Picture Page on the Philippines

Outline

  1. Physical and Natural Environment
  2. Human Environment
  3. Transportation

Physical and Natural Environment

Mount Mayon

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 volcanos.  Above, Mt. Mayon is said to be the perfect cone shaped volcano.  Although the volcano is known for its beauty, thousands have died due its fury.  The volcano has erupted nearly 50 times in the last 180 years.  It continuously releases a cloud of sulfuric gas even though it is not erupting.  The most recent explosion in February 2000 caused over 48,000 people to evacuate their homes and villages.

Boracay Beach

The Philippines is a group of 7, 170 islands that stretch out in the western Pacific Ocean.  The Boracay Beach is popular place for islanders to vacation and for tourist to relax.  Beaches similar to Boracay extend along the coasts of the Island.  Due to the oceanic water that surrounds the island and the mountainous regions, there is a large amount of rainfall.  Typhoons are sometimes strike between the months of October and June causing both physical damages and economical stress.

Chocolate Hills

Although the Philippines is made of mountains and beaches, in between their 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

Economy

There are four major sources of profit for the Philippines including agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.  Agriculture is 22.8% of the countries GDP, provides 40% of the export earnings, and employs over 60% of the workers.  Along with rice, as seen in the above picture, maize, coconut, sugar cane, tobacco, abaca, and sweet potatoes are many of the products farmed.  Forestry is also a major area of agriculture especially since the forest cover 51% of the land.  Manufacturing is the largest part of the economy.  It is based on agricultural products, but textiles, leather, and metal or electronic machinery are also produced.  Tourism is the third major area of the Philippines economy.  In 1993, 1.5 million tourist arrived on the islands and is expected to rise due to a twenty year plan to develop more resort areas.

Education

Above is a picture of a classroon at Bagabag North, a rural community north of Bambang on Luzon.  Education in the Philippines is free although it is not available for all students because the nation's budget cannot afford all the students.  In the cities, children usually complete grade six but in rural communities school is only offered up to grade four.  If rural students wish to continue they must go to the city to learn.  The educational system some what models the system of the United States although Filipino and English are required by a bilingual policy.  Both public and private universities are available but the majority, due to lack of government funding, are private.

Heath Care

To attain human and ecological security the government's goal is to maintain a balance between the human population and the environment.  A dominate health care group is the Mercy Maternity Centers whose clinic in Davao City is shown above.  They offer help for expanding families, malnutrition children, and drug rehabilitation. Another health care group is the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP).  They offer education and aid to decrease sexual and reproductive health concerns. The department of health also runs 537 hospitals; 2,072 rural health clinics; 9,104 village health stations; and 76 family planning outlets.

Politics-Fidel Ramos

Nationalist and Liberal parties dominated Philippine politics after World War II but neither party dominated of held long-term control of the government.  In 1972 President Marcos prohibited all politcal parties, but in 1978 the law was lifted as Marcos was voted out of office.  In 1994, President Fidel Ramos, seen in the above picture, formed the Lakas-National Union of Christian Democrats.  This coalition not only began the strongest party, but also secured Ramos in office, who is still the current president.  The communist party in the Philippines at one time had 19,000 members and was a threat to the country in 1946. A law passed in 1992 restricting the party and a 1993 division within the party has greatly weakened their influence.


Transporation

Jeepney

The jeepney, a longer version on the World War II army jeep, is the most common and cheapest way to travel.  Traffic in the cities is a mess because there is not a wrong or right lane.  The drivers weave in and out of traffic as they carry the twenty to thirty people on their uniquely decorated jeepneys. If one of the passengers wishes to get off, the only way the driver will stop is if a passenger hisses.  Although the jeepney is the best way to travel to rural areas,  when jeepneys get stuck during a rainstorm the passengers either have to push from behind or pull on the rope attached to the bumper.

Taxis

Riding in a taxi is an alternate way to travel in the city.  In the above picture, a taxi is on the far right, jeepneys are seen in the background, and a motorcycle on the left.  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.

Tricycles

Another way to travel is the tricycle.  The tricycle is the best way to travel for short distance trips.  They are more expensive than the jeepney,  but you do not have to worry about missing your stop.  The tricycle is a motorcycle with an attached compartment for up to eight passengers and works somewhat like a taxi.  Tricycles are rented by the owners by milage or time and many times right outside their homes.  The owner may own several and set up a line system in the city so that travelers can have their choice of ride. 

Submitted by Lori Young on November 17, 2000.