridge

The Jones Bridge, formerly known as Puente de Espana, was first built in 1701. It was rebuilt by the Americans in 1916 and renamed after Atkinson Jones.

Oldest University

The University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City is considered as the oldest school in the country and in Asia. Formerly known as the Colegio de San Ildefonso, it was founded by the Spanish Jesuits on August 1, 1595. This makes the Cebu-based university older than the University of Santo Tomas (1611) in Manila and Harvard University (1636) in the United States.

The University of Santo Tomas, however, contests this title. Formerly known as the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, UST was the first school, which got a university status in 1645. USC became a university in 1948. UST also claimed that the original USC was closed in 1769 as a result of the expulsion of the Jesuits. It reopened in 1783 under a new name and ownership. But the USC officials stick to their claim. The university observed its 400th foundation day on August 21, 1995.

Oldest Vocational School

The Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades (DHVCAT) in Bacolor, Pampanga is said to be the oldest vocational school in Asia. Augustinian Friar Juan Zita and civic leader Don Felino Gil established the vocational school on November 4, 1861.

Oldest Company

Ayala Corp., one of the largest conglomerates in the country, is also the oldest existing company around. It was established in 1834 by sugar barons Domingo Roxas and Antonio de Ayala. It was later renamed as Casa Ayala, then as Ayala y Compania and recently as Ayala Corp.

Oldest Bank

In 1881, Domingo Roxas, an ancestor of the Ayala family, became one of the first directors of Banco Español-Filipino de Isabel II, which was founded by virtue of a royal decree issued by Queen Isabel II. The bank issued the country's first currency notes the following year. Considered as the first private commercial bank in the country, the bank came to be known as the Bank of Philippine Islands in 1912. The oldest savings bank was Monte de Piedad, which was established in 1882.

Oldest Military Supply Shop

The oldest military supply shop in the country was said to be Alfredo Roensch and Co.

Oldest Rizal Monument

What can be considered as the oldest Rizal monument in the country is a 20-foot metal structure standing at a park in Daet, Camarines Norte. Its construction reportedly began on December 30, 1898 and was finished in February 1899. In comparison, the Rizal monument at the former Luneta park was built in 1912.

Oldest Vice

The earliest vice among native Filipinos, according to historians, was the chewing of betelnut or "nganga". It was said that Filipinos had been chewing betelnut for 3,000 years.

Oldest Insurance Firm

Insular Life Insurance Company was established on November 26, 1910, becoming the oldest insurance agency in the country.

Oldest Epics

In a 1962 study, E. Arsenio Manuel said the country had at least 19 epics, which were passed to the present generation from our early ancestors through oral chanting. Among these so-called ethnoepics were 13 epics among pagan Filipinos, 2 among Christian Filipinos, and 4 among Muslim Filipinos. These included the Ilocano epic Lam-ang, Manuvu's Tuwaang, Sulod's Hinilawod and Maranaw's Bantugan.

Miss Kita Kung Christmas

By: Sharon Cuneta

Ang Disyembre ko ay malungkot
Pagkat miss kita
Ano man ang pilit kong magsaya
Miss kita kung Christmas


Kahit nasaan ako
Papaling-paling ng tingin
Walang tulad mo
Ang nakapagtataka’y maraming
Nakahihigit sa ‘yo


Hinahanap-hanap pa rin kita
Ewan ko kung bakit ba
Ako’y iniwan mong nag-iisa
Miss kita, O giliw


Pasko’y sasapit ‘di ko mapigil
Ang mangulila
Hirap niyan mayro’n ka ng iba.

Alamat ni Mariang Makiling

Legend of Maria Makiling

Nasa pagitan ng Laguna at Quezon ang bundok Makiling. Kalakip na ng kulturang Pilipino ang mga kuwentong bumabalot sa bundok na ito. Hindi kumpleto ang bundok Makiling kung ipwepwera si Mariang Makiling sapagkat ang bundok Makiling at si Mariang Makiling ay nagbibigay buhay sa bawat isa.

Sinasabing si Mariang Makiling ay hindi lamang nakikipanirahan sa bundok Makiling. May mga nagpapatunay na ang nabanggit na kabundukan ay kay Mariang Makiling.

Isang misteryo si Mariang Makiling. Ang maraming taong nakakita at nakadaupang palad daw ng dalaga ay nangalilito at hindi na nakababalik pa sa kani-kanilang pinanggalingang tahanan. May mga nagpapatunay na pawang nawawala silang parang bula. Ang mga ilan-ilang sinuswerteng nakauuwi pa ay nagmimistulang estatwa, hindi makapagsalita at nakatulala. Mabibilang mo sa daliri ang ilang pinagbabalikan ng diwa na kapag nagsalaysay na ay lagi nang misteryosang dalaga ang kwento nila. Sapagkat ibat-iba ang salaysay, ang mga kwentong nagkakaugnay ang pinaniniwalaan larnang na may patotoo at pagpapatunay.

Ang mga pinagtagni-tagning kwento ay nagsasaad na si Mariang Makiling daw ay nakatira sa isang nagliliwanag na kaharian na napapalibutan ng mga puno at halamang kung hindi hitik ng bunga ay marangya namang pinamumulaklakan ng mga petalyang kulay dilaw, pula o lila.

May ilan ding nagpapabulaan sa kwento na nagsasabing kitang-kita ng kanilang mga mata na sa isang dampa lamang na nabububungan ng pinagtagpi-tagping sawali nakatira si Maria. Na ang dalaga ay nagbabayo ng palay, namimitas ng mga gulay at nanunungkit ng mga prutas araw-araw.

May naniniwala sa una. Mayroon din sa ikalawa. Pero may nagbibigay diin na si Maria sapagkat may iba-ibang katauhang misteryosa ay maaaring mabuhay na isang diwata o isang mortal na dalaga.

May isang katulong na nagpapatunay na isang umaga ay nakita niya si Maria na pumasok sa isang talahibang malapit sa paanan ng kabundukan. Takang-taka siya sapagkat parang manipis na hangin lang itong inihip kaya di man lang nahawi ang mga nadaanang halaman. Nang magbalik ay dala na ni Maria ang isang bungkos ng mga puting bulaklak ng talahiban na masaya niyang ipinanhik sa kabundukan. Nagtataka ang nakasaksi sapagkat parang nakaangat sa lupa ang mga paa ng dalaga. Sa pakiwari niya si Maria ay isa ngang ada.

May ilang namamasyal sa kabundukan na nagpapatunay namang kitang-kita nila si Maria na umuupo sa matatarik na gilid ng bundok. Iwinawasiwas niya ang mahabang buhok na sa kaalinsanganan ng hapon ay naghahatid ng mabining hanging nagpapalamig sa kapaligiran at nagpapasaya sa mga hayop sa kabundukan. Kung ganda ang pag-uusapan wala na raw tatalo sa kariktan ni Maria. Siya ay may balingkinitang pangangatawan, mabibilog na mga mata, maninipis na mga labi at malamyos na tinig ng isang mortal na dalaga at misteryosang Engkantada.

Karaniwang nakikita siyang namamasyal sa paligid ng kabundukan kung umagang kasisikat pa lang ng araw. May nagsasabing matapos makapananghalian ay umuupo ang ada sa mga tipak ng bato habang pinanunuod ang marahang agos ng ilog. May ilang nagpapatunay na kung gabing maalinsangan at natutulog na ang lahat ay naglulunoy daw si Maria sa malamig na bukal.

Usap-usapan ng lahat ang magandang alpa na tinutugtog ni Maria kung kabilugan ang buwan. Ang sinumang nakaririnig nito at nagbabakasakaling maghanap ay nangalilito raw. Sa halip na matunton ang kinaroroonan ni Maria ay napapalayo pa ito sa kaakit-akit na Engkantada.

Lubhang matulungin si Mariang Makiling. May ilang nagsasabing nag-aanyong magbubukid daw si Maria na nagmumudmod daw ng luya sa lalong pinakamahirap na magsasaka. Kataka-takang ang mga nabanggit na luya ay nagiging ginto raw kapag naiuwi mo na.

Bukas ang mga palad ni Maria sa mga karaniwang mamamayang naninirahan sa paligid ng kabundukan. Kapag may bininyagan, kinasal o namatayan ay pinahihiram ni Maria ng mga nakatagong kasuotan at kasangkapan. Ang mga mag-anak na tinutulungan ay inoobliga niyang maghandog ng isang dumalagang manok bilang kabayaran.

May nagpapatunay na mahirap kalabanin si Mariang Makiling. Minsang papalubog na ang araw ay may nangahas mamaril ng mga baboy-damo sa paanan ng bundok. Kahit binawalan na ni Maria ay sumige pa rin sila. Hinabol nila nang hinabol ang isang baboy-damo hanggang sa makaakyat sa bundok. Nagalit si Maria sa kapangahasan. Nang dumidilim na ay takang-taka sila sapagkat ang baboy-damo na hinahabol nila na sumuot sa mga kasukalan ay lumabas kasama ang isang kumpol pa na baboy-damong nanghahaba ang mga pangil at mapupula ang mga mata. Natakot sila sa laki ng mga hayop na papalapit sa kanila. Ang higit na matapang na manunudla ay nakapagpaputok pa pero ang naduwag ay nagtatakbo na. Maya-maya lang ay nadinig sa kabundukan ang napakalakas na hiyaw ng pagmamakaawa ng pobreng kaluluwa. Naswertehan ng naduwag na makababa kaagad ng bundok. Narating kaagad nito ang bayan na takot na takot na humihingal. Kinaumagahan ay pinagkaguluhan ang bangkay ng matapang na mangangaso. Hindi na nakilala ang tunay na anyo nito. Nagbulung-bulungan ang lahat na kinalaban daw siguro ng mangangaso ang kapangyarihan ng Engkantada ng Kabundukan. Naniniwala sila na sa alinmang labanan, tiyak ang pagwawagi ni Mariang Makiling na Diyosa ng Katarungan.

Kung noong unang panahon ay nagbabalatkayo si Mariang Makiling upang tumulong sa mga magsasaka, ngayon ay hindi na napagkikita ang Engkantada at ang pagtulong ay nahinto na.

Hindi raw kasi nagsasauli ng kagamitan ang marami sa kaniyang pinahihiram. Marami daw ang hindi nagbibigay ng dumalagang manok na dapat ay handog. At napakarami na raw ngayong nagiging pangahas na gustong galugarin upang maangkin ang kabundukan.

Ito ang pinagmulan ng alamat ni Mariang Makiling.

Manila

By: Hotdog


Maraming beses na kitang nilayasan
Iniwanan at iba ang pinuntahan
Parang babaeng mahirap talagang malimutan
Ikaw lamang ang aking laging binabalikan


Manila, Manila
I keep coming back to Manila
Simply no place like Manila
Manila, I'm coming home


I walked the streets of San Francisco
I've tried the rides in Disneyland
Dated a million girls in Sydney
Somehow I feel like I don't belong


Hinahanap-hanap kita Manila
Ang ingay mong kay sarap sa tenga
Mga Jeepney mong nagliliparan
Mga babae mong naggagandahan
Take me back in your arms Manila
And promise me you'll never let go
Promise me you'll never let go


Manila, Manila
Miss you like hell, Manila
No place in the world like Manila
I'm coming here to stay

Ang Kawawang Cowboy

By: Fred Panopio

Ako ang kawawang kowboy
Ang bubble gum ko'y tsampoy
Ang pananghalian ko ay laging kamoteng kahoy
Ang ate ko at ang kuya
Ang nanay, tatay, lola, ang buong pamilya
Silang lahat ay hindi kowboy
Ako'y nagiisang palaboy
Ang aking kabayong dala may butones pa.

(Refrain)
Ang kawawang kowboy
May baril walang bala
May bulsa wala namang pera


Ako nga ang kowboy
Palaging nag-iisa
Ang kabayo ay walang paa
Ang aking brief ay butas pa.

(Repeat I)

(Refrain)
Ang kawawang kowboy
May baril walang bala
May bulsa wala namang pera (fade)

Smallest in the Philippines

World's Smallest Volcano

Taal Volcano, a 406-meter-high crater, is said to be the world's smallest volcano. It is described as "a crater within an island within a lake" because it stands as an island at Taal Lake. The lake was formed after the volcano, which used to be much larger, collapsed. The ridges around Tagaytay City, which overlooks the lake, are believed to be part of the crater of the old volcano.

These ridges now serve as the border of the 18-mile-diameter Taal Lake and stretch 32 kilometers from Mount Batulao to Mount Sungay. Also considered as one of the world's most active volcanoes, Taal Volcano has erupted over 20 times since 1572.

Smallest Bat in the World

The Philippines has at least 56 species of bats. It is home to the smallest among the 1,000 known bat species in the world.

The smallest bat in the world is the Philippine bamboo bat (vespertilionid), which belongs to the vespertilionid family. This bat measures about four centimeters (1 1/2 inches) in length and has a wingspan of 15 cm. Approximately, it weighs 1.5 grams (1/20 ounce).

Smallest Mammal in the World

South of Palawan, lies the Balabac Island, home of the world's smallest hoofed mammal - the Philippine mouse deer. Locally known as Pilandok (Tragalus nigricans), this ruminant stands only about 40 centimeters at the shoulder level.

In other countries, it is called chevrotain, or simply mouse deer. Contrary to its name, pilandok is not a member of the deer family. It belongs to the family Tragulidae in the mammalian order Artiodactyla. The male species has no antlers like those of a real deer. Instead, it uses its large tusk-like canine teeth on its upper jaw for self-defense; in the same way a deer uses its antlers.

Aside from the Pilandok, other mouse deer species include the Malay mouse deer or napu and the African water chevrotain. They are found in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and India. While the mouse deer are widely distributed across Asia, their dwindling population has alarmed the World Conservation Union, which declared them as endangered in 1996.

Smallest Monkey in the World

In many respects, the Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) is different from other animals. Considered as the world's smallest primate, it measures only about twelve centimeters in length. Its two big eyes cannot move and do not have a tapetum - the upper protective tissue. Because of this, the Philippine tarsier has learned to turn its head 180 degrees. It has also two grooming claws on each foot and an almost bald tail extending about nine inches.

Found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Mindanao, the Philippine tarsier got its name from its elongated tarsus bone. An ordinary tarsier weighs between 117 and 134 grams. It is able to move between trees by leaping as far as three meters. It also has keen senses of hearing and sight.

Today, there are only about 1,000 tarsiers inhabiting the wilds of Corella town in Bohol province where the biggest concentration of these rare animals was once reported. Ensuring the continued existence of the Philippine tarsiers is the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc.

Smallest Fish in the World

The world's smallest freshwater fish is found in the Philippines. The dwarf goby (Pandaka pygmaea) measures 1.2 centimeters or less than half of an inch, the tiniest known vertebrate. American Ichthyologist Albert Herre first discovered it in Malabon River in 1925.

The Philippines is also the home of sinarapan, the world's smallest commercial fish. Sinarapan, scientifically known as Mistichthys luzonensis, is a goby found only in Lakes Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur province. Sinarapan grows to an average length of 1.25 centimeters, only slightly longer than the dwarf goby. Today, unabated fishing in the two lakes threatens the population of sinarapan.

Smallest Shell in the World

Pisidum, the world's tiniest shell, can be found under Philippine waters. Pisidum measures less than 1 millimeter long.

Smallest Town in Terms of Population

The town of Kalayaan, a group of small islands in the Pacific Ocean west of Palawan province, had the smallest population among municipalities at 223 as of 2000.

Smallest Painting in the Philippines

Miniaturist Norris Castillo created what is perhaps the smallest piece of painting in the country. Known as "the Harvest", the oil-on-canvas painting measures 1/4 inches in width and 3/8 inches in length. It is now exhibited at the National Museum. Castillo claimed that he has created more than 10,000 pieces of painting. (Source: Panorama magazine)

Smallest Province in the Philippines

The smallest province in the Philippines is Batanes, with only a total land area of 209 square kilometers.

Famous Filipino Quotes

Below are some of the familiar quotes by famous Filipinos. Some quotes are from some recognizable Filipinos who mangled the English language. I offer no apologies for them since, truth be told, the Philippines is not really an English-speaking country although our government claims us to be so. We may have functional English but majority do not possess a good command of the English language, proudly including myself.

1. ”Ang hindi nagmamahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa malansang isda” – J.P. RIZAL

2. "...it belongs to no party, nor does it desire to form one; it stands for nothing save the interest of the fatherland." –Apolinario Mabini

3. “The Filipino Is Worth Dying For” – Ninoy Aquino

4. “I want our people to be like a molave tree, strong and resilient, standing on the hillsides, unafraid of the rising tide, lighting and the storm, confident of its strength.” – Manuel L. Quezon

5. “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to the country begins.” – Manuel L. Quezon

6. “A strengthen national spirit can provide the motive power to rise our people from the depths and…pour new life and vigor in the national system. The reinvigoration of the national spirit must take place in the grass roots, in every city, town and barrio in the Philippines, and it must start among our own people… To be a worthy citizen of the world one must first prove himself to be a good Filipino.” –Carlos P. Romulo

7. "You stole the presidency not just once but twice!" - Susan Roces

8. “I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.” - Corazon Aquino

9. " He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination. " – Jose Rizal

10. " The youth is the hope of our future. " – Jose Rizal

11. " Brotherhood is the very price and condition of man's survival. "  - Carlos P Romulo

12. “Don't judge my brother, he is not a book! “ - Melanie Marquez

13. “I shall be honored to go to jail. Under a dictatorship, the detention cell is a place of honor.” – Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago

14. “There can be no tyrants, where there are no slaves” – Jose Rizal

15. "Babayaran ko ang utang ng Pilipinas" -  Eddie Gil

16. "walang tulugan!!!" - kuya germs

17. “I don’t eat meat. I’m not a carnival.” – Melanie Marquez

18. “Sumasakit ang migraine ko.” -  Melanie Marquez

19. “Ang tatay ko ang only living legend na buhay!” - Melanie Marquez

20. “I don’t eat meat. I’m not a carnival.” -  Melanie Marquez

21. “Hello? Bulag ka ba? Bingi ka ba? Are you dep?” -  Melanie Marquez

22. “That’s why I’m a success, it’s because I don’t middle in other people’s lives.”- Melanie Marquez

23. “I won’t stoop down to my level.”-  Melanie Marquez

24. “You can fool me once, you can fool me twice, you can fool me thrice. But you can never fool me FOUR!”

25. “Can you repeat that for the 2nd time around once more?”

26.  “Mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa paggawa ng wala” –Bob Ong

27. “Nalaman kong habang lumalaki ka, maraming beses kang madadapa. Bumangon ka man ulit o hindi, magpapatuloy ang buhay, iikot ang mundo, at mauubos ang oras.”

28. “mangarap ka at abutin mo ‘to. wag mong sisihin ang sira mong pamilya, palpak mong syota, pilay mong tuta, o mga lumilipad na ipis. kung may pagkukulang sa’yo mga magulang mo, pwede kang manisi at maging rebelde. tumigil ka sa pag-aaral, mag-asawa ka, mag-drugs ka, magpakulay ka ng buhok sa kili-kili. Sa bandang huli, ikaw din ang biktima. rebeldeng walang napatunayan at bait sa sarili.”

29. “Walang kai-kaibigan! Walang kama-kamag-anak”

30. “This is the fight of my life, this is the biggest challenge in my boxing career, and I know that if I emerge victorious in this battle, all of us will reap the blessings and we will share all the glory.” -Manny Pacquiao

31. "That’s because I am crucified between two thieves." -- Late 1970s, replying to Ferdinand Marcos' question on why there was a "sepulchral" 30-minute silence when Jaime Cardinal Sin joined Marcos and his wife Imelda in their limousine. – Cardinal Sin

32. "Separation of the Church and State is like a railroad track. It cannot be close to one another, neither can it be distant, because there will be derailment. We (Church) should cooperate with the government and the government should cooperate with us because we're serving the same people." -- February 1992, on the separation of Church and State, which he was often accused of ignoring. – Cardinal Sin

33. "We are brothers and sisters; not enemies. It is not the will of God that countrymen go to war against one another." -- May 11, 2000, upon calling for a 50-day prayer and fasting crusade as an appeal for peace in Mindanao. - Cardinal Sin

34. "It is the most important chapter of my life. I admit finding secret joy and pride in being called the Cardinal of the EDSA Revolution. I do not claim that as a right. It is a grace that I do not deserve at all. It is a blessing to have been the Archbishop of Manila at that moment in history." -- April 2004, on his role at the EDSA Revolution. - Cardinal Sin

ALAMAT NG MACOPA

Noong mga unang taon ng pananakop ng mga Kastila sa Pilipinas, sinasabing tahimik at maligayang namumuhay ang mga tao sa isang nayon sa Kailokohan. Madaling naihasik ng mga Kastila ang Kritiyanismo sa nayong yaon sapagkat ang mga mamamayan at mababait at masunurin. Kilala rin sila sa kasipagan at pagkamadasalin.

Ganyan na lamang ang pagmamahal at pag-iingat ng mga tao roon sa gintong kampana sapagkat nananalig silang sa kampanang yaon nakasalalay ang takbo ng kanilang pamumuhay. Nagsisilbi yaong inspirasyon nila sa buhay. Lalo silang nagsisikap na mapaunlad ang kanilang kabuhayan.

Ang kampanang ginto ay naging sagrado at napakahalaga sa mga mamamayan, naging laging usap-usapan hanggang mabalitaan ng masasamang loob sa isang malayong pook. Nais din nila ang kasaganaan, kaya't hinangad nilang mapasakanila ang kampana. Lihim silang bumalangkas ng kaparaanan. Nalaman nilang sa itaas ng simbahan nakalagay ang kampana. Isang gabing madilim ay nagsipaghanda sila at sandatahang tinungo ang pook ng simbahan. Mangyari na ang mangyari, pilit nilang kukunin ang kampana.

Sa kabutihang-palad, may nakapagbalita naman sa mga pari sa napipintong panloloob sa simbahan. Nalaman nilang ang kampana ay nanakawin kaya't buong ingat nila iton ibinaba at lihim na ibinaon. Ipagsasanggalang nila ito anuman ang kanilang sapitin!

Nang dumating ang masasamang loob ay hindi na nila nakita ang kampanang ginto. Laking galit nila! Dahil sa pagkabigo, pinagpapatay nilang lahat ang nasa simbahan sapagkat ayaw magtapat sa kinaroroonan ng kampana.

Anong lungkot sa taong bayan kinabukasan! Patay lahat ang mga tao sa simbahan - ang mga pari, sakristan at ilang mga tauhan ! Wala ang kampana at walang nakakaalam kung saan ito naroroon.

Inasikaso ng taong bayan ang mga bangkay ng nasawi at inilibing ang mga iyon nang buong dangal.

Mula noon, ang tagingting ng kampana ay hindi na narinig sa nayong naturan. Nalungkot na ang mga tao at nawalan na sila ng sigla at pag-asa. Tinamad na rin sila at natuyo ang kanilang pananim. Umunti na ng umunti ang kanilang ani at mga alagang hayop.

Lumipas ang maraming taon at ang tungkol sa kampana ay nalimot na ng mga tao. Nangamatay na ang matatandang nakakaalam sa kasaysayan ng kampanang ginto at ang mga kabataan nama'y wala nang nalalaman tungkol doon.

Sa loob ng bakuran ng simbahan ay may tumubong isang punong di pa kilala ng mga tao. Ito'y nagbunga ng hugis kampana, makikislap na pula ang labas at maputing parang bulak ang laman. Sapagkat nasa bakuran ng simbahan, ang mga bunga'y sa gintong kopa sa simbahan naihambing ng mga tao.

"Parang kopa!" ang sabi ng ilan.

"Maraming kopa!" ang bulalas naman ng marami.

Simula noon, kung tawagin ng mga tao ang pook simbahan ay sinasabing, :Doon sa maraming kopa, doon sa makopa." Nang matagalan, ang puno ay nakilala na sa tawag na makopa.

GEOGRAPHY OF THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is an archipelago comprising 7,107 islands with a total land area of 300,000 km2. The 11 largest islands contain 94% of the total land area. The largest of these islands is Luzon at about 105,000 km2. The next largest island is Mindanao at about 95,000 km2. The archipelago is around 800 km from the Asian mainland and is located between Taiwan and Borneo.

The islands are divided into three groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Luzon islands include Luzon itself, Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbate and Batanes Islands. The Visayas is the group of islands in the central Philippines, the largest of which are: Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. The Mindanao islands include Mindanao itself, plus the Sulu Archipelago, composed primarily of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

PHYSICAL SETTING

The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia in a position that has led to its becoming a cultural crossroads, a place where Malays, Arabs, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, Japanese and others have interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend. The archipelago numbers some 7,107 islands and the nation claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its shores. The Philippines occupies an area that stretches for 1,850 kilometers from about the fifth to the twentieth parallels north latitude. The total land area is slightly more than 300,000 square kilometers. Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated, and fewer than one-half of these are larger than 2.5 square kilometers. Eleven islands make up 95 percent of the Philippine landmass, and two of these — Luzon and Mindanao — measure 105,000 and 95,000 square kilometers, respectively. They, together with the cluster of the Visayan Islands that separate them, represent the three principal regions of the archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine flag. Topographically, the Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world. Most Filipinos live on or near the coast, where they can easily supplement their diet from approximately 2,000 species of fish.

Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine Trough, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters. The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system that is characterized by active volcanoes. Among the most notable peaks are Mount Mayon near Legazpi City, Taal Volcano south of Manila, and Mount Apo on Mindanao. All of the Philippine islands are prone to earthquakes. The northern Luzon highlands, or Cordillera Central, rise to between 2,500 and 2,750 meters, and, together with the Sierra Madre in the northeastern portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland tribal groups. The rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including the Philippine eagle (or monkey-eating eagle), some 800 species of orchids, and some 8,500 species of flowering plants.

The country's most extensive river systems are the Pulangi River, which flows into the Mindanao River (Rio Grande de Mindanao); the Agusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea; the Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, east of Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. Several rivers have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.

To protect the country's biological resources, the government has taken a first step of preparing a Biodiversity Action Plan to address conservation of threatened species.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

The Philippines is divided into a hierarchy of local government units (LGUs) with the 81 provinces as the primary unit. Provinces are further subdivided into cities and municipalities, which are in turn composed of barangays. The barangay is the smallest local government unit.

The Philippines is divided into 17 regions with all provinces grouped into one of 16 regions for administrative convenience. The National Capital Region however, is divided into four special districts.

Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

REGIONS

1. Ilocos Region (Region I)
2. Cagayan Valley (Region II)
3. Central Luzon (Region III)
4. Calabarzon (Region IV-A)
5. Mimaropa (Region IV-B)
6. Bicol Region (Region V)
7. Western Visayas (Region VI)
8. Central Visayas (Region VII)
9. Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
10. Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
11. Northern Mindanao (Region X)
12. Davao Region (Region XI)
13. Soccsksargen (Region XII)
14. Caraga (Region XIII)
15. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
16. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
17. National Capital Region (NCR; Metro Manila)

PROVINCES

1. Abra - Abra is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bangued, and it borders Ilocos Norte and Apayao on the north, Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province on the south, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur on the west, and Kalinga, and Apayao on the east.

2. Agusan del Norte - Agusan del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Cabadbaran and borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Surigao del Sur to the east, Agusan del Sur to the south, and Misamis Oriental to the west. It faces Butuan Bay, part of the Bohol Sea, to the northwest.

3. Agusan del Sur - Agusan del Sur is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Prosperidad and borders, from the north clockwise, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental.

4. Aklan - Aklan is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo and is located at the northwest portion of Panay, bordering Antique to the southwest, and Capiz to the east. Aklan faces the Sibuyan Sea and the province of Romblon to the north.

5. Albay - Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Legazpi City and the province borders the Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. Also to the northeast is Lagonoy Gulf leading to the Philippine Sea, and to the southwest is Burias Pass.

6. Antique - An antique (Latin: antiquus; old) is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age, rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features. It is an object that represents a previous era in human society.

7. Apayao - Apayao is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Kabugao and borders Cagayan to the north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the west, and Kalinga to the south. Prior to 1995, Kalinga and Apayao used to be a single province named Kalinga-Apayao, until they were split into two to better service the needs of individual native tribes in the provinces.

8. Aurora - Aurora is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Baler and borders, clockwise from the south, the provinces of Quezon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Isabela. To the east of Aurora is the Philippine Sea.

9. Basilan - Basilan (Officially: Province of Basilan; Fil. - Lalawigan ng Basilan; Chavacano - Provincia de Basilan) is an island province of the Philippines most of which is located within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), except its capital, Isabela City, which is administered as part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region. Basilan is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula. Basilan is the biggest and northernmost among the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago.

10. Bataan - Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north. The peninsula faces South China Sea to the west and Subic Bay to the north-west, and encloses Manila Bay to the east.

11. Batanes - The Province of Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest province of the Philippine Republic, both in terms of population and land area. The provincial capital is Basco.

12. Batangas - Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the island of Mindoro and to the west lies the South China Sea.

13. Benguet - Benguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya.

14. Biliran - Biliran is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines and it is located in the Eastern Visayas region. An island province, Biliran lies just a few kilometers north of the island of Leyte. Its capital is Naval and for a time, Biliran was part of the province of Leyte until it became independent in 1992.

15. Bohol - Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of 4,117.3 square kilometers (1,589.7 sq mi) and a coastline 261 kilometers (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

16. Bukidnon - is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.

17. Bulacan - Bulacan (PSGC: 031400000; ISO: PH-BUL), officially called the Province of Bulacan (or Lalawigan ng Bulakan in Filipino) or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region (Region 3) in the island of Luzon, north of Manila (the nation's capital), and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region. Bulacan was established on the 15th day of August 1578.

18. Cagayan - Cagayan is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte and Apayao to the west, and Kalinga and Isabela to the south. Cagayan province is distinct from the city in Mindanao named Cagayan de Oro, and is far away from Cagayan Islands of Palawan.

19. Camarines Norte - Camarines Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Daet and the province borders Quezon to the west and Camarines Sur to the south.

20. Camarines Sur - Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south. To the east lies the island province of Catanduanes across Maqueda Channel.

21. Camiguin - Camiguin is a small island province of the Philippines off the northern coast of Mindanao. It belongs to the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Mambajao and it is the second-smallest province both in population and land area. Only Batanes is smaller. The island of Camiguin is in the Bohol Sea about ten kilometers north of Misamis Oriental.

22. Capiz - Capiz is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Roxas City and is located at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan and Antique to the west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north. Capiz is known for its mother-of-pearl shells that have the same name and are used for decoration, making lampshades, trays, window doors, etc.. Capiz is known for a popular local myth of Aswang, a generic name for ghouls, monsters and witches.

23. Catanduanes - Catanduanes is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. As of 2007, the population of the province is 232,757.

24. Cavite - Cavite (Filipino: Kabite) is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south. To the west lies the South China Sea.

25. Cebu - Cebu (Cebuano: Sugbo, Spanish: Cebú) is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu island, and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte, and Bohol islands. Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kilometers (140 mi) from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighboring smaller islands, that includes Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango, and the Camotes Islands. Cebu has narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus, and coastal plains. It also has predominant rolling hills, and rugged mountain ranges traversing the northern, and southern lengths of the island. Cebu's highest mountains reach over 1,000 meters. Flat tracts of land can be found in the towns of Bogo, San Remigio, Medellin, and Daanbantayan at the northern region of the province. Its capital is Cebu City, the oldest city in the Philippines which forms part of the Cebu Metropolitan Area together with four neighboring cities which include Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Talisay City, and eight other municipalities. Cebu's infastructure is served by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport located in Mactan island.

26. Compostela Valley - Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga Sibugay. Its capital is Nabunturan. The province borders Davao del Norte to the west, Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the southwest lies the Davao Gulf. Its first elected governor was lawyer Jose Caballero who used to be a lawyer for the mining group in the province. It is the location for the upcoming movie, I Come with the Rain starring Hollywood star Josh Hartnett.

27. Cotabato - North Cotabato, formerly Cotabato, is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Kidapawan City and borders Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon to the north, Davao del Sur and Davao City, Sultan Kudarat to the south, and Maguindanao to the west.

28. Davao del Norte - Davao del Norte, and once known simply as Davao, is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tagum City. It borders the province of Agusan del Sur to the north, Bukidnon to the west, Compostela Valley to the east, and the city of Davao to the south. Davao also includes Samal Island to the south in the Davao Gulf. The province of Compostela Valley used to be part of Davao until it was made into an independent province in 1998. Before 1967, the four provinces—Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley—were once a single province named Davao. The Davao Region covers this historic province.

29. Davao del Sur - Davao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Digos City and the province borders the Davao City to the north, and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf.

30. Davao Oriental - Davao Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Mati, Davao Oriental and borders Compostela Valley to the west, and Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north. Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the country with Pusan Point as the easternmost location. The Philippine Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, faces Davao Oriental to the east. Part of the province lies on an unnamed peninsula that encloses the Davao Gulf to the west.

31. Dinagat Islands - Dinagat Islands is a province in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf. Leyte is to its west, across Surigao Strait, and Mindanao is to its south. Its main island, Dinagat, is about 60 km from north to south.

32. Eastern Samar - Eastern Samar is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality of Borongan.

33. Guimaras - Guimaras is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The island is located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. To the northwest is the province of Iloilo and to the southeast is Negros Occidental.

34. Ifugao - Ifugao is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Covering a total land area of 262,820 hectares, the province of Ifugao is located in a mountainous region characterized by rugged terrain, river valleys, and massive forests. Its capital is Lagawe and borders Benguet to the west, Mountain Province to the north, Isabela to the east, and Nueva Vizcaya to the south.

35. Ilocos Norte - Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.

36. Ilocos Sur - Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Vigan City and borders Ilocos Norte and Abra to the north, Mountain Province to the east, and La Union and Benguet to the south. To the west of Ilocos Sur is the South China Sea.

37. Iloilo - Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique to the west and Capiz and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is the island of Guimaras, once part of Iloilo but now a province in its own right. Across the Panay Gulf and Guimaras Strait is Negros Occidental. Iloilo's capital is Iloilo City. Iloilo is the capital province in Region VI.

38. Isabela - Isabela is the second largest province of the Philippines next to Palawan. It is located in the Cagayan Valley Region in Luzon. Its capital is Ilagan and borders, clockwise from the south, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Cagayan. This primarily agricultural province is the rice and corn granary of Luzon.

39. Kalinga - Kalinga (IPA: [ka'liŋga]) is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north. Prior to 1995, Kalinga and Apayao used to be a single province named Kalinga-Apayao, until they were split into two to better service the needs of individual native tribes in the provinces.

40. La Union - La Union is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is San Fernando City and borders Ilocos Sur to the north, Benguet to the east, and Pangasinan to the south. To the west of La Union is the South China Sea.

41. Laguna - Laguna is a province of the Philippines found in the CALABARZON region in Luzón. Its capital is Santa Cruz and the province is located southeast of Metro Manila, south of the province of Rizal, west of Quezon, north of Batangas and east of Cavite. Laguna almost completely surrounds Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. The province got its name from the Spanish word lago, which means lake or lagoon.

42. Lanao del Norte - Lanao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod. The province borders Lanao del Sur to the south, Zamboanga del Sur to the west, Misamis Oriental to the northeast, Bukidnon to the east, and is separated from Misamis Occidental by Iligan Bay. According to the new 2007 census, the province has the total population of 836,329.

43. Lanao del Sur - Lanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf. Found in the interior of Lanao del Sur is Lanao Lake, the largest lake in Mindanao.

44. Leyte - Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the island of Leyte. Leyte is located west of Samar, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran. To the west of Leyte across the Camotes Sea is the province of Cebu.

45. Maguindanao - Maguindanao is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.

46. Marinduque - Marinduque is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. Its capital is Boac. Marinduque lies between Tayabas Bay to the north and Sibuyan Sea to the south. It is located south and west of Quezon, east of Mindoro, and north of Romblon.

47. Masbate - Masbate is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. Its capital is Masbate City and consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.

48. Misamis Occidental - Misamis Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Oroquieta City. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur to the west and is separated from Lanao del Norte by Iligan Bay.

49. Misamis Oriental - Misamis Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital and provincial center is Cagayan de Oro. The province borders Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon to the south, the Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur to the east, and to the north is Bohol Sea with the island-province of Camiguin just off its northern shore.

50. Mountain Province - Mountain Province is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bontoc and borders, clockwise from the south, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, and Isabela.

51. Negros Occidental - Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and occupies at the northwestern half of Negros island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half. Across the Panay Gulf and the Guimaras Strait to the northwest is the island-province of Guimaras and the province of Iloilo on Panay island.

52. Negros Oriental - Negros Oriental (also called Oriental Negros, "Eastern Negros") is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists. Negros Oriental faces Cebu to the east across the Tañon Strait and Siquijor to the south east. The primary spoken language is Cebuano, and the predominant religion is Catholicism. Dumaguete City is the capital, seat of government, and most populous city.

53. Northern Samar - Northern Samar is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catarman and is located at the northern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the south are the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar. To the northwest, across the San Bernardino Strait is Sorsogon; to the east is the Philippine Sea and to the west is Samar Sea.

54. Nueva Ecija - Nueva Ecija (PSGC: 034900000; ISO: PH-NUE) is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City. Nueva Ecija borders, from the south clockwise, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Aurora.

55. Nueva Vizcaya - Nueva Vizcaya is a province of the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Bayombong. It is bordered by, clockwise from the north, Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Benguet.

56. Occidental Mindoro - Occidental Mindoro (Filipino: Kanlurang Mindoro, “Western Mindoro”; Spanish: Mindoro Occidental) is a province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro, on the west by Apo East Pass, and on the south by the Mindoro Strait; Oriental Mindoro is at the eastern half. The South China Sea is to the west of the province and Palawan is located to the southwest, across Mindoro Strait. Batangas is to the north, separated by the Verde Island Passage.

57. Oriental Mindoro - Oriental Mindoro (Filipino: Silangang Mindoro; Spanish: Mindoro Oriental) is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila. The province is bordered by the Verde Island Passage and the rest of Batangas to the north, by Marinduque, Maestro del Ocampo Island, Tablas Strait and the rest of Romblon to the east, by Semirara and the rest of Caluya Islands, Antique to the south, and by Occidental Mindoro to the west. Calapan City, the only city in the island, is the provincial capital.

58. Palawan - Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring 450 kilometers (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometers (31 mi) wide.

59. Pampanga - Pampanga (PSGC: 035400000; ISO: PH-PAM) is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast. Pampanga also lies on the northern shore of Manila Bay.

60. Pangasinan - Pangasinan is one of the provinces of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf. The total land area of Pangasinan is 5,368.82 square kilometers. According to the latest census, it has a population of 2,645,395 people in 477,819 households. The total population is projected to rise to 3,039,500 in 2010. According to the 2007 Philippine general elections, Pangasinan has a voting population of 1,360,807, the second highest in the Philippines.

61. Quezon - Quezon is a province of the Philippines located in the CALABARZON region in Luzon. The province was named after Manuel L. Quezon, the second President of the Philippines, and its capital is Lucena City. Quezon City is not located in and should not be confused with Quezon province: Quezon City is located in Metro Manila, a region to the west of CALABARZON, while Quezon province is in eastern CALABARZON.

62. Quirino - Quirino is a province of the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Cabarroguis and was named after Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines. The province borders Aurora to the southeast, Nueva Vizcaya to the west, and Isabela to the north. Quirino used to be part of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, until it was separated in 1966.

63. Rizal - Rizal is a province of the Philippines located in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 20 kilometers east of Manila. The province was named after the country's national hero, José Rizal. Rizal Governor Casimiro A. Ynares III on June 17, 2008 announced the transfer of the Capitol from Pasig. Its P 270-million capitol building, being constructed in Antipolo City by Ortigas & Co., owner thereof, will be completed by December. Built on 5-hectare lot at the Ynares Center, it will employ 2,008 employees. The New Capitol was successfully inaugurated on March 4, 2009, bringing back the Capitol Building inside the provincial territory that was gone for 33 years.

64. Romblon - Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. The province consists of numerous islands sitting in the Sibuyan Sea. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. The three major islands are Romblon Island, Tablas Island, and Sibuyan Island. Its capital is the municipality also named Romblon located in Romblon Island; they are near the centre of the archipelago, and the most northern islands of the Visayan group, hence it belongs previously to Western Visayas, but later its Regional grouping was transferred later to Southern Tagalog (Islands) Region IV-B or MiMaRoPa Region. Area, 135,593.00 hectares.

65. Samar - Samar, formerly Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar island as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland. Catbalogan City and Calbayog City, two of the three cities of Samar Island, are located in the province of Samar. Bordering the province to the north is Northern Samar and to the east is Eastern Samar. Samar is connected to Leyte via the San Juanico Bridge, which spans the San Juanico Strait, the narrowest strait in the country. To the south of the province is the Leyte Gulf.

66. Sarangani - Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east.

67. Siquijor - Siquijor is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality also named Siquijor. To the northwest of Siquijor are Cebu and Negros, to the northeast is Bohol and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

68. Shariff Kabunsuan - Shariff Kabunsuan was a province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that existed from 2006 to 2008. The law establishing the province was nullified by the Philippine Supreme Court in 2008.

69. Sorsogon - Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region; it is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities (towns) and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City (formerly the towns of Sorsogon and Bacon) and borders the province of Albay to the north. Sorsogon is at the tip of the Bicol Peninsula and faces the island of Samar to the southeast across the San Bernardino Strait and Ticao Island to the southwest.

70. South Cotabato - South Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east. To the southeast lies Sarangani Bay.

71. Southern Leyte - Southern Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Maasin City is the capital of the province. Southern Leyte was once a sub-province of Leyte before it was divided from the latter. Limasawa, an island to the south is part of the province where the first Christian mass was held and is said to be the birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines.

72. Sultan Kudarat - Sultan Kudarat is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Isulan and borders Maguindanao and Cotabato to the north, South Cotabato and Sarangani to the south, and Davao del Sur to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the west.

73. Sulu - Sulu is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Jolo and occupies the middle group of islands of the Sulu Archipelago, between Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. It is home to the historical Sultanate of Sulu.

74. Surigao del Norte - Surigao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Surigao City. The province consists of two major islands—Siargao Island, and Bucas Grande Island—in the Philippine Sea, and a small region at the northernmost tip of the island of Mindanao. This mainland portion borders Agusan del Norte, and Surigao del Sur to the south.

75. Surigao del Sur - Surigao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tandag City and borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur to the west, and Davao Oriental to the south. Surigao del Sur is located at the eastern coast of Mindanao and faces the Philippine Sea.

76. Tarlac - Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west. It is a part of central Luzon, which is composed of Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, and Nueva Ecija.

77. Tawi-Tawi - Tawi-Tawi is an island province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The capital of Tawi-Tawi is Bongao. The province is the southernmost of the country sharing sea borders with the Malaysian State of Sabah and the Indonesian Kalimantan province. To the northeast lies the province of Sulu and to the west is Sabah in Malaysia. Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in the Sulu Sea to the northwest, the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island and the Turtle Islands, just 20 kilometers away from Sabah.

78. Zambales - Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of 3,700 km, Zambales is the second largest among the seven provinces of Central Luzon. It has a population density of 170 people per square kilometer², one of the lowest in the country. The province is noted for its mangoes, which are abundant from January to April.

79. Zamboanga del Norte - Zamboanga del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Dipolog City and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south and Misamis Occidental to the east. The Sulu Sea lies to the northwest of Zamboanga del Norte.Zamboanga del Norte is the Largest province of Zamboanga Peninsula in terms of land area.

80. Zamboanga del Sur - Zamboanga del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao.Pagadian City is the capital, which is also the Center of Region IX. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga Sibugay to the west, Misamis Occidental to the northeast, and Lanao del Norte to the east. To the south is the Moro Gulf.

81. Zamboanga Sibugay - Zamboanga Sibugay is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Ipil and it borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga del Sur to the east and Zamboanga City to the southwest. To the south lies Sibuguey Bay in the Moro Gulf. Zamboanga Sibugay was created in 2001 when the third district of Zamboanga del Sur was carved out of that province. Zamboanga Sibugay is the 79th province created in the Philippines.

CLIMATE

The Philippines has a tropical wet climate dominated by a rainy season and a dry season. The summer monsoon brings heavy rains to most of the archipelago from May to October, whereas the winter monsoon brings cooler and drier air from December to February. Manila and most of the lowland areas are hot and dusty from March to May. Even at this time, however, temperatures rarely rise above 37 °C. Mean annual sea-level temperatures rarely fall below 27 °C. Annual rainfall measures as much as 5,000 millimeters in the mountainous east coast section of the country, but less than 1,000 millimeters in some of the sheltered valleys.

Monsoon rains, although hard and drenching, are not normally associated with high winds and waves. But the Philippines sit astride the typhoon belt, and it suffers an annual onslaught of dangerous storms from July through October. These are especially hazardous for northern and eastern Luzon and the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, but Manila gets devastated periodically as well.

In the last decade, the Philippines has been hit severely by natural disasters. In 2005 alone, Central Luzon was hit by both a drought, which sharply curtailed hydroelectric power, and by a typhoon that flooded practically all of low-lying Manila's streets. Still more damaging was the 1990 earthquake that devastated a wide area in Luzon, including Baguio and other northern areas. The city of Cebu and nearby areas were struck by a typhoon that killed more than a hundred people, sank vessels, destroyed part of the sugar crop, and cut off water and electricity for several days. The Philippines is prone to about 18-21 typhoons per year. Of course the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption also damaged much of Central Luzon, the lahar burying towns and farmland, and the ashes affecting global temperatures.

Building construction is undertaken with natural disasters in mind. Most rural housing has consisted of nipa huts that are easily damaged but are inexpensive and easy to replace. Most urban buildings are steel and concrete structures designed (not always successfully) to resist both typhoons and earthquakes. Damage is still significant, however, and many people are displaced each year by typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. In 1987 alone the Department of Social Welfare and Development helped 2.4 million victims of natural disasters.

TERRAIN

The islands are volcanic in origin, being part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and are mostly mountainous. The highest point in the country is the peak of Mount Apo in Mindanao, which is 2,954 m above sea level. The second highest point can be found on Luzon at Mount Pulog, a peak 2,842 m above sea level.

Many volcanoes in the country are active, the most recent eruption being that of Mount Pinatubo on Luzon in 1991. Mount Mayon is another of the active volcanoes and has the world's most perfectly-shaped cone. Mayon has a violent history of 47 eruptions since 1616 and another violent eruption is currently feared. Taal Volcano, also located on Luzon, is one of the Decade Volcanoes.

The islands typically have narrow coastal plains and numerous swift-running streams. Every island has sand beaches, but few open onto spacious lowlands. There are few large plains or navigable rivers. The longest river is the Cagayan River or Rio Grande de Cagayan in northern Luzon measuring 354 kilometers. In Mindanao, the longest river is the Mindanao River or Rio Grande de Mindanao which drains Maguindanao and other parts in western-central Mindanao. Agusan River drains eastern Mindanao.

Most of the islands used to be covered by tropical rainforests. However, illegal logging has reduced forest cover to less than 10% of the total land area.

The Cordilleras and Caraballos, together with the Sierra Madre Range, form the main mountain system in Northern Luzon.

The Cordilleras consists of 2, sometimes 3, mountain ranges that are found in northwestern central Luzon. The first, called Caraballo del Sur, forms the nucleus of the system and has its highest peaks in the border between the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte and Cagayan. The next, called Caraballo Occidentalles, is further divided into 2 ranges, the Cordillera Norte and Cordillera Central. They line the central portions of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Caraballos (Caraballo de Baler) start where the Sierra Madre and the Cordilleras meet. They are found south of Cagayan Valley, northeast of the Central Luzon Plains.

Sierra Madre Mountains

Sierra Madre Mountain is the longest mountain range in the Philippines that lies in the Northwestern part of Luzon Island. The range stretches from Quezon Province to Isabela. 80 percent of the mountain range is tropical rainforest, which is diminishing from rampant illegal logging activity. Only 5 percent of the mountain range is unexplored. The Sierra Madre Mountain Range serves as a western wall of Luzon Island from tropical cyclones usually coming from the Pacific Ocean.

The Manila-Calabarzon Plains is where the capital of the Philippines is located. Large rivers from bays and mountain springs traverse the plain. In the Northern part of the region, that is, Manila and Rizal, most of the plain has been converted into cities, and are thus industrialized. The plain harbors the largest inland freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, the Laguna de Bay.

Mindoro island

The Mindoro mountain range begins with Mount Halcon and is further divided into 3. The northwest ends at Calavite Point and is a landmark for ships. The east originates from Lake Naujan and the west follows Mindoro Strait.

Bicol Peninsula

This peninsula is connected to mainland Luzon by the isthmus of Tayabas. Provinces occupying Bicol Peninsula are the provinces Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and some municipalities of Quezon Province.

Visayas

The Leyte-Samar-Biliran corridor is the only bridged major islands in the country, enabling vehicular transport to any point in these islands. Leyte is connected to Samar by the San Juanico Bridge and Biliran is connected to Leyte by the Biliran Bridge. Forming the easternmost islands of the Visayas, the islands are generally characterized with central mountain ranges with gently rolling terrain sloping to the coastal plains. The climate is generally Af (tropical rainforest) in the Koppen system, described as a climate with rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year. These islands are politically grouped into the Eastern Visayas region.

Mindanao

Zamboanga Peninsula has a very mountainous terrain this chain of mountain ranges is called the Zamboanga Cordilleras. The highest mountain in this range is Mt. Dapia, which is 2,617 meters (8,586 ft) high.

Area:  total: 300,000 km2    land: 298,170 km2  water: 1,830 km2

Coastline: 36,289 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nautical miles (185 km) from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nautical miles (528 km) in breadth.
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Land use:

arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,800 km2 (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

Distances from the capital city, Manila:

10,000 km -- San Francisco, California
8,000 km -- Honolulu, Hawaii
3,400 km -- Chuuk, Micronesia, Federated States of
2,900 km -- Tokyo, Japan
2,400 km -- Singapore
1,000 km -- Taiwan & Hong Kong

Ten largest cities

The following is a list of the ten largest cities in the country in terms of population, with their population according to the 2007 census. Component cities and municipalities of Metro Manila and Metro Cebu are taken as one to show the extent of urbanization.

Rank City Population in 2007

1. Metro Manila 11,553,427
2. Metro Cebu 2,314,897
3. Davao City 1,363,337
4. Zamboanga City 774,407
5. Antipolo City 633,971
6. Cagayan de Oro City 553,966
7. General Santos City 529,542
8. Bacolod City 499,497
9. Iloilo City 418,710
10. Iligan City 308,046

BAKIT MAALAT ANG DAGAT?

Si Angalo ay isang higanteng mahal ng mga tao sa kanilang nayon sapagkat siya'y mabait at matulungin. Isang araw, ang mga tao ay sumakay sa mga bangka at nagtungo sa kabilang ibayo ng dagat upang bumili ng asin. Pabalik na sila sa dalampasigan nang masalubong nila si Angalo. Itinanong ng higante kung saan sila nanggaling at ano ang kanilang mga dala. Sinabi ng mga tao na bumili sila ng asin.

Iminungkahi ni Angalo na huwag na silang magsisakay sa mgha bangka at nang mapadali sila sa pag-uwi. Hihiga raw siya sa dagat at gawing tulay ng mga tao ang isa niyang binti. Tuwang-tuwang sumang-ayon ang mga naroon. Humiga na ang higante sa dagat at nagsitulay na sa kanyang binti ang mga tao. Nang nasa gitna na ng dagat ang mga tao ay kinagat ng mga langgam ang talampakan ni Angalo. Makating-makati na at masaki na masakit ang mga kinagat ng mga langgam kaya pinagsabihan ng higante ang mga tao na magmadali at hindi na niya matiis ang nararamdaman niyang pangangati.

Nagmadali ang mga tao ngunit sila'y nasa kalagitnaan pa lamang ng binti ni Anggalo. Hindi na natiis ni Angalo ang masidhing pangangati ng kanyang talampakan. Kumilos siya upang kamutin iyon kaya't nahulog sa dagat ang mga tao, dala-dala ang binili nilang asin. Natunaw ang mga asin nang mahulog sa dagat kaya't iyon ang dahilan kung bakit naging maalat ang dagat.

Alamat ng Saging

Legend or Origin of the Banana

May isang prinsesang napakaganda; kaya ang tawag sa kanya ay Mariang Maganda. Ang kanyang tahanan ay malapit sa isang maliit na gubat; doo’y maraming magaganda’t mababangong halamang namumulaklak. Araw-araw, ay nagpapasyal ang prinsesa sa gubat na ito. Namimitas siya ng mga bulaklak na katangi-tangi ang ayos. Isang araw, sa kanyang pamamasyal, ay nakatagpo siya ng isang prinsipe. Magandang lalaki ang prinsipeng iyon. Nang makita ni Mariang Maganda ay nakaramdam siya agad ng kakatuwang damdamin. Ang prinsipe naman pala’y gayon din. Kaya agad silang nagkapalagayan at nagkahulihan ng loob.

Araw-araw ay namamasyal sila ng prinsipe, hanggang sa magtapat ng pag-ibig ang prinsipe. Palibhasa’y sadyang may inilalaan nang pagtingin ang prinsesa, hindi na ito nagpaumat-umat at tinanggap ang iniluluhog na pag-ibig ng prinsipe.

Isang hapon matapos silang mamasyal, nag-ulayaw ang dalawa sa lilim ng mabangong halamanan ng prinsesa.

“Mariang Maganda, kay ganda ng mga bulaklak mo, nguni’t ang mga bulaklak doon sa aming kaharian ay higit na magaganda at mababango; walang makakatulad dito sa inyo.”

“Bakit, saan ba ang inyong kaharian?”

“Doon sa dako roon na hindi maaaring marating ng mga taong may katawang-lupa.”

Ilan pang saglit at nagpaalam na ang prinsipe na malungkot na malungkot. Kaya napilitang magtanong si Mariang Maganda. “Mangyari’y…” at hindi na nakuhang magpaliwanag ang prinsipe.

“Mangyari’y ano? Ano ang dahilan?” ang tanong ng prinsesang punung-puno ng agam-agam.

“Dapat an akong umuwi sa amin, kung hindi, hindi na ako makababalik. Ibig ko sanang isama kita, nguni’t hindi maaari, hindi makapapasok doon ang tulad ninyo. Kaya paalam na irog.”

“Bumalik ka mamayang gabi, hihintayin kita sa halamanang ito. Babalik ka ha?”

“Sisikapin ko Mariang Maganda,” ang pangako ng prinsipe. Nang malapit ng maghatinggabi, dumating ang prinsipe. Sinalubong siya ng prinsesang naghihintay sa loob ng hardin. Nag-usap na naman sila ng nag-usap. Kung saan-saan nadako ang kanilang pag-uusap. Hawak-hawak ng prinsesa ang mga kamay ng prinsipe.

Kaginsa-ginsa’y biglang napatindig ang prinsipe. “Kailangang umalis na ako, Mariang Maganda. Maghahatinggabi na, kapag hindi ako lumisan ay hindi na ako makababalik sa amin. Diyan ka na subali’t tandaan mong ikaw rin ang aking iniibig,” at ginawaran ng halik ang mga talulot na labi ni Mariang Maganda.

Pinigilan ng prinsesa ang mga kamay ng prinsipe. Hindi niya mabatang lisanin siya ng kanyang minamahal. Sa kanilang paghahatakan, biglang nawala ang prinsipe at naiwan sa mga palad ng dalaga ang dalawa niyang kamay. Natakot ang prinsesa, kaya patakbong nagtungo sa isang dako ng kanyang halamanan at ibinaon ang mga kamay.

Ilang araw, pagkatapos ay may kakaibang halamang tumubo sa pinagbaunan niya. Malalapad ang mga dahon at walang sanga. Ilan pang araw pagkaraa’y nagbulaklak. Araw-araw, ay dinadalaw ng prinsesa ang kanyang halaman. Makaraan ang ilang araw, ang mga bulaklak ay napalitan ng mga bunga. Parang mga daliring nagkakaagapay. Iyon ang mga unang saging sa daigdig.

Alamat ng Pipino

Legend or Origin of the Cucumber

Noong araw, sa Lumang Taal, Balangay ng Batangan, ay may mag-asawang may anak na lalaki. Ang pangalan ng ama ay Rupino, ang ina ay Paula, at ang anak naman ay Tirso. Sa halip na maging maalaala at mapagmahal sa aswa’t anak si Rupino ay totoong pabaya. Siya ay napakatamad at napakasugarol pa.Kaya upang sila ay mabuhay, si Paula ang siyang naghahanap-buhay.

Isang araw, si Paula ay nagluto ng pananghalian. Si Rupino ay pinakiusapan ni Paula na magsibak ng kahoy upang may maigatong sa niluluto. Si Paula ay matagal ding nakiusap bago napasunod si Rupino. Datapwa’t hindi pa halos nangangalahati ng pagsibak si Rupino ay huminto ito.

“Paula, Paula, ” ang sigaw ni Rupino buhat sa ibaba, “Napakasakit ng ulo ko. Para bang mabibiyak. Bigyan mo nga ako ng piso at bibili ako ng gamot.”

Nalalaman ni Paula na si Rupino at nagdadahilan lamang sapagka’t marahil ay tinatamad at sinusumpong ng pagsususgal.

“Saan ba ako kukuha ng piso?” ang sagot ni Paula. “At saka anong sakit ng ulo ang sinasabi mo? Ang totoo’y ibig mo lang magsugal. Sulong! Kung ayaw mong magsibak ngkahoy ay umalis ka at ako ang magsisibak.”

Si Rupino ay umalis na ngingiti-ngiti pa. Hindi siya nagbalik kundi nang inaakala niyang luto na ang pagkain.

“Paula, maghain ka nga,” ang utos niya sa asawa. “Nagugutom ako.”

Si Paula naman na nakalimot na sa kanyang galit ay madaling sumunod.

“Tirhan mo ng kaunting kanin at kaunting ulam si Tirso,” ani Paula. “Siya’y hindi pa kumakain sapagka’t inutusan ko.”

Ngunit nasarapan si Rupino sa pagkain. Nang maalala niya ang pagtitira sa kaunting kanin at ulam kay Tirso ay naubos na niyang lahat ang kanin at ulam.

Nang dumating si Tirso at maghalungkat sa paminggahan ay nakita niyang ubos na ang lahat ng ulam at kanin.

“Inay, wala na pong ulam at kanin a,” ang maiyak-iyak na sumbong ni Tirso. “Simot na simot po ang mga palayok.”

“Rupino hindi mo ba tinirhan ng pagkain ang anak mo?” ang usisa naman ni Paula.

“Aba tinirhan ko,” ang pagsisisnungaling ni Rupino. “Baka kinain ng hayop.” At si Rupino ay lumabas at hinanap angpusa at aso. Ang hayop ay pinagpapalo ni Rupino hanggang ang puno at aso ay magtalunan sa batalan.

Lumipas ang mga araw. Noon ay tag-ani ng palay. Upang mayroon silang makain ang mag-inang Paula at Tirso ay tumutulong sa pag-aani ng palay sa kanilang mga kapit-bahay na may palayan. Ang mga palay na inuupa sa kanila ng kanilang mga tinutulungan ay itinatago nila sa kanilang bangang malaki sa kanilang silid.

Isang araw, sa paghahalungkat ni Rupino sa loob ng silid ay natagpuan niya ang banga ng palay. Nang Makita niya na mapupuno na halos ang banga ay napangiti ng lihim. Alam na niya ang kanyang gagawin. Mapaglalangan na naman niya si Paula.

Nang dumating ang mag-ina buhat sa bukid ay dinatnan nila si Rupino na naghihimas ng manok. Si Rupino ay mukhang malungkot na malungkot.

“Aba, ano ang nangyari sa iyo?” ang usisa ni Paula. “Baki parang Biyernes Santo ang mukha mo?”

“Masama ang nagyari, e, ang simulan ni Rupino. “Natalo ako sa tupada.”

“Oo, e ikaw ba naman ay nanalo na?” ang ika ni Paula. “Ang pinagtataka ko saiyo ay kung saan ka kumukuha ng ipinatatalo.”

“Iyon nga ang sasabihin ko sa iyo, e. Nakita ang palay na tinitipon ninyo sa banga at ipinagbili ko.

“Ang iniisip ko ay kung yung pinagbilan ay maparami ko ay gugulatin kita. Nguni’t talaga yatang minamalas ako lahat ng pinagbilan ko ay natalo.”

Si Paula at Tirso ay hindi nakakibo. Si Paula ay nanlambot na lamang at nangilid na ang luha. Pumanhik sila ng bhay na malatang- malata ang katawan.

Si Rupino ay maliksing tumayo ng si Paula at Tirso ay pumanhik na sa itaas. Tuwang-tuwa siya samantalang siya ay nagbibihis. Ang totoo’y hindi pa natatalo ang sampungpisong pinagbilan niya ng palay. Ang limang piso ay nasa bulsa niyaat ang lima pa ay nasa lambat na nakasuksok sa kanilang silong. Ang limang pisong nasa bulsa niya ay dadalhin niya sa sugalan. Kung sakaling matalo ay maaari pa siyang umuwi at kumuha ng puhunan.

“Inay, paano ang gagawin natin ngayon?” ang tanong ni Tirso ng nakaalis na si Rupino. “Nasayang lamang ang pagod natin.”

“Bayaan mo na anak, at ako’y maghahanap ng maipagbibili,” ang wika ni Paula. “Makakaraos din tayo sa awa ng Dios.”

Si Paula ay naghalungkat ng anumang maipagbibili sa loob ng bahay ngunit wala siyang makita. Nanaog siya at baka sakali sa silong aymay Makita siya.. At hindi nga siya nagkamali sapagka’t at namataan niya ang lambat na nakasabit sa isang haligi.Ang lambat ay kinuha ni Paula at madaling ipinagbili sa Intsik. Ang pinagbilan ay madaling binili ni Paula ng kalahating kabang bigas at ng maiulam na nila ng marami-raming araw.

Si Paula ay kasalukuyang naluluto ng si Rupino ay dumating na humahangos.

“Kakain ka na ba?” ang tanong ni Paula. “malapit ng maluto ang ulam.”

“Huwag mo akong abalahin,” ang payamot na sigaw ni Rupino at nanaog uli. Tuloy-tuloy siyang pumasok sa silong.

Walang anu-ano ay mabilis na umakyat sa hagdan si Rupino.

“Ang lambat?” Nasaan ang lambat?” ang humahangos niyang usisa. “Ano ang ginawa mo sa lambat?”

“Ha? Lambat?” ang walang tutong sagot ni Paula. “A, ang lambat. Ipinagbili ko at ang pinagbilan ay binili ko ng kalahating kabang bigasat ng maraming ulam.”

“Ipinagbili mo! Ipinagbili mo ay may lamang limang piso iyon!” Si Rupino ay nanginginig na lumpit sa asawa. Sinampal niya ito ng ubod-lakas, sinuntok at sinipa. Hindi pa yata nakasiya roon ay hinawakan niya sa ulo si Paula at ipinukpok ng ipinukpok ang ulo nito sa dinding ng bahay. “Hindi mo nalamang itinago ko sa lambat ang kalahati ng pinagbilan ko sa palay?”

“Diyos ko!” ang panangis ni Paula ng lubayan na siya ng kagulgulpi ni Rupino. “Labis labis na po ang mga pagtitiis naming ng anak ko sa taong ito. Diyos ko, kaawaan mo po kami! Maano pong Mo na ang taong ito at ng kami ng anak mo ko ay makatikim na ginhawa!”

At anong laking himala angnangyari. Isang napakatalim na kidlat ang biglanggumuhit, kidlat na sinundan ng kulog na nakatutulig. Si Paula at Rupino ay nawalan ng malay-tao.

Nang si Paula ay pagsaulan ng hininga ay nakita niyng si Rupino ay maitim na maitim at patay na. Si Rupino pala ay tinamaan ng kidlat. Samantalang pinagmasdan niya ang mukha ni Rupino ay may narinig siyang isang tinig na nagsasabi ng ganito: “Ibaon mo sa inyong halmanan ang bangkay ng iyong asawa. Sa puntod ng kanyang libingan ay may sisiot ng isang halaman. Alagaan mong mabuti ang halamanang iyansapagka’y iyay pakikinabangan ninyo. Si Rupino ay di nakatulong sa inyo noong siya y nabubuhay. Ngayong siya’y patay na ay makatulong sana siya sa inyo”

Hindi naman naglaon at isang baging na maganda at malusog ang sumulpot sa puntod ng libingan ni Rupino Ang baging madaling lumaki at namunga, at nang anihin ni Paula ang bunga ng baging at kanilang kainin ay anong sarap ang mga bungang iyon sa panlasa. Ang baging na iyon ay ang unang pipino sa daigdig. At sapagka’t ang baging ay sumipot sa puntod ni Rupino, tinawag itong pipino.