GEOGRAPHY PART II : RATIONALIZATION

1. The Philippines is predominantly Catholic in religion. Islam is the second largest religion of
the Philippines and most of the Filipino Muslims live in what island?
A Luzon
B. Tawi-Tawi
C. Visayas
D. Mindanao

Mindanao island group

The Mindanao island group is home to majority of the Filipino Muslims in the Philippines. It is
where 93% of the entire Islamic population resides. Of Mindanao's 24,135,775 population,
Muslims make up about 23.39% of the island's entire population with more than half of this
percentage (14.30%) occupying the ARMM.

2. Where can you find the marker for "Kilometer 0 (zero)"? It is the distance reference to all
points in the country.
A. Bonifacio Shrine
B. There is no such thing
C. Quezon Monument
D. Rizal Monument in Luneta Park

Luneta Park Manila

The Kilometer zero or KM 0 can be found in Luneta Park Manila across the Rizal monument.
Located in the heart of Manila, the Capital City of the Philippines, Manila Kilometer Zero also
known as KM 0 stands as a marker for distance reference. It is a marble marker with a KM 0
label across the famous Rizal Monument in Rizal Park or Luneta Park.

This marker serves as the nation’s starting point when measuring the distance going to the
different provinces and cities in Luzon Island and the rest of the Philippines.

3. During World War Two, it was known as "The Rock" due to its fortress and the strong
resistance of the USAFFE (United States Army Forces in the Far East) forces. What is the name
of this island?
A. Corregidor
B. Palawan
C. Bataan
D. Mindoro

Corregidor, officially named Fort Mills, was the largest fortified islands protecting the mouth of
Manila Bay and had been fortified prior to World War I with powerful coastal artillery. Americans
called it "The Rock" or even the "Gibraltar of the East", comparing it to the fortress that guards
the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa.

After the fall of Bataan it was the last resistance of the Filipino and USAFFE forces.

4. Going underground now, this Philippine tourist attraction on the island of Palawan was until
2007 considered the longest underground river in the world. Featuring stalactites, stalagmites
and large chambers up to 2.5 million cubic metres in size, what type of rock does the river pass
through?
A. Granite
B. Limestone
C. Sandstone
D. Slate

Palawan Underground River is also known as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National
Park (PPSRNP) features a spectacular limestone karst landscape.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed principally of calcium carbonate (calcite) or the
double carbonate of calcium and magnesium (dolomite). It is commonly composed of tiny
fossils, shell fragments and other fossilized debris.

Stalagmites and stalactites are some of the best known cave formations. They are icicle-shaped
deposits that form when water dissolves overlying limestone then re-deposits calcium carbonate
along the ceilings or floors of underlying caves.

5. Lending its name to a 'Star Trek' character, in which Philippine sea can you find Tubbataha
Reefs National Park?
A. Sulu Sea
B. Sibuyan Sea
C. Celebes Sea
D. South China Sea

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea.

Declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1993, it sits in the middle of the Sulu Sea
within the Philippine archipelago. This marine and bird sanctuary is focussed on two
uninhabited atolls and a reef. It boasts a very high concentration of marine species with, for
example, some 600 fish species, 360 coral species and 100 bird species represented.

Its remote position and lack of drinking water have helped protect it, however, it is now under
pressure from over-fishing and destructive fishing practices (such as dynamite fishing and the
use of cyanide).

Gene Roddenberry, the screenwriter for the original 'Star Trek' series, is said to have chosen the
character name 'Sulu' to represent Asia. The other characters were from 'Star Trek: The Next
Generation' (William Riker), 'Babylon 5' (Delenn) and 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' (Benjamin
Sisko).

6. During sunny days Taiwan island is visible in the northern most isle of the Philippines which is
known as?
A. Y’Ami
B. Malamanok
C. Saluag Island
D. Palawan Island

Mavulis Island with the native name Y’Ami Amianan is the northernmost of the Batanes
Islands and the northernmost island in the Philippines. It is part of the province of Batanes. The
island is uninhabited but it is guarded by the military.

Saluag Island, located in the Province of Tawi-Tawi, in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao. Its length is 1.6 kilometres. The island belongs administratively to the municipality of
Sibutu and is the southernmost island of the Philippines.

The easternmost point in Philippines is found within the municipality of Caraga in Davao
Oriental Province. It is known as Pusan Point and is located within Barangay Santiago.

The 1,150,800 hectares of the biosphere reserve include the entire Province of Palawan Island,
is the westernmost province of the Philippines

Panguan Island, an island in Tawi-Tawi is the most remote island of the southernmost province
in the Philippines. It is located just at the edge of the border between Malaysia, Indonesia, and
the Philippines. It is also called Malamanok Island by some locals.

7. This island province is the smallest province in the Philippines in terms of land area and
population.
A. Sulu
B. Cavite
C. Guimaras
D. Batanes

The Province of Batanes

The Province of Batanes is an archipelago province in the region of Cagayan Valley, Philippines.
It is the northernmost province of the Philippines and is also the smallest province, both in terms
of population and land area.

8. The Chocolate Hills of Bohol are a collection of more than 1,260 cone-shaped limestone hills
spread over some 50 square kilometres. Why 'chocolate'?
A. The mounds turn brown during the dry season
B. After the Negrito ethnic groups inhabiting the area
C. Cocoa beans are grown on the hills
D. Deciduous trees turn the hills brown in winter

The mounds are grass-covered and brown off towards the end of the dry season. The Philippines
is not known for cocoa bean production and any cash crops (such as rice) tend to be grown
between the mounds, which are typically between 30 and 50 metres high, rather than on top of
them.

A big threat to this tourist attraction is commercial quarrying which tends to flatten the hills. Despite
legislative protection, mining and development pressure continues.

9. Turning to energy, which renewable resource contributes the most to the Philippine power
network?
A. Hydro
B. Wind
C. Geothermal
D. Solar

Coal-fired power stations topped the list in at over 30% for installed capacity, followed by hydro-
electric then oil-based generation at around 19% each. Natural gas power stations came next
then geothermal at around 10% of total installed capacity, according to the Philippine
Department of Energy. Wind, biomass and then solar bring up the rear.

Hydropower is one of the main sources of renewable energy in the Philippines. There are
hydroelectric plants of both the conventional dam and run-of-the-river types in the country. Of
twenty-nine hydroelectric plants, fourteen are conventional dam and fifteen are run-of-the-river
systems.

Construction on a nuclear power plant at Morong, Bataan started in 1976 in response to the
1973 oil crisis. The Three Mile Island accident in 1979 resulted in a temporary halt to
construction and some 4,000 faults being unearthed. The 1986 Chernobyl meltdown saw the
nearly-complete Bataan project halted. It took another 30 years to pay off the debt associated
with it. Never operational, in 2011 it was planned to turn it into a tourist attraction.

10. What province is nearest to Sabah, Malaysia?

A. Sulu
B. Camiguin
C. Palawan
D. Tawi-Tawi

Tawi-Tawi is the southernmost province of the Philippines. The Turtle Islands which are part of
the province of Tawi-Tawi are just 20 kilometers from Sabah. In fact, the people of Tawi-Tawi
have a commercial relationship with the people of Sabah.

11. Which term most accurately describes the native forests?

A. Montane coniferous forest
B. Subtropical deciduous forest
C. Tropical rainforest
D. Sclerophyll woodland
The Philippines lies close to the equator and has a tropical maritime climate with some humid
subtropical islands. Being in the typhoon belt, torrential rain is a regular feature.

Coniferous forests consist mostly of conifers, which are trees that grow needles instead of leaves
and cones instead of flowers. Conifers tend to be evergreen—they bear needles all year long.
These adaptations help conifers survive in areas that are very cold or dry.

Deciduous temperate forests are located in the cool, rainy regions of the northern hemisphere
(North America — including Canada, the United States, and central Mexico — Europe, and
western regions of Asia — including Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea, and parts of
Russia).

Sclerophyll is a type of vegetation that is adapted to long periods of dryness and heat. The plants
feature hard leaves which is parallel or oblique to direct sunlight. Sclerophyll forests are a typically
Australian vegetation type having plants (typically eucalypts, wattles and banksias) with hard,
short and often spiky leaves, which is a condition closely associated with low soil fertility

12. The three islands of the Philippines follow this order of rank from the largest to those lesser
in land area:
I. Luzon, Mindanao, and Samar
II. Mindanao, Luzon, and Cebu
III. Visayan islands, Luzon, and Mindanao
IV. Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

A. I A. II C. III D. IV

The Philippines has 7,641 islands in the Philippine archipelago. Only about 2,000 islands have
people, and the total population of the Republic is estimated at 100 million. The islands fall into
three geographical divisions: Luzon, Mindanao, and the Visayas. The Philippines has maritime
borders with Indonesia, Taiwan, Palau, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Luzon ranks as the Philippine’s most populous and largest island. Luzon lies in the
archipelago's northern part and occupies an area of 42,458 square miles. It is the 15th largest
island on earth.

The island of Mindanao the second largest island in the Philippines, occupies an area of
37,657 square miles. Most of the island’s landscape is mountainous, and it has the nation’s
tallest mountain, Mount Apo, at 9,692 feet above sea level.

Samar Island occupies an area of 5,185 square miles in the Central Philippines. It borders the
five water bodies of Samar Sea, San Juanico Strait, Leyte Gulf, Philippine Sea, and San
Bernardin Strait. The coastal parts of Samar feature low rolling hills and flatlands while the inner
regions are mountainous.

The island of Negros was established on May 29, 2015, and it occupies an area of 5,139
square miles. Negros is home to 4,414,131 people, most of whom are Negrenses. Negros lies
adjacent to the Visayan Sea, Bohol Sea, Sulu Sea, Guimaras Strait, Panay Gulf, and Tañon
Strait.

Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines and fifth-largest by area and tenth-most
populous island of the country, with a total population of 994,101 as of 2020 census.

13. Which is NOT among the World Heritage Sites in Ilocos region?
A. Santa Maria Church
B. Paoay Church
C. Vigan
D. Hundred Islands National Park

The islands are spread out on a 1,844-hectare land area. It is believed that they date back to
two million years ago and that they are part of the seabed. The national park offers a wide
array a of activities for its travelers such as swimming, island-hopping, camping, and kayaking.

14. Which ruler was the Philippines named after?

A. King Philip the Second of Spain
B. Queen Philippa of Holland
C. King Philip the First of Spain
D. King Philip the Third of Spain

Ruy Lopez de Villalobos

The Philippines was named after Prince Philip (later King Philip II) of Spain by the Spanish
explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos during his 1542-1546 expedition to the islands.

Ferdinand Magellan
Las islas de San Lázaro (St. Lazarus' Islands). Named by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 when he
reached the islands of Homonhon in Samar (now Eastern Samar) on the feast day of Saint
Lazarus of Bethany.

15. What is the largest flower in the Philippines which grows wild in the forest of Mindanao?
A. Kamuning
B. Banaba
C. Kakawate
D. Pungapung

Pungapung is a perennial, stemless herb. Corm is depressed-globose, up to 30 centimeters in

diameter, flowering before leafing every year from the previous year's corm. Stem-like structure,
which bears the lamina, is merely the petiole, 1 meter or more high, radically developed from
the corm.

Kamuning or Murraya paniculata is a small tree that is famous for its fragrant white flowers
that smell like jasmine.

Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa L.) has been used as a folk medicine to treat diabetes in
various parts of the world, primarily southeast Asia.

Kakawate, also known as madre de cacao, is a leguminous tree which originated from Central
America, and is used in many tropical and sub-tropical countries as fences in agricultural lands
because it grows easily and prevents top soil erosion.

16. President Marcos, one of the more colourful politicians in the Philippines was removed from
power in 1986. Where did he spend his last days before dying in 1989?
A. New York
B. Hawaii
C. Los Angeles
D. San Francisco

Marcos was overthrown by "People Power" in 1986 and was exiled to Honolulu, Hawaii where
he died in 1989.

It was in 1993, that the body of Ferdinand Marcos was flown into the Philippines. From Hawaii
the body was flown to Guam then to Laoag in Ilocos Norte.

17. A scale model of the three dimensions of the earth.

A. Equal area map
B. Color map
C. globe
D. world land mass map

globe
A globe is a three-dimensional scale model of the Earth or other round body. Because it is
spherical, or ball-shaped, it can represent surface features, directions, and distances more
accurately than a flat map.

18. What is the name of the palace that Imelda Marcos built for the visit of Pope John Paul the
Second in 1981?
A. The Coconut Palace
B. The Sampaguita Palace
C. The Marble Palace
D. The Jewelled Palace

Coconut Palace
The famed Coconut Palace in Pasay was built by Imelda Marcos in 1978 as a guest house for
Pope John Paul II for his papal visit in the Philippines in 1981.

Although the Coconut Palace was built for the Pope, he refused to stay there, saying it was too
ostentatious.

19. What is the "world's smallest commercial fish" that can be found in Bicol called?
A. shrimp
B. dilis
C. sinarapan
D. sardine

Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis) is one of 7 fish species endemic to Lake Buhi of Camarines
Sur. It is the world's smallest commercial fish.

20. In which town is the "First Monument of Rizal" located?

A. Daet
B. Manila
C. Naga
D. Basud

The first-ever Jose Rizal monument erected in Daet, CamNorte

Daet takes pride being the site where the first Rizal monument was built that occupies a distinct
place in the annals of nationalistic struggle not only in CamNorte, or in Bicol Region but even in
the entire country.

This was built in 1898 across the Old Daet Municipal Hall. Daet is the capital of the province of
Camarines Norte in the Bicol region.

21. The behavioral cause of the diminishing agriculture economy in the CalaBaRZon region is
the ______
A. growth of manufacturing and light-tech industries
B. urbanization in lifestyle and occupation
C. focus on tourism promotion of historical sites
D. pollution unfavorable to crops

Among the five regions that surpassed the national level of urbanization in 2020 are Calabarzon
(70.5 percent), Davao (66.8 percent), Central Luzon (66.3 percent), and Soccsksargen (55.5
percent), which were also listed in 2015.

the number of farms decreased by 11.6 percent and agricultural land area by 16.3 percent over
the 1991 estimates, the average farm size likewise decreased from 2.20 hectares per farm in
1991 to 2.08 hectares per farm in 2002. Generally, the decrease in agricultural lands could be
attributed to the conversion of these lands to residential or commercial lands to cope up with the
increasing population in the region at an annual growth rate of 4.1 percent. The decrease was
observed in all provinces in the region, both in terms of the area and number of farms.

22. What is known as the Queen of Philippine fruits?

A. Pineapple
B. Mango
C. Mangosteen
D. Lanzones

Mangosteen is Davao's Queen of Fruits. It is a round fruit with thick purple colored skin which is
opened to reveal a white sweet-sour fruit.
The fruit spoiled so fast that someone started the rumor around 1890 that Queen Victoria
would grant knighthood to anyone who brought her one. It was, whether true or not,
enough to earn the mangosteen the widely-accepted title as "the queen of fruits."
Among the famous Philippine fruits are the delicious lanzones, the "Queen of the Philippine
Fruits", the sweet mango the "Czarina of Philippine Fruits", and the nutritious durian, the "King
of Jungle Fruits".

Pineapple the "Princess of Fruit" by Sir Walter Raleigh, the pineapple—with its crown of pointy
leaves—has long been a symbol of hospitality.

The durian fruit, native to Southeast Asia, is regarded the "king of fruits" due to its distinctive
(large) shape and rich flavor (although some dislike the taste). Durian is also known as being
the smelliest fruit in the world due to its distinctive (read: awful) smell.

23. The Philippines lies in an area where many volcanoes are active that is known as?
A. Epicenter
B. Faultline
C. Ring of fire
D. Tectonic Zone

The location below the earth's surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter,
and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter.
Faultline is a long crack in the surface of the earth. Earthquakes usually occur along fault lines.

24. Because of its geographic location, the Philippines _______.

A. is not prone to calamities
B. is economically poor
C. has a low literacy rate
D. has a warm climate

The Philippines is geographically located near the equator which makes it climate warm.

25. Which correctly describes the topography of the Philippines?

A. Smooth physical features
B. No plain, all mountains and hills
C. Short coastline
D. Rugged physical features

Much of the coastal area is rugged and irregular, punctuated by numerous natural harbors
and picturesque coves.

The topography is highly diverse, with most mountain ranges oriented roughly north to south.
Three ranges traverse Luzon, and two cross Mindanao, along which Mt. Apo, the country's
highest peak, rises to a height of 2954 m. The islands are generally bounded by narrow coastal
plains

26. Which of the following does not belong to the group?

A. Pagsanjan
B. San Bernardino
C. Tablas
D. Tañon

Pagsanjan is a waterfall found in Laguna. Tañon, San Bernardino, and Tablas are straits found
in the Visayas.

27. The Philippines is consists of islands and landlocked provinces. Which is a landlocked
province?
A. Tarlac
B. Masbate
C. Mindoro Oriental
D. Romblon

Tarlac is a landlocked province located in the Central Luzon Region. Masbate, Romblon, and
Mindoro are island provinces.
28. Which province in the western coast of Luzon is virtually surrounded by sea waters and has
become the center for big business and development processing zones?
A. Mindoro
B. Pampanga
C. Zambales
D. Bataan

A peninsular province, Bataan is bounded by the South China Sea on the West and by Manila
Bay on the East and its strategic location brings in opportunities for the province to utilize its
waterways as another gate for development. The Bataan Export Processing Zone Authority is
located in Mariveles, Bataan.

29. Which region is said to offer limited economic opportunities because it is a narrow strip of
land surrounded by mountain ranges and sea?
A. Cagayan Valley
B. Ilocos Region
C. National Capital Region
D. Bicol Region

The Ilocos Region is bounded by the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley to
the east, Central Luzon to the south and by the West Philippine Sea to the west.

30. Which is the leading mineral export of the Philippines?

A. Chromite
B. Coal
C. Iron
D. Copper

Copper cathodes is the leading mineral export of the Philippines. Philippines Exports of copper
was US$2.27 Billion during 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on
international trade. Philippines Exports of copper - data, historical chart and statistics - was last
updated on June of 2023.

31. This may have resulted because the Philippines is an archipelago.

A. Indolence
B. Multi-cultural diversity
C. Widespread poverty
D. Low literacy

The archipelagic character of our country enabled the different islands to develop cultures.

32. As an effect of their geography, in which of the following do people travel mostly by water?
A. Luzon
B. Visayas
C. Visayas and Mindanao
D. Mindanao

People travel mostly by water to get across the different provinces in the Visayas.

33. Which province in the Cordillera Administrative Region is known for its rich natural resources
but hindered by factors like tribal wars?
A. Kalinga
B. Mt. Province
C. Abra
D. Ifugao

Kalinga and Apayao used to be a single province, Kalinga-Apayao but were separated because
of frequent tribal wars.

34. Which is the leading agricultural export of the Philippines?

A. Abaca
B. Tobacco
C. Copra
D. Fabric

Coconut oil, which is derived from copra, is the Philippines top export commodity.

35. Why were the various regions of the country created as subdivisions of the nation?
A. economic groupings
B. cultural affinity
C. administrative convenience
D. similar language/dialect

countries have several levels of administrative divisions: states, provinces, lands, oblasts,
governorates, cantons, prefectures, counties, regions, departments, and emirates.

Countries are divided up into these smaller units to make managing their land and the affairs of
their people easier.

36. What is known as the Queen of Philippine Orchids?

A. Liwayway
B. Taharta
C. Waling-waling
D. Sampaguita

It is the rarest, most beautiful, and most expensive orchid among thousands of species
that can be found in the country. Waling-waling or Vanda Sanderiana is dubbed as the
“Queen of Philippine Orchids”. It is also worshipped as Diwata (fairy) by the native Bagobos and
discovered in the year 1882.

Waling-waling is considered to be one of the most beautiful orchids in the world. Note that the
family Orchidaceae has many beautiful orchids, but the waling-waling stands out for its
spectacular form, color and size. It has played a major role in orchid hybridization, which
makes it a recognized and acclaimed orchid.

37. What is the mining town in Cordillera that is known as the site of the first large-scale
mining operations in the country, and the largest municipality in Benguet?
A. Itogon
B. Bokod
C. La Trinidad
D. Bakun

The first commercial mine in the Philippines was in Benguet, in Central Luzon, established by
the Benguet Mining Corporation. And the Municipality of Itogon is the largest municipality in
Benguet that is known as the site of the first large-scale mining operations in the country.
38. What is the long-term initiative that placed Western Visayas out of the “hotspot areas” for
illegal logging?
A. Surveillance and Monitoring
B. Confiscation of illegally cut tress
C. Prohibition of possession of forest products
D. Reforestation

Two environment groups from London and Germany are funding mangrove conservation
projects in various local government units in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental.
February 2014

Everyone in the Western Visayas province will “literally go up just to plant trees simultaneously.”
Capiz residents are planting one million trees in one day. May 2018
Global Business Power Corp. with West Visayas State University (WVSU) will conduct a
150hectare reforestation and carbon sink project in Ilo-Ilo. March 2019

In support to the Expanded National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), the NEDA Region VI officials and staff. Bacal conducted a tree
planting activity at the Iloilo River Esplanade 4, Iloilo City on September 6, 2019. A total of 200
Bungalon mangrove seedlings provided by DENR were planted by the NEDA-VI officials and
staff along the banks of Iloilo River.

ILOILO – To protect, conserve and preserve the environment in the face of climate change, the
provincial government launched yesterday “Tanum Iloilo” (Plant Iloilo). June 2020

39. These are reasons why Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental were made into one
integrated region EXCEPT ______
A. one dialect
B. holistic development
C. tourism promotion
D. peace and order management

40. Cebu is to Sinulog as _______ is to Dinagyang

A. Panay
B. Iloilo
C. Laguna
D. Bohol

Philippine Festivals

Panagbenga - The Kankanaey term ‘Panagbenga’ means ‘A Season of Blossoming’. BAGUIO,

BENGUET

Kadayawan - This festival is a festival of thankfulness and relates to thanksgiving traditions.

DAVAO CITY

Kaamulan - a blend of a thanksgiving ritual, a peace pact between tribes, a datukship ritual,
and a wedding ceremony. MALAYBALAY, MINDANAO

Pahiyas - It celebrates the patron saint of farmers for a good harvest- San Isidro Labrador.
LUCBAN, QUEZON

Sinulog - “Sinulog” means “graceful dance” CEBU CITY

Dinagyang - Dinagyang’ is a Hiligaynon word meaning ‘merrymaking’. ILO-ILO CITY

Pintados - This festival showcases the native people who lived here before the Spanish, and
how they lived their life. It symbolizes the brave warriors of the past. TACLOBAN CITY

Higantes - Based on the Angono folklore that tells us about ‘hingates’ or giant paper mache
made by the locals to protest against the Spanish inquisition. ANGONO, RIZAL

Moriones - a lenten festival held annually on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque,
Philippines. The "Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the
garb of biblical Imperial Roman soldiers as interpreted by locals. MARINDUQUE

MassKara - The locals put on smiling masks despite hardships and brought the masked
metaphor to life. BACOLOD CITY

Ati-Atihan - This is a celebration in honor of the Infant Jesus, the town's patron. Ati-Atihan,
observed in honor of the Child Jesus. Ati-atihan means 'making like Atis,' that is, pretending to
be like the aboriginal natives that once inhabited Aklan. KALIBO, AKLAN.