PHILIPPINE TOURISM, GEOGRAPHY, AND

CULTURE

Instructor/s: AUDITTE V. SOL

Course Title: PHILIPPINE TOURISM, GEOGRAPHY, AND CULTURE

Course Description: This course shall have students analyse and familiarize themselves with specific world travel
destinations, with emphasis on the exploration of geographic features, customs and traditions, population centers,
visitor attractions, political, religious, language and other cultural differences as these relate to the hospitality and
travel industry. Students will develop understanding as well as sense of responsiveness for cultural values and
traditions that exist beyond their own culture. Students will be able to identify international travel patterns by locating
various major cities, natural wonders, historic sites, and other tourism attractions, both man made and natural
focusing as well with the major travel-generating and travel-receiving areas.

Credit hours: 3 hours

Pre-Requisite: No

Module 1
Unit I. PHILIPPINE TOURISM: AN OVERVIEW

I. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the module, students be able to:
1. Accept the economic value of the tourist destinations in the different provinces and cities of the Philippines
2. Identify the various provinces in each region and town, and chartered and component cities in each province on a
blank map
3. Identify the major access routes to major domestic destinations
4. Name and describe major attractions in each provinces
5. Know the cultural differences and similarities among the major ethnic groups in the country

II. PRETEST:

Do this activity on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What are the qualities of the Philippines that make it a unique and attractive destination
2. What are the distinct characteristics of Filipinos? Is it the same across regions

III. CONTENT
Philippine Tourism: an Overview
The Philippines is a beautiful and archipelagic country. On top of its natural and cultural/heritage attractions are the
friendliest, most hardworking, and considered the most hospitable people in the world. Filipinos are fluent, making it easy
for foreign tourists to communicate with locals of different destinations.
The Philippines has several UNESCO world heritage sites. This include the cultural Baroque Churches of the
Philippines, such as the San Agustine Church in Manila, Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, Sta Maria Church in Ilocos Sur, and
Miag-ao in Iloilo. The Historic Town of Vigan and the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are among those listed under
cultural heritage. Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Eastern Mindanao, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
National Park, and Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in Palawan are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites Natural
Category. The Philippines is also home to the internationally acclaimed white sand beaches of Boracay, Coron, El Nido and
Panglao.
Tourism in the Philippines has become a valuable economic, social and cultural driver. Its impacts have been far and
wide based on arrival rates each year. Based on origin, international tourism and domestic tourism are the two distinct types of
tourism.
International tourism – refers to tourism that crosses national borders while Domestic tourism – is defined as travel made
within one’s country of residence.
There is no discounting the fact that with cheaper and easier ways of travel, social media, and higher disposable
income, more and more people will be travelling within and outside their countries. As domestic tourism develops, economic
and social-cultural impacts and environmental protection need to be addressed.

ECONOMIC ASPECT
On the economic vantage point, domestic tourism contributes vastly in increasing a country’s economic activity. In
the Philippines, domestic tourism activity has become increasingly high. Domestic tourists outnumber international tourists ten
times more. Domestic tourism expenditure, which included expenditure of resident visitors within the country either as
domestic trip or part of an international trip, has grown because of tourism. In terms of employment, tourism and related
industries have grown considerably: 1 out of 10jobs are tourism-related.

SOCI-CULTURAL ASPECT
The Philippine culture is a blend of the Malay-Polynesian, Hispanic, and Western cultures with some influence from
the Chinese and other Asian cultures. Having Spain colonizes us for more than 300 years and the Americans thereafter, have
made the Filipinos a melting pot of different cultures. With the increasing number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and
international travel, the Filipino culture continues to evolve.
Filipinos have a very strong sense of family and kapwa (others). This is evident in the way we give importance to our
relationships with others. The Filipinos are known to be one of the most hospitable people in the world wherein we think of
others as part of themselves and their family.
Filipinos are also lovers of art in many forms. Music is an integral part of the Filipino cultures as evidenced by
singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments. The town fiestas celebrated in different parts of the country is a testimony
of the Filipinos faith and gratefulness to patron saints where many religious activities, street dancing, singing, and eating are
part of the celebration.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
 One of the major threats to environmental protection is the continuous growth of tourism industry. The
implementation of laws and other policies in favor of the environment has to be strictly enforced for tourism development to be
sustainable.
The Philippines has the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to oversee the protection of the
environment in line with proposed tourism development in various areas.

THE 4 As of Tourism
The succeeding chapters are organized in a manner that is in line with the 4 As of tourism – Access, Attractions,
Accommodation, and Activities. The 4 A’s need to be addressed for domestic tourism to flourish in any destination.

ACCESS – Land, sea, and air access to and from the destination as well as within the destination should be relatively fast and
easy. Tourists would not want to be travelling the whole day. They prefer to be spending time on the destination than on the
bus, boat, or plane. Roads, bridges, and ports should be developed to acceptable levels to accommodate the entry of tourists.

ATTRACTIONS – The main reason tourist go to a destination is because of its attractions. The attractions can be
cultural/heritage/historic, natural, and or built/man made. There should be a good mix of these three types for good variety.

ACCOMMODATIONS – There should be a wide range of accommodations that vary from budget, mid-range, and deluxe. This
way, the destination can attract tourists from a wide demographic profile. Accommodations should include the most basic
needs of a comfortable bed, clean toilets, and food services. Wi-Fi access is becoming a necessity for tourist to connect with
their loved ones.

ACTIVITIES – The destination should also offer a variety of activities located close to each other. The activities should be
connected to each other with varying degrees within a similar theme. Themes would include adventure, health and wellness,
medical, sports, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events), etc. For example, if a destination wants to be known
as an adventure destination, then activities should range from soft, medium, and hard adventure activities. A good mix of
activities will keep tourists to stay longer and spend more.
As a local tourism in the country in the exceeds international tourist arrivals by as much as 10 times, destination
managers can not disregard the contribution that local tourists make. Hence, activities, accommodation, and amenities should
also be designed with the local tourist in mind. In fact, manu tourist facilities such as hotels and resorts have acknowledged
the fact that majority of its guests are local tourists.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

A. Island in the Philippines

1. Largest Island in the Philippines
Luzon Island, located in the northern region of the archipelago, is the country’s largest and most populous
island. It also has the greatest population among the three island groups. Having an area of 42,458 square miles,
Luzon is further subdivided into four major areas – Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and National
Capital Region, which is home to the country’s capital, Manila and it’s the country’s center of economic, social,
cultural, and financial development (Vallejo 2014 and Valdeavilla 2018)
2. Smallest Island in the Philippines
The Philippines consists of thousands of island and there is no known smallest island using any known
technical definition and due to high tide and low tide variations.
3. Number of Islands
There are 7,641 islands in the Philippines (Barile 2017)
4. Length of Coastline
Estimates of the total length of the coastline range from 17,500 kilometers (official Philippine figure) to 36,
289 kilometers (U.S. figure) (Library of Congress Federal Research Division 2006)
B. Major Landforms

1. Highest Point: Mount Apo

Mount Apo is the largest and the tallest solfataric mountain on the island of Mindanao and in the entire Philippines.
The mountain has an elevation of 9,692 feet and is located between the city of Davao and the province of Davao del Sur.
Mount Apo is characterized by a tropical rainy climate with rainfall relatively distributed throughout the year. Mount Apo is
home to over 272 species of birds of which 111 species are endemic to the mountain. Nineteen (19) rivers drain Mount Apo’s
eight (8) major watersheds. Six (6) indigenous groups of people including Bagobo, Ubos, and Tagacaol live around the
regions of Mount Apo and consider the mountain a sacred place and a place for worship rituals (Misachi 2017)
2. Oldest Province: Aklan
 Originally called Minuro, aklan is considered as the oldest province in the Philippines. Records say that the provinces
was established during the early 12th century by settlers originating from Borneo. Datu Dinagandan, who established trade with
neighboring islands, was the first ruler. Kalantiaw then grabbed the throne, and his family continued to rule the province until
the mid-14th century (topten.ph 2016)
3. Number of Provinces: There are 81 Provinces as of March 31, 2018 (Philippine Statistics Authority 2018)
4. Largest/Smallest Province:
a. Largest Province: Palawan
Palawan is the largest in terms of land area at 17,030.75 sq.kms.
b. Smallest Province: Batanes
Batanes has a land area of 203.22 sq. kms. (De la Rosa, Fiestada, Sanchez, and Mangahas 2018)

C. Climate Information
The first half of the year, from January to May, is the best time ti visit the country. November to February is cool,
while March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, with the months between July and September characterized by
typhoons. Average temperature is 78 degrees F/25 degrees C; average humidity is 77%

D. Language
The Philippines has two official language, Filipino (or Pilipino) and English. Filipino has eight (8) kajor dialects, in
order of use: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense. Filipino, based
on Tagalog, is related to Malay and Indonesian and is part of the Malayo-Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian language
family. Filipino is the common language used between speakers of different native language, which are closely related but not
mutually intelligible. There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects (DOT 2018)

E. Major Ethnic Groups

The richness of the Philippines does not end with just its aesthetic appeal, but beyond what the eyes can see in
photos and videos, is the vibrant feel of its people. This is the differentiation of the Philippines as a tourist destinations. Its
people are known to be the most hospitable in the world. Filipinos treat guests like family, willing to give up the seat of honor
for its visitors.
The Philippines has more than 100 ethnic groups. The more dominant ethnic groups include Tagalog, Bisaya,
Cebuano, Ilocano, Ilonggo, and Waray

Ethnic Group Population (2010)

Tagalog 22,512,089
Visayan/Bisaya 10,539,816
Cebuano 9,125,637
Ilokano/Ilocano 8,074,536
Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7,773,655
Waray 3,660,645
Sources: Philippine Statistics Authority (2018)

The Philippine culture is a blend of the Malayo-Polynesian and Hispanic culture with the influence from Chinese, Indians,
Arabs, and other Asian cultures as manifested in various customs and traditions of the Filipinos. Filipinos have the conept of
kapwa (others) to refer to other people as an extension of themselves. It shows on how they give importance to their
connection or relationship with other people. This is one of the roots of their being hospitable – Filipinos think of others as part
of themselves and their family. This strong sense of kapwa enables Filipinos to share what they have with others, give the
best place in the house for the visitors and always provide the best food for its guests.
Filipinos are lovers of arts as evidenced by their folk songs, cultural dances, rituals, festivals, involved architecture of
churches, and ancestral houses. They are also lovers of music and have the ability to express themselves through song and
dance. Videoke has evolved to be associated as a favorite past=time and get together activity. Filipinos love to celebrate and
gather with family and frinds around popular Filipino dishes such as lechon, adobo, and pancit.
Religion is an integral and inseparable aspect of Filipino culture. The Philippines is known to celebrate the longest
Christmas Season. Devotion to various images of the Lord Jesus, such as the Sto. Niño and the and the Black Nazarene, as
well as to the Blessed Virgin Mary and different patron saints, is celebrated through festivals, most of which have religious
origins. Religion is also a powerful organizing principles for ethnic groups (Peralta 2000)
Filipinos are generally family-oriented with adult children continuing to stay in the family home. It is not unfamiliar for
families to have extended family members saying with them permanently. Extended family members may include elderly aunts
and uncles and married children with their growing families. Nursing homes are not popular in the Phillines as children take
care of their ageing parents.
 Filipinos find reason to celebrate any and all occasions. Birthdays, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and Christians are
grand occasions to celebrate. Food becomes the centerpiece of every Filipino family celebration. Filipino food throughout the
regions is characterized with flavors of being salty, sour, sweet, spicy from our Hispanic and Malay influences.
Each region has its unique and distinct characteristics influenced by its own history and culture. Ilocano, Tagalog,
Bicolano, Waray, Ilngo, and Mindanaoan are just a few of the ethnicities of Filipinos. Ilocanos are generally known for their
simple lifestyle and strong value for money. Hard work and strong educational foundation are virtues they strive to pass on
their children.
The bayanihan spirit is alive in the Tagalog-speaking provinces. Neighbors help without pay in the hope that when it
is their turn to need help, their neighbors will be there to help them. Tagalog families are closely-knit, with adult children even
the married ones still live with their parents.
The Bicolanos are religious and conservative in nature. Songs and dances are ways of expressing themselves. They
prefer spicy food with coconut milk
The Waryas, situated in the Eastern Visayas Regions, are often stereotyped as brave warriors, ss in the popular
phrase “ basta ang Waray, hindi uurong sa away”. They are also known as contented people that during the Spanish
occupation in the region, they were misunderstood and called lazy.
Ilongos are very hospitable. They always provide for their guest comfort and ease at their own expenses. They are
also very gentle in their ways that their quarrels do not seem like ones. Since time is not important to the Ilongos, they also
take life as it comes.
Mindanao is the only predominantly Muslim region in the country. Their customs and traditions are different than that
of Luzon and Visayas. Majority of the population of Mindanao region believes in the Islam religion and submits themselves
completely to the will of ALLAH. Communal assistance is widely practiced among the Maguindanaons and Maranaos. By
custom and tradition, they are expected to help their relatives by putting in money to finance such as marriages, funerals,
pilgrimages to Mecca, and many others.
The Filipinos are distinct in many ways. go out and discover what this country has to offer. Love it, believe in it, and
create many wonderful memories in its more than 7,000 islands.

F. Threats to Preservation of Culture

Language is said to be the bearer of culture. With the public educational system mainly patterned from Western
influences, there is the threat of standardization. Culture-based education is eroded and the national language induces
change within the particular culture. The internalization of concepts through the medium of language and the externalization of
this is altered since the culture of the introduced language is language is internalized by the receiving culture.
Mass media through radio, television, print, and more recently, social media has provided a window to the world.
New tastes, needs, and opinions are created which contributes to the destruction of traditional value systems.
With all these influences, ethnicity, hence, is not static. It is of living people who change at the birth of a nation.
G. Life Expectancy

1. Life Expectancy Nationwide

2015 69.0
2016 69.1
2017 69.2
Sources: United Nations Development Programme Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2017

2. Life Expectancy per Region (2010-2015)

REGION MALE FEMALE

Region I 69.6 75.9
Region II 68.3 73.3
Region III 68.7 75.4
Region IV-A 68.9 75.2
Region IV-B 68.4 73.0
Region V 67.6 72.6
Region VI 68.0 74.2
Region VII 63.9 68.9
Region VIII 66.8 71.7
Region IX 66.6 71.7
Region X 66.9 72.1
Region XI 67.1 71.9
 Region XII 67.4 72.3
NCR 68.8 75.6
ARMM 61.9 62.9
CARAGA 65.9 71.3
CAR 67.4 72.7
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority 2018

IV. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1. Recall a recent trip you took out of town and assess the destination based on the 4 A’s – access,
attractions, accommodations, and amenities and other unique selling points. Write a 300-word essay about
it
V. ASSESSMENT

Answer the following questions briefly:

1. What are the 4 A’s of tourism? Why these are important?
4. Based on your own experiences and regional affiliation, what is the district characteristics of Filipinos not
mentioned in this module? Share them and write it on a separate paper in a five sentence or one paragraph.

REFERENCES
Maria Criselda Gatchalian-Badilla, PhD (2019). Philippine Tourism, Geography, and Culture, Rex Bookstore, 856
Nicanor Reyes Sr. St., Sampaloc Manila
Paul L. So (2012). Philippine Tourist Destination, Published by: Accumicro I.T. Solutions 1514-E Alcantara St.,
Sampaloc, Manila 1008
RUBRICS

Features 5 4 3 2
Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner
Quality of Writing Piece was written Piece was written Piece had little Piece had no style
in an extraordinary in an interesting style and voice or voice
style and voice style and voice Gives some new Gives no new
Very Informative Somewhat information but information and
and well organized informative and poorly organized very poorly
organized organized
Grammar, Usage Virtually no Few spelling and A number of So many spelling,
& Mechanics spelling, punctuation errors, spelling, punctuation and
punctuation or minor grammatical punctuation or grammatical errors
grammatical errors errors grammatical errors that it interferes
with the meaning

END OF MODULE 1