FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. ___

The Philippine Archipelago and its People

MODULE OVERVIEW

The Philippines is an archipelago found in South East Asia and lies between 4 033 and
21025 north latitude and between 116000 and 127000 East longitudes. The country
comprises 7,107 islands of which 2,773 have official names, and about 804 are currently
inhabited, while other islets are very small for human settlement. The shape of the country
is elongated and has scattered large and small islands that form as its figure in the map.
Five of its biggest islands are: Luzon with 105, 708 sq. km., Mindanao 95,587 sq. km.,
Samar 13,271 sq. km., Negros 12, 699 sq. km. and Palawan with 11,655 sq. km., The size
of the Philippines is established in 300,000 square kilometers or 30,000,000 hectares. The
country has irregular coastlines totaling to 17,468 kilometers.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

1. Evaluate primary source for their credibility, authenticity, and provenance.
2. Analyze the context and content of the different sources
3. Manifest interest in the Philippine archipelago and its people

LEARNING CONTENTS

Archipelagic Principle of the Territory

The Constitution of the Philippines, Section 1 of the Article 1 of the National Territory
states that; The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all islands and
waters embraced therein and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty
or jurisdiction, consisting of terrestrial, fluvial, subsoil, aerial domain, its territorial sea, the
sea bed, subsoil, insular shelves and other submarine areas. The waters around, between,
and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions,
forms part of the internal waters of the Philippines.

This principle explain that the Philippine archipelago with all its scattered islands
should be considered as one political unit by virtue of its history, law, geography, economy
that the government is deemed to defend. After several years of deliberation, majority of the
countries of the world also recognized the value and importance of archipelagic countries
such as the Philippines. It was the late Senator Arturo Tolentino who represented the
country when it attended the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS), which culminated in the signing of the treaty on December 10, 1982 in Jamaica
that paved the way for increase of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines by
93 million hectares. In addition, the Philippines has the right to explore, use and develop all
resources in the waters, the seabed and the subsoil of the archipelago, covering 200
nautical miles exclusive economic zone from its shores and coastlines.

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 1

 FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

Mountains and Plains

In Luzon there are three large mountain ranges found in the area namely; the Caraballo del
Sur, Sierra Madre and Caraballo del Baler. The Sierra Madre also known as the Pacific
Coast Range is the longest mountain range in the Philippines, which forms part of the
provinces of Quezon, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan.

The Caraballo del Sur, the mountain range in Luzon, which covers the Northern Cordillera
and Central Cordillera and its highest point, is found in the intersection of the boundaries of
Abra, Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. The Caraballo del Baler covers the province of Aurora
and ends in the San Bernardino Strait, which is found in the southeastern part of Luzon.

There are small mountain ranges found in Luzon, such as the Zambales and
Tagaytay ranges. The Zambales Range which begins in Cape Bolinao in Pangasinan to
the coast of South China Sea and ends in Bataan peninsula. The Tagaytay Range crosses
the provinces of Cavite and Batangas, which is pat of Mt.Makiling and Taal Volcano. Small
mountain ranges are also found in Mindoro, which extends from Mt.Halcon connecting to
small ranges going to Calavito Point, NaujanLake and Mindoro Strait.

There are small mountain ranges found in, such as the small mountain range in
Negros, which forms the area with Kanlaon Volcano as its peak, and in Panay Island which
range extends from the north to south covering the province of Antique, Aklan, Iloilo and
Capiz. In Mindanao, there are principal mountain ranges: the Diwata Mountain, which
extends along the eastern coast of the island in Surigao; the Central range, which extends
in the length of Mindanao, connecting the western boundary of Agusan and Davao; and
other mountain ranges, which form the back layer of Zamboanga Peninsula and Misamis
Occidental.

The highest mountain peak in the Philippines is Mt. Apo located in Davao del Sur in
Mindanao and it is 2,954 meters high and is a source of geothermal energy. It is one of the
most popular climbing destinations in the country and the summit is easy to reach. The
mountain is home to 270 bird species of which more than a hundred are endemic to the
Chapter 1
area. Indigenous people such as the Manobo, Bagobo, Tagacaolo, Ubos, Atas and
K”lagans who live near the mountain consider it

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Identify what is being referred to in the following.

1. Province where Taal Volcano can be found.

2. This month is considered the warmest month in the country.

3. Theory that says that the formation of mountains is the result if the movement of th

earth’s crust.

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 2

 FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

4. Southernmost province of the Ilocos Region.

5. Region that produces the most number of tobacco.

6. Volcano that is famous for its perfect cone.

7. Smallest commercial fish found in Lake Buhi in Bicol.

8. Water form that serves as harbor for ships.

9. Total number of regions in the Philippines.

Theory that explains that Philippines was once connected to mianlnad Asia

LEARNING CONTENTS

Archipelagic Principle of the Territory

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has submitted Mount Apo
for its inclusion in the UNESCO world heritage list. The second is Mt.Pulog in the Bicol
peninsula with 2,585 meters high.

There are large and fertile plains that have been sources of staple food, fruits and
vegetables for the entire archipelago. They cover a major part of the country. One of them
is the Central Luzon Plain, which forms part of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan
provinces, the largest lowland area, also known as the rice granary of the country. Another
is the Cagayan Valley found in northern Luzon, which is the biggest producer of tobacco in
the country. In the Visayas, large plain is found in Panay, Iloilo and Negros. In Mindanao,
the large plain in the island is found in Davao and Agusan.

Volcanoes

The Philippines is known for its active volcanoes that are scattered throughout the
archipelago. One of the active volcanoes is Mt. Mayon in Albay, which is popular due to its
perfect cone despite its eruptions in the past centuries. In Batangas, Taal Volcano has
been known from the Spanish time, due to its record of violent eruptions. Taal is known as
a tourist destination, due to its unique lake that was formed from its past eruptions. The
recent violent eruption in the Philippines is Mt.Pinatubo in the province of Zambales, which
erupted after 600 years, it affected nearby provinces of Tarlac and Pampanga. Today the
volcano is known for its sulfuric lake and also became a tourist destination. Before 1991 it
was inconspicuous and heavily eroded. Mt.Pinatubo produced the second largest terrestrial
eruption of the 20th century. Other active volcanoes found in the country are Bulusan in
Sorsogon and Mt. Kanlaon in Negros.

Water Forms

The largest and longest river systems in the country are found in Luzon and
Mindanao. In Luzon, the Pampanga River drains the rich valleys of Nueva Ecija,

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 3

 FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

Pampanga and Bulacan. The Rio Grande de Cagayan drains the CagayanValley, and the
Agno River drains the rivers in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan, while the
Abra River receives its tributaries from Cordillera and drains in the Lepanto, Bontoc, and
Abra areas. The largest river system in the Philippines is the Rio Grande de Mindanao
that drains central Mindanao, Agusan River, and the Surigao Basin. Furthermore, the
biggest lake in the country is Laguna de Bay in Laguna province, while Taal Lake is now a
tourist spot in the country due to its famous physical features and location. In Mindanao, the
largest lake is Lake Lanao located in Lanao del Sur that is found in the southern part of
Mindanao. In Camarines Sur, the smallest commercial fish called sinarapan (Tabios in
Bicol) can be found in Buhi and Bato Lake.

The seas, such as the Sulu Sea, Bohol Sea, Mindanao Sea and the Philippine
Sea, are important sources of fish supply and other marine resources.

These distinct water forms make possible the employment for most inhabitants. Like
in Camarines Sur the people are able to develop sports activities that cater to local and
foreign tourist such as surfing, wake boarding and whale watching like in Sorsugon.

Other water forms in the country which are equally important, such as the San
Juanico Strait found in Leyte and Samar. The falls are tourist destinations in the country,
like the Pagsanjan in Luzon and Maria Cristina falls in Lanao del Norte. The bay is a water
form that serves as harbor for ships coming from different parts of the country and the
world, carrying passengers and goods. Examples of this are the Manila Bay, Subic Bay in
Zambales, Ormoc Bay in the Visayas and Saranggani Bay in Mindanao.

Marine resources which had never been discovered as source of exports are now
being identified as alternative dollar-earning industries.

Climate

The Philippines has a tropical climate being located near the equator and its location
as maritime or insular. Based on the temperature and rain distribution, the climate of the
country is divided into three seasons. (1) from March to May is the hot and dry season and
May is considered the warmest month; (2) from June to November is the rainy season,
these are the months of typhoons which often pass coming from the Pacific Ocean; (3) from
December to February is the cool and dry season. Generally, the country has two seasons;
from December to May is the dry season with winds coming from the northeast. From June
to November is the rainy season with winds coming from the south-west.

General Resources of the Country

The Soil and Its Products

The Philippines has six classifications of soil: alluvial soil which produces agricultural
products such as abaka, coconut, corn, and tobacco; shale and sandstone are favorable for
crops such as sugarcane, tobacco, corn, rice and coconut, however, the harvest is lower
compared to yields grown from alluvial soils; limestone is best suited in growing corn, citrus,
cassava and banana. It is also best for grazing animals due to favorable growth of grass;
volcanic soil is found in areas where past eruption of a volcano occured and is evident in

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 4

 FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

different places in the country. In Cavite, Batangas and Laguna this soil type is
advantageous for citrus and other upland crops; while in Bicol, the soil is suited for abaka,
and in Negros, for sugarcane. Andesite and basalt soil is generally found in Negros
Occidental and is generally fitted to sugarcane produce. Mountain soil is suited for many
kinds of trees such as ipil, dao, molave yakal and narra, among others that are used in
industrial, commercial and residential purposes. Considerable part of the mountain is used
for agricultural purposes due to its residual qualities.
Chapter 1

Water Resource

The Philippines being an archipelago has 150,000,000 hectares of water, five times
larger than the size of the land with 17,460 kilometers of coastlines. The country has many
seas, rivers, lakes, bays and straits hence an active fishing industry that has been the
source of livelihood for many Filipinos. There are two kinds of fishing industry in the
Philippines: the genetic and extractive. Genetic industry covers fish reproduction, fish
culture and fishpond; this coincides with the advancement in fish research that is now
utilized in fresh, brackish and salt water such as tilapia, prawn, milkfish, eel and catfish
production. Another is the extractive industry, which covers direct fishing in shallow, high
seas and in coral areas. The fish, shells and other resource extracted in these areas, take a
long time before natural replenishment occurs, and in some cases, threats of extinction
brought by illegal fishing.

Mineral Resource

In terms of mineral resource, the Philippines is rich in metallic, non-metallic and fusel
minerals found in different parts of the country. Mining corporations extract the minerals for
various uses in industry, commerce and personal ornaments. The following are mined
metallic minerals: gold, iron, manganese, lead, mercury, nickel, silver and chromites. Non-
metallic minerals such as clay, cement for construction, pyrite, rock phosphate, limestone,
marble, silica, asbestos, gypsum and sulphur are relatively important in many uses.
Moreover, mineral fuels such as carbon and petroleum are used in fueling industries and
transportation in the country.

In Luzon after the eruption of Mt.Pinatubo, Pampanga became a major spot for
quarrying. Gravel and sand became too abundant for use in construction.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Direction: Identify a word/words that would describe what Philippines is all about. Write your answers inside
the wheel and provide a brief explanation.

My Idea Wheel

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 5

 FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

Philippines

SUMMARY

Origins of the Philippine Archipelago

There are four theories that explain how the Philippine archipelago was created to its
present physical formation. These theories are Volcanism, Diastrophism, Gradation and
Land Bridge. All four theories explain how the country and its animals and people came
about.

Volcanism is the eruption of volcanoes caused by the heat released in the mantle of
the earth thus creating a movement of molten rocks in the earth’s crust. The Philippines has
many active volcanoes, such as Taal in Batangas, Mayon in Albay, Pinatubo in Pampanga,
Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin, and Makaturing in Lanao. In addition, other volcanoes are
considered dormant, from their time of eruption that formed some of the islands in the
country. Another theory, diastrophism, is the process of movement of the earth’s crust that
resulted in the formation of mountains and mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Madre, and
Cordillera mountain range. Gradation on the other hand explains the formation of

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 6

 FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

mountains and volcanoes after which erosion takes place that led to the creation of rivers,
lakes, delta and other landforms found all over the country. Another accepted theory is the
Land Bridge Theory, which describes that the Philippines was once connected to the
mainland Asia through bridges of land formed during the Pleistocene or Ice Age 25,0000
years ago. Scientists believed that the first man, including animals in the country passed
through these land bridges. These natural structures disappeared beneath the sea when
large portion of ice in the earth’s poles started to melt.

Regions of the Philippines

The Philiipines is geographically combined into three islands of Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao. The following are the regions in their island grouping:

1. Region 1 (Ilocos) - Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union

2. Region II (CagayanValley) - Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino

3. Region III (Central Luzon) - Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales,
Bataan.

4. Region IV-A (CALABARZON)-Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal.

5. Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) – Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, ,

Romblon.

6. Region V(Bicol) - Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate,

Catanduanes.

7. Region VI -(Western Visayas) Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras,

Capiz, IloiloPalawan.

8. Region VII (Central Visayas)- Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor.

9. Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)- Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Western Samar,
Southern Leyte, Leyte, Biliran.

10. Region IX (Mindanao) - Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga
Sibugay, Basilan.

11. Region X (Northern Mindanao) - Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon,

Camiguin, Lanao del Norte.

12. Region XI (Davao)Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao, CompostelaValley

13. Region XII (Central Mindanao) Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato
Saranggani.

14. Region XIII (Caraga Administrative Region) Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur,
Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur.

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 7

 FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in (Course Code and Course Title) Module No.__

15. NCR (National Capital Region)- Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Pasay City,
Marikina City, Pasig City, Muntinlupa City, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Las Piñas
City and Paranaque City, Navotas, Valenzuela City, Taguig, Pateros, San Juan,
Malabon.

16. CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)-Mt.Province, Benguet, Abra, Kalinga,

Apayao, Ifugao.

17. ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) - Sulu, Lanao del Sur,
Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi.

REFERENCES

Harper's History of the War in the Philippines, New York and London, Harper & Brothers
Publishers, 1900.
Historical Events of the Philippine Island, Antonio de Morga, Annotation by Jose Rizal; Jose
Rizal Centennial Commission, 1962.
History of the Bisayan People in the Philippines Vol. II, Cantius J. Kobak O.F.M. and Lucio,
Gutierrez, O.P. , 2004, University of Sto. Tomas Publishing House, España, Manila.
Report on the Commerce and Shipping of the Philippine Islands, Rafael Diaz Arenas, trans.
Encarnacion Alonza, National Historical Institute, Manila, 1979.

Abrera, .et. all., Kasaysayang Bayan: Sampung Aralin sa Kasaysayang Pilipino, National
Historical Institute, Manila, 2001.
Agoncillo & Alfonso. A Short History of the Filipino People, University of the Philippines
Press, Quezon City, 1968.
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People, Eighth Edition,Garotech Publishing,
Quezon City, 1990.

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 8