The regions of the Philippines: A tour of the country
Last semester, we asked our Filipino members where their families were from. Now, let's take a tour of the Philippines and find out more about these places!
Northern Luzon
Members Represented: Tina Busch, Christine Dancel, Robert Daradar, Chrysee Gorospe
The northern tip of Luzon is home to the Ilocano people.To the south lies Pangasinan, which like the Ilocano provinces above it, has its own unique language. The region is flat and mostly agricultural and its people are often described as being frugal. Famous Ilocanos include former president Ferdinand Marcos and the painter Juan Luna. Fidel V. Ramos, another president, was born in Lingayen Pangasinan.
Vigan, located in the province of Ilocos Sur, is famous for its Spanish colonial architecture, and was made a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999.
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
The 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo
Central Luzon
Members Represented: Maribeth Gomez, Honnalee Fern Go, Matt Gozun, Patrizia Rin, Gina/Arvin Rubio, Tin Tin San Ramon
Central Luzon, just north of Manila, is sometimes called "The Rice Granary of the Philippines." The region has many languages, but the two most dominant are Kapampangan, concentrated in the province of Pampanga, and Tagalog, the national language. The people of Pampanga are sometimes said to be mayabang, or boastful, while also being good chefs.
Corazon Aquino, the Philippines' first female president and the leader of the the People Power Revolution, Lea Salonga, who provided the singing voices of Mulan and Princess Jasmine in Disney movies, and Allan Pineda (better known as apl.de.ap) are some famous people from Central Luzon.
A major tragedy to affect the region was the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which caused widespread damage to the area, with heaps of ash rendering miles of land unsuitable for farming. The eruption was so large, a lake formed in the mountain's peak.
Metro Manila
Members Represented: Justin Abraham, Christine Dancel, Shaun Deguzman, Lyka Dominguez, Maribeth Gomez, Jessica Lomibao, Patrizia Rin, Zach Vandenberg
When most Filipinos say "Manila," they are usually talking about the sprawling metropolitan area that surrounds the country's capital. The actual city of Manila comprises only about 6% of the total area of Metro Manila, which includes 5 of the country's 10 most populous cities. While the area's cities were once independent entities, over time they were consolidated into one region. As a result, the area is not part of any province, and when someone says they are from "the province," they generally mean anywhere outside of Metro Manila.
As the country's capital, Manila is full of history and culture. The area was once an independent kingdom, but was taken over by the Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, beginning over 300 years of Spanish domination. In 1574, Chinese pirates led by Limahong attempted to take over the city, but were defeated. The decisive battle of the Spanish-American War took place in Manila Bay, and following the handover of the Philippines to the United States, the first battle of the Philippine-American War took place in the city as well. During World War II, Manila experienced some of the worst destruction of the entire war, with over 100,000 Filipino civilians killed during the city's liberation in 1945. Following independence, the city experienced rapid growth, as people from throughout other parts of the country converged into the capital. The People Power Revolution of 1986 was centered on Manila, with mass marches on the Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue (EDSA), one the city's main highways, leading to the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos.
Inside the Mall of Asia
Manila Skyline
The center of the Philippine economy, media and government, Metro Manila is the 6th largest metropolitan area in the world, larger than New York in both sheer numbers and density. Manila is famous for both its historical and modern landmarks. The Binondo district is home to the world's first Chinatown and the University of Santo Tomas is the oldest university in Asia. More modern landmarks include the city's numerous malls, including the Mall of Asia, which are among the largest in the world.
CALABARZON
Members Represented: Robert Daradar, Shaun Deguzman, Lyka Dominguez, Matt Gozun, Angela Masajo, Gina/Arvin Rubio, Jason Trovela, Sydney Valero
CALABARZON refers to the five Tagalog-speaking provinces located to the south and east of Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. This region is the country's second largest economic center, after Manila, and like the capital, is rich in history. Both the Philippines' national hero, Jose Rizal (after whom the Rizal province is named), and its first president, Emilio Aguinaldo, are from the region, which was the first to revolt against Spanish rule during the Philippine Revolution. The province of Batangas is the birthplace of the balisong, or butterfly knife, which is appropriate considering the Batanguenos' reputation for being belligerent and rowdy when provoked.
Interesting sights include Mt. Banahaw, a pilgrimage site and mountain considered by some to be sacred, often visited by pilgrims during holy week.
The RIzal Memorial in Calamba, Laguna, the national hero's hometown.
A beach in Camarines Sur, Bicol.
Bicol
Members Represented: Lyka Dominguez, Nicolas Filio, Joana Hidalgo, Gina/Arvin Rubio, Allen Samson, Tin Tin San Ramon, Riane Taday
The people of Bicol, the peninsula located on the southeastern part of Luzon, are said to be passionate. The region is rich in beautiful beaches, waterfalls and mountains, making it a popular spot for tourists, many of whom come to swim with rare whale sharks. The main language is Bikol, which itself has numerous varieties.
Bicol is famous for its spicy cuisine. One of the area's most famous dishes is sinilihan, known outside of the region as Bicol Express. The dish consists of pork stewed in cocount milk, garlic, onions, chili and shrimp.
Visayas
Members Represented: Francis "Jan Jan" Landoy, Jessica Lomibao
The Philippines is divided into three main geographic subunits: Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. While Luzon and Mindanao are both large islands, the Visayas are a collection of many smaller ones. The region was the first one to be visited by the Spanish, whose visit resulted with the death of explorer Ferdinand Magellan at the hands of Lapu-Lapu, the ruler of Mactan island off the coast of the larger island of Cebu. During World War II, the Visayas were the site of many fierce naval battles between the United States and Japanese navies. The Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1844 is estimated by some historians to be the largest naval battle in history.
The Visayas is home to many languages, with Cebuano the most dominant. The Visayan island of Leyte is where the world-famous Tinikling dance was invented. One of the islands' most famous natural landmarks is the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. The over 1,000 nearly symmertrical hills are covered with grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them their name.
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol
The Visayas Region was recently devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, also known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda, which has been blamed for more than 6,000 confirmed deaths and more than $800 million in damages. Particularly hard hit was the city of Tacloban in Leyte, where almost all of the buildings were destroyed in the storm.
The Grand Mosque of Cotabato City, Mindanao
Mindanao
Members Represented: Cyril Lapinig
The southernmost major island of Mindanao is mostly known for its large Muslim community. When the Spanish first arrived, they called these Muslims Moros, or Moors, after the Muslims they had spent centuries fighting back home during the Reconquista. Today, 10 percent of the population is Muslim, with the rest of the island predominately Cebuano-speaking and Christian. During the Colonial era, the Spanish could never really maintain control over the Muslim regions of the Philippines, and this legacy of independence has been maintained up until today. Central Mindanao is currently experiencing a bloody insurgency between Muslim separatists and the Philippine government, which has displaced thousands of people.
Due to the island's history, it is home to a unique and interesting culture. Many traditions of the Muslim community have been adopted by the greater Philippine population. Singkil, a popular Filipino folk dance, has its origins in Mindanao.
Don't see yourself on the map? Email us at bso.bukas@gmail.com with your name and your familiy's hometown!