Picture Page on (Region)

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Picture Page on Philippines

Outline

1. Physical and Natural Environment

· Boracay Beach.

· Mayan Volcanoes.

· Chocolate Hills.

2. Human Environment

· Economy.

· Government.

· Culture.

3. Transportation

· Tricycles.

· Jeepneys.

· Taxis.

Physical and Natural Environment

Boracay Beach

With 7,107 islands, and a coastline twice the length of that of the United States, the Philippines can claim to be Asia's Beach Capital. Boracay Island, with its sugary white sand beaches and azure blue waters, is located on the northwestern tip of Panay, Western Visayas. The best of the island is the 4 km. White Beach, touted as the “finest beach in the world.” The water surrounding the island is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago.

Mayon Volcano Erupts

The Philippine Islands are composed of a partly submerged mountain mass that usually parallel the coast and often borders the coast. On the Philippine Islands there are about twenty active volcanoes. The most famous volcanoes in the Philippines are the Pinatubo, and Mayon. Eruptions at Mount Mayon in the central Philippines could go on for weeks.

Chocolate Hills

Although the Philippines is made of mountains and beaches, in between there lies valleys, hills, and plains. Above is a picture of the Chocolate Hills found on the island of Bohol. It consists of over 1,000 uniform hills that were formed thousands of years ago by tidal movement. In the summer, the limestone Chocolate Hills dry up and turn brown. The hills look like the candy Hershey's kisses.

Human Environment

Ifugao Rice Terraces

Important sectors of the Philippine economy include agriculture. Rice, as seen in the above picture, maize, coconut, sugar cane, tobacco, abaca, and sweet potatoes are many of the products farmed. Other sectors are industry, particularly food processing, textiles and garments, and electronics and automobile parts. Most industries are concentrated in the urban areas around metropolitan Manila. Mining also has great potential in the Philippines, which possesses significant reserves of chromite, nickel, and copper. Significant natural--gas finds off the islands of Palawan have added to the country's substantial geothermal, hydro, and coal energy reserves.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

The Philippines is governed under the constitution of 1987. The president, as shown above who is both chief of state and head of the government, is elected by popular vote for a six-year term. The bicameral legislature consists of a 24-seat senate and a 204-seat House of Representatives, both of whose members are popularly elected. There is an independent judiciary headed by a Supreme Court.

The Filipino is basically of Malay stock with a sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish, and Arab blood. The Philippines has a population of 76.5 million as of May 2000, and it is hard to distinguish accurately the lines between stocks. From a long history of Western colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders, evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and culture.

Transportation

Tricycles

The three-wheeled contraptions attached to a bike or motorcycle can reach places jeepneys and other bigger forms of transportation cannot enter. Ranging from four pesos upwards, the fare will depend on how far your destination is. The tricycle is the best way to travel for short distance trips. It also can hold up to eight passengers.

Jeepneys

The most popular mode of transportation in Manila is the jeepney. As the name implies, it is basically a colorful jeep that looks like the ones used by the Americans during World War II. They have regular stops, as do buses, but will also stop if they are flagged down.

Motorcycle Taxi

Motorcycle Taxis are another form of transportation in the Philippines. Most motorcycles in the Philippines are used for serving as a kind of taxi as shown above. Although this may be the quickest and most private way to travel, it can be a scam. In order to make more money, taxis will "forget" to turn on their meter and estimate how much money is due. Some drivers charge a dollar more a mile than taxis that are not air-conditioned. It is important to ask if the meter is working or if the car is air condition equipped because the driver, out for the most money, will not voluntarily give out that information.

Submitted by Nicole Mitchell on November 13, 2003.