PHILIPPINE TOURISM,

GEOGRAPHY, AND CULTURE

WEEK 1 and WEEK 2
OBJECTIVES
BY THE END OF THE CHAPTER, STUDENTS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
 Identify the qualities of the Philippines that make it a unique and
attractive destination
 Identify the different characteristics of Filipinos
 Identify the 4 A’s of tourism and its importance
 Identify the economic and socio-cultural aspect for tourism industry
 Importance of environmental protection
 Basic facts about the Philippines
LET’S BEGIN
Basic Facts About the Philippines

A. Islands in the Philippines

B. Major Landforms
C. Climate Information
D. Language
E. Major Ethnic Groups
F. Threats to Preservation of Culture
G. Life Expectancy
A. Islands in the Philippines

 Largest Island in the Philippines

Luzon Island
it is located in the northern region of the archipelago, it is
also the country’s largest and most populous island
It also has the greatest population among the three island
groups.
It has an area of 42,458 square miles.
Luzon is further subdivided into four major
areas
Northern Luzon
Central Luzon
Southern Luzon
National Capital Region

 Which is also home to the country’s capital, Manila and is the country’s center of economic,
social, cultural and financial development (Vallejo 2014 and Valdeavilla 2018)
Smallest Island in the Philippines
The Philippines consist of thousand of islands
and there is no known smallest island using any
known technical definition and due to high tide
and low tide variations.
 Number of Island
There are 7,641 islands in the Philippines (Barile 2017)

 Length of Coastline
17,500 kilometers (official Philippine figure)
36,289 kilometers (U.S. Figure)(Library of Congress. Federal
Research Division 2006)
B. Major Landforms
 Highest Point

Mount Apo

It is the largest and the tallest solfataric mountain on

the island of Mindanao and in the entire Philippines.
It has an elevation of 9,692 feet and located between
the city of Davao and the province of Davao del Sur.
It is also home to over 272 species of birds of which
111 species are endemic to the mountain.
Six indigenous groups of people including Bagobo,
Ubos and Tagacaol live around Mount Apo and
consider the mountain a sacred place and a place for
worship rituals (Misachi 2017)
Oldest Province
 Aklan

 It is originally called Minuro, Aklan is considered as the

oldest province in the Philippines. Record say that the
province 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)
 Number of Provinces

There are 81 provinces as of March 31, 2018

(Philippine Statistics Authority 2018)
 Largest / Smallest

Largest is Palawan with 17,030.75 sq kms

Smallest is Batanes with 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 to 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 Fahrenheit / 25 degrees Celsius; average humidity
is 77%
D. Language
 The Philippines has two official languages, Filipino or
(Pilipino) and English.
 Filipino has eight major dialects, in order of use: Tagalog,
Cebuanom Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray,
Pampango, and Pangasinense.
 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
destination. 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.
Philippines has more than 100 ethnic groups.
The more dominant ethnic groups include:
Tagalog
Visayan / Bisaya
Cebuano
Ilocano
Ilonggo
Waray
 The Philippine culture is a blend of the Malayo-
Polynesian and Hispanic culture with the influence
from Chinese, Indians, Arabs and other Asian
culture as manifested in various customs and
traditions of the Filipino. Filipinos have the
concept of kapwa (others) to their connection or
relationship with other people.
 Filipinos are lovers of art evidenced by their folk
songs, cultural dances, rituals, festivals, intricate
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 friends
around popular Filipino dishes such as lechon,
adobo, and pancit.
 Religion is a integral and inseparable aspect of
Filipino culture. The Philippines is known to
celebrate the longest Christmas season. Devotions
to various images of the Lord Jesus, such as the
Sto. Niño and the Black Nazarene, as well as the
Blessed Virgin Mary and different patron saints, is
celebrated through festivals, most of which have
religious origins. Religion is also a powerful
organizing principle 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 staying 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
Philippines as children take care of their ageing
parents.
 Filipinos find reason to celebrate any and all
occasions. Birthdays, weddings, baptisms, funerals
and Christmas 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 and spicy from our Hispanic and
Malay influences.
F. Threats to Preservations 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 these is altered
since the culture of the introduced 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

 Life Expectancy Nationwide

Source: United Nations Developmental Programme Department of Economic and Social

Affairs 2017
2. Life Expectancy per Region (2010-2015)
Region Male Female NCR 68.8 75.6
Region I 69.6 75.9 ARMM 61.9 62.9
Region II 68.3 73.3 CARAGA 65.9 71.3
Region III 68.7 75.4 CAR 67.4 72.7
Region IV-A 68.9 75.2
Region IV-B 68.4 73.0
Region V 67.6 72.6
Source: Philippine
Region VI 68.0 74.2
Region VII 63.9 68.9
Statistics Authority 2018
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
QUESTIONS?
Thank you very much
and stay safe!