Philippine Culture
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The culture of the Philippines reflects the country's complex history. It is a blend of the Malayo-Polynesian and Hispanic cultures, with influence from Chinese.
The Philippines was first settled by Melanesians; today they preserve a very traditional way of life and culture, although their numbers are few. After them, the Austronesians or more specifically, Malayo-Polynesians, arrived on the islands. Today the Austronesian culture is very evident in the ethnicity, language, food, dance and almost every aspect of the culture. These Austronesians engaged in trading with China, India, Japan, the Ryukyu islands, the Middle East, Borneo, and other places. As a result, those cultures have also left a mark on Filipino culture.
When the Spanish colonized the islands, after more than three centuries of colonization, they had heavily impacted the culture. The Philippines being governed from both Mexicoand Spain, had received a little bit of Hispanic influence. Mexican and Spanish influence can be seen in the dance and religion many other aspects of the culture. After being colonized by Spain, the Philippines became a U.S. territory for about 40 years. Influence from the United States is seen in the wide use of the English language, and the modern pop culture.
Philippine Art
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The leading sculptor of the American era was Guillermo Tolentino, whilst Napoleon Abueva brought modernism in the 1950s. Eduardo Castrillo heads modern names with his monumental metal sculptures (including the Heritage of Cebu Monument in Cebu City). Others include Solomon Saprid and Abdulmari Imao who interprets Islamic traditional designs for the modern era.
Phillipine Education
The system of education in the Philippines was patterned both from the educational systems of Spain and the United States. However, after the liberation of the Philippines in 1946, the system have changed radically.
The Department of Education (or DepEd) administers the whole educational system, which also includes the allocation of funds utilized for school services and equipment (such as books, school chairs, etc.), recruitment of teachers for allpublic schools in the Philippines, and the supervision and organization of the school curricula.
The former education system of the Philippines is composed of 6 years ofelementary education starting at the age of 6 or 7, and 4 years of high school education starting at the age of 12 or 13. In this system, education is not compulsory.
However, since June 4, 2012, DepEd started to implement the new K-12 educational system,[3] which includes the new curricula for all schools (see the section). In this system, education is now compulsory.
All public and private schools in the Philippines must start classes from a date mandated by the Department of Education (usually every first Monday of June for public schools only), and must end after each school completes the mandated 200-day school calendar of DepEd (usually around the third week of March to the second week of April).
Philippine Festivals
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In Honor of A Patron Saint
· Ati-atihan Festival - Kalibo, Aklan (in honor of Santo Niño)
· Dinagyang Festival - Iloilo City (in honor of Santo Niño)
· Kinabayo festival - Dapitan City (in honor of Saint James the Great)
· Higantes Festival - Angono, Rizal (in honor of Saint Clement)
· Longganisa Festival - Vigan City (in honor of St. Paul)
· Kasadyaan sa Iligan - Iligan City (in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel)
· Mammangui Festival - May 30, Ilagan City
· Moriones Festival - Marinduque
· Pintados-Kasadyaan - Leyte
· Sangyaw - Tacloban City
· Sinulog Festival - Cebu (in honor of Santo Niño)
· Zamboanga Hermosa Festival - Zamboanga City (in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar)
Indigenous Influence/Non-Religious Festival
· Kadayawan Festival - Davao City
· Lanzones Festival - Camiguin
· Pav-vurulun Festival - Tuguegarao City
· Masskara Festival - Bacolod City
· Ibalong Festival - Legazpi City
· Sandugo Festival - Bohol
· Bangus Festival - Dagupan City
· Sinukwan Festival - San Fernando City.
· Frog Festival - San Fernando City.
· Binatbatan Festival of the Arts - Vigan City
· Sampaguita Festival-San Pedro,Laguna
· Halamang Dilaw Singkaban Festival - Marilao, Bulacan
Film Festival
· Cinemalaya
· Metro Manila Film Festival
Flower Festival
· Panagbenga Festival - (Feb 26- Feb 27), Baguio City
Religious Festivals
January
· Feast of the Three Kings - 2, Gasan, Marinduque
· Bailes de Luces - 5, La Castellana, Negros Occidental
· Lingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary - 9, Lingayen, Pangasinan
· Feast of The Black Nazarene - 9, Quiapo, Manila
· Biniray Festival - 9, Romblon
· Hinugyaw Festival (Araw ng Koronadal) - 10, Koronadal City
· Binanog Festival - 10-16, Lambunao, Iloilo
· Sinulog (Kabankalan) Festival - 10-16, Kabankalan City
· Coconut "Coco" Festival - 15 (week long), San Pablo City, Laguna
· Makato Santo Niño Festival - 15, Makato, Aklan
· Pasungay Festival - 15, San Joaquin, Iloilo
· Batingaw Festival - 16, Cabuyao City
· Kahimunan Festival - 16, Butuan City
· Pangisdaan Festival - 16, Navotas City
· Kinaradto Festival - 16, Buenavista, Guimaras
· Batan Ati-Ati Malakara Festival - 16, Batan, Aklan
· Fire Works Display and Contest - 16, Iloilo City
· Caracol Festival - 16, Makati City
· Bansudani Festival (Feast of The Divine Savior) - 17, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro
· Sadsad sa Kalye - 19, Janiuay, Iloilo
· Pandot sa Bacolod - 20, Bacolod City
· Binuligay Festival - 20, Jamindan, Capiz
· Feast of the Santo Niño - 3rd Sunday, Nationwide
· Ati-Atihan Festival - 3-16, Kalibo, Aklan
· Dinagyang Festival - 22-23, Iloilo City
· Longganisa Festival - 22, Vigan City
· Sinulog festival - Cebu City
· Sto Niño de Malolos Festival - 30, Malolos City
· Pintauo Festival - 21, Ibarra, Maasin City
· Altavas Santo Niño Festival - 21-22, Altavas, Aklan
· Feast of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage - 24, La Carlota City
· Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal and Devotional Fiesta - 24-25, Ibajay, Aklan
· Dinagsa Ati-Atihan Festival - 24-30, Cadiz City
· Sana-aw Festival - 28, Jordan, Guimaras
· Hinirugyaw Festival - 30-February 6, Calinog, Iloilo
· Balot sa Puti Festival - 31, Pateros
· The Boracay International Funboard Cub - 31-February 5, Boracay Island
· Boling-Boling Festival - 28 Catanuan Quezon
February
· Salakayan Festival - 1-6, Miag-ao, Iloilo
· Pabirik Festival - 1-2, Paracale, Camarines Norte
· Bicol Arts Festival - 1-28, Legazpi City
· Festival of Hearts - 1-14, Tanjay City
· National Arts Month - 1-28, Nationwide
· Lavandero Festival - 1-6, Mandaluyong City
· Suroy sa Surigao - 1-28, Surigao City
· Feast of Our Lady of Candles - 2, Iloilo City
· Pamulinawen - 2-10, Laoag City
· The International Bamboo Organ Festival - 3-11, Las Piñas City
· Guling-Guling Festival - 5, Paoay, Ilocos Norte
· Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival - 6, Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental
· Fiesta Tsinoy - 6, Legazpi City
· Tinapay Festival - 7-13, Cuenca, Batangas
· Fistahan - 9-15, Davao City
· Chinese New Year - Nationwide
· Bulang-Bulang Festival - 9, San Enrique, Negros Occidental
· Davao Chinese New Year - 9-17, Davao City
· Pabalhas sa Tablas - 11, Candoni, Negros Occidental
· Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year) - 11, Baguio City
· Tinagba Festival - 11, Iriga City
· Tiburin Horse Race - 12, Pasay City
· Pamaypay ng Caloocan Festival - 12, Caloocan City
· Sambalilo Hat Festival - 13, Parañaque City
· Feast Day of Santa Clara - 13, Pasay City
· Local Media Familiarization Festival - 13-19, Cagayan de Oro City
· Serenata - 14, Pasay City
· Harana: Karantahan nin Pagranga (Music Festival) - 14, San Jose, Camarines Sur
· Suman Festival (Aurora Day) - 14-19, Baler, Aurora
· Apayao Province Foundation - 14, Apayao
· Kalinga Province Foundation - 14, Kalinga
· Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming - 18-19, Baguio City
· Kapayapaan Festival - 18-20, Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur
· Bicol Regional Tourism Councils Assembly - 18-19, Naga City
· Pasayaw Festival - 19, Canlaon City
· Babaylan Festival - 19, Bago City
March
· Kaamulan Tribal Festival - 1-6, Malaybalay City
· Rodeo Masbateño - 1-April 2, Masbate City
· Araw ng Island Garden City of Samal - 1-7, Island Garden City of Samal
· Pasig Summer Music Festival - 1-31, Pasig City
· Parade of Festivals - 1, Muntinlupa City
· Payvanuvanuan Festival - 1-31, Mahatao, Batanes
· Zamboanga Peninsula Summer Event - 1-31, Zamboanga City
· Sugbahan - 2-14, Davao City
· Pacto de Sangre de New Washington, Aklan (Blood Compact of New Washington, Aklan) - 3, New Washington, Aklan
· Puerto Princesa Foundation Day - 4, Puerto Princesa City
· Bangkero Festival - 6-10, Pagsanjan, Laguna
· Arya! Abra Festival - 7-11, Bangued, Abra
· Tinguan Festival - 7-11, Bangued, Abra
· Panagtagbo Festival - 7, Tagum City
· Vis-Min Travel and Lifestyle Show - 7-9, SM City Cebu Trade Hall
· National Women's Month Celebration Exhibit - 8-12, Manila
· Birth Anniversary of The Late President Jose P. Laurel - 9, Tanauan City
· Tinagba Festival - 11, Iriga City
· Tiburin Horse Race - 12, Pasay City
· Pamaypay ng Caloocan Festival - 12, Caloocan City
· Sambalilo Hat Festival - 13, Parañaque City
· Feast Day of Santa Clara - 13, Pasay City
· Local Media Familiarization Festival - 13-19, Cagayan de Oro City
· Serenata - 14, Pasay City
· Harana: Karantahan nin Pagranga (Music Festival) - 14, San Jose, Camarines Sur
· Suman Festival (Aurora Day) - 14-19, Baler, Aurora
· Apayao Province Foundation - 14, Apayao
· Kalinga Province Foundation - 14, Kalinga
· Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming - 18-19, Baguio City
· Kapayapaan Festival - 18-20, Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur
· Bicol Regional Tourism Councils Assembly - 18-19, Naga City
· Pasayaw Festival - 19, Canlaon City
· Babaylan Festival - 19, Bago City
Administrative divisions
-The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. As of March 2010, these were divided into 17 regions, 80 provinces, 138 cities, 1,496 municipalities, and 42,025barangays.[79] In addition, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 5446 asserts that the definition of the territorial sea around the Philippine archipelago does not affect the claim over Sabah
Autonomous regions
Regular administrative regions are not elected and are considered arms of the national governments, not governments in their own right.
Provinces and independent cities
Municipalities and component cities
Barangays
Each division at each level from the provinces down to the barangays is a local government unit (LGU). For administrative purposes, the provinces and cities are grouped into regions. The President has the prerogative to create, abolish and determine the composition of regions, which is done so most often in consultation with the local government units affected; with the exception of autonomous regions, where the residents of the local government units have to ratify in a plebiscite their inclusion in such a setup.
Other political divisions exist for the other branches of government
Provinces
All regions except one (Metro Manila) are subdivided into provinces. Each province is headed by a governor. Its legislative body is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan composed of the different members from Sanggunian districts, which in most cases are contiguous to the congressional districts.
Cities and municipalities
Regions, aside from having provinces may also have independent cities. Independent cities, classified either as highly urbanized or independent component cities, are cities which are not under the jurisdiction of a province. These cities are not administered by their mother provinces, do not share their tax revenues with the province, and in most cases their residents are not eligible to elect or be elected to provincial offices.
Cities that are politically a part of a province are called component cities. The voters in these cities are allowed to vote and run for positions in the provincial government.
Municipalities are always components of a province, except Pateros, Metro Manila, which is independent.
Cities and municipalities are headed by a mayor. The legislative arm of these units are the Sangguniang Panlungsod for cities and Sangguniang Bayan for municipalities, which are composed of councilors elected at-large or in some cases, by Sanggunian district.
Barangays
Cities (both component and independent ones) and municipalities are further divided into barangays. The barangay is the smallest political unit. In some populous cities, barangays are grouped into zones and/or into districts for administrative purposes. In rural areas, sitios or puroks are the preferred ways of subdividing barangays for administrative purposes. Each barangay is headed by a barangay captain.
Gated communities may either be a part of a barangay or a barangay itself. An example of a barangay coextensive with a gated community is Forbes Park, Makati City.
Sitios and Puroks
Below barangays are smaller communities known as sitios and puroks. Not all baranagays are so sub-divided. They leadership is not a recognized Local Government Unit and are not elected in regular general elections. Sitios and puroks are most common in less populated, rural barangays where you might have several pockets of population spread out over a wider area and surrounded by farms or undeveloped mountainsides, or even on different islands.
Geography
The Philippines is an archipelago comprising 7,107 islands with a total land area of 300,000 km2. The 11 largest islands contain 94% of the total land area. The largest of these islands is Luzon at about 105,000 km2. The next largest island isMindanao at about 95,000 km2. The archipelago is around 800 km from the Asianmainland and is located between Taiwan and Borneo.
The islands are divided into three groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Luzon islands include Luzon Island itself, Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbateand Batanes Islands. The Visayas is the group of islands in the central Philippines, the largest of which are: Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. The Mindanao islands include Mindanao itself, plus the Sulu Archipelago, composed primarily of Basilan, Sulu Island, and Tawi-Tawi.
The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia in a position that has led to its becoming a cultural crossroads - a place where Malays, Hindus, Arabs, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, and others had interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend. The archipelago numbers some 7,107 islands; and the nation claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its shores. The Philippines occupies an area that stretches for 1,850 kilometers from about the fifth to the twentieth parallels north latitude. The total land area is slightly more than 300,000 square kilometers. Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated, and fewer than one-half of these are larger than 2.5 square kilometers. Eleven islands make up 95 percent of the Philippine landmass, and two of these — Luzon and Mindanao — measure 105,000 and 95,000 square kilometers, respectively. They, together with the cluster of islands in Visayas in between them, represent the three principal regions of the archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine flag. Topographically, the Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world.
Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine Trench, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters. The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system characterized by active volcanoes. Among the most notable peaks are Mount Mayon near Legazpi City, Taal Volcano south of Manila, and Mount Apo in Mindanao. All of the Philippine islands are prone to earthquakes. The northern Luzon highlands, or Cordillera Central, rise to between 2,500 and 2,750 meters, and, together with the Sierra Madre in the northeastern portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland tribal groups. The rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including the Philippine eagle (or monkey-eating eagle), some 800 species of orchids, and some 8,500 species of flowering plants.
The country's most extensive river systems are the Pulangi River, which flows into the Mindanao River (Rio Grande de Mindanao); the Agusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea; the Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, east of Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. Several rivers have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.
To protect the country's biological resources, the government has taken a first step of preparing a Biodiversity Action Plan to address conservation of threatened species.
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The Philippines was first settled by Melanesians; today they preserve a very traditional way of life and culture, although their numbers are few. After them, the Austronesians or more specifically, Malayo-Polynesians, arrived on the islands. Today the Austronesian culture is very evident in the ethnicity, language, food, dance and almost every aspect of the culture. These Austronesians engaged in trading with China, India, Japan, the Ryukyu islands, the Middle East, Borneo, and other places. As a result, those cultures have also left a mark on Filipino culture.
When the Spanish colonized the islands, after more than three centuries of colonization, they had heavily impacted the culture. The Philippines being governed from both Mexicoand Spain, had received a little bit of Hispanic influence. Mexican and Spanish influence can be seen in the dance and religion many other aspects of the culture. After being colonized by Spain, the Philippines became a U.S. territory for about 40 years. Influence from the United States is seen in the wide use of the English language, and the modern pop culture.
Philippine Art
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-Throughout the early Spanish era, Philippines art took its inspiration from religion with ornate altarpieces or scenes from the Bible or the lives of the saints. It was only in the 18th century that secular themes began to become popular.
-In 1884, Filipino art broke into the international mainstream when Juan Luna won the gold medal at the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid, Spain. Compatriot FelixResurreccion Hidalgo won the silver medal. In the early 20th century Fernando Amorsolo, Fabian de la Rosa and Jorge Pineda concentrated on romantic landscapes, and in the 1920s Victorio Edades introduced modernism to the Philippines. This has produced a healthy crop of modern artists, from Lee Aguinaldo and Fernando Zobel in the 1960s and 70s to Bernardo Cabrera (BenCab) and Manny Garibay today.The leading sculptor of the American era was Guillermo Tolentino, whilst Napoleon Abueva brought modernism in the 1950s. Eduardo Castrillo heads modern names with his monumental metal sculptures (including the Heritage of Cebu Monument in Cebu City). Others include Solomon Saprid and Abdulmari Imao who interprets Islamic traditional designs for the modern era.
Phillipine Education
The system of education in the Philippines was patterned both from the educational systems of Spain and the United States. However, after the liberation of the Philippines in 1946, the system have changed radically.
The Department of Education (or DepEd) administers the whole educational system, which also includes the allocation of funds utilized for school services and equipment (such as books, school chairs, etc.), recruitment of teachers for allpublic schools in the Philippines, and the supervision and organization of the school curricula.
The former education system of the Philippines is composed of 6 years ofelementary education starting at the age of 6 or 7, and 4 years of high school education starting at the age of 12 or 13. In this system, education is not compulsory.
However, since June 4, 2012, DepEd started to implement the new K-12 educational system,[3] which includes the new curricula for all schools (see the section). In this system, education is now compulsory.
All public and private schools in the Philippines must start classes from a date mandated by the Department of Education (usually every first Monday of June for public schools only), and must end after each school completes the mandated 200-day school calendar of DepEd (usually around the third week of March to the second week of April).
Philippine Festivals
.jpg)
In Honor of A Patron Saint
· Ati-atihan Festival - Kalibo, Aklan (in honor of Santo Niño)
· Dinagyang Festival - Iloilo City (in honor of Santo Niño)
· Kinabayo festival - Dapitan City (in honor of Saint James the Great)
· Higantes Festival - Angono, Rizal (in honor of Saint Clement)
· Longganisa Festival - Vigan City (in honor of St. Paul)
· Kasadyaan sa Iligan - Iligan City (in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel)
· Mammangui Festival - May 30, Ilagan City
· Moriones Festival - Marinduque
· Pintados-Kasadyaan - Leyte
· Sangyaw - Tacloban City
· Sinulog Festival - Cebu (in honor of Santo Niño)
· Zamboanga Hermosa Festival - Zamboanga City (in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar)
Indigenous Influence/Non-Religious Festival
· Kadayawan Festival - Davao City
· Lanzones Festival - Camiguin
· Pav-vurulun Festival - Tuguegarao City
· Masskara Festival - Bacolod City
· Ibalong Festival - Legazpi City
· Sandugo Festival - Bohol
· Bangus Festival - Dagupan City
· Sinukwan Festival - San Fernando City.
· Frog Festival - San Fernando City.
· Binatbatan Festival of the Arts - Vigan City
· Sampaguita Festival-San Pedro,Laguna
· Halamang Dilaw Singkaban Festival - Marilao, Bulacan
Film Festival
· Cinemalaya
· Metro Manila Film Festival
Flower Festival
· Panagbenga Festival - (Feb 26- Feb 27), Baguio City
Religious Festivals
January
· Feast of the Three Kings - 2, Gasan, Marinduque
· Bailes de Luces - 5, La Castellana, Negros Occidental
· Lingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary - 9, Lingayen, Pangasinan
· Feast of The Black Nazarene - 9, Quiapo, Manila
· Biniray Festival - 9, Romblon
· Hinugyaw Festival (Araw ng Koronadal) - 10, Koronadal City
· Binanog Festival - 10-16, Lambunao, Iloilo
· Sinulog (Kabankalan) Festival - 10-16, Kabankalan City
· Coconut "Coco" Festival - 15 (week long), San Pablo City, Laguna
· Makato Santo Niño Festival - 15, Makato, Aklan
· Pasungay Festival - 15, San Joaquin, Iloilo
· Batingaw Festival - 16, Cabuyao City
· Kahimunan Festival - 16, Butuan City
· Pangisdaan Festival - 16, Navotas City
· Kinaradto Festival - 16, Buenavista, Guimaras
· Batan Ati-Ati Malakara Festival - 16, Batan, Aklan
· Fire Works Display and Contest - 16, Iloilo City
· Caracol Festival - 16, Makati City
· Bansudani Festival (Feast of The Divine Savior) - 17, Bansud, Oriental Mindoro
· Sadsad sa Kalye - 19, Janiuay, Iloilo
· Pandot sa Bacolod - 20, Bacolod City
· Binuligay Festival - 20, Jamindan, Capiz
· Feast of the Santo Niño - 3rd Sunday, Nationwide
· Ati-Atihan Festival - 3-16, Kalibo, Aklan
· Dinagyang Festival - 22-23, Iloilo City
· Longganisa Festival - 22, Vigan City
· Sinulog festival - Cebu City
· Sto Niño de Malolos Festival - 30, Malolos City
· Pintauo Festival - 21, Ibarra, Maasin City
· Altavas Santo Niño Festival - 21-22, Altavas, Aklan
· Feast of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage - 24, La Carlota City
· Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal and Devotional Fiesta - 24-25, Ibajay, Aklan
· Dinagsa Ati-Atihan Festival - 24-30, Cadiz City
· Sana-aw Festival - 28, Jordan, Guimaras
· Hinirugyaw Festival - 30-February 6, Calinog, Iloilo
· Balot sa Puti Festival - 31, Pateros
· The Boracay International Funboard Cub - 31-February 5, Boracay Island
· Boling-Boling Festival - 28 Catanuan Quezon
February
· Salakayan Festival - 1-6, Miag-ao, Iloilo
· Pabirik Festival - 1-2, Paracale, Camarines Norte
· Bicol Arts Festival - 1-28, Legazpi City
· Festival of Hearts - 1-14, Tanjay City
· National Arts Month - 1-28, Nationwide
· Lavandero Festival - 1-6, Mandaluyong City
· Suroy sa Surigao - 1-28, Surigao City
· Feast of Our Lady of Candles - 2, Iloilo City
· Pamulinawen - 2-10, Laoag City
· The International Bamboo Organ Festival - 3-11, Las Piñas City
· Guling-Guling Festival - 5, Paoay, Ilocos Norte
· Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival - 6, Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental
· Fiesta Tsinoy - 6, Legazpi City
· Tinapay Festival - 7-13, Cuenca, Batangas
· Fistahan - 9-15, Davao City
· Chinese New Year - Nationwide
· Bulang-Bulang Festival - 9, San Enrique, Negros Occidental
· Davao Chinese New Year - 9-17, Davao City
· Pabalhas sa Tablas - 11, Candoni, Negros Occidental
· Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year) - 11, Baguio City
· Tinagba Festival - 11, Iriga City
· Tiburin Horse Race - 12, Pasay City
· Pamaypay ng Caloocan Festival - 12, Caloocan City
· Sambalilo Hat Festival - 13, Parañaque City
· Feast Day of Santa Clara - 13, Pasay City
· Local Media Familiarization Festival - 13-19, Cagayan de Oro City
· Serenata - 14, Pasay City
· Harana: Karantahan nin Pagranga (Music Festival) - 14, San Jose, Camarines Sur
· Suman Festival (Aurora Day) - 14-19, Baler, Aurora
· Apayao Province Foundation - 14, Apayao
· Kalinga Province Foundation - 14, Kalinga
· Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming - 18-19, Baguio City
· Kapayapaan Festival - 18-20, Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur
· Bicol Regional Tourism Councils Assembly - 18-19, Naga City
· Pasayaw Festival - 19, Canlaon City
· Babaylan Festival - 19, Bago City
March
· Kaamulan Tribal Festival - 1-6, Malaybalay City
· Rodeo Masbateño - 1-April 2, Masbate City
· Araw ng Island Garden City of Samal - 1-7, Island Garden City of Samal
· Pasig Summer Music Festival - 1-31, Pasig City
· Parade of Festivals - 1, Muntinlupa City
· Payvanuvanuan Festival - 1-31, Mahatao, Batanes
· Zamboanga Peninsula Summer Event - 1-31, Zamboanga City
· Sugbahan - 2-14, Davao City
· Pacto de Sangre de New Washington, Aklan (Blood Compact of New Washington, Aklan) - 3, New Washington, Aklan
· Puerto Princesa Foundation Day - 4, Puerto Princesa City
· Bangkero Festival - 6-10, Pagsanjan, Laguna
· Arya! Abra Festival - 7-11, Bangued, Abra
· Tinguan Festival - 7-11, Bangued, Abra
· Panagtagbo Festival - 7, Tagum City
· Vis-Min Travel and Lifestyle Show - 7-9, SM City Cebu Trade Hall
· National Women's Month Celebration Exhibit - 8-12, Manila
· Birth Anniversary of The Late President Jose P. Laurel - 9, Tanauan City
· Tinagba Festival - 11, Iriga City
· Tiburin Horse Race - 12, Pasay City
· Pamaypay ng Caloocan Festival - 12, Caloocan City
· Sambalilo Hat Festival - 13, Parañaque City
· Feast Day of Santa Clara - 13, Pasay City
· Local Media Familiarization Festival - 13-19, Cagayan de Oro City
· Serenata - 14, Pasay City
· Harana: Karantahan nin Pagranga (Music Festival) - 14, San Jose, Camarines Sur
· Suman Festival (Aurora Day) - 14-19, Baler, Aurora
· Apayao Province Foundation - 14, Apayao
· Kalinga Province Foundation - 14, Kalinga
· Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming - 18-19, Baguio City
· Kapayapaan Festival - 18-20, Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur
· Bicol Regional Tourism Councils Assembly - 18-19, Naga City
· Pasayaw Festival - 19, Canlaon City
· Babaylan Festival - 19, Bago City
Administrative divisions
-The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. As of March 2010, these were divided into 17 regions, 80 provinces, 138 cities, 1,496 municipalities, and 42,025barangays.[79] In addition, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 5446 asserts that the definition of the territorial sea around the Philippine archipelago does not affect the claim over Sabah
The Philippines is divided into, from the highest division to the lowest:
Autonomous regions
Regular administrative regions are not elected and are considered arms of the national governments, not governments in their own right.
Provinces and independent cities
Municipalities and component cities
Barangays
Each division at each level from the provinces down to the barangays is a local government unit (LGU). For administrative purposes, the provinces and cities are grouped into regions. The President has the prerogative to create, abolish and determine the composition of regions, which is done so most often in consultation with the local government units affected; with the exception of autonomous regions, where the residents of the local government units have to ratify in a plebiscite their inclusion in such a setup.
Other political divisions exist for the other branches of government
Provinces
All regions except one (Metro Manila) are subdivided into provinces. Each province is headed by a governor. Its legislative body is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan composed of the different members from Sanggunian districts, which in most cases are contiguous to the congressional districts.
Cities and municipalities
Regions, aside from having provinces may also have independent cities. Independent cities, classified either as highly urbanized or independent component cities, are cities which are not under the jurisdiction of a province. These cities are not administered by their mother provinces, do not share their tax revenues with the province, and in most cases their residents are not eligible to elect or be elected to provincial offices.
Cities that are politically a part of a province are called component cities. The voters in these cities are allowed to vote and run for positions in the provincial government.
Municipalities are always components of a province, except Pateros, Metro Manila, which is independent.
Cities and municipalities are headed by a mayor. The legislative arm of these units are the Sangguniang Panlungsod for cities and Sangguniang Bayan for municipalities, which are composed of councilors elected at-large or in some cases, by Sanggunian district.
Barangays
Cities (both component and independent ones) and municipalities are further divided into barangays. The barangay is the smallest political unit. In some populous cities, barangays are grouped into zones and/or into districts for administrative purposes. In rural areas, sitios or puroks are the preferred ways of subdividing barangays for administrative purposes. Each barangay is headed by a barangay captain.
Gated communities may either be a part of a barangay or a barangay itself. An example of a barangay coextensive with a gated community is Forbes Park, Makati City.
Sitios and Puroks
Below barangays are smaller communities known as sitios and puroks. Not all baranagays are so sub-divided. They leadership is not a recognized Local Government Unit and are not elected in regular general elections. Sitios and puroks are most common in less populated, rural barangays where you might have several pockets of population spread out over a wider area and surrounded by farms or undeveloped mountainsides, or even on different islands.
Geography
The Philippines is an archipelago comprising 7,107 islands with a total land area of 300,000 km2. The 11 largest islands contain 94% of the total land area. The largest of these islands is Luzon at about 105,000 km2. The next largest island isMindanao at about 95,000 km2. The archipelago is around 800 km from the Asianmainland and is located between Taiwan and Borneo.
The islands are divided into three groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Luzon islands include Luzon Island itself, Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbateand Batanes Islands. The Visayas is the group of islands in the central Philippines, the largest of which are: Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. The Mindanao islands include Mindanao itself, plus the Sulu Archipelago, composed primarily of Basilan, Sulu Island, and Tawi-Tawi.
The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia in a position that has led to its becoming a cultural crossroads - a place where Malays, Hindus, Arabs, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, and others had interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend. The archipelago numbers some 7,107 islands; and the nation claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its shores. The Philippines occupies an area that stretches for 1,850 kilometers from about the fifth to the twentieth parallels north latitude. The total land area is slightly more than 300,000 square kilometers. Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated, and fewer than one-half of these are larger than 2.5 square kilometers. Eleven islands make up 95 percent of the Philippine landmass, and two of these — Luzon and Mindanao — measure 105,000 and 95,000 square kilometers, respectively. They, together with the cluster of islands in Visayas in between them, represent the three principal regions of the archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine flag. Topographically, the Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world.
Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine Trench, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters. The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system characterized by active volcanoes. Among the most notable peaks are Mount Mayon near Legazpi City, Taal Volcano south of Manila, and Mount Apo in Mindanao. All of the Philippine islands are prone to earthquakes. The northern Luzon highlands, or Cordillera Central, rise to between 2,500 and 2,750 meters, and, together with the Sierra Madre in the northeastern portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland tribal groups. The rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including the Philippine eagle (or monkey-eating eagle), some 800 species of orchids, and some 8,500 species of flowering plants.
The country's most extensive river systems are the Pulangi River, which flows into the Mindanao River (Rio Grande de Mindanao); the Agusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea; the Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, east of Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. Several rivers have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.
To protect the country's biological resources, the government has taken a first step of preparing a Biodiversity Action Plan to address conservation of threatened species.
National Anthem of The Philippines
Tagalog Lyrics
Lupang Hinirang
Bayang magiliw,
Perlas ng Silanganan
Alab ng puso
Sa dibdib mo'y buhay.
Lupang hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting,
Sa manlulupig
Di ka pasisiil.
Sa dagat at bundok
Sa simoy, at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula,
At awit sa paglayang minamahal.
Ang kislap ng wata wat mo'y
Tagumpay na nagniningning,
Ang bituin at araw niya
Kailan pa ma'y di magdidilim.
Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhatit pagsinta,
Buhay at langit sa piling mo.
Aming li gaya na pag may mangaapi
Ang mamatay nang da hil sa iyo.
