Monday, July 30, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Balabac Island
Balabac Island is an island in the Philippines, at 7.95° N 117.0208333° E. It is a part of the Palawan province.
The island is home to various endemic species. It is the home of birds like Grey Imperial-pigeon (Ducula pickeringii), Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), Blue-headed Racquet-tail (Prioniturus platenae), and the Palawan Hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei). The Philippine Mouse Deer, a subspecies of the Greater Mouse Deer (Tragulus napu) can only be found in this island.
The Molbogs, a Muslim ethnolinguistic group, is concentrated in this island. Their livelihood includes farming, fishing and barter trading with the nearby Sulu Bangsamoro and Sabah market centers.
The island is home to various endemic species. It is the home of birds like Grey Imperial-pigeon (Ducula pickeringii), Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), Blue-headed Racquet-tail (Prioniturus platenae), and the Palawan Hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei). The Philippine Mouse Deer, a subspecies of the Greater Mouse Deer (Tragulus napu) can only be found in this island.
The Molbogs, a Muslim ethnolinguistic group, is concentrated in this island. Their livelihood includes farming, fishing and barter trading with the nearby Sulu Bangsamoro and Sabah market centers.
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located southwest of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. In past times, it has been called Ma-i or Mait by ancient Chinese traders and, by Spaniards, as Mina de Oro (meaning "gold mine") from where the island got its current name. The island was divided into its two present-day provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, in 1950. Before then, since 1921, the entire island was one province.
According to the late historian William Henry Scott in his book Prehispanic Source Materials For The Study of Philippine History (rev. ed., 1984), an entry in the official history of the Sung Dynasty for the year 972 mentions Ma-i as a trading partner of China. Other Chinese records referring to Ma-i or Mindoro appear in the years that follow.
Prehispanic Source Materials enumerates the products that Mindoro traders exchanged with the Chinese as "beeswax, cotton, true pearls, tortoise shell, medicinal betelnuts and yu-ta [jute?] cloth" for Chinese porcelain, trade gold, iron pots, lead, colored glass beads and iron needles.
According to the late historian William Henry Scott in his book Prehispanic Source Materials For The Study of Philippine History (rev. ed., 1984), an entry in the official history of the Sung Dynasty for the year 972 mentions Ma-i as a trading partner of China. Other Chinese records referring to Ma-i or Mindoro appear in the years that follow.
Prehispanic Source Materials enumerates the products that Mindoro traders exchanged with the Chinese as "beeswax, cotton, true pearls, tortoise shell, medicinal betelnuts and yu-ta [jute?] cloth" for Chinese porcelain, trade gold, iron pots, lead, colored glass beads and iron needles.
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.
Marinduque
Marinduque is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMARO 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.
Jomalig Island
Jomalig is a 6th class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 5,817 people in 1,032 households.
Fuga Islands
Fuga Island is an island in the northernmost part of the Philippines populated by approximately 2,000 Ilokanos. It is a part of the Babuyan Archipelago. The island still retains a traditional culture.
Calayan
Calayan is an island and 4th class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. It is one of the Babuyan Islands in the Luzon Strait north of Luzon island. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 14,309 people in 2,654 households.
It is home to the Calayan Rail, a flightless bird identified as a separate species in 2004
It is home to the Calayan Rail, a flightless bird identified as a separate species in 2004
Babuyan Islands
The Babuyan Islands is an archipelago located in the Luzon Strait and north of Luzon island in the Philippines. It is separated from Luzon by the Babuyan Channel and from the Batanes Islands up north by the Balintang Channel.
The Babuyan Islands consist of five major islands: Babuyan, Calayan, Camiguin, Dalupiri, and Fuga. Note that the Camiguin island here is different from the island-province of Camiguin in Mindanao.
Politically, the Babuyan Islands are part of the Philippine province of Cagayan.
The Babuyan Islands consist of five major islands: Babuyan, Calayan, Camiguin, Dalupiri, and Fuga. Note that the Camiguin island here is different from the island-province of Camiguin in Mindanao.
Politically, the Babuyan Islands are part of the Philippine province of Cagayan.
Luzon
Luzon refers to the largest and most economically and politically important island in the Philippines and to one of the three island groups in the country, with Visayas and Mindanao being the other two. Luzon as an island group includes the island of Luzon itself, plus the Batanes and Babuyan groups of islands to the north, and the main and outlying islands of Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Romblon, and Mindoro in the south. The island group of Palawan, which used to be a province belonging to an administrative region of Luzon, has been transferred to Region VI in the Visayas in 2005. [1] In old maps, it was called Luçonia or Luçon and inhabitants were called Luçoes.
History
Land bridges connecting the Philippine islands, especially Luzon to the rest of Asia were thought of to have brought the indigenous Aetas more than 15,000 years ago.
Austronesians from Taiwan landed in northern Luzon during the great Austronesian expansion around 2500 BCE and spread to the rest of the Philippines and Maritime Southeast Asia.
The region first came to contact with Spain in the late 16th century by Spanish conquistadors, led by Martin de Goiti, Juan de Salcedo, and Miguel López de Legaspi who arrived between 1570 and 1571 to claim the lands for Spain.
The island was the center of campaign during the Philippine Revolution. It was here that Phlippine independence was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo.
During the Philippine-American War, U.S. forces fought Filipino guerrillas in various parts of Luzon. In 1901, U.S. Brigadier General J. Franklin Bell told the New York Times that "One-sixth of the natives of Luzon have either been killed or have died of the dengue fever in the last two years. The loss of life by killing alone has been great, but I think that not one man has been slain except were his death served the legitimate purposes of war. It has been necessary to adopt what other countries would probably be thought harsh measures, for the Filipino is tricky and crafty and has to be fought in his own way.[2]
On December 8, 1941 (December 7, 1941 east of the International Date Line), Japanese aircraft attacked U.S. bases on Luzon, launching a campaign which would lead to the landing of invasion forces in various parts of the island. The major landings took place at Lingayen Gulf on December 22. In the face of superior Japanese forces, U.S. and Philippine troops began a series of phased withdrawals to the Bataan Peninsula, where they hoped to hold out until relief could be organized from the U.S. and to deny the Japanese use of Manila Bay through control of Corregidor Island at the southern tip of Bataan. The Battle of Bataan would last for several months, but U.S. and Philippine forces were eventually overwhelmed by the Japanese. Japanese forces completed the occupation of Luzon, but were harassed by U.S. and Filipino guerrillas, in many cases fighting in the same areas where Filipino guerrillas had harassed U.S. forces during the Philippine-American War.
Following earlier landings on Leyte and Mindoro Islands, U.S. forces landed on Luzon, at Lingayen Gulf, on January 9, 1945. Driving southward along the same general route the Japanese followed in 1941-42, they advanced on Manila and fought the Japanese in the Battle for the Liberation of Manila from February to March 1945. U.S. forces also landed in several other points on Luzon and conducted operations to rescue prisoners of war at Cabanatuan and Los Baños. In the face of U.S. advances, Japanese forces retreated to the mountains of Luzon and fought a protracted campaign against U.S. forces into the summer of 1945. Luzon and the rest of the Philippines were officially declared liberated on July 5, 1945.
[edit] Administrative Divisions
A map of Luzon color-coded by regions. Bicol Cagayan Valley CALABARZON Central Luzon Cordillera Ilocos Metro Manila MIMAROPA
A map of Luzon color-coded by regions. Bicol Cagayan Valley CALABARZON Central Luzon Cordillera Ilocos Metro Manila MIMAROPA
The eight regions are listed below, discussed individually. Its administrative centers are for formality's sake only, meaning, there is no 'valid' regional administrative center (except in the case of Administrative regions), the power being vested by the provincial governments. The regional centers are only the head tourist offices for the region.
* Ilocos Region (Region I)
* Cagayan Valley (Region II)
* Central Luzon (Region III)
* CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
* MIMAROPA (Region IV-B)
* Bicol Region (Region V)
* Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
* National Capital Region (NCR)
Ilocos Region (Region I) is located in the northwest portion of the main island. Its provinces are: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. Its inhabitants are mostly of Ilocano descent and the main languages are Ilokano and Pangasinan. The region's administrative center is San Fernando City, La Union. The city of Vigan in Ilocos province is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Philippines.
Cagayan Valley (Region II) is located in the northeast portion of the main island and also covers the Batanes and Babuyan islands to the north. The valley is surrounded by the Cordillera Central and Sierra Madre mountain ranges. Running through its center is the country's longest river, Cagayan River. Its provinces are Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The region's administrative center is Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province.
Central Luzon (Region III) contains the largest plain of the country and produces most of the country's rice supply. Its provinces are Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. The region's administrative center is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The former United States Navy base of Subic Bay is located in Subic, Zambales province while the former United States Air Force of Clark Field is situated in Angeles City, Pampanga. Both are now the country's booming special economic zones.
CALABARZON (Region IV-A), one of the newest regions of the country, was previously a part of Southern Tagalog (Region IV). It is one of the most populated areas of the country. The name of the region is actually an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. The Tagalogs are the dominant ethnic group in this region, with Tagalog as the main language. Its' recognized administrative center is Manila, which is in Metro Manila, however, some government officials still consider Quezon City, which is also in Metro Manila as the administrative center, and also, Lucena City, in Quezon province.
MIMARO (Region IV-B), along with CALABARZON is the newest region of the country, and was previously a part of Southern Tagalog (Region IV). It contains most of the islands in the Luzon group. The name of the region is actually an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and formerly Palawan, which is now in the Western Visayas region.
Bicol Region (Region V) occupies the Bicol Peninsula at the southeastern end of Luzon island, plus the outlying islands which include the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. The remaining mainland provinces are Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon. The region's administrative center is Legazpi City in Albay. The inhabitants are of Bicolano descent with Bikol as the main language.
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) almost completely covers the Cordillera Central mountain range of Northern Luzon. CAR, created in 1989 is a special administrative region for the indigenous tribes of these mountains. Its provinces are Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. The regional center is Baguio City.
National Capital Region (NCR) is a special administrative region that contains the capital of the country, Manila; the country's most populous city, Quezon City; and an additional 15 more cities and municipalities. The region is more popularly known as Metro Manila. It is the only region in the country that has no provinces, and is the most densely populated with over 10 million people living in a 636 km² area.
[edit] Geography
Luzon's area is 104,688 square kilometers, making it the world's 15th largest island. It is the fifth most populous island in the world. Located on Luzon are the country's capital, Manila, and its most populous city, Quezon City. The island is very mountainous and is home to Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain in the country and Mayon, the most famous volcano. To the west of Luzon island is the South China Sea (Luzon Sea in Philippine territorial waters), to the east is the Philippine Sea, and to the north is Luzon Strait containing Babuyan Channel and Balintang Channel.
The main part of the island is roughly rectangular in shape and has the long Bicol Peninsula protruding to the southeast. The northern part of the island contains the largest mountain range in the country, the Cordillera Central. Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain in the country, is located there, rising 2,922 meters. To the east of the Cordillera Central is the large Cagayan Valley, which serves as the basin for the Cagayan River, the longest river in the Philippines. To the east of the valley rises the Sierra Madre mountain range, easily the longest range in the country.
The Sierra Madre snakes southwards into the central and southern part of the island. Between it and the Zambales Mountains to the west is the largest plain, the Central Luzon plain. This plain, approximately 11,000 km² in size, is the country's largest producer of rice. Among the rivers irrigating this plain, the longest are Agno to the north, and Pampanga to the south. In the middle of the plain rises the solitary Mount Arayat. To the west, in the Zambales Mountains, rises Mount Pinatubo, made famous because of its enormous 1991 eruption.
The Zambales mountains extends to the sea in the north, forming Lingayen Gulf, home to the Hundred Islands National Park. To the south, the mountains also extend into the sea, forming the Bataan Peninsula, which encloses the Manila Bay. This natural harbor is considered to be one of the best natural ports in East Asia, due to its size and strategic geographical location.
To the southeast of Manila Bay is the largest lake in the country, and also the largest inland lake in Southeast Asia, the Laguna de Bay (Old Spanish, Lake of Bay town). This 949 km² lake is drained by the Pasig River into Manila Bay. Pasig River is one of the most important rivers in the country due to its historical significance and because it runs through the center of Metro Manila.
Located just 20 km southwest of Laguna de Bay is Taal Lake, within the southwestern portion of the island. This caldera of a lake contains the smallest volcano of the country, Taal Volcano, which rises on the island in the center of the lake. The volcano in turn has a lake in its crater. All the surrounding areas of Taal Lake were once part of a massive prehistoric volcano that covered the southern portion of the province of Cavite, Tagaytay City, and the whole of Batangas province.
Off the southwestern portion of Luzon is the island of Mindoro, separated by the Verde Island Passages. The passages connect the South China Sea to the east with the Tayabas Bay. To the south of the bay is the island of Marinduque.
The southeastern portion of Luzon is dominated by the Bicol Peninsula. This is a mountainous and narrow region that extends approximately 150 km southeast. Along it are numerous gulfs and bays. In the north is Lamon Bay, which contains Alabat Island and is south of the Polillo Islands of Quezon province. Other bays and gulfs include San Miguel Bay, Lagonoy Gulf, Ragay Gulf, and Sorsogon Bay.
To the east of the peninsula lies the island of Catanduanes. Leading to it is the Caramoan Peninsula. Off the southeast tip of Bicol is Samar island, separated by San Bernardino Strait. Bicol Peninsula is connected to the main part of Luzon through the Tayabas Isthmus. Extending south from the isthmus is the Bondoc Peninsula.
The Bicol Peninsula is also home to numerous volcanoes. The most famous is Mayon Volcano in Albay. This 2,460 m high volcano is symmetrically shaped, rivaling that of Mount Fuji in Japan, and is a symbol of the Bicol Region. Other notable mountains are Mount Isarog and Mount Iriga in Camarines Sur, and Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.
Located off the southwestern coast of the Bicol Peninsula are the islands of Ticao, Burias, and Masbate.
See also Geography of the Philippines.
[edit] Tectonics
Luzon is a mobile belt, or a fast deforming plate boundary zone -- hemmed in between two opposing subduction zones, the west-dipping Philippine Trench -- East-Luzon Trough subduction zone, and the east-dipping north-south trending Manila Trench(Hamburger et al., 1982). The Philippine Sea Plate subducts under Luzon on the east (along the Philippine Trench) while the Sunda block (part of the Eurasian plate subducts under Luzon along the Manila Trench at the western part (Rangin, et al., 1999).
The SE-NW trending left-lateral strike-slip Philippine Fault System traverses Luzon, from Quezon province/Bicol to the northwestern part of the island. This fault system takes up part of the motion due to the subducting plates and produces large earthquakes. Southwest of Luzon is a collision zone where the Palawan-Borneo block collides with SW Luzon, producing a highly seismic zone near Mindoro island. SW Luzon is characterized by a highly volcanic zone, called the Macolod Corridor, a region of crustal thinning and spreading. Using seismic and geodetic data, Luzon has been modeled as a series of six micro blocks or micro plates, all moving and rotating in different directions, with maximum velocities ~100 mm/yr NW with respect to Sundaland/Eurasia (Galgana et al., 2007). This highly deforming, multi-block nature of Luzon is also noted in its Geologic make up, as cited by Pubellier et al.(2004) among others.
[edit] Economy
The economy of the island is centered in Makati. Agriculture predominates in Central Luzon.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Ethnic groups
Main article: Ethnic groups of the Philippines
The people of Luzon belong to the Filipino people, and are divided into several ethnolinguistic groups. These groups inhabit different areas of the island.
Ilocanos predominate in the regions of Ilocos and the Cagayan Valley, Pangasinense primarily inhabit Pangasinan, while the Kapampangans primarily live in Pampanga, Tarlac and the rest of Central Luzon. Meanwhile, Tagalogs are the majority in CALABARZON, and Metro Manila while Bicolanos predominate in Bicol. Other ethnic groups are also present such as the Aeta of Zambales, the Ibanag of Cagayan, and the Igorot of the Cordilleras.
Due to recent migrations populations of Moros and Chinese have also been present in urban areas. Populations of Spanish, other Europeans, Americans, Japanese, Koreans, Desis, Blacks, and Filipino mestizos are also visible.
[edit] Languages
Main article: Languages of the Philippines
Map of the dominant Ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines
Map of the dominant Ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines
Almost all of the languages of Luzon belong to to the Borneo-Philippines group of the Malayo-Polynesian language branch of the Austronesian language family. Major regional languages include: Tagalog, Ilocano, Bikol, Kapampangan, and Pangasinan. English and Lan-nang-oe, a variant of Hokkien (Min Nan), is also used by many inhabitants.
Spanish has a history on the island, primarily due to educated illustrados (including José Rizal) as well as authorities of the Spanish Empire. Spanish was the language of Philippine Revolution, and the 1899 Malolos Constitution proclaimed it as the official language. However, its use declined following the American occupation of the Philippines.
[edit] Religion
Main article: Religion in the Philippines
Major religions present in the island include Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, the Philippine Independent Church, and Iglesia ni Cristo.[3] Indigenous traditions and rituals are also present.
Sizable communities of Buddhists and Muslims have also began to be present in Metro Manila due to migrations of Moros and Chinese, as well as conversions of the locals especially the Tagalogs.
[edit] See also
Look up Luzon in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
* Regions of the Philippines
* Provinces of the Philippines
* Visayas
* Mindanao
History
Land bridges connecting the Philippine islands, especially Luzon to the rest of Asia were thought of to have brought the indigenous Aetas more than 15,000 years ago.
Austronesians from Taiwan landed in northern Luzon during the great Austronesian expansion around 2500 BCE and spread to the rest of the Philippines and Maritime Southeast Asia.
The region first came to contact with Spain in the late 16th century by Spanish conquistadors, led by Martin de Goiti, Juan de Salcedo, and Miguel López de Legaspi who arrived between 1570 and 1571 to claim the lands for Spain.
The island was the center of campaign during the Philippine Revolution. It was here that Phlippine independence was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo.
During the Philippine-American War, U.S. forces fought Filipino guerrillas in various parts of Luzon. In 1901, U.S. Brigadier General J. Franklin Bell told the New York Times that "One-sixth of the natives of Luzon have either been killed or have died of the dengue fever in the last two years. The loss of life by killing alone has been great, but I think that not one man has been slain except were his death served the legitimate purposes of war. It has been necessary to adopt what other countries would probably be thought harsh measures, for the Filipino is tricky and crafty and has to be fought in his own way.[2]
On December 8, 1941 (December 7, 1941 east of the International Date Line), Japanese aircraft attacked U.S. bases on Luzon, launching a campaign which would lead to the landing of invasion forces in various parts of the island. The major landings took place at Lingayen Gulf on December 22. In the face of superior Japanese forces, U.S. and Philippine troops began a series of phased withdrawals to the Bataan Peninsula, where they hoped to hold out until relief could be organized from the U.S. and to deny the Japanese use of Manila Bay through control of Corregidor Island at the southern tip of Bataan. The Battle of Bataan would last for several months, but U.S. and Philippine forces were eventually overwhelmed by the Japanese. Japanese forces completed the occupation of Luzon, but were harassed by U.S. and Filipino guerrillas, in many cases fighting in the same areas where Filipino guerrillas had harassed U.S. forces during the Philippine-American War.
Following earlier landings on Leyte and Mindoro Islands, U.S. forces landed on Luzon, at Lingayen Gulf, on January 9, 1945. Driving southward along the same general route the Japanese followed in 1941-42, they advanced on Manila and fought the Japanese in the Battle for the Liberation of Manila from February to March 1945. U.S. forces also landed in several other points on Luzon and conducted operations to rescue prisoners of war at Cabanatuan and Los Baños. In the face of U.S. advances, Japanese forces retreated to the mountains of Luzon and fought a protracted campaign against U.S. forces into the summer of 1945. Luzon and the rest of the Philippines were officially declared liberated on July 5, 1945.
[edit] Administrative Divisions
A map of Luzon color-coded by regions. Bicol Cagayan Valley CALABARZON Central Luzon Cordillera Ilocos Metro Manila MIMAROPA
A map of Luzon color-coded by regions. Bicol Cagayan Valley CALABARZON Central Luzon Cordillera Ilocos Metro Manila MIMAROPA
The eight regions are listed below, discussed individually. Its administrative centers are for formality's sake only, meaning, there is no 'valid' regional administrative center (except in the case of Administrative regions), the power being vested by the provincial governments. The regional centers are only the head tourist offices for the region.
* Ilocos Region (Region I)
* Cagayan Valley (Region II)
* Central Luzon (Region III)
* CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
* MIMAROPA (Region IV-B)
* Bicol Region (Region V)
* Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
* National Capital Region (NCR)
Ilocos Region (Region I) is located in the northwest portion of the main island. Its provinces are: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. Its inhabitants are mostly of Ilocano descent and the main languages are Ilokano and Pangasinan. The region's administrative center is San Fernando City, La Union. The city of Vigan in Ilocos province is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Philippines.
Cagayan Valley (Region II) is located in the northeast portion of the main island and also covers the Batanes and Babuyan islands to the north. The valley is surrounded by the Cordillera Central and Sierra Madre mountain ranges. Running through its center is the country's longest river, Cagayan River. Its provinces are Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The region's administrative center is Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province.
Central Luzon (Region III) contains the largest plain of the country and produces most of the country's rice supply. Its provinces are Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. The region's administrative center is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The former United States Navy base of Subic Bay is located in Subic, Zambales province while the former United States Air Force of Clark Field is situated in Angeles City, Pampanga. Both are now the country's booming special economic zones.
CALABARZON (Region IV-A), one of the newest regions of the country, was previously a part of Southern Tagalog (Region IV). It is one of the most populated areas of the country. The name of the region is actually an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. The Tagalogs are the dominant ethnic group in this region, with Tagalog as the main language. Its' recognized administrative center is Manila, which is in Metro Manila, however, some government officials still consider Quezon City, which is also in Metro Manila as the administrative center, and also, Lucena City, in Quezon province.
MIMARO (Region IV-B), along with CALABARZON is the newest region of the country, and was previously a part of Southern Tagalog (Region IV). It contains most of the islands in the Luzon group. The name of the region is actually an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and formerly Palawan, which is now in the Western Visayas region.
Bicol Region (Region V) occupies the Bicol Peninsula at the southeastern end of Luzon island, plus the outlying islands which include the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. The remaining mainland provinces are Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon. The region's administrative center is Legazpi City in Albay. The inhabitants are of Bicolano descent with Bikol as the main language.
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) almost completely covers the Cordillera Central mountain range of Northern Luzon. CAR, created in 1989 is a special administrative region for the indigenous tribes of these mountains. Its provinces are Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. The regional center is Baguio City.
National Capital Region (NCR) is a special administrative region that contains the capital of the country, Manila; the country's most populous city, Quezon City; and an additional 15 more cities and municipalities. The region is more popularly known as Metro Manila. It is the only region in the country that has no provinces, and is the most densely populated with over 10 million people living in a 636 km² area.
[edit] Geography
Luzon's area is 104,688 square kilometers, making it the world's 15th largest island. It is the fifth most populous island in the world. Located on Luzon are the country's capital, Manila, and its most populous city, Quezon City. The island is very mountainous and is home to Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain in the country and Mayon, the most famous volcano. To the west of Luzon island is the South China Sea (Luzon Sea in Philippine territorial waters), to the east is the Philippine Sea, and to the north is Luzon Strait containing Babuyan Channel and Balintang Channel.
The main part of the island is roughly rectangular in shape and has the long Bicol Peninsula protruding to the southeast. The northern part of the island contains the largest mountain range in the country, the Cordillera Central. Mount Pulag, the second highest mountain in the country, is located there, rising 2,922 meters. To the east of the Cordillera Central is the large Cagayan Valley, which serves as the basin for the Cagayan River, the longest river in the Philippines. To the east of the valley rises the Sierra Madre mountain range, easily the longest range in the country.
The Sierra Madre snakes southwards into the central and southern part of the island. Between it and the Zambales Mountains to the west is the largest plain, the Central Luzon plain. This plain, approximately 11,000 km² in size, is the country's largest producer of rice. Among the rivers irrigating this plain, the longest are Agno to the north, and Pampanga to the south. In the middle of the plain rises the solitary Mount Arayat. To the west, in the Zambales Mountains, rises Mount Pinatubo, made famous because of its enormous 1991 eruption.
The Zambales mountains extends to the sea in the north, forming Lingayen Gulf, home to the Hundred Islands National Park. To the south, the mountains also extend into the sea, forming the Bataan Peninsula, which encloses the Manila Bay. This natural harbor is considered to be one of the best natural ports in East Asia, due to its size and strategic geographical location.
To the southeast of Manila Bay is the largest lake in the country, and also the largest inland lake in Southeast Asia, the Laguna de Bay (Old Spanish, Lake of Bay town). This 949 km² lake is drained by the Pasig River into Manila Bay. Pasig River is one of the most important rivers in the country due to its historical significance and because it runs through the center of Metro Manila.
Located just 20 km southwest of Laguna de Bay is Taal Lake, within the southwestern portion of the island. This caldera of a lake contains the smallest volcano of the country, Taal Volcano, which rises on the island in the center of the lake. The volcano in turn has a lake in its crater. All the surrounding areas of Taal Lake were once part of a massive prehistoric volcano that covered the southern portion of the province of Cavite, Tagaytay City, and the whole of Batangas province.
Off the southwestern portion of Luzon is the island of Mindoro, separated by the Verde Island Passages. The passages connect the South China Sea to the east with the Tayabas Bay. To the south of the bay is the island of Marinduque.
The southeastern portion of Luzon is dominated by the Bicol Peninsula. This is a mountainous and narrow region that extends approximately 150 km southeast. Along it are numerous gulfs and bays. In the north is Lamon Bay, which contains Alabat Island and is south of the Polillo Islands of Quezon province. Other bays and gulfs include San Miguel Bay, Lagonoy Gulf, Ragay Gulf, and Sorsogon Bay.
To the east of the peninsula lies the island of Catanduanes. Leading to it is the Caramoan Peninsula. Off the southeast tip of Bicol is Samar island, separated by San Bernardino Strait. Bicol Peninsula is connected to the main part of Luzon through the Tayabas Isthmus. Extending south from the isthmus is the Bondoc Peninsula.
The Bicol Peninsula is also home to numerous volcanoes. The most famous is Mayon Volcano in Albay. This 2,460 m high volcano is symmetrically shaped, rivaling that of Mount Fuji in Japan, and is a symbol of the Bicol Region. Other notable mountains are Mount Isarog and Mount Iriga in Camarines Sur, and Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.
Located off the southwestern coast of the Bicol Peninsula are the islands of Ticao, Burias, and Masbate.
See also Geography of the Philippines.
[edit] Tectonics
Luzon is a mobile belt, or a fast deforming plate boundary zone -- hemmed in between two opposing subduction zones, the west-dipping Philippine Trench -- East-Luzon Trough subduction zone, and the east-dipping north-south trending Manila Trench(Hamburger et al., 1982). The Philippine Sea Plate subducts under Luzon on the east (along the Philippine Trench) while the Sunda block (part of the Eurasian plate subducts under Luzon along the Manila Trench at the western part (Rangin, et al., 1999).
The SE-NW trending left-lateral strike-slip Philippine Fault System traverses Luzon, from Quezon province/Bicol to the northwestern part of the island. This fault system takes up part of the motion due to the subducting plates and produces large earthquakes. Southwest of Luzon is a collision zone where the Palawan-Borneo block collides with SW Luzon, producing a highly seismic zone near Mindoro island. SW Luzon is characterized by a highly volcanic zone, called the Macolod Corridor, a region of crustal thinning and spreading. Using seismic and geodetic data, Luzon has been modeled as a series of six micro blocks or micro plates, all moving and rotating in different directions, with maximum velocities ~100 mm/yr NW with respect to Sundaland/Eurasia (Galgana et al., 2007). This highly deforming, multi-block nature of Luzon is also noted in its Geologic make up, as cited by Pubellier et al.(2004) among others.
[edit] Economy
The economy of the island is centered in Makati. Agriculture predominates in Central Luzon.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Ethnic groups
Main article: Ethnic groups of the Philippines
The people of Luzon belong to the Filipino people, and are divided into several ethnolinguistic groups. These groups inhabit different areas of the island.
Ilocanos predominate in the regions of Ilocos and the Cagayan Valley, Pangasinense primarily inhabit Pangasinan, while the Kapampangans primarily live in Pampanga, Tarlac and the rest of Central Luzon. Meanwhile, Tagalogs are the majority in CALABARZON, and Metro Manila while Bicolanos predominate in Bicol. Other ethnic groups are also present such as the Aeta of Zambales, the Ibanag of Cagayan, and the Igorot of the Cordilleras.
Due to recent migrations populations of Moros and Chinese have also been present in urban areas. Populations of Spanish, other Europeans, Americans, Japanese, Koreans, Desis, Blacks, and Filipino mestizos are also visible.
[edit] Languages
Main article: Languages of the Philippines
Map of the dominant Ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines
Map of the dominant Ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines
Almost all of the languages of Luzon belong to to the Borneo-Philippines group of the Malayo-Polynesian language branch of the Austronesian language family. Major regional languages include: Tagalog, Ilocano, Bikol, Kapampangan, and Pangasinan. English and Lan-nang-oe, a variant of Hokkien (Min Nan), is also used by many inhabitants.
Spanish has a history on the island, primarily due to educated illustrados (including José Rizal) as well as authorities of the Spanish Empire. Spanish was the language of Philippine Revolution, and the 1899 Malolos Constitution proclaimed it as the official language. However, its use declined following the American occupation of the Philippines.
[edit] Religion
Main article: Religion in the Philippines
Major religions present in the island include Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, the Philippine Independent Church, and Iglesia ni Cristo.[3] Indigenous traditions and rituals are also present.
Sizable communities of Buddhists and Muslims have also began to be present in Metro Manila due to migrations of Moros and Chinese, as well as conversions of the locals especially the Tagalogs.
[edit] See also
Look up Luzon in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
* Regions of the Philippines
* Provinces of the Philippines
* Visayas
* Mindanao
Hundred Islands
The Hundred Islands National Park is in the province of Pangasinan in northern Philippines. It is located in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The islands (124 at low tide and 123 at high tide) are scattered along Lingayen Gulf and cover an area of 1,844 hectares (4,556.62 acres). They are believed to be about two million years old. Only three of them have been developed for tourists: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island.
[edit] Trivia
* One of the islands was named 'Rated K Island' after a Philippine TV programme.
* The town Anda, located north-east of Alaminos City, is often called the "mother island" of the Hundred Islands.
* The Pinoy Big Brother had another house in Hundred Islands. It was located on Governor Island and was first used by the Teen Edition housemates.
Superstitions
* When it is your first time to visit the place, people believe that kissing the statue of Princess Urduja would protect you before riding the boat on your way to the islands
This article about a Philippine location is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
[edit] Trivia
* One of the islands was named 'Rated K Island' after a Philippine TV programme.
* The town Anda, located north-east of Alaminos City, is often called the "mother island" of the Hundred Islands.
* The Pinoy Big Brother had another house in Hundred Islands. It was located on Governor Island and was first used by the Teen Edition housemates.
Superstitions
* When it is your first time to visit the place, people believe that kissing the statue of Princess Urduja would protect you before riding the boat on your way to the islands
This article about a Philippine location is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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.
People and culture
The people of Catanduanes are Bicolanos whose dialect indicates a strong Visayan influence. The early Spanish chroniclers noted that that the people on Catanduanes, not unlike the Visayans, also adorned their bodies with tattoos. Oral traditions also reveal folk legends that trace the earliest Catanduanons to the same group of settlers who allegedly peopled the Visayas.
As a result of geographical seclusion and vulnerability to storms, the Catanduanons have remained isolated from the rest of the Bicol region and the Philippines. This isolation in part accounts for the strength of religious institutions in the island. Nearly all the people belong to the Roman Catholic Church and religious fervor remains high. However, despite their isolation, the people of Catanduanes are also noted for their genial mien and hospitality.
Inhabitants speak the Bicol language with a distinctive accent.
[edit] Geography
Catanduanes is known to many as an island paradise. It lies east of the Bicol peninsula. The island province is bounded by the Maqueda Channel in the west, the Pacific Ocean on the north and east, and Lagonoy Gulf and Cabugao Bay on the south.
It has an aggregate total area of 1,511.50 km². These include the smaller islands of Panay, Palumbanes, Parongpong, Calabagio and 23 other islets.
The general landscape of the island is hilly to mountainous, becoming more pronounced towards the central portion. Less than 10 percent of the land area has slope gradient under 8 percent, mostly fractured and narrow strips of plains dispersed near the coastal areas where most of the inhabitants are settled. Its coastal plains are narrow and limited, and the only widely cultivated area is in northeastern section, which is considered as the rice granary of the province.
[edit] Political
Catanduanes is subdivided into 11 municipalities.
[edit] Municipalities
* Bagamanoc
* Baras
* Bato
* Caramoran
* Gigmoto
* Pandan
* Panganiban (Payo)
* San Andres (Calolbon)
* San Miguel
* Viga
* Virac
[edit] Physical
[edit] History
The province, formerly known as "Catanduan, "Catandongan", and finally "Catanduanes", derived its name from the "tando" trees.
The early settlers of this island were said to be scions of the Datus of Borneo. Juan de Salcedo arrived in this island in 1573, hunting for pirates, and conquered and Christianized the natives. Three years later, a galleon expedition from Acapulco was shipwrecked near the island and the survivors were either killed or made servants. The Batalay Church in Bato, just several kilometers from the capital town of Virac, marks that historical event.
The scions of the ten Bornean Datus who had moved on the island of Panay and then, spread out throughout the archipelago were the first settlers to have set foot in Catanduanes.
Meanwhile, the Spaniards came on the island province in 1573. Juan de Salcedo and his other conquistadores, together with some friars who were to christianize the island later, landed on the island in search for local pirates who were plying their nefarious trade between Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Western Catanduanes. As they moved along, the friars also conquered the inhabitants through the gospel.
Catanduanes was not spared from the adventurous raids of the Moros who came from the island of Mindanao. Because of these destructive raids, many records of the past were destroyed and lost. Thus, the complete details of the history of the island was cut short. The only record made to proclaim about the past was in 1755.
During the American regime, the local insurgents refused to recognize the sovereignty of the United States. Most of them fled to the mountains. The American occupation did not last long. In 1934, the Americans had ceased control of the island.
During World War II, Catanduanes was not spared by their invasion. Garrisons were erected in different parts of the island. The guerilla movement was intensely active during this time of crisis.
On February 8, 1945, the liberation of the island province was proclaimed. In its place, a municipal building at Virac was constructed and also the town's Parish church.
The free atmosphere has calmed the people. The guerilla forces controlled the barracks vacated by the Japanese forces.
On October 26, 1946, three months after the Philippine independence from the Americans, the island was finally recognized as a separate and independent province. Commonwealth Act No. 687 was enacted to create the island of Catanduanes as one of the six provinces of the Bicol Region.
Commonwealth Act No. 687 established Catanduanes as a province independent from Albay. It was approved by Congress on September 26, 1945, signed into law by President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. on October 24, 1945, and took effect on October 16, 1945.
Current govorner is Leandro B. Verceles, Hr. with Hon. Vincent Villanueva as vice-govorner. Villanueva is the youngest vice-govorner in the country and an alumni of Angelicum College.
People and culture
The people of Catanduanes are Bicolanos whose dialect indicates a strong Visayan influence. The early Spanish chroniclers noted that that the people on Catanduanes, not unlike the Visayans, also adorned their bodies with tattoos. Oral traditions also reveal folk legends that trace the earliest Catanduanons to the same group of settlers who allegedly peopled the Visayas.
As a result of geographical seclusion and vulnerability to storms, the Catanduanons have remained isolated from the rest of the Bicol region and the Philippines. This isolation in part accounts for the strength of religious institutions in the island. Nearly all the people belong to the Roman Catholic Church and religious fervor remains high. However, despite their isolation, the people of Catanduanes are also noted for their genial mien and hospitality.
Inhabitants speak the Bicol language with a distinctive accent.
[edit] Geography
Catanduanes is known to many as an island paradise. It lies east of the Bicol peninsula. The island province is bounded by the Maqueda Channel in the west, the Pacific Ocean on the north and east, and Lagonoy Gulf and Cabugao Bay on the south.
It has an aggregate total area of 1,511.50 km². These include the smaller islands of Panay, Palumbanes, Parongpong, Calabagio and 23 other islets.
The general landscape of the island is hilly to mountainous, becoming more pronounced towards the central portion. Less than 10 percent of the land area has slope gradient under 8 percent, mostly fractured and narrow strips of plains dispersed near the coastal areas where most of the inhabitants are settled. Its coastal plains are narrow and limited, and the only widely cultivated area is in northeastern section, which is considered as the rice granary of the province.
[edit] Political
Catanduanes is subdivided into 11 municipalities.
[edit] Municipalities
* Bagamanoc
* Baras
* Bato
* Caramoran
* Gigmoto
* Pandan
* Panganiban (Payo)
* San Andres (Calolbon)
* San Miguel
* Viga
* Virac
[edit] Physical
[edit] History
The province, formerly known as "Catanduan, "Catandongan", and finally "Catanduanes", derived its name from the "tando" trees.
The early settlers of this island were said to be scions of the Datus of Borneo. Juan de Salcedo arrived in this island in 1573, hunting for pirates, and conquered and Christianized the natives. Three years later, a galleon expedition from Acapulco was shipwrecked near the island and the survivors were either killed or made servants. The Batalay Church in Bato, just several kilometers from the capital town of Virac, marks that historical event.
The scions of the ten Bornean Datus who had moved on the island of Panay and then, spread out throughout the archipelago were the first settlers to have set foot in Catanduanes.
Meanwhile, the Spaniards came on the island province in 1573. Juan de Salcedo and his other conquistadores, together with some friars who were to christianize the island later, landed on the island in search for local pirates who were plying their nefarious trade between Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Western Catanduanes. As they moved along, the friars also conquered the inhabitants through the gospel.
Catanduanes was not spared from the adventurous raids of the Moros who came from the island of Mindanao. Because of these destructive raids, many records of the past were destroyed and lost. Thus, the complete details of the history of the island was cut short. The only record made to proclaim about the past was in 1755.
During the American regime, the local insurgents refused to recognize the sovereignty of the United States. Most of them fled to the mountains. The American occupation did not last long. In 1934, the Americans had ceased control of the island.
During World War II, Catanduanes was not spared by their invasion. Garrisons were erected in different parts of the island. The guerilla movement was intensely active during this time of crisis.
On February 8, 1945, the liberation of the island province was proclaimed. In its place, a municipal building at Virac was constructed and also the town's Parish church.
The free atmosphere has calmed the people. The guerilla forces controlled the barracks vacated by the Japanese forces.
On October 26, 1946, three months after the Philippine independence from the Americans, the island was finally recognized as a separate and independent province. Commonwealth Act No. 687 was enacted to create the island of Catanduanes as one of the six provinces of the Bicol Region.
Commonwealth Act No. 687 established Catanduanes as a province independent from Albay. It was approved by Congress on September 26, 1945, signed into law by President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. on October 24, 1945, and took effect on October 16, 1945.
Current govorner is Leandro B. Verceles, Hr. with Hon. Vincent Villanueva as vice-govorner. Villanueva is the youngest vice-govorner in the country and an alumni of Angelicum College.
Itbaya Island
Itbayat is one of the Batanes Islands of the Philippines. Together with some other islands it forms the municipality of Itbayat in Batanes Province.
The major produce of the island are garlic, pineapple, and coconut trees. Itbayat is also home to coconut crabs.
The major produce of the island are garlic, pineapple, and coconut trees. Itbayat is also home to coconut crabs.
Itbaya Island
Itbayat is one of the Batanes Islands of the Philippines. Together with some other islands it forms the municipality of Itbayat in Batanes Province.
The major produce of the island are garlic, pineapple, and coconut trees. Itbayat is also home to coconut crabs.
The major produce of the island are garlic, pineapple, and coconut trees. Itbayat is also home to coconut crabs.
Sabtang Island
Sabtang is one of the Batanes Islands of the Philippines. Together with some other islands it forms the municipality of Sabtang in Batanes Province.
Mavudis Islands
Mavudis is the northernmost of the Batanes Islands and the northernmost island in the Philippines. It is part of the province of Batanes. Mavudis (Mavodis), the Ivatan name for the island, means "low". The island was also called Dihami (meaning "north" in Ivatan) by older Batan natives, Diami by some members of the Spanish colonial government, and Yami (or Y'Ami) in most American-era maps of the Philippines. The latter should not be confused with the aboriginal Yami of Taiwan that live on islands further north beyond Philippine territorial limits, but are geographically, culturally and linguistically related to the Ivatan.
Batan Islands
There are two Batan Islands in the Philippines. The first Batan island is the main island of the Batanes Province, in the Philippines. It is where the capital, Basco, is located. It is known chiefly for Mount Iraya.
Batan is part of the Batanes Islands.
The other Batan Island, is in the Bicol region, in the municipality of Rapu-rapu, in the province of Albay, Philippines.
Batan is part of the Batanes Islands.
The other Batan Island, is in the Bicol region, in the municipality of Rapu-rapu, in the province of Albay, Philippines.
Batanes Island
The Batanes Islands are the northernmost islands of the Philippines. They comprise the Province of Batanes. They are located between the Babuyan Islands (belonging to Cagayan Province) and Taiwan. The islands are sparsely populated and subject to frequent typhoons.
The northernmost island is Mavudis, also known as Y'Ami. The other islands are Misanga (also called North Island), Ditarem (used to be named Siayan or Siagan), Siayan (used to be named Mabudin or Mavodis), Itbayat, Dinem (also called Diogo Island), Batan, Sabtang, Ivuhos (also spelled Ivohos) and Diadekey (also called Dequey and Jikey). Only Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang are inhabited.
The three largest islands are Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang and are the only inhabited ones, mainly by the Ivatan.
The northernmost island is Mavudis, also known as Y'Ami. The other islands are Misanga (also called North Island), Ditarem (used to be named Siayan or Siagan), Siayan (used to be named Mabudin or Mavodis), Itbayat, Dinem (also called Diogo Island), Batan, Sabtang, Ivuhos (also spelled Ivohos) and Diadekey (also called Dequey and Jikey). Only Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang are inhabited.
The three largest islands are Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang and are the only inhabited ones, mainly by the Ivatan.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Welcome to Paradise Philippines
Welcome to Paradise Philippines.
paradise philippines.. kayang kaya..
paradise philippines.. kayang kaya..
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