SSC 201 Prelim Midterm Module

ST. BENEDICT COLLEGE OF COTABATO, INC.
, BISHOP MONGEAU AVENUE, COTABATO CITY
First Edition, 2020

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Subject: SSC 201

Title: Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and
Geography)
Instructor: Ms. Dulce Bajar
Days/Time: MWF / 1:00-2:00PM
General Objectives:
1. Develop the essence of patriotism.
2. Demonstrate love and pride with localize history, culture and tradition.
3. Come up with the profiling of available cultural resources in the
community.
Chapter I. REGION 1: The ILOCOS REGION
History of REGION 1
Region 1 was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos before they were
pushed by successive waves of Malay/Austronesi an immigrants that penetrated
the narrow coast. Ilocanos, Tingguians, Pangasinense
Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a
part of the region. The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and established
Christian missions and governmental institutions to control the native population
and convert them to the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1901, the region came under American colonial rule, and in 1941, under
Japanese occupation. During 1945, the combined American and the Philippine
Commonwealth troops including the Ilocano and Pangasinese guerillas liberated
the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces during the Second World War.
In 2000, the region’s total population was 4,174,000. It increased by
8.86% since 1995. In 1995, the province of Pangasinan had the largest
population at 2,178,412 or 57.27 %. La Union had 15.7%, Ilocos Sur at 14.3%
and Ilocos Norte, 12.7%. In 1990, the urban population comprised 37.75% of the
total population while that of the rural population was at 62.25%
Region I is composed of: 4 provinces, 9 cities, 116 municipalities, and
3265 barangays.
Geography of the ILOCOS Region
Ilocos Norte located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering
Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos
Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.
Map and Places of Ilocos Norte• Towns/Cities in Ilocos-Norte (Region- 01)
• Adams Bacarra • Badoc Bangui • Banna (Espiritu) Batac • Burgos Carasi •
Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

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Currimao Dingras • Dumalneg Laoag City (Capital) • Marcos Nueva Era •
Pagudpud Paoay • Pasuquin Piddig • Pinili San Nicolas • Sarrat Solsona Vintar
Ilocos Norte: Cultures & Traditions: Bain is the Ilocano trait for hiya or
amor propio (sense of shame). Ilocanos fear of gossip and would strongly avoid
being envied by others. It is essential to show panagdayaw (respect for the
sensitivities of others). Ilocanos tend to speak about themselves in the humblest
of terms.
Ilocos Norte: Cultures & Traditions: WEDDING Tradition: The groom
makes a panagpudno (formal announcement) to the soon- to-be bride’s parents
about his intention of marrying their daughter. His parents will then visit the
bride’s parents to set the wedding date. Usually, parents consult a planetario ,
which is like an almanac that identifies “lucky” days. Another highlight of the feast
is the bitor wherein guests contribute cash to the newly weds either by dropping
money onto the plates or by pinning bills to the couple’s clothes. DEATH
Tradition • To announce a death of a family member, a piece of atong wood is lit
in front of the deceased’s house. It is kept burning until after the burial. The fire is
extinguished with white wine. • Before the funeral, relatives pay respect by
kissing the deceased’s hands or raising it to his/her forehead (mano) • Those
who attended the burial in the cemetery must return to the deceased’s home by
taking a different route from the one they’ve taken to get there. Upon arrival, they
must wash their faces and hands. It is said to remove the power of death.
Ilocos Norte: Cultures & Traditions: Festivals • Pamulinawen Festival,
Laoag City, February 10. A floral parade and street dancing festival. Guling-
Guling Festival, Paoay, Eve of Ash Wednesday. Residents, dressed in their
Ilocano costume adorned with antique jewelries, dance and sing around town
while being blessed with the Sign of the Cross using pounded rice instead of gray
ash. December Festival, Laoag City. Highlighted by the lantern parade and decor
competition ending in the Palarong Pamasko • Farmer’s Festival, Bacarra. This
festival highlights a street dance parade participated by dressed up farmers with
their products, agro-industrial, trade fair, contest of the biggest farm harvest and
livestock and "pinaka" contests of agro products. Magdadaran: Talip Festival,
Adams & Carassi. In tribute of the ancient peace pact that has brought lasting
peace between and among ethnic tribes in the province of Ilocos Norte. This also
aims to cultivate and highlight their rich culture, customs and indigenous
traditions. Is also celebrated to enhance fellowship and stronger ties among the
Ilocos Norte: Products: Agriculture and Fishery; Manufacturing: Food
Processing and Pottery
Ilocos Norte: Famous People: The Marcoses; Juan Luna and family;
Gregorio Aglipay, an activist Roman Catholic priest of the Philippines at the
outbreak of the revolution in 1896.
Ilocos Norte: Tourist Spots: Bacarra • Bacarra Church, Bell Tower and
ruins Pasuquin • Biscocho,Salt Making; Burgos • Cape Bojedor Lighthouse
Bangui • Bangui Windmills; Pagudpud • White Sand Beach Patapat • Mabogabog
Falls -Patapat Bridge; Badoc • Juan Luna House Currimao • Coral Rock
Formations; Batac Gregorio Aglipay Church Marcos Museum and Mausoleum:

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Paoay Corniks Factory Malacanang of the North & Paoay Lake; Laoag
Provincial Capitol Tobacco Monopoly Monument Pamulinawen Festival
Ilocos Sur Ilocos Sur is bordered by Ilocos Norte and Abra to the north,
Mountain Province to the east, La Union and Benguet to the south, and the West
Philippine Sea to the west.The capital of the province is VIGAN City.
Map & Places of Ilocos Sur • Alilem -Banayoyo -Bantay • Burgos -
Cabugao -Candon City • Caoayan -Cervantes -Galimuyod • Gregorio Del Pilar
(Concepcion) • Lidlidda -Magsingal -Nagbukel • Narvacan -Quirino (Angkaki) •
Salcedo (Baugen) -San Emilio • San Esteban -San Ildefonso • San Juan (Lapog)
-San Vicente • Santa Catalina -Santa Cruz • Santa Lucia - Santa Maria •
Santiago -Santo Domingo • Sigay -Sinait -Sugpon - Suyo • Tagudin - Vigan City
(Capital) - Santa
Ilocos Sur: Cultures &Traditions • The native Ilocano is a weaver, wood
carver and pottery expert. The Ilocano cuisine ranges from the exotic "abu-os"
(ant eggs) to vegetable broth "dinengdeng," the sticky "tinubong" to the "poqui-
poqui" (eggplant salad) • Festivals • Sinait Garlic Festival It happens during the
1st to 3rd of May that showcase the talent, ingenuity and hard work trait of
Ilocano Viva Vigan Festival Every first week of May, Vigan featuring painting and
product exhibits, a Calesa parade, and other cultural activities. Longaniza
Festival held every January 22features the “longest Longaniza” with the hope of
entering to the Guinness Book of Records as the longest Longaniza of the world
Pinakbet Festival, Ilocos Sur Philippines A festival celebrating a favorite dish of
the Ilocanos, “pinakbet” featuring street dances, cooking competitions. Tabako
Festival, Ilocos Sur Philippines Celebrated every last week of March in Candon
City, as thanksgiving for the city's bountiful harvest of tobacco.
Ilocos Sur:Products • blanket weaving, • basketry, • shellcraft,
broommaking, pottery- making, wine and vinegar making, jewelry making, wood
and stone craft, among others jars and antiques can also be bought in Vigan •
Rice • Corn • Sugarcane • Coconut • Cassava • Garlic
Ilocos Sur: Famous People • Elpidio Quirino • Alma Moreno • Chavit
Singson
Ilocos Sur: Tourist Spots Vigan • Heritage streets Plaza Maestro Vigan •
Baluarte
Ilocos Sur: Tourist Spots Sta.Maria • Nalvo & Suso Beach Santiago •
Santiago Cove
La Union • The City of San Fernando is situated in the mountainous area
at almost the mid-section of La Union along the China Sea. It was founded in
1786 and made the “cabecera” or provincial capital on the same day that La
Union became province in 1850. • During the Spanish times, a settlement was a
place where there were about 200 families. Around this area, there were two
settlements, San Vicente de Balanac and San Guillermo de Dalangdang, San
Vicente de Balanac was along the coast and during summer, when the sea was
calm and perfect for sailing, pirates would come and plunder the settlement,
taking along with them the women and children leaving behind them a trail of
blood. San Guillermo de Dalangdang, however, was at the foothills of the

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Cordillera mountains, and during summer, when the fire trees were in bloom, the
populace was attacked by headhunters who saw in the red flowers of fire trees, a
sign of the gods asking for human offerings.
San Fernando City, La Union • In 1759, an Augustinian priest, Father Jose
Torres, convinced the two settlements to come together to a place not so near
the sea and not so near the mountains so they will not be plagued by their annual
problems. They chose the area called Pindangan, meaning, a place where they
dry fish and in this place, they built in a church with San Guillermo the Hermit as
the patron saint. In 1765, the newly assigned priest, however, suggested to the
inhabitants that they change the name of Pindangan to San Fernando, after the
Catholic King of Spain, retaining San Guillermo as their patron saint. The name
of the parish priest was Father Fernando Rey, Rey being the Spanish word for
King. This was also the time of Diego Silang, and as we know, Silang would
travel to and from Manila on his white horse and was killed on May 28, 1763.
When an earthquake destroyed the church at Pindangan, renamed San
Fernando, the parish priest decided not to rebuild in the same place because
during the rainy season, the church was transferred until it found its present
place, and it is now called the Cathedral of St. William the Hermit, of the Diocese
of San Fernando, La Union.
San Fernando City, La Union • On May 1786, the Ministerio de San
Fernando was established. However, due to lack of priests during the period
1792 to 1831, San Fernando became a “visita” of Bauang and San Juan. In
1831, Father Juan Sorolla, the parish priest of Bauang in 1829, was assigned in
San Fernando. According to historical records, the construction of the present
church started in 1817 by Father Simon Torrado with Father Sorolla as its first
parish priest. • San Fernando has grown slowly from the time it was founded.
This slow growth maybe attributed to the fact that travels during those days was
long and tedious. Sectionalism was rampant because education was not widely
diffused. Intermingling of the people was limited to neighboring towns. Only the
well-to-do and the powerful obtained their education and this too, was limited as
it was then the policy of the Spaniards to deny education to the masses. In spite
of this backward policy, the people improved economically, educationally and
spiritually. An offshoot of this improvement was the revolt of the people against
the Spaniards which assumed in greater proportions when the Spaniards
became abusive. Although the people were subservient to the ruling power, there
were fateful prohibitions that cut deep into the private life of the people which
found outlet in the form of uprisings and occasional revolts to give vent to their
pent-up emotions. The climax came in 1896 when the country was swept by a
widespread revolt. In 1898, the Spanish garrison in San Fernando was attacked
by Filipino insurgents under the leadership of General Manuel Tinio and Mauro
Ortiz. In the end, the Filipinos prevailed over the
San Fernando City, La Union • Then the Americans came. Spain fell in
ruins, victims of her own greed and ambition. San Fernando experienced naval
bombardment of the Americans as well as actual fighting on land when General
Gregorio del Pilar commanded the rearguard of General Emilio Aguinaldo to
cover the latter’s retreat. In a short while, Aguinaldo and his officers and soldiers
were captured by the Americans. Peace and order were restored. A democratic
form of government took the place of that once proud despotic government of
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Spain. The people of San Fernando took advantage of all the Americans could
teach politically and economically. San Fernando progressed with the rest of the
towns in the province. • In 1941, the Japanese came. Japanese planes bombed
San Fernando. The guerillas of the 21st Infantry became active and engaged a
do or die battle against the Japanese Imperial Forces. A bloody fighting took
place in Barrio Bacsil until the town was liberated in 1945. The destruction of
property in San Fernando was appalling. Only few houses remained standing in
what was once a thriving town of beautiful houses. Thus, from the nibbles of war,
San Fernando rose until it became the administrative capital of Region I.
San Fernando City, La Union • In May 14, 1996, the Sangguniang Bayan
of San Fernando passed Resolution No. 20 requesting the House of
Representatives, Congress of the Philippines for the conversion of the
Municipality of San Fernando into a Component City. That time, the municipality
of San Fernando had satisfactorily met the basic requirements for its conversion
into Cityhood pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Code 1991. In
a certification issued by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the average
annual income of San Fernando for calendar years 1994, and 1995 based on
1991 constant prices was P 44,351,821.66. Further, in a certification by the Land
Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
the land area of San Fernando is 10,526 hectares, well above the minimum
requirement of 10,000 hectares. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of La Union,
after a comprehensive study and judicious evaluation of the petition of the
Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando, adopted Resolution No. 425-96 endorsing
its cityhood bid to the House of Representatives, Congress of the Philippines.
San Fernando City, La Union • Upon the sponsorship of the Congressman
Victor F. Ortega (1st District- La Union) at the House of Representatives, House
Bill 7594 (Act Converting the Municipality of San Fernando, La Union into a
Component City to be known as City of San Fernando) was approved. • The
petition was likewise approved at the Upper House through the sponsorship of
Senators Vicente Sotto III and Juan Flavier. On February 13, 1998, Republic Act
8509 was signed into law by President Fidel V. Ramos and finally on March 20,
1998, the residents of San Fernando manifested their resounding YES in the
Plebiscite that ratified said law, thus, the fulfillment of the dream for San
Fernando to become a city. • Located some 8 kilometers from the city proper, on
a forest mountain is nestled the La Union Botanical Garden – a green spot on the
map that is probably the only one of its kind in the country. The 10 hectare
garden located at Barngay Cadaclan is a display of varied species of living plants
and a sanctuary of varieties of wild animals. Clean and green are the bywords of
the garden which provide the visitors maximum satisfaction and a healthful
promenade.
San Fernando City, La Union • The City of San Fernando is now the seat
of national government agencies in Region I and center of trade, commerce,
financial and educational institutions, among others. From a deep rooted
potential of stable community governance to the best gift of Mother Nature- a
seaport community governance to the best gift of Mother Nature- a seaport
responsive to international shipping, an airport with viable capacity to
accommodate international air traffic, natural terrain conducive to tourism
development and a people endowed with cultural and virtuous heritage of
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industry, spirituality, nationalism and aspiration for growth, peace and prosperity,
the City of San Fernando has emerged as the booming Metropolis of the North.
Agoo, La Union • Agoo was founded in 1578 by Franciscan missionaries
and was the first town in the province of La Union. As to its name “Agoo” was
derived from “aroo tree” that used to abound along the banks of a small river that
traversed the town. Some referred to as “arojo” but finally the town got its name
as it has been referred to ever since. According to Miguel de Loarca’s “Relacion
de las Islas Pilipinas (1582) – “The beliefs of the early inhabitants of Agoo, as a
part of Pangasinan were based on spirits and hierarchy of deities… and their
clothing was similar to those used by other inhabitants.
Bauang, La Union • Bauang is a first class partially urbanized municipality
in the Philippine province of La Union. According to the latest census, it has a
population of 72,391 people in 15,669 households.[1][2] • It is bordered by San
Fernando City to the north, Caba to the south, Naguilian to the east, and the
South China Sea to the west. • The MacArthur Highway runs through this town,
which junctions with Naguilian Road, one of the mountain roads leading to
Baguio City.
La Union Tourist Spots • Museo de La Union, La Union Located at the
Provincial Capitol ground in San Fernando, the Museum showcases
archaeological finds in La Union during the pre-Spanish period. The Museum is
open on Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday visit is by
arrangement. Pottery-making, La Union Clay products are on display and
produced in Taboc, San Juan utilizing the same age-old procedure in pottery-
making. Taboc is about 9 kilometers away from San Fernando City. Blanket-
weaving, La Union This age-old practice of weaving wider Ilocano blankets is a
prime home industry in Bangar. Rayon, cotton and polyester combination, and
the “tinagudan” are yarns used in the weaving of blankets and other products.
La Union Tourist Spots • Basi-making, La Union Basi, the Ilocano native
wine concocted from sugar cane juice and bark of “duhat” tree for the coloring, is
a home industry in Lioac, Naguilian. Utilizing the age-old process, the taste of the
basi differs from one producer to another. Museo de Iloko, La Union The old
“presidencia” of Agoo houses artifacts and other pieces of cultural importance to
the Ilocanos. The Museum is open from Monday to Friday at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Saturday visit is by arrangement.
Pangasinan The term pangasinan means "land of salt" or "place where
salt is made" from the root word asin meaning salt in the native language, and
the prefix pang and the suffix an meaning place. The term was derived from one
of the main occupations of the people in the coastal villages which was, and still
is, that of making salt from sea water through the process of solar evaporation in
well-laid-out beds.salt Pangasinan is a long, wide, verdant crescent bounded by
the wild Zambales range to the west and to the east by the Cordilleras -- the
formidable mountains that form the spine of the island of Luzon. To the south,
Pangasinan extends to the rice-and-sugar farmlands of Tarlac, and north to the
crowning glory of Lingayen Gulf and the South China Sea. This shoreline is a
great arc of variegated character: from fantastically tall, craggy rock roughly
chiseled by the surf, to the mildest of white sand beaches. The coast is fringed by
well-hidden coves and inlets, promontories and caves, forests and woodland,
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charming fishing villages, and then the islands. It faces the Asian mainland,
outstretched widely in anticipation and welcome.
PEOPLE, CULTURE & THE ARTS: *About half the people of Pangasinan
are Pangasinenses -- a distinct ethnoliguistic group found along the central coast
and interior plains of the province. *The rest of the province’s people are
descendants of Ilocano migrants who settled the eastern and western parts of
Pangasinan. In the vicinity of Bolinao, about 30,000 people speak Sambal-
Bolinao. *The Pangasinenses are also noted for their industry and their
enterprise. Buri hat making, mat weaving, wooden shoe manufacture, brick and
pottery making and metalcraft are among the traditional industries that continue
to thrive in Pangasinan. Lingayen was once the primary center of commerce in
the province and had a thriving Chinese community to direct its trade. Industries
such as bakeshops, soap and candle-making, and the manufacture of shoes and
slippers are centered in the town. *Pangasinenses also engage in trade,
investing in expensive shawls, blankets, white and blue cloth, needles, scissors
and mirrors from China as well as other products which they bring to nearby
northern provinces. The ubiquitous cattle-drawn wagons that travel across
northern Luzon and Manila are from Pangasinan.
*Pangasinan abounds in handicrafts and is famous for bamboo and rattan
artifacts. There are also handicrafts made of marsh grasses. A familiar sight
down Central Luzon after harvest time are the bullock caravans originating from
Pangasinan laden with bamboo, rattan, and grass crafts, including chairs, tables,
hampers, baskets, lamps, mats, and household bric-a-brac. Binalatongan (now
San Carlos City) and Calasiao are known for bamboocraft that have been
exported abroad. .Another unique feature of the ancient culture was the dances.
These were indicative of the peoples' values and skills. Thus, the imunan was a
courtship dance, the tagam a war dance, and the kumakaret a test of dexterity.
These dances were accompanied by the music of the tulali, a flute used during
festivities.
Dances of Pangasinan *Binasuan (beeh-nah-SOOH-ahn) This colorful and
lively dance from Bayambang in the Pangasinan province shows off the
balancing skills of the dancers. The glasses that the dancers gracefully, yet
carefully, maneuver are half-filled with rice wine. Binasuan, meaning "with the
use of a drinking glass" in Pangasinan, is often performed as entertainment at
weddings, birthdays, and fiestas. *Binoyugan (beeh-noh-YOOH-gahn) A dance
originally from the Ilokano region of Pangasinan. Binoyugan features women
balancing on their heads a banga or clay pot which they use to fetch water from
the river or well, or in which to cook rice. The dance culminates with the women
laying stomach down on stage, and rolling from side to side, all while balancing
the pot. *Oasiwas (wah-SEE-wahs) After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen
would celebrate by drinking wine and by dancing, swinging and circling a lighted
lamp. The name "Oasiwas" in the Pangasinan dialect means "swinging." This
unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on the head while
circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth or fishnet. *Sayaw
ed Tapew na Bangko A dance native to the province of Pangasinan (especially in
Lingayen), and demands skill from its performers who must dance on top of a
bench roughly six inches wide.

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1ST DISTRICT *ANDA- This lone island town of Pangasinan, which
thrives on farming and deep-sea fishing, is unlike other "out-of-way" places for
progress has already caught up with it. If a Pangasinense has a surname
beginning with the letter C, chances are, he is from this town. *BOLINAO- This
quaint little town boasts of several attractions aside from its rugged coastline and
wide expanse of unspoiled seascapes. Its museum, a branch of the national
museum, showcases the rich heritage of the people. Santiago Island, Cape
Bolinao Beach, and the Church of St. James, almost 400 years old, are its
stronger points. *BANI- This town thrives on the bounties of sea and farm. It
boasts of a new park which is a haven for those who want to lose themselves in
the sweet clutch of nature. *AGNO- Known as an "old seat of civilization", it
competes with Hundred Islands in natural beauty. Its umbrella rocks that just out
of its clear lake and its long-winding beachline are tourists' musts. *BURGOS-
The "Cowboy Country" or "Marlboro Country" of Pangasinan is not for dudes
alone as its Cabungaoan Beach Resort, Klowar Spring, and Sangbay Falls are
crowd-drawers. *DASOL- A town gifted with tourist lures: Noah's Island Beach
Resort, Tambobong Beach, Salabusoban Falls, and Magunao Resort in Equia,
all simply marvelous.
*INFANTA- Once the rice granary of Western Pangasinan, it now has its
beaches to rely on for exposure, the Balqui Island Beach Resort, for one.
*MABINI- This rustic town is visited for its Cacupangan Caves, formerly
Balincaguing Caves, a lair of 1001 bats, Balincaguing River, basin perfect for
skinny dipping, Binmatya Spring and Barlo Mines. *ALAMINOS CITY This is
Hundred Islands town. The 100 islands, some 123 of them, is the most popular
tourist destination in the province. *SUAL- The zigzagging way up Sualsalito and
the panoramic view of Sual from up there are reasons enough to visit this boom
town in the making. The historic Aguinaldo debarkation point is another count in
too the alluring Cabalitian Island beach resort. *DASOL- A town gifted with tourist
lures: Noah's Island Beach Resort, Tambobong Beach, Salabusoban Falls, and
Magunao Resort in Equia, all simply marvelous.
2ND DISTRICT *LABRADOR- This boat building town beckons to tourists
through a religious shrine, Lawis Uyong, and two resorts, Tandoc and Stone
Quarry Falls. *BUGALLON- San Jose Hillside Resort is its main tourist attraction,
but historically, its Salasa Church offers more having housed, for instance, the
bell that lures tourists to the Agoo Basilica Church. *AGUILAR- Once a bastion of
the brave, and an anathema to invaders of yore, it is a breathtaking dip in
rusticana, with its green meadows and thick forests. *MANGATAREM,
URBIZTONDO - The "corn and cacao basket of Pangasinan", Urbiztondo stands
as a symbol of man's will to survive, metamorphosing from a sleepy town to a
hive in a matter of years. *BASISTA- Once a part of San Carlos City, it is now a
big town for its cottage industry and a name in international markets for its
handicrafts.
*LINGAYEN- An encomienda when Pangasinan was created, it was then
designated and remains the provincial capital. Lingayen earned a place in
contemporary history when American forces designated it the landing area for
the liberation of Northern Luzon from the Japanese. The town is likewise noted
for the Limahong Channel which the men of the Chinese pirate dug to elude the
pursuing forces of Salcedo. Its "bagoong", also known as maniboc, referring to its
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place of origin, Barangay Maniboc, is the best in the market, local, national or
international. *BINMALEY- A standout for three things: the largest church in the
province, its furniture industry centered in Malindong, and its fishponds which
gained for itself the title "Bangus Queen of the Philippines."
3rd District SAN CARLOS CITY- Became a city through a congressional
act authored by the late Congressman Angel B. Fernandez after the late Speaker
Eugenio Perez Sr. authored the city charter of Dagupan. The home town of
legendary hero Palaris is the seat of exportable handicrafts. CALASIAO-
Religious devotees flock to this town, thanks to its miraculous Sanctuario del
Señor Tesoro, chewy puto, tender Bocayo and coconut pastilles flavored with
anise. STA BARBARA- Tagged as the agricultural nursery of Pangasinan, it is
expected to progress by leaps and bounds with the Agricultural Training Institute
(ATI) there, and with the entry of La Tondeña Distillery Plant. Its mango-tree-
lined highway offers a breather to motorists. MAPANDAN- A nationally known
spot in Mapandan is Barrio Golden, once selected as a "model barrio" in
integrated community development. "Tanggal Ya Bato" or stonewalls is its other
tourist bait. MALASIQUI- Like other Central Pangasinan towns, the Pangasinan
dialect it its pure form is spoken here, in lilting tones in fact. Three of its
barangays, Canan, Palapar and Lareg-lareg, offer spots ideal for relaxation.
BAYAMBANG- The site of the biggest fishing sanctuary in the province, the
Mangabul Fishing and Hunting Park, and the best local school for teachers
education, the Pangasinan State University-College of Education (formerly
Central Luzon Teachers College once referred to as "Normal School"), it is part
of history as the first national anthem was sung here by the revolutionary forces
under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.
4TH DISTRICT DAGUPAN CITY- The commercial, financial, educational
and communication center North of Manila, was traditionally called
Nandaragupan meaning a "meeting place or rallying point". It used to be part of
Binalatongan, now San Carlos City, four centuries ago. The City by the Gulf is
where the great Pangasinan chieftain Andres Malong assembled his forces for a
last stand against the Spanish troops after which people began calling the place
as Nandaragupan. It is famous for its blue beach and Bonuan bangus. SAN
FABIAN- This town has always known for its beaches, nestled in a cove, so that
only the gentlest of waves ripple across the crystalline blue waters. Now it is also
byword for its beach resorts, rivaling those of La Union, its pawnpushres (it has
the only chess school in the country, in fact) and its amateur pugilists. SAN
JACINTO- A tobacco belt and one of the province's earliest municipalities, its
people's hospitality makes it ideal for residential purposes. MANAOAG- Before
Agoo, there was already Manaoag and inspite (or maybe because) of Agoo,
pilgrimage to this town has increased over the past few months. The trek to the
shrine of Nuestra Señora de Manaoag or "Apo Baket" or the Lady Who Calls
which has come to be known as the "Antipolo of the North" has never waned.
The Virgin's in the outskirt of the town is another well-visited spot for its curative
springs.
5th District BAUTISTA- In summer, watermelon abound in this town where
Jose L. Palma wrote the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem. Julian Felipe,
for his part, composed the patriotic hymn in a house near the Bautista railroad
station which stands up to this day. ALCALA- Its long "Great Wall," actually that
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of the multi-million Agno River Control dike which sometimes spares the town
from the onslaught of floods, is a testament to man's efforts to preserve himself
and fend for himself from natural adversities. STO TOMAS- With well-trimmed
agoho trees, shrubs and bushes lining its streetsides, Sto. Tomas, monickered
the "cutest town" in Pangasinan. Looks like a dainty girl on her birthday.
VILLASIS- Hemmed in between two bustling areas, Urdaneta City and Carmen,
Villasis is one of the fastest developing town in the province. Considered as a
"Vegetable Basket", it also thrives on its rice, corn and tobacco plantations. Its
hilly barangays situated along the Malasiqui boundary is a perfect place for resort
developers and agri-businessmen. URDANETA CITY- Next to Dagupan City, it is
most alive business-wise, what with its share of banking institutions, multi-
national firms, market complexes, entertainment row and cattle trading center,
the largest north of Manila.
LAOAC- The youngest town in Pangasinan has potentials to approximate
the greatness of its mother town, Manaoag, but it has yet to find what would
make it unique. BINALONAN- This town has to its name the titles "Model Urban
Community" and "Cleanest Municipality in the Philippines" garnered during the
seventies. POZORRUBIO- The Buccat Hill and the Sugcong Spring in this town
are bywords in local tourism. Its Dilan bamboocraft products are export fares.
SISON- Baguio-bound travellers make their entrances and exits and stopovers in
this gateway to the City of Pines. Its 'covenant' with cultural minorities, extensive
barangay beautification program and industrialization efforts are paving the way
for its modernization. Residents of this town get away from it all in Mountain bato,
a compsite and Antong Creek, a picnickers' destination.
6th District SAN MANUEL- This hometown of Juan C. Laya, of Diwang
Kayumanggi fame, is one of the best rice producers of Pangasinan. It has a dam
site which serves as a favorite picnic ground for vacationists, the Butao Spring
and a mountain boy scout campsite. SAN NICOLAS- It this town lies the historic
Red Arrow Movement, otherwise known as WWII Villaverde Trail campsite, and
the Agpay reforestation area with its crystal clear brooks. ASINGAN- The
hometown of first Pangasinense President, Fidel Valdez Ramos, is a "Vegetable
Country" for any which direction one looks, eggplants, ampalaya and tomatoes,
in short, "pinakbet," greet the eyes. TAYUG- The premier town in the
northeastern part of the province, it figured prominently in Philippine history,
having served as the site of the Colorum uprishing let by Pedro Calosa, an
incident immortalized by novelist Kerima Polotan-Tuvera. NATIVIDAD- A farming
town, Natividad has shed off its once sleepy profile, all because of Pila resort,
however underdeveloped, a hilly area frequented by picnickers.
STA MARIA- Grafted from the town of Tayug, Sta. Maria has quite a
number of faith healers flocked by those who seek to be eased off their
discomforts. This town, with its pristine beauty, provides a sofa for the senses.
SAN QUINTIN- Though its "Little Luneta" - its town plaza-has given way for other
must-visit places, its Dipalo Watershed is keeping them coming for its unique
charm. ROSALES- Pangasinan ends and begins in Rosales. Its Barangay
Carmen in particular is the take-off point to Dagupan City, Baguio City and Nueva
Ecija. Its "tupig" is superb-reason enough for a stopover. BALUNGAO- Once
visited for its hot springs, it is nevertheless an interesting tourist stopover for an
oddity, a Rizal monument built right in the middle of the road. UMINGAN- A
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farming town, Umingan came into existence after its natives, harrassed no end
by bandits, fought back, putting an end to banditry ("inmingan") and started living
a peaceful life.
1572 – Juan de Salcedo, upon the orders of his grandfather Governor
General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to explore and pacify northern Luzon, reaches
Pangasinan. A Spanish priest-historian, Fray Juan Ferrando, calls Salcedo the
“first discoverer” of Pangasinan. The province is now under the jurisdiction of
Spain as an encomienda since April 5. 1574-1575– The Chinese corsair
Limahong, after being repulsed by the Spaniards in his bid to found a colony in
Manila, goes to Pangasinan and establishes his little kingdom within a fort in
Lingayen. His party is composed of men, women and children. He forces the
natives to cooperate with him by supplying him provisions and serving him and
his people. Juan de Salcedo pursues him and after months of blockade
Limahong and his forces escape in August 1575 through a channel that they dug
out into the China sea. Many of his men with their families choose to stay behind
in Lingayen. 1580 – Pangasinan is organized as an alcaldia mayor , a politico-
civil administrative unit or province, by Governor General Gonzalo Ronquillo de
Peñalosa and receives its first alcalde mayor in the person of Don Pedro
Manrique. 1611 – The province of Pangasinan’s territorial limits are set by the
superior government, thus completing the requisites for a viable political
subdivision: a defined territory, a set of administrators, and law-abiding subjects.
The province, as constituted, now include all the coastal villages called
“Pangasinan” and the inner areas called “Caboloan.”
1762 – Palaris Revolt – Juan dela Cruz Palaris, also of Binalatongan,
leads his people to complain to the Spaniards about paying tributes. Encouraged
by the defeat of the Spanish army and capture of Manila by the British, they go
on to make more demands and drive away all the Spaniards from the capital
town of Lingayen. For two years the rebels and their supporters in the province
taste freedom and power over the Spanish government but the capture of Palaris
ends the rebellion. To forget this sad episode the Spanish officials give the town
“Binalatongan” its new name “San Carlos” in honor of Spain’s reigning monarch
Charles III. 1840 – The Casa Real (Royal House) is constructed in Lingayen.
This 1,700 sqm building of stone masonry and bricks is the provincial seat of
government where the Alcalde Mayor resides and holds office. It would be the
venue of many historic events in Pangasinan and was used as the “Juzgado”
later on. 1855 – The Spanish government opens Sual as an official port of foreign
trade. Rice is exported to China and Macao from this port. It is also one of the
country’s centers for shipbuilding, together with Labrador, Lingayen and
Dagupan. December 27, 1897 – General Emilio Aguinaldo, accompanied by
Spanish Governor General Primo de Rivera and others, takes the train to the
Dagupan terminal and travels on to Sual to board the S.S. Uranus that is to bring
him to exile in Hongkong to comply with the Pact of Biak-na-Bato.
CHAPTER 2. REGION 2 OR THE CAGAYAN VALLEY REGION
Region 2 or the Cagayan Valley region is strategically located on the

northeastern part of mainland Luzon.
It is bounded by three mountain ranges: the Sierra Madre Mountains on the East,
the Cordillera Mountains on the West, and the Caraballo Mountains on the
South.
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The region consists of five provinces: the valley provinces of Cagayan and
Isabela, the mountain provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, and the island
province of Batanes; with 89 municipalities, four cities and 2,311 barangays. It
has 10 congressional districts.
Cagayan Valley has a total land area of over 2.6 million hectares which
consists of more than 900 thousand hectares of alienable and disposable land
and over 1.7 hectares of forest land with a forest cover of more than 1 million
hectares, the largest forest cover in the Philippines.
Rich in coastal resources, Region 2 has a total of 5,640 hectares of
mangrove, 15,437 hectares corals and 4,089 hectares of seagrasses.
It is the fourth largest region of the country accounting for about nine percent of
the national land area.
It has 14 nationally proclaimed protected areas covering 997,466
hectares: Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape; Peñablanca Protected
Landscape and Seascape, Magapit Protected Landscape, Palaui Island
Protected Landscape and Seascape, Baua Watershed Forest Reserve and
Wangag Watershed Forest Reserve in Cagayan; Tumauini Watershed Natural
Park, Fuyot Spring National Park and Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in
Isabela; Salinas Natural Monument, Dupax Watershed Forest Reserve,
Casecnan Protected Landscape and Bangan Hill National Park in Nueva
Vizcaya; and Quirino Protected Landscape.
The Valley is dissected by the Cagayan River, the longest river and
largest basin in the country. It has a total stretch of about 520 kilometers from its
source in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya down to its mouth in Aparri, Cagayan. It has a
drainage area of almost 2.8 million hectares that extends to the Cordillera
Administrative Region.
Based on the 2015 census, Region 2 has a population of 3.4 million or
about 3.4 percent of the total population of the country.
The Region II, or Cagayan Valley Region, is the second largest in the
Philippines, with a land area of 2,826,520 ha. It is comprised of 5 provinces
namely: Batanes, Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), Isabela, Quirino, and
Nueva Vizcaya. It has four cities namely: Cauayan City (the industrial center),
Tuguegarao (its regional center), City of Ilagan (its investment hub) and Santiago
City (its Premier City).
Located at the most northeastern part of the Philippines, between the
Pacific Ocean and the Cordilleras, 540,812 ha. (almost 20%) of the land of
Cagayan Valley is used for agricultural purposes (in 2013). With its Type III
Climate (relatively dry from November to April, and wet during the rest of the
year), and the rich soil in the region, it is no wonder the 2 nd top producer of rice
and the top producer of corn in the country. Aside from these crops, Cagayan
Valley is also known to be one of the top producers of Sugarcane, Banana, Hog,
and Chicken. In 2013, 846,000 out of the 1,475,000 employed people in the
region are working in the agriculture sector wherein around 596,000 are male
and 250,000 are female.
Batanes
History

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Culture
The people of Batanes, Ivatans, racially originated from the Malays. The native
language that they speak is also called Ivatan, although English and Filipino
could be widely understood.
One of the distinct characteristics of their culture is the evident adaptation to
strong winds and typhoons due to their geographic location. A product of this
adaptation is seen in the construction of their houses made of stone walls and
thick cogon roofs that could withstand strong typhoons. They have a unique food
production and consumption pattern due to the scarcity of resources in some of
the months. They have become masters of food preservation and almost every
household is self-sufficient. They also have rituals and festivities, which include
native songs and dances, that are associated with food production such as
planting and fishing.
Economy
Batanes is composed of three main islands (Itbayat, Sabtang, and Batan) and
other islets. Because of this, its major livelihood relies on fishing, especially
during the summer months when the waters are calm. Another major produce of
Batanes are cattle and garlic, and they even export the said products. They also
produce other crops such as yam, sweet potato, and taro.
Cagayan
History
Culture
There are 3 major ethnic groups of people in Cagayan: the Ybanags, Itawits and
Malawegs. The Ybanags, the dominant group, are known to be the tallest among
the ethno-linguistic groups all over the Philippines. They are know for their
excellence in making seacrafts and blacksmithing. The Itawits, on the other hand,
almost look the same as the Ybanags. However, they are more known for their
knowledge in pottery and basket-weaving. Lastly, the group of Malawegs are
known for their skills in agriculture, mainly lowland rice and corn.
The official language of the province is Ybanag. However, due to the large
number of Ilokano immigrants over the years, majority of the population now
speak Ilokano.
Economy
Cagayan is known to be one of the major producers of agricultural products,
especially grains and legumes, in the Philippines. Among these are rice, corn,
vegetables, sugar, mango, cassava, banana, cacao, coffee, tubers, and
watermelon. They also produce livestock such as carabao, cattle, goat, hog,
poultry, and sheep. Meanwhile, its forests also contribute to the livelihood of

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Cagayan because the timber, rattan, bamboo, and nipa that are turned into final
products are of export quality.
Isabela
History
Culture
Isabela’s population is composed mainly of Ilokanos because of their migration
yaers ago. The second largest ethno-linguistic group is the Ibanags, the same
people found in Batanes. Gaddangs, Yogads, Agtas, and other Negrito groups
also compose of the population in Isabela.
Economy
Agriculture is the main source of income of the families in Isabela. Some of the
crops they harvest include monggo, tobacco, coffee, banana, and mango. Its
livestock and poultry industries are also considered as top livelihood programs.
NuevaVizcaya
History
Culture
The Nueva Vizcaya provinnce was once dominated by tribes such as Igorots,
Ifugaos, Ilongots, Aetas, Gaddangs, and the Maalats. But due to the rise in
migrants over the province, it is now dominated by the Ilocanos, Tagalogs,
Pangasinenses, Kapampangans and other groups. Although, up until now, there
are around 18 ethnic groups living in Nueva Vizcaya. Their cultural diversity and
unity is celebrated annually in the Grand Ammungan Festival.
The major language spoken in the province is Ilocano, comprising of 66.9
percent of the population.
Economy
Among the activities that contribute to the economy of Nueva Vizcaya
are commerce, trade, and agriculture as its main industry. The major crops that it
produces are corn and palay, while the minor crops are rootcrops, vegetables,
and fruits among others. Other towns have their own specialty of yield such as
flowers and strawberries in Kayapa; lettuce, apple tomatoes, sweet and bell
peppers in Sta. Fe; pineapples in Bagabag; and locally grown Perante Orange in
Bayombong. Aside from agriculture, businessmen are also attracted to the
province due to the deposits of gold and copper.

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Quirino
History
Culture
Quirino is the youngest among the provinces in Region II.
Most of its residents in the lowlands are Ilokanos. There also indigenous groups
who live in the mountains or scattered among its municipalities such as the
Ilongots, Kankana-ey, Inibaloi, and Agtas.
Economy
Even though Quirino was just established recently, it has a lot to offer to its
residents and visitors. A variety of crops grow in the province, trees grow freely in
its forests, and there are large deposits of minerals. Among their agricultural
products are rice and corn, coffee, peanuts, and bananas. They also have rich
raw materials that are enough to supply furniture making, builder woodworks,
rattan baskets and novelty items such as fossilized flowers and hand-made
papers.
CHAPTER 3. REGION 3. CENTRAL LUZON

A. Background
Location • located north of Manila, the nation's capital • Bordering the
region are the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan
Valley regions to the north; • National Capital Region and CALABARZON to the
south; • and of waters of Manila Bay to the south; • South China Sea to the west;
and The Philippine Sea to the east
Resources • Central Luzon has both timber and mineral resources. Both
metallic and non- metallic resources are found in the region. • Bataan is known
for its copper deposits while refractory chromite, gold and marble may be
extracted from Zambales and Bulacan. • Fertile rice lands, melon patches and
fishponds can be found along rivers and tributaries.
It has a long coastline rich with marine resources in western Bataan and
Zambales. • The region accounts for the third largest aquaculture production in
the Philippines.
Ethnic groups: Kapampangans • or Pampangos or are the sixth largest
Filipino ethnolinguistic group, numbering about 2,890,000. • The province of
Pampanga is traditional homeland of the Kapampangans.
Aeta • Agta or Ayta are an indigenous people who live in scattered, isolated
mountainous parts of Luzon, Philippines. • They are considered to be Negritos,
who are dark to very dark brown-skinned and tend to have features such as a
small stature, small frame, curly to kinky afro- like textured hair with a higher
frequency of naturally lighter hair color (blondism) relative to the general
population, small nose, and dark brown eyes.

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Tagalogs • The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog,
meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog,
meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or
stream where people, animals, or vehicles can cross it.
• The prefix taga- means "coming from" or "native of", while the word ilog means
'river'. Translated, tagá- ilog means 'coming from the river' or 'native of the river',
and tagá-alog means 'coming from the ford' or 'native of the ford' with 'the' being
implied in both cases.
• Either way, the original name has been contracted to become simply Tagalog.In
more recent times, the people of this ethnolinguistic group rarely refer to
themselves as "Tagalog", and instead, refer to themselves simply as "Filipino".
Economy • It supplies food for almost the entire Manila area and is the
nation's major rice-producing region and its second (after Negros island)
sugarcane- producing area. • the Bicol peninsula is known for its extensive
coconut plantations; the Cagayan River valley for its tobacco and corn
• Other major crops are fruits, vegetables, and cacao. Luzon has important
lumbering and mining industries; there are gold, chromite, nickel, copper, and
iron deposits, and the bamboo on Bataan peninsula has many commercial uses.
• Manufacturing is centered in the Manila metropolitan area, where the major
industries produce textiles, chemicals, and metal products. • Scattered
throughout the island are fertilizer plants, an occasional oil refinery, cement
factories, and plywood mills and wood product plants.
B. Provinces, Cities and Municipalities: Provinces: • Aurora • Bataan •
Bulacan • Nueva Ecija • Pampanga • Tarlac • Zambales
Municipalities and Cities of Aurora: municipalities: 8 • Baler – capital •
Casiguran • Dilasag • Dinalungan • Dingalan • Dipaculao • Maria Aurora• San
Luis City
HISTORY • The Province of Aurora, with Baler as its capital, was founded by
President Ferdinand E. Marcos in August 13, 1979 by virtue of Batas Bambansa
Blg. 7. • This act was the fulfillment of the prayers of the people of the former
Municipalities of Baler and Casiguran to be truly independent from the Province
of Quezon for the first time since the Spanish occupation.
Land Area Aurora Province has a total land area of 323,954 hectares,
representing about one percent of the country's total land area. Location Aurora
Province is located on the East- Central side of Luzon Island.
• Agriculture is the primary industry in Aurora, employing approximately
half of the population. About 49,991 hectares, or 15% of the provincial land area,
consist of cultivated land. Major crops include rice, coconut, coffee, bananas,
root crops, corn, citrus fruits, peanuts and abaca.
• The town of Casiguran produces some of Philippine's best tasting virgin
coconut distilled wine, also known as "lambanog". • Casiguran's "lambanog" is
made from the dripping sap or "tuba" of coconut tree flowers. • The sweet and
frothy "tuba" - a rejuvenating drink by itself - is cooked through a strict process of
natural fermentation and distillation that produces the chemical-free "lambanog".

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Delicacies: • “Suman” is a vernacular term for rice cake which made this place
popular in the region. With that, the people of Baler mark these days as a great
Suman Festival for this part of Aurora.
Municipalities and Cities of Bataan: municipalities: 11 • Abucay Bagac
Dinalupihan Hermosa Limay Mariveles Morong• Orani • Orion • Pilar • Samal
City: 1 • Balanga City
• Bataan is now proving to be a tourist haven boasting a multitude of exciting
places to visit, and interesting things to do. The province has much to offer – a
rich culture and history, the beauty of unspoilt beaches, and a warm hospitality
that is truly Filipino.
• The climate consists of two distinct seasons: dry from November to April and
wet during the rest of the year. • The population of Bataan for the year 2000 was
552,000 based on the growth rate of 2.12% in Central Luzon. • Tagalog is the
main language and is widely used, followed by Pampango and Ilocano. English is
used mostly as the medium of transaction in business.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES • Bataan remains basically an agricultural province in spite
of the rapid industrialization during the last decade. • Mariveles is the site of an
export-processing zone that accounts for heavy industry in the province. • Cattle
and carabao fattening, hog raising, and poultry industry, especially broilers and
ducks and egg production, are some of the promising livelihood programs in the
province. •
delicacies: • Ukoy Ukoy is the Filipino version of Shrimp Fritters. This dish can be
eaten as a snack or an appetizer.
ginataang laing • is taro leaves cooked in coconut milk plus other flavorsome
ingredients and seasonings
Bataan white corals beach resort and hotel: Camaya Coast/Point; Montemar
Beach Resort Villa Carmen
Philippine Japanese Friendship Tower • located at Bagac, Bataan, was built to
commemorate the reconciliation, peace, and friendship between the once
warring nations of Philippines and Japan during the World War II.
Municipalities and Cities of Bulacan: • Angat Balagtas Baliuag Bocaue
Bulacan Bustos Calumpit Doña Remedios Trinidad Guiguinto• Hagonoy • Marilao
• Norzagaray • Obando • Pandi • Paombong • Plaridel • Pulilan • San Ildefonso •
San Miguel• San Rafael • Santa Maria cities: 3 • Malolos City - capital •
Meycauayan City • San Jose del Monte City
Delicacies: • Puto bumbong Bulacan, home of numerous delicious recipes, has
made Philippine delicacies more flavorful. Thanks to its people who are very
good in cooking; Suman bulacan • made up of glutinous rice; Yema pastillas •
Yema is another favorite for those who have a sweet tooth. Bulacan is the home
of this tasty and sweet candy; Meringue • Meringue is a great treat for the sweet
tooth. It is a delicacy loved and enjoyed by both young and old but most
especially the kids.
Climate • The climate of Bulacan is dry from November to April and wet from
April to November. Language/Dialect • Majority of the people of Bulacan speak
Tagalog. About 42 percent are bilingual, with English as a second language. The
townfolks use other dialects such as Waray, Ilocano, Bicolano and
Kapampangan.
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Major Industries • The nearness of the province of Bulacan to Manila gives it the
superiority of being a preferred place of industrial establishments such as food
processing, cement manufacturing, leather tanning, shoe making, ready-made
garment manufacturing, rope making, weaving, ceramic textiles, pottery and
many more. • On the other hand, the majority of the rural areas are yet relying on
agriculture for their livelihood. Rice is the chief crop, followed by corn, sugar,
mango, chico and watermelon.
Municipalities and Cities of Nueva Ecija: municipalities: 28 • Aliaga •
Bongabon • Cabiao • Carranglan • Cuyapo • Gabaldon • General • Mamerto
Natividad • General Tinio• Guimba • Jaen • Laur • Licab • Llanera • Lupao •
Nampicuan • Pantabangan • Peñaranda • Quezon • Rizal• San Antonio • San
Isidro • San Leonardo • Santa Rosa • Santo Domingo • Talavera • Talugtug •
Zaragoza
Cities: 5 • Cabanatuan City • Gapan City • Palayan City - capital • San Jose City •
Science City of Muñoz
The province of Nueva Ecija was created in 1705 by the Spanish
Governor General Don Fausto Cruzar y Gongora. • Nueva Ecija is considered
the main rice growing province of the country, thus it is often referred to as the
“Rice Granary of the Philippines. • Education is very well established as a major
industry in the province. • health services is a notable industry and a number of
hospitals cater to patients from within Nueva Ecija and some coming from
neighbouring provinces.
Delicacies: • Suman sa lihiya Suman sa Lihiya originated in Nueva Ecija. It is
made of glutinous rice, water and lihiya. Sugar and grated coconut can be added
as desired. Duro-duro • Duro-duro is a delicacy made from rice that originated in
Nueva Ecija. It only has three simple ingredients: glutinous rice, cooking oil, and
brown sugar. But it surely has a great taste.
Gapan
• The first Augustinian mission in lowland Nueva Ecija was founded in Gapan in
1595. It is home to a Roman Catholic church of Byzantine architecture built from
1856 to 1872.
Municipalities and Cities of Pampanga: municipalities: 20 • Apalit • Arayat •
Bacolor • Candaba • Floridablanca • Guagua • Lubao • Mabalacat• Macabebe •
Magalang • Masantol • Mexico • Minalin • Porac • San Luis • San Simon • Santa
Ana • Santa Rita • Santo Tomas • Sasmuan
The name "Pampanga" comes from the word pangpang meaning
riverbank, a fitting name for a flat country crisscrossed by a hundred small
branches of the Pampanga River. • The Pampangos share the general culture
and traditions of the lowland Christian Filipinos, especially of their Tagalog
neighbors to the east and south. However, they speak a distinct language, which
is a source of ethnic pride. • the province has always been a net exporter of food
products like rice, sugar, vegetables and fruits as well as poultry, livestock and
inland fish products. It is also richly blessed with a highly skilled and highly
educated resource pool of manpower.
MAJOR PRODUCTS • Farming and fishing , sugarcane, rice, corn
rootcrops, vegetables and fruit trees, bangus, carps, shrimps, crabs and other
marine products NATURAL RESOURCES • Clay, gravel, sand, copper,
agricultural lands, wetlands
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Delicacies: Bulanglang Kapampangan •A healthy soup perfect for any fried
dishes to liven up your meal. It was introduced by the province of Pampanga.
Pastillas de leche Pastillas de mocha
Municipalities and Cities of Tarlac: Cities: • Tarlac City - capital Municipalities:
17 • Anao • Bamban • Camiling • Capas • Concepcion • Gerona • La Paz•
Mayantoc • Moncada • Paniqui • Pura • Ramos • San Clemente • San Jose • San
Manuel • Santa Ignacia • Victoria
• The terrain formerly belonging to Pangasinan and Pampanga makes the
territory of what is now the Tarlac province. This Central Luzon province was the
last to be organized under the Spanish Regime. • Early in the dawn, of
history,what come to be know as Tarlac today once a thickly-forested area,
people by roving tribes of nomadic Aetas said to be the aboriginal settlers of the
Philippines.The name 'Tarlac' was derived from a 'Talahib'like weed called by by
the Aetas"Matarlac". Along the year, the word 'MALA' was removed and
shotened to 'TARLAC'
• The economy of Tarlac is dominantly agricultural. Principal crops are rice and
sugarcane. Other major crops are corn and coconut; vegetables such as
eggplant, garlic, and onion; and fruit trees like mango, banana, and calamansi. •
Tarlac has its own rice and corn mills as well as sawmills and logging outfits. It
has three sugar centrals. Other firms service agricultural needs such as fertilizer.
Among its cottage industries, ceramics making has become important because of
the abundant supply of clay
Delicacies: • pancit malabon, palabok
Municipalities and Cities of Zambales: Cities: • Olongapo City Municipalities:
13 • Botolan • Cabangan • Candelaria • Castillejos • Iba • Masinloc • Palauig •
San Antonio• San Felipe • San Marcelino • San Narciso • Santa Cruz • Subic
• The name of the province is derived from its earliest inhabitants, the Zambals.
They worship spirits called "anitos", thus they were reffered to as "Sambali" from
the Malay word samba, meaning "to worship". The term was later Hispanicized to
"Zambal". • Zambales was one of the earliest provinces created during the
Spanish rule. As founded in the 16 th century. • The inhabitants are composed of
three principal ethnic groups: the Ilocanos, Tagalogs and Zambals.
• Zambales is basically an agriculture province. The chief products are rice, corn,
vegetables and rootcrops. Major industries include farming, fishing and mining. •
The province's mineral resources include gold, copper and chromite. • Olongapo,
once the site of the biggest US naval base in Asia, is fast developing into an
industrial and tourism zone under the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
Delicacies: • Bagnet Meticulously prepared by the locals of San Felipe, this
Zambales version of chicharon is crispy and too delicious to describe. Matched
perfectly with a bowl of chili and vinegar, a bowl of hot steaming rice and local
pinakbet, this dish will truly give one a taste of bliss. Bagnet is available at the
San Felipe Public Market, best bought from 8 till 10 in the morning everyday.
Ginipang of Sta. Cruz • Ginipa is a native delicacy of the northernmost town of
Zambales, made of conspicuously dried rice grains flavored with a uniquely
sweet concoction to taste. With its prices pegged affordably, this is a favorite
pasalubong treat of visiting tourists. Botolan - Linga • Popular dubbed by locals
as linga, this is actually sesame candies. Zambales is one the very few
producers of sesame seeds and Zambalenos in Botolan have created their own
| 19
adaptation of sesame seeds at its ideal sweetest. Linga is always nutritiously
preferred over regular sweet candies.
CHAPTER 4. REGION 4A. CALABARZON
CALABARZON and MIMAROPA were previously combined together
as Southern Tagalog, until they were separated in 2002.
Executive Order No. 246, dated October 28, 2003, designated Calamba
City as the regional center of CALABARZON.
Region IV-A had a very important role in the history of the Philippines.
Philippine independence was held by 1st Philippine president, Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo in on June 12, 1898.
People from Batangas, Cavite and Laguna were a part of those who first
revolted against the Spaniards for freedom. While the Philippines' national hero,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna. Apolinario Mabini, was born
in Tanauan City, Batangas
The eight primary rays of the sun found in the Philippine Flag represent the
first eight provinces (Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, and Tarlac) that sought independence from Spain and were placed
under martial law by the Spaniards at the start of the Philippine Revolution in
1896.
On August 7, 2000, the municipality of Los Baños, Laguna was declared as
a "Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines" through Presidential
Proclamation No. 349 in recognition of its importance as a center for science and
technology, being home to many prestigious educational, environmental and
research institutions. However, this proclamation does not convert the
municipality to a city, nor gives it corporate powers that are accorded to other
cities.
Cavite - A Place With A Glorious Past
The province of Cavite abounds with great objects, and subjects, of culture
and history. It is the birthplace of a good number of Filipino heroes and it has an
interesting range of sites associated with the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
Found in the province is the residence of the first president of the republic, Emilio
Aguinaldo, which is also the site where the Philippine Republic was proclaimed
on June 12, 1898.
A province not constrained with living in the past, Cavite teems with natural
resources and fantastic landscapes. It is home to Tagaytay City, the Philippines’
second summer capital, next to Baguio City. The accessing highway offers a
breathtaking sight of the world-famous Taal formation, a crater within an island
within a lake. Coconut groves dot the ridges of Tagaytay and classy
accommodations give the visiting tourists the pleasures of relaxation, and at the
same time, wide opportunities to enjoy the magnificent view of Taal.
Yet Cavite stands proudly as a place with a glorious past. Its warm and
friendly people, whose ancestors fought for a noble cause, manifest industry and
patience in various skills and professions, openly receptive to the entry and
exchange of culture and technology that are of value to this wondrous province.
Geography
Cavite province lies at the southwest entrance of Manila Bay across
the Bataan Peninsula, extending eastward along the shore line up to the
| 20
historic Zapote Bridge, and the inland terrain in the south, to
the municipality of Carmona. It is bounded on the east by the provinces of Rizal
and Laguna, on the south by the province of Batangas, on the west by the South
China Sea, and on the north by Manila Bay and the city of Manila.
Climate
Cavite has two pronounced seasons – the dry season, which usually begins
in November and ends in April, and the rainy season, which starts in May and
ends in October. Cavite’s cool periods are from December to February while
summer months are from April to May.
Industry
Cavite’s 805,800-strong labor force comprises 54.12% of the provincial
household population, 15 years old and above, and most of them are in
agriculture, forestry, fishing tourism, trade, and industry. Underemployment rate
is 9.66% while literacy rate stands at a high 98%, making the province a reliable
source of proficient, skilled, and semi-skilled labor force.
Language/ Dialect
Majority speak Tagalog while those in Cavite City and in some areas speak
Chabacano. English is considered as the second language and is widely used as
medium of communication in business and higher education. Other indigenous
languages are Waray, Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilokano, Pangasinense, and
Hiligaynon. Chinese and Spanish are also spoken by some local residents.
Political Subdivision
The province of Cavite has three cities and 20 municipalities. The provincial
capitol is located in Imus but the seat of the provincial government is Trece
Martires, provincial capital. The three cities are Cavite, Trece Martires, and
Tagaytay.
*Alfonso, Amadeo, Bacoor, Carmona, Dasmariñas, Gen. Aguinaldo, Gen.
Alvarez, Gren. Trias, Imus, Indang, Kawit, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez,
Naic, Noveleta, Rosario, Silang, Tanza, and Ternate.
History
Cavite got its name from the Filipino word ”Kawit,” which means hook,
owing to the hook-shaped land on the old Spanish map. The land formerly known
as “Tangway” was where the Spanish authorities constructed a fort on which the
city of Cavite rose. Archeological evidence in coastal areas shows prehistoric
settlements. According to local folklore, the earliest settlers of Cavite came
from Borneo. In the1600s, “encomiendas” or Spanish royal land grants were
given in Cavite and Maragondon. Jesuit priests brought in settlers
from Moluccas. These people, known as Mardicas, settled in Ternate and
Maragondon.
Other settlements grew, and by the turn of the century, Cavite towns where
already trading with one another. Traditional industries began to thrive
as Manila’s commerce grew.
In 1872, Filipinos launched their revolt against Spain. Three Filipino priests,
Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora, were implicated in
the Cavite mutiny when 200 Filipinos staged a rebellion within Spanish garrisons.
On August 25, 1896, when the revolution against Spain broke
out, Cavite became a bloody theater of war.
| 21
Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, Caviteños made lightning raids on Spanish
headquarters, and soon liberated the entire province. Aguinaldo commanded the
Revolution to its successful end: the proclamation of the first Republic in Asia,
the Republic of the Philippines, on June 12, 1898, in Kawit.
Laguna - Resort Province Of The Philippines
Laguna, Resort Province of the Philippines, is a haven of fresh and
pristine bodies of water such as hot springs, lakes, and waterfalls. Most notable
is Pagsanjan Falls, formerly called Magdapio Falls, referred to as “shooting
rapids.” It is found in Cavinti, starting from Pagsanjan town. Another
is Lake Caliraya, which is located between Cavinti and Lumban. The strong
mountain breeze that blows from the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and the
distant Mount Banahaw makes the lake an ideal place for aqua sports like wind
surfing, water skiing, sailing as well as game fishing. Laguna de Bay, Southeast
Asia’s largest fresh water lake, stays pristine throughout the year due to regular
rain showers.
Innumerable hot springs abound in the province, including the famous
Hidden Valley Springs which is located in a secluded part of Alaminos town. A
trip to Dalitiwan River, located in Botocan, Majayjay, is an exciting adventure
because the terrain is rugged, as mountain lands go, and the cool water or river
gushes through the rocks and boulders along the watercourse in sweeping
currents. The mystical Mt. Makiling in Los Baños is an inactive volcano, rising to
about 1,109 meters above sea level. It is indeed endowed with nature’s beauty,
making it ideal for all types of nature tripping, from trekking to bird and butterfly
watching and even camping.
Laguna is not only endowed with natural wonders. It also plays an

important role in the country’s history as the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, the
country’s national hero, whose infancy and early manhood were spent in the
towns of Calamba and Biñan. A number of churches of Spanish-influenced
architecture in intricate Romanesque and Baroque design, mostly restored to
their original elegance, are also found in the province.
The province is one huge showcase of Southern Tagalog craftsmanship.
The town of Paete is famous for its woodcarvings, papier mache, and handmade
paper products.Tree seedlings, sampaguita flowers, orchids, and exotic plants
are big business. Cut flower farms are found mostly in towns of Calamba, Los
Baños, and Bay. Sweet tropical fruits abound, such as the lanzones from Paete,
pineapple from Calauan, chico, banana, mango, rambutan, and avocado. Add to
these Laguna’s embroidered garments. Jusi cloth made from banana fiber is
painstakingly, albeit deftly, transformed into beautiful pieces of clothing worthy of
being tailored into the Philippine national costume, the Barong Tagalog. Shoes
made from abaca hemp is a growing industry in the town of Liliw.
Owing to its nearness to Manila, Laguna is presently becoming the center
of economic activity in the Southern Tagalog Region and the CALABARZON
area. Business in the area is bustling as shown by the presence of several
industrial estates designed for handling large scale firms engaged in textile
manufacturing, electronics, food processing, industrial machines, and car
assembly.
Geography
Laguna is situated 30 kilometers south of Manila and has a total area of
175,973 hectares. Laguna is bounded on the north by the province of Rizal, on
| 22
the east by the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, on the south by the Quezon
province, on the west by Laguna de Bay, and the provinces of Batangas
and Cavite.
Climate
Laguna has no pronounced seasons. However, it is relatively dry from
November to April and wet from May to October. Climate is generally cool and
gentle, even during the summer months. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout
the year in the eastern and southern portions of the province, giving rise to an
abundance and variety of flora and fauna.
Language / Dialects
Laguna being part of the Southern Tagalog Region, approximately
99.22% of the population speak Tagalog. A minority of the population also speak
Ilokano, Bicolano, and Waray. A significant portion of the working population can
read and speak English and Filipino.
History
The province of Laguna was named after Laguna de Bay, the body of
water that forms the province’s northern boundary. In turn, Laguna de Bay was
named after the town of Bay, which was the first provincial capital.
Laguna, along with its surrounding regions, was conquered for Spain by
Captain Juan de Salcedo in 1571, after which, for seven years, the Franciscan
friars started the Christianization of the province.
The province became a bloody battleground during the Chinese revolts in
1603 and 1693. The British invasion in 1762-1764 saw thousands of Filipinos
fighting against the Spaniards, fanned by the execution of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. By
1896, thousands of patriotic citizens of the province have joined the revolutionary
movement, Katipunan. The battle led by Captain Thomas Backhouse met
resistance from the band of Filipino volunteers led by Francisco de San Juan of
Pagsanjan.
Laguna was one of the first eight provinces to rise in revolt against the
Spanish rule. The ill-equipped Filipino forces, led by General Paciano Rizal of
Calamba, General Severino Taiño of Pagsanjan, General Agueda Kahabagan of
Calauan, and General Miguel Malvar of Batangas, fought the Spanish authorities
and won – on August 31, 1898, with the surrender of the last Spanish garrison in
Sta. Cruz.
On January 23, 1899, Laguna expressed its full support for the First
Philippine Republic, which was proclaimed in Malolos, Bulacan. Two citizens of
Pagsanjan, Don Higino Benitez and Don Graciano Cordero, were sent to witness
and participate in this historic event.
The eruption of the Filipino-American war in 1899-1901 saw Generals
Juan Cailles and Paciano Rizal leading the defense of Laguna until surrender
was inevitable. Under the American Flag, Cailles was named the first Filipino
Governor of Laguna. After the war, Laguna progressed rapidly in peace. Schools
were established, various public services were instituted, and roads were built. In
1917, the Manila Railroad Company extended its line to Laguna, as far as
Pagsanjan.
Today, Laguna is a thriving province. Its fertile lands produce millions of
pesos’ worth of coconuts, rice, sugar, citrus fruits, lanzones, and other
agricultural products. Its tourist spots attract a multitude of foreign and domestic
tourists
| 23
Emilio Jacinto Shrine
The glass enclosure contains the blood-stained bolo and hut of General Emilio
Jacinto, symbols of his valor and bravery during the fight between the Spaniards
and the Katipuneros at the Battle of Maimpis. He went to the church wounded
and was later brought to Sta. Cruz Hospital for treatment. The blood-stained bolo
and hut still remain in the original place.
National Arts Center
Managed by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the National Arts Center is a
show window of cultural development and performing arts education the country.
More than this, It is an ideal vantage point for a panoramic view of Laguna de
Bay, Talim Island, Crocodile Lake, and the International Rice Research Institute.
It boasts 62 cottages, an auditorium, and seminar and convention facilities.
Reservations may be coursed through the CCP Main Office on Roxas
Boulevard, Manila.
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Located at Los Baños, Laguna, it is the world’s most complete center for
research on rice (oryza sativa). It has resident scientists and trainees from the
rice-producing nations of the South and Southeast Asia, senior scientists who are
members of the affiliate graduate faculty of the University of the Philippines (UP),
and rigidly selected international specialists in every phase of science concerned
with rice production.
With splendid research laboratories, greenhouses, experiment rice fields, and an
unequalled collection of technical literature on rice, IRRI attracts about 60
graduate students each year from all over the world. More than half of these
students are candidates for an advanced degree in the Graduate School of
UP College of Agriculture.
Formally dedicated in February, 1962, IRRI was founded by the Ford Foundation.
Its headquarters and field laboratories are adjacent to the
UP College of Agriculture and its Experiment Station is at Los Baños. Much of
the research involves changing the architecture of the rice plant, the staple food
of 100 million people in the world.
University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB) Museum of Natural History
Located at Los Baños, Laguna. The museum is a repository of biological
specimens for scientific reference and center for documentation, research,
information, and education on these. It has a diverse collection of more than
200,000 preserved Philippine animals, plants, cultures of living microorganisms,
and other biota that showcase the country’s rich biodiversity. It houses most of
the priceless collections of birds and small mammals of the late Dr. Dioscoro
Rabor, and has in its hortorium a diverse collection of living plants. A multi-
colored diorama of Philippine flora and fauna and video presentations on
biodiversity are special museum features.
Exhibits feature, among others, the Philippine eagle, tamaraw, tarsier; snails
in Mt. Makiling and Laguna de Bay; Philippine plants, forests, shells; Philippine
cobras, marine turtles and mammals; and a Philippine map made of 4,012
locusts and lahar from Mt. Pinatubo.
Makiling Botanical Garden
The MBG was started in September 1965 to support professional instruction and
research related to forestry and plant sciences, and to serve the needs of tourism
| 24
as well as the educational and recreational needs of the general public. MBG
occupies 300 has. of forest land distributed into three main sections, the
arboretum, nursery, and recreational areas. There are 1,060 general, 2,087,150
varieties, 2 culvinators of flowering plants and ferns representing 209 families
in Mount Makiling. An exhibit of Philippine wildlife in a diorama setting can be
viewed at the pavilion. Mini waterfalls, gurgling creeks, natural swimming pools,
concrete trails, and nature trails are attractions at the MBG.
Pagsanjan
The town of Pagsanjan is not only known for its waterfalls but for its historic town
gate, the Arco Real. This was built in 1878-1880 by many Pagsanjeño polistas. It
has three Roman arches, topped by two lions guarding Spain’s royal escutcheon.
Along Rizal St., formerly known as Calle Real, is a series of old houses that
survived the war. These old houses hold memories of the past, and the unique
beauty of Filipno architecture.
It is blessed with natural wonders – the awe-inspiring gorges, the roaring rapids,
and the Pagsanjan Falls, a plus factor that made Pagsanjan one of the premiere
tourist attractions of the country. The gorges teem with wild orchids, ferns, and
vines, and in early morning, chattering monkeys and beautiful sunrays and
peaceful water. Inside, multi-colored birds flirt in the bushes.
The thrill of shooting the rapids here is an experience of a lifetime, starting with
boarding a banca paddled by two expert Pagsanjeño boatmen. The only way to
the falls is through the Bumbungan River of Pagsanjan. The upstream trip, three
miles from outside town on the rugged Cavinti highlands, is relatively slow as the
boatmen paddle and drag the banca against the currents. But the half-hour trip
back provides an unforgettable experience in shooting the 14 rapids.
The rainy season is the best time to view the series of mini-falls, over 19 in all,
first of which is the Talahib Falls. Farther on are the Kalukuy Falls and the
misty Bridal Veil Falls. Some of these mini-falls are unnamed and rarely seen in
the summer. Huge stones called Pusong Bato lay at the center of the river.
Mount Banahaw
Yet another popular spot with great tourism potential is Mount Banahaw. A
unique experience awaits mountain climbing enthusiasts who venture to a part of
the mountain so-called “Banal na Lugar,” or Holy Place, found in the depths and
alleged to be mystical. In fact, Majayjay situated at the foot of the mountain is
considered holy ground amongst amulet makers, faith healers, and seekers of
the divine. Mystical Mount Banahaw is 2,188 meters in height.
Tipakan
This was a quarry site during the Spanish times. The adobe stone used for the
construction of the Luisiana Catholic Church came from this site.
Trece Martires Monument-Sampalok Lake
Constructed through the efforts of the Association of Deaconesses of the
Philippine Independent Church in 1927, the monument is in memory of the
martyrs of the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
Bonifacio Monument
(Trece Martires Street). Located on the southern bank of Sampalok Lake not too
far from the City Hall, it was constructed and formally inaugurated on November

| 25
30, 1996 to commemorate the 133rd birth anniversary of hero Andres Bonifacio.
It was designed by a local sculpture.
Woodcarving & Paper-Mache
There is a proliferation of small to large woodcarving and papier-mache factories
in the town of Paete. That practically all the townsfolk are involved in these
businesses either as factory workers or owners has become a tradition passed
on through generations. The artistic ingenuity of Paeteños dates back to the pre-
Spanish period, during which the artists created mostly religious articles. Skillful
artisans patiently fashioned lanite, amlang, kamagong, lauan, acacia, and santol
wood into world-class miniature décor items. The old creations of Paete are
among the most valued antiques today. At present, Paete’s artists carve not only
religious figures but also furniture and other items. The hard work that each
Paete artist devotes to his craft indeed puts meaning to the label, “made in
Paete.
Historic Places
Visit the province’s historic places, such as the birthplace of Philippine national
hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, at the Rizal Shrine in Calamba where one may view his
memorabilia.
Delicacies
Shop for Laguna’s best buys from decorative plants, cutflowers, fruit preserves to
pies made of fresh young coconut meat (buko pie), abaca fiber slippers from
Liliw, embroidered fabrics and finery from Lumban, lanzones fruits from Paete
and Pakil, cottage cheese from Sta. Cruz, paper-mache from Paete, and freshly
baked rice cakes from Biñan (puto Biñan).
Batangas - From The Lowest Volcano To Deeper Dives
A province that is famous for excellent dive sites and the world’s lowest
volcano, Batangas is going nowhere but up. It is a thriving tourist destination
replete with open beaches and sheltered coves, subterranean caves and deep
harbors, a preserved heritage and brave men in history.
Found in the province is world-known Anilao and its many dive sites that
are ideal for poking around and observing marine life, and outstanding for macro
photography. Multi-hued crinoids are prolific. The variety of nudibranchs is
unmatched. Night dives are especially nice and often reveal unusual creatures
like sea hares, sea goblins, catfish eels, ghost pipe fishes, blue-ringed
octopuses, mandarin fishes, and snake eels. The area’s best known dive site,
coral-covered Cathedral is spectacular at night. One of the prettiest dives in the
area, Sepok has nice coral gardens and a vertical wall.
Taal Lake and Volcano in Batangas is Southern Luzon’s centerpiece
attraction. Known to be the smallest in the world, it is a volcano within an islet
within a lake within a crater within a volcano. The town of Taal reigns as one of
the two most culturally preserved sites of the Spanish colonial era; the other is
Vigan in Ilocos Sur. The village in Taal conforms to the old town layout combining
the municipal hall, school, church, and houses.
Among the multitude of popular tourism activities to be had in the province
are heritage tours, pilgrimage tours, scuba diving, shopping, mountain climbing
and trekking, swimming, and snorkeling. Batangas is located only 110 kilometers
south of Metropolitan Manila, and is very accessible from the national capital by
land.
| 26
Geography
The province of Batangas is bounded on the north by the provinces
of Cavite and Laguna, on the south by the Verde Island passage, on the east by
the provinces of Quezon and Laguna, and on the west by the South China Sea. It
has a total land area of 316,580 hectares, 50% of which has a grade of less than
15 degrees. The terrain is generally rolling while the rest are mountainous and
hilly.
Climate
Batangas has a naturally cool climate. It experiences two types of seasons:
dry from November to April and wet for the rest of the year. Mean annual rainfall
is at its maximum in July, at 1.5 to 2.5 meters. March is the driest month. Mean
monthly temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit. February is the coldest month,
averaging 69 degrees Fahrenheit, while May is the hottest, at 96.1 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Language / Dialect
Batangueños are bilingual, with Tagalog and English as the basic languages
used in business, government, schools, and everyday communication.
Political Subdivision
Batangas is subdivided into 31 municipalities and 3 cities (4 Districts).
Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balayan, Balete, Batangas City, Bauan, Calaca, Calatagan,
Cuenca, Ibaan, Laurel, Lemery, Lian, Lipa City, Lobo, Mabini, Malvar, Mataas Na
Kahoy, Nasugbu, Padre Garcia, Rosario, San Jose, San Juan, San Luis, San
Nicolas, San Pascual, Santa Teresita, Santo Tomas, Taal, Talisay, Tanauan
City, Taysan, Tingloy, and Tuy.
History
Founded in 1581, Batangas used to be a bigger province, which was
composed of the present Batangas, Mindoro, Marinduque, and the present
southeastern portion of Laguna. It used to be called Balayan, with the town
of Balayan as the capital.
In the beginning of the 17th century, Marinduque and Mindoro were made
into separate provinces. In 1732, the capital was transferred to Taal. Finally, in
1754, the capital was transferred to Batangas and the province was thereafter
named after the new capital town.
Batangueños are known for being adventurous, business-minded,
industrious, friendly, and hospitable. They also happen to have a long-standing
reputation for bravery, owing to the Balisong, a Philippine handmade fan-knife
native to the province. To add to the perception, Lipa in Batangas, known as
Coffee Granary of the Philippines, produces the popular Kapeng Barako, strong
coffee considered fit only for strong men.
Tourist Attractions:
General Malvar Museum and Library
A national landmark, it serves as a repository of the memorabilia of the last
Filpino general who surrendered to the Americans. It also houses a collection of
oil paintings.
Apolinario Mabini Shrine
| 27
The national shrine is a memorial to the nationalism of Philippine hero Apolinario
Mabini, known as the Sublime Paralytic, whose moral convictions and political
principles illuminated the Filipinos in their search for national identity. It houses
the remains and personal belongings of the late revolutionary hero who is also
considered as the Brains of the Katipunan, the 1896 Filipino revolutionary
movement against Spain. The shrine is located in Barrio Talaga, Tanauan,
Batangas.
Marcela N. Agoncilio Historical Landmark
The site marks the birthplace of Marcela Agoncilio, who made the first official
Philippine Flag during the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish authorities.
The different flags of the revolution are also prominently displayed on-site.
Casa de Segunda Katigbak
The ancestral home of the Katigbaks, a prominent Batangas family, the Casa is a
typical “Bahay na Bato.” It is Spanish colonial yet tropical in style. It was named
after Segunda Katigbak, reputed to be the first love of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the
Philippine national hero. The Casa has been declared by the National Historical
Commission as a heritage house for having harbored generations of artists,
poets, and persons of learning and distinction.
Taal Heritage
Taal reigns as one of the two most culturally preserved sites of the Spanish
colonial era; the other is Vigan in Ilocos sur. The village conforms to the old town
layout combining municipal hall-school-church-houses. It consists of a number of
tourist attractions, namely, the Leon Apacible Historical
Landmark, Marcela Mariño Agoncilio Museum and Monument, Basilica of San
Martin de Tours, Escuela Pia, and Church of Our Lady of Caysasay.
Taal Lake and Volcano
Southern Luzon’s centerpiece attraction is Taal Lake and Volcano in Batangas.
The gateway for most visitors is through Tagaytay City, from the ridge where a
panoramic view of Volcano Island can be seen. The volcano is known to be the
smallest in the world. Surrounded by a lake, it is situated on an 8.8-kilometer
islet, lapped by the 27-kilometer-long lake. Both the lake and the volcano are
situated on the crater of an extinct volcano. Volcano Island is also ideal for
trekking.
ACTIVITIES:
(1) Choose one region from the topics above. In 300 words, promote the
province you choose.
(2) List at five famous festivals in each province of regions 1, 2, 3, and 4.
(3) Why are there many Ilocanos in Mindanao?
(4) By using the Venn Diagram, compare and contrast the four regions.
Note: Encode your answers in long bond paper with your name, course,
school and date. Compile your activities in a long file folder.
References:
Internet
Philippine History and Government by Sonia Gregorio, et al.

| 28
Philippine History and Government Through The Years by Francisco Zulueta, et
al
http://www.dotregion2.com.ph/welcome/
http://mamjennifer.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/7/2/22727436/4372659.png
http://www.academia.edu/8208267/4_Types_Of_Climate_in_the_Philippines
http://countrystat.psa.gov.ph/?cont=16&r=2
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/regview.asp?region=02

| 29

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ST. BENEDICT COLLEGE OF COTABATO, INC.

, BISHOP MONGEAU AVENUE, COTABATO CITY

First Edition, 2020

Subject: SSC 201

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Region 2 or the Cagayan Valley region is strategically located on the

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

CHAPTER 3. REGION 3. CENTRAL LUZON

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Laguna is not only endowed with natural wonders. It also plays an

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grades II (Culture and Geography)

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