Hello guys! im about to start my new book entitled Philippines Seven Wonders. It will include the different wonders of the Philippines island from nature to man-made architecture, from ancient to modern philippines, ranked as the best of seven. In this regard, i would like to ask for your entries and suggestions of what should be on the list of seven depend on their classifications. Ex. Seven Most wonderful beaches, reefs, caves, mountains, buildings, houses in terms of human architecture, bridges, cities, monuments, government buildings, schools so on and so fort. New Pictures and updated articles included Thanks a lot, hope to hear from all of you guys.

Hope to hear about the book;) :)

woah... cool book! Ok, i'll think.....

BASTA SALI MO BATANES STONE HOUSES & VIGAN COLONIAL BLDGS.

good luck

don't forget lake sebu!

wow! you'll making a book, eh?
what about the row of old houses in Pila, Laguna?
beach? not so good on that tho.

are you thinking of some possible entries yet?

wow..hope we see your book soon...

well.. for me, I had a book entitled 1000 Places to See Before You Die which is a compilation of 1000 must-see destinations around the world.. and in it, 3 Philippine destinations are included...

1. Banaue Rice Terraces - well it was dubbed as the 8th Wonder of the World
2. Taal Volcano - A lake within a volcano within a lake within an island.. a unique site
3. Amanpulo, Pamalican Island - a private isle in the Sulu Sea..

other than... I guess you can add the Old Houses of Vigan, and yeah the Heritage site in Batanes.. and maybe Mayon Volcano that used to be an almost perfect cone

beaches - El Nido, Amanpulo, Pagudpod, Bohol, Boracay, Puerto Galera, Camiguin
reefs - Tubbataha in Sulu Sea, Puerto Galera Reefs (forgot the name)
caves - Puerto Princesa Underwater River (longest in the world), Paniki Caves in Bulacan
monuments - Rizal Monument, Quezon Monument, Bonifacio Monument
cities - Cebu, Baguio, Makati

cave- the huuuuuge cave in Biak-na-Bato National Park.

i'll look around Subic if i can find "any" that fits your book....
GOOD LUCK!! :)

I've a few beaches, since I helped a friend of mine B de V. write Philippine vacations. We took her all over Easter Southern Mindanao. Some really great beaches we saw include
Glan in Sarangani Bay , Gen San Area, really truly fine,
Pujada Island in Mati, Davao Oriental,
Dapa, Siargao Surigao

She also said the closest beach in quality to Boracay was in Catanduanes.

By the way, why don't you just put the various categories and the people here can name their top seven , so you can get a feel for the forumers preference,

Taal Volcano. :)

Bamboo Organ at the church in Las Pinas :)


ThisFire

How about the Angono Petroglyphs (http://www.waypoints.ph/detail_gen.html?wpt=ptrglp) from 3000-2500 B.C. of my hometown? :)

How about the Angono Petroglyphs (http://www.waypoints.ph/detail_gen.html?wpt=ptrglp) dating from 3000-2500 B.C. of my hometown? :)


EDIT: sorry for the double post

Wow I didn't knew we have this kind of very very old artwork

How about the Angono Petroglyphs (http://www.waypoints.ph/detail_gen.html?wpt=ptrglp) dating from 3000-2500 B.C. of my hometown? :)


EDIT: sorry for the double post

Chocolate Hills. Very known and significant.

Miagao Curch anyone??? Already, it is listed in the World Heritage Site List, so its a good choice ...

tubataha reef in the palawan area

that angono cave writings. sayang. andaming vandal. di talaga tayo maingat sa mga ganitong bagay. maganda sa angono. may mga malalaking mascot na tao. napuntahan ko rin ung galleries ng nemiranda at ng blancos. may parang jurassic park rin sila malapit sa may iglesia ni cristo.

beaches alang nomination?

tubbataha is no longer part of Palawan... it is situated in the Sulu Sea..

also.. I think for Heritage... the mummies of the Ifugao in Sagada, the vintas of Zamboanga

for island.. I guess its Batanes... being New Zealand-like

that angono cave writings. sayang. andaming vandal. di talaga tayo maingat sa mga ganitong bagay. maganda sa angono. may mga malalaking mascot na tao. napuntahan ko rin ung galleries ng nemiranda at ng blancos. may parang jurassic park rin sila malapit sa may iglesia ni cristo.

sa bayan ng mum ko meron din silang higateng tao every christmas...

Thank you so much people. By the way, we are conducting some surveys in various universities here in manila, of what they think which could be on the best of seven. so far so good, Mayon rank as No.1 followed by chocolate hills and St Paul Subterranean River National Park. Sagada, Taal Volcano, Lahar Canyon and of course, Boracay among others in natural categories. Banaue Rice Terraces is not belong in this category. Next week, we will conduct an on-line surveys. Salamat ng marami.

St. Paul Subterranean River National Park is now renamed into Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park po.. :D

wow.. Lahar Canyon... :D how about Fort Ilocandia? you know the desert used in the movie Panday.. :D

sa bayan ng mum ko meron din silang higateng tao every christmas...

ung sa angono higante festival ata un. maraming aliw na higante na naka pinoy barrio festival attire. kung ano man yun.

kung festivals.. siguro.. Sinulog ng Cebu, Ati-Atihan ng Aklan, Panagbenga ng Baguio, Dinagyang ng Bacolod, Pahiyas ng Lucban, Pista ni Sta. Clara ng Obando, yung piyest ng mga Lechon at yang Higantes Festival... :D

ang ganda ng kulay ng pahiyas. parang gusto ko makifiesta lagi kaya lang wala naman akong bibisitahin doon, di ko alam kung kailan un, baka busy ako pag nag-aaliw na sila doon, di ako marunong pumunta sa lucban.

maganda ung mga suggestions ni pau_p1. saka talagang sikat at bigatin yang mga iyan.

of course the beautiful Mayon Volcano..... I grew up in the city everytime I wake and see Mayon it never seize to amze me.... Im in singapore now... :okay:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/lpibn3030_8.jpg

for island.. I guess its Batanes... being New Zealand-like

It has been mentioned and compared in the past that the Batanes Islands are pretty similar to the highlands of Ireland and Scotland. I would love to see Batanes someday. I hope they push through nominating Batanes into the World Heritage Site and it would be nice if it gets the recognition.

Jon

Masskara Festival of Bacolod and Moriones Festival or Marinduque

of course the beautiful Mayon Volcano..... I grew up in the city everytime I wake and see Mayon it never seize to amze me.... Im in singapore now... :okay:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/lpibn3030_8.jpg

wow... that really is just jaw-dropping... looks so surreal there. speechlessly amazing (that sounds.... i dunno. haha)

Don't forget the Smoky Mountain. That's one extremely unique wonder right there. In fact, everything about us is a wonder. Goodluck with your book.

yeah! mt mayon is perfect...


cguro icategorize natin:
1. natural>>> a. beach b. underwater c. mountains d. rivers e. lakes
2. man-made>>> a. historical towns b. churches c. modern.. etc..
3. society o arts>>> a. fiestas b. music c. paintings ... etc...

the maskarra festival come on.... more than the usual smiles... wow phils

(singing) nakapunta ka na ba, sa bacolod maskarra???

lets not forget the pahiyas too and the ati-atihan

kung festivals.. siguro.. Sinulog ng Cebu, Ati-Atihan ng Aklan, Panagbenga ng Baguio, Dinagyang ng Bacolod, Pahiyas ng Lucban, Pista ni Sta. Clara ng Obando, yung piyest ng mga Lechon at yang Higantes Festival... :D
Dinagyang in Bacolod? ...Dinagyang is held in Iloilo, its the Maskara Festival that's in Bacolod :)

Dinagyang is a major festival in the Philippines and has been getting a lot of international attention throughout the years.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid154/p30014dcdf29a75ec5a1400d2527e1f85/f574b1f6.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid154/p6afef261cefa5027699fe8f186a7d1b0/f574b1f3.jpg
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/images/Explore/Gallery/Big/ILOILO/Dinagyang-Festival-pic4.jpg

-------------------------------
One of my favorite places in the Philippines
Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
In the heart of Sulu Sea lies the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.
33,200 hectares of underwater paradise teeming with diverse marine life. It is the Philippines’ first and only national marine park and its only coral reef atoll.

Tubbataha was inscribed by UNESCO in the prestigious World Heritage List because of its significance to regional and global biodiversity and its outstanding universal value. It is one of only nine purely marine World Heritage Sites in the world and the only one in South East Asia.

Tubbataha is home to at least 441 species of fish, 396 species of corals, 71 species of algae, 44 species of birds, 6 species of marine mammals, two species of nesting marine turtles and still more unaccounted wonders.

Believed to be the spawning ground of various marine species dispersed in Palawan and other neighboring islands, Tubbataha yields the highest fish biomass in the country at 120 metric tons per square kilometer (2003).

http://www.tubbataha.org/images/mosaic.jpg
http://www.tubbataha.org/images/tubba_aerial.jpg
http://www.tubbataha.org/images/dive.jpg
http://www.tubbataha.org/album/JurgeFreund/images/barracuda.jpg
http://www.tubbataha.org/album/JurgeFreund/images/fan%20coral,%20manta%20rays.jpg
http://www.tubbataha.org/album/JurgeFreund/images/crested%20terns.jpg
(from www.tubbataha.org)
BEAUTIFUL

beautiful indeed. i was in tubbataha a couple of years back. i stayed on a wwf vessel there for about a week. really an amazing place. its considered to be one of the centers of marine biodiversity in the world. saw lots of coral, fish and other marine species when i was there!

One of my favorite places in the Philippines
Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
In the heart of Sulu Sea lies the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park.
33,200 hectares of underwater paradise teeming with diverse marine life. It is the Philippines’ first and only national marine park and its only coral reef atoll.

Tubbataha was inscribed by UNESCO in the prestigious World Heritage List because of its significance to regional and global biodiversity and its outstanding universal value. It is one of only nine purely marine World Heritage Sites in the world and the only one in South East Asia.

Tubbataha is home to at least 441 species of fish, 396 species of corals, 71 species of algae, 44 species of birds, 6 species of marine mammals, two species of nesting marine turtles and still more unaccounted wonders.

Believed to be the spawning ground of various marine species dispersed in Palawan and other neighboring islands, Tubbataha yields the highest fish biomass in the country at 120 metric tons per square kilometer (2003).

Hmm, I dont think we should label our wonders as seven wonders, as we all know we have a lot of wonders, should we say the 7000 wonders of the Philippines? :)

please don't forget SIARGAO and surrounding islands!

1. Banaue Rice Terraces
2. Mayon Volcano
3. Taal Volcano
4. St. Paul Underground River in Palawan
5. Chocolate Hills of Bohol
6. Maria Christina Falls
7. Intramuros Walled City

1. Stone houses in Batanes
2. Vigan colonial bldgs
3. Intramuros/Manila
4. Cebu historical sites
5. Bohol old churches
6. Iloilo old churches
7. Banawe/Sagada

Goodluck on your book...dont forget Mayon Volcano....visited it 4 times already in Legaspi city....branded as the worls most Perfect cone....

Miagao Curch anyone??? Already, it is listed in the World Heritage Site List, so its a good choice ...

MIAG-AO CHURCH as its best !

MIAG-AO CHURCH as its best !
Indeed! :D

Anyhow, I can't wait to see the release of your book, josephbc! :D

Manmade- Churches-Paoay Church, Miag-ao Church, San Agustin Church Intramuros Manila ,Santa Barbara Church, San Sebastian Church- Quiapo Manila , Manila Cathedral, Santo Nino Basilica Minore, Quiapo Church,
Corregidor,Banaue Rice Terraces, Vigan town , Batanes, Angono Petroglyps

Nature- Palawan underground river, Tubataha reefs, Mt. Mayon. Taal Volcano, Mt. Pinatubo,Mt. Apo.

please include Greenbelt park and Ayala Center Cebu lagoon...These are man made-lagoons and they really look great and the feeling you would feel once you are in the area is entirely different..

of course the beautiful Mayon Volcano..... I grew up in the city everytime I wake and see Mayon it never seize to amze me.... Im in singapore now... :okay:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/olineil/lpibn3030_8.jpg

Not just in Philippines, it's a world wonder. Beautiful shot.

^^ wow! world's most perfect cone! beautiful indeed!

can't wait for this book!

the mystical cave in antipolo city, it is very mystical:colgate:

Don't forget the Smoky Mountain. That's one extremely unique wonder right there. In fact, everything about us is a wonder. Goodluck with your book.

i thought smokey mountain does not exist any more ?

Among important Philippine university landmarks, UST's Main Building ranks first in my list.

my own list:

1. Mayon
2. Banaue
3. Vigan (latinamerica in asia)
4. Taal (picturesque mountain lake. geneva-meets-baguio-meets-volcano)
5. Bohol (surreal hillocks)
6. Zamboanga (melting pot of cultures/exotic)
7. Batanes (spanish pacific feel)

kung festivals.. siguro.. Sinulog ng Cebu, Ati-Atihan ng Aklan, Panagbenga ng Baguio, Dinagyang ng Bacolod, Pahiyas ng Lucban, Pista ni Sta. Clara ng Obando, yung piyest ng mga Lechon at yang Higantes Festival... :D


hehehe. correction lang. you mean DINAGYANG OF ILOILO, MASSKARA OF BACOLOD.

the chocolate hills?

i think it would be better to have classifications, that is, seven man-made wonders of the philippines and seven natural wonders of the philippines, maybe even make another one for festivals... hehehe

man-made:
1. SM MoA and Bay City Project :lol:
2. Miag-ao church
3. San Juanico Bridge
4. Manila (city hall, National Museum, Post Office, Malacañan Palace, Intramuros, etc. :colgate: )
5. Ayala Center
6. Oblation
7. hmm..still thinking.. :D

natural:
1. Mayon volcano
2. Banaue Rice Terraces
3. Taal volcano
4. Caramoan Peninsula
5. Boracay
6. Puerto Galera
7. Hagdan-hagdang tubigan (hindi ko alam kung saan eh..basta underground water terraces sya.. :) )

festivals:
1. Peñafrancia
2. Sinulog
3. Masskara
4. Dinagyang
5. Pahiyas
6. yung sa Davao City..hindi ko alam eh.. :D
7. yun namang basaan ng tubig..hindi ko din alam ung name..hehe..

Man-Made Wonders

1. Banaue Rice Terraces
2. Walls of Intramuros
3. Paoay Church
4. Miag-ao Church
5. San Sebastian Church
6. Malinta Tunnel
7. UST Main Building

Natural Wonders

1. Tubbataha Reefs
2. St. Paul Underground River
3. Chocolate Hills
4. Batanes Isles
5. Taal Lake
6. Mount Mayon
7. Turtle Islands

The Yagyag Festival of Sibulan, Oriental Negros was the champion in the best of the best national street dancing festivals sponsored by DOT 2 years ago beating the masskara, sinulog, ati-atihan, and others..

JAPAN AWARDS APO ISLAND DIVE SITE AMONG THE WORLD'S BEST

Apo Island corals, of Dauin Negros Oriental and four other dive sites in the country were jointly recipient of the Dive and Travels Award 2006 in Japan for being the third best among the best dive sites in the world.

Among the internationally recognized best dive spots in the Philippines are the Tubbataha Reef; Malapascua Island in Cebu; Balicasag Island in Bohol; Anilao, Batangas; and Puerto Galera in Mindoro.
Also well known among divers are Apo Island of Oriental Negros and the surrounding islands of Palawan.
The country defeated Thailand, Hawaii, and other South Pacific and Caribbean countries, which are internationally known dives sites. The best dive site awardees were determined through a survey conducted by the Marine Diving Fair (MDF), now considered as Asia’s largest scuba diving and beach resort exhibition that attracts over 50,000 travelers.

Philippine Tourism Authority chairman Robert Barbers said with the distinction earned by the country, he expects more foreigners to visit the Philippines. Barbers said the diving industry “is very big” thus tourism stakeholders must intensify their efforts to develop dive resorts around the country in order to attract more tourists.
“We have more than 7,000 islands and exploring even a third of these as a potential dive sites would surely be a welcome development in our tourism industry. Hopefully, in the succeeding years, the Philippines would be named as the best dive site in the world,” Barbers said.

--from the Negros Chronicle, April 23, 2006
--dive pictures will follow soon..;)

MIAG-AO CHURCH, Miag-ao, Iloilo
Iloilo's Most Famous Fortress Church

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/church7miagao.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/012_miagao_bas_small.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/011_miagao_church_small.jpg

Among important Philippine university landmarks, UST's Main Building ranks first in my list.


Mine is the UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE VISAYAS ILOILO CITY CAMPUS LIBRARY, the former city hall of Iloilo, designed by Juan Arellano (also the city planner of Iloilo), the same architect who designed the Metropolitan Theater.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/landmarks--upv_iloilolibe.jpg

Siguro nga dapat me list of the ultimate & man-made wonders and ultimate 7 natural wonders, tapos meron ding list of seven wonders by category.

Well, here's my own list (based on the historical and aesthetic values)

My ultimate 7 Philippine man-made wonders:
1. Banaue Rice Terraces
2. Miag-ao Church
3. Paoay Church
4. Fort Santiago
5. Fort San Pedro, Cebu
6. Cultural Center of the Philippines
7. Malacañang Palace

7 Philippine Heritage Sites
1. Intramuros
2. The city of Vigan
3. Ivatan houses of Batanes
4. The city of Silay, Negros Occidental
5. The centuries-old churches of Iloilo
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/RomanCatholicChurches.jpg
(courtesy of chymera)
6. The old buildings of Cebu City and Carcar
7. The old buildings and mansions of Iloilo City (i think, bias na ako, hehehe, tingnan nyo na lang yung Iloilo threads for proof)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/nellygarden.jpg

7 Philippine Architectural Wonders:
1. Miag-ao Church
2. Malacañang Palace
3. Paoay Church
4. Cebu Provincial Capitol
5. Metropolitan Theater
6. Coconut Palace
7. National Museum

Kung sa churches my list is:
1. Miag-ao Church, Iloilo
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/34_3.jpg
2. Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte
3. San Agustin Church, Intramuros
4. Santa Maria Church, Ilocos Sur
5. San Sebastian Church, Manila
6. Baclayon Church, Bohol
7. Molo Church, Iloilo City (again, bias na naman ako, hehehe, pero Rizal visited the church and he was amazed by the beauty, also called "The Church of Women" 'coz all saints are women)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/iloilomolochurchpostcard.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/moloch.jpg

Cemeteries
1. San Joaquin Cemetery, San Joaquin, Iloilo
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/010_sanjoaquin_cemetery.jpg

Fountains
1. Arroyo Fountain, Iloilo City
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/arroyo.jpg
(also became the symbol of Iloilo City)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/iloiloarroyofountaindrawing.jpg

Belfries
1. Jaro Belfry
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/006_jaro_belfry_small.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/jarobelfry.jpg

Festivals
1. Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/gedalanga/dinagyan_iloilo9.jpg

2. Pintados de Passi, Passi City, Iloilo (watch nyo na lang ang aliwan, hehehe)
3. Kahilwayan Festival, Santa Barbara, Iloilo (ganun din)
4. Sinulog Festival, Cebu
5. Panagbenga, Baguio
6. Pahiyas, Lucban, Quezon
7.Masskara, Bacolod

Personal list ko lang 'to so no violent reaction please, isa pa I'm also trying to promote my province, hehehe. :)

para sa lahat ng categories (man-made, natural, etc.) Lumulobong papulasyon ng Pilipinas para sa 'kin ay isa sa 7 wonders ng Pilipinas?!!! :weirdo:

para sa lahat ng categories (man-made, natural, etc.) Lumulobong papulasyon ng Pilipinas para sa 'kin ay isa sa 7 wonders ng Pilipinas?!!! :weirdo:


hehehe, isali mo na yung corruption at ang lumalaking utang natin. :bash:

^^ tatlo na! Ano pa kayang pwedeng idagdag na talagang mag-wa-wonder yong mga tao?! Yon' talagang "Nakakamangha!!!" :)

here's another wonder... but i don't think it will be included in any books hehehe

"In the certificate of canvass that reached Congress, Arroyo got 4,700 votes in Poona Bayabao, a fifth-class municipality in Lanao del Sur that is a 45-minute drive from Marawi City. All her rivals, including Poe, each scored a big, fat ZERO. When voters where asked, six of every 10 residents here claimed they had voted for Poe. Only a few women admitted going for President Arroyo, but even they conceded that there was no way the movie icon could lose in a clean election here."

wonderful!!!

source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct21/news4.htm

Nakakamangha nga! Talagang considered na Wonder yan ng Pilipinas kasi hanggang sa ibang bansa naging popular ang Pinas sa mga ganyan. Maraming hindi nakakaalam ng Mayon Volcano, rice terraces, etc.. pero welknown ang Pinas sa corruption, katiwalian, poverty, etc.... :weirdo:

:weirdo:
pero totoo ung points.. :lol:

hafta agree!!!..;p r we still on the top 5 sa mga most corrupt countries??.. wew.. shame!..

^^sana lang wala na..

Personalities

1. Jose Rizal
2. Ninoy Aquino
3. Imelda Marcos
4. Lea Salonga
5. Pancho Villa
6. Lorenzo Ruiz
7. Carlos Romulo

School/University Buildings

1. UST Main Building
2. Silliman University
3. Dela Salle Main Building
4. Letran Calamba
5. FEU Morayta campus
6. Legarda Elementary School
7. UP Diliman


Churches

1. Paoay Church
2. Miag-ao Church
3. San Sebastian Church
4. Bacolor Church
5. San Agustin Church
6. Bohol Churches
7. Taal Cathedral


Heritage Sites

1. Ivatans, Batanes
2. Vigan, Ilocos Sur
3. Carcar, Cebu
4. Taal, Batangas
5. Silay, Negros
6. San Miguel, Bulacan
7. Marawi City

IMO, the Philippines' 7 Natural Wonders are:

Mt. Mayon
Chocolate Hills
Taal Volcano
St. Paul's Subterranean River
Tubbataha
Batanes
Agusan Marsh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkhl39IKLYo

My humble tribute to the Philippines, and to skycraper.com.

Many thanks to all forumers!

Please feel free to share your own versions of video or slideshow here. I thank you all. Enjoy! :banana:

Mabuhay!

:)

Francis is awesome. :applause: Great work.

Ang galing!
:applause:

Thanks! =D

... eto tribute din ... :)
... nakakalungkot na realidad ...
... minsan iisipin mo bakit may mga politikong nasisikmurang magnakaw sa kaban ng bayan ...
... magda drive sa EDSA may mga police escorts pa ... mga magnanakaw naman ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vZ1z1O01j8
8vZ1z1O01j8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roAWOw_n8R0
roAWOw_n8R0

Bahay - Gary Granada

Isang araw ako'y nadalaw sa bahay tambakan
Labinglimang mag-anak ang duo'y nagsiksikan
Nagtitiis sa munting barung-barong na sira-sira
Habang doon sa isang mansyon halos walang nakatira

Sa init ng tabla't karton sila doo'y nakakulong
Sa lilim ng yerong kalawang at mga sirang gulong
Pinagtagpi-tagping basurang pinatungan ng bato
Hindi ko maintindihan bakit ang tawag sa ganito
Ay bahay

Sinulat ko ang nakita ng aking mga mata
Ang kanilang kalagayan ginawan ko ng kanta
Iginuhit at isinalarawan ang naramdaman
At sinangguni ko sa mga taong marami ang alam

Isang bantog na senador ang unang nilapitan ko
At dalubhasang propesor ng malaking kolehiyo
Ang pinagpala sa mundo, ang dyaryo at ang pulpito
Lahat sila'y nagkasundo na ang tawag sa ganito
Ay bahay

Maghapo't magdamag silang kakayod, kakahig
Pagdaka'y tutukang nakaupo lang sa sahig
Sa papag na gutay-gutay, pipiliting hihimlay
Di hamak na mainam pa ang pahingahan ng mga patay

Baka naman isang araw kayo doon ay maligaw
Mahipo n'yo at marinig at maamoy at matanaw
Hindi ako nangungutya, kayo na rin ang magpasya
Sa palagay ninyo kaya, ito sa mata ng Maylikha
Ay bahay

Thanks for sharing us your videos.

Its just another sad story about the squatters, but i blame both the government and those squatters. The government should do more things to keep these people from other provinces away from flocking in like sardines and compete with other malinenyos like sardines in a can. I say, the government should build more medium rise low cost condominiums like what the marcoses did during the 70s, while relocating these squatters section by section around manila. This way, as soon as they evacuated the areas, then thats when the government should developed those vacant lots, either build some commercial establishments, parks or another medium-rise low cost housing project. One last thing, i strongly suggest that we should change our government into federalism to encourage a fair distribution of wealth across the country, this is to develop more the rural areas and other remote places in the country.

fD7_WQfgSeM

Interesting information about the Philippines that only a select few are aware of. Post away :)

Biggest City in the World
The residents of Davao City claim they live in the world's largest city. They are talking about the land size of the city that covers 2,212 square kilometers. Most of these areas, however, are distributed as forests, coconut groves and rice fields. In comparison, New York, the largest city in the United States, has an area of only 787 square kilometers while the whole of Metro Manila covers only 636 square kilometers.

Davao City lies at the mouth of the Davao River near the head of Davao Gulf. It encompasses about 50 small ports in its commercial sphere. Davao has large banana plantations, whose produce are exported to Japan and other countries. The city also boasts of a modern international airport. Puerto Princesa City, a chartered city of Palawan province, is disputing Davao City's title. It claims to have a total land area of 2,539 square kilometers encompassing 66 barangays.

In terms of population and land area, the world's truly largest cities are Tokyo, Mexico City, Sao Paolo, New York City, Bombay, Shanghai and Los Angeles.

Biggest Coliseum in the World
At the time it was completed in 1959, the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City was touted as the world's largest covered entertainment center. Otherwise known as the Big Dome, it has a floor area of 2,300 square meters and a seating capacity of 33,000 people.

Biggest Shoes in the World
Marikina City owns the distinction of having crafted the world's largest pair of shoes, each measuring 5.5 meters long, 2.25 meters wide and 1.83 meters high. The heel alone measures 41 centimeters or 16 inches. The P2-million shoes can reportedly fit to a 37.5-meter or 125-foot giant. Around 30 people could put their feet into the colossal shoes simultaneously.

The world's largest shoes were made from materials that could produce about 250 pairs of regular-sized shoes. It reportedly took 10 shoemakers, led by Ernesto Leano, 77 days to cut 30 square meters of leather for the upper lining and 7.4 square meters for the socklining. Also used were 250 kilograms of vegetable tanned leather for the insole, 270 kilograms for the outsole, 80 kilograms for the welt, 225 kilograms of adhesive and 1,000 meters of thread for 200,000 stitches.

The Marikina-made shoes broke the old record of 3.12-meter shoes made by Zahit Okurlar of Konya, Turkey. A representative of the Guinness Book of World Records attended the First Sapatero Festival on October 21, 2002 where the giant shoes were displayed.

In December 2002, the Guinness Book of World Records has recognized Marikina City for crafting the world's largest pair of shoes.

Largest Shoe Collection
Former First Lady Imelda Marcos was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the woman with the largest collection of shoes. Reports said that when the Marcos family fled to Hawaii during the People's Power Revolution in 1986, around 3,400 pairs of shoes were discovered in one room at Malacanang Palace. They were the First Lady's collection.

Biggest Golf Tournament in the World
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest amateur golf tournament takes place in Baguio City, Philippines every year. Dubbed as the Fil-Am Golf Championship since 1949, the 72-hole golf tournament attracts close to 1,000 amateur golfers from all over the archipelago. The sites of the prestigious event are the challenging par-69, 5,001-yard Camp John Hay golf course and the par-61, 4,038-yard Baguio Country Club. Among the top contending teams in the event are the Canlubang, Southwoods, Calatagan, and Wack Wack.

Biggest Christmans Lantern in the World
On December 24, 2002, the city of San Fernando in Pampanga province switched on the world's largest Christmas lantern - a P5-million structure with 26.8 meters in diameter.

Biggest Aerobics Exercises in the World
On February 16, 2003, some 107,000 Filipinos joined a 30-minute aerobics exercise supervised by the Department of Health (DOH) at Rizal Park in Manila, which could be the largest synchronized exercise in the world. Thousands of people also gathered at different venues in Cebu City and Davao City to participate in the exercise simultaneous with the Manila event. The new record broke the previous Guinness Book of World Records set at a park in Guadalajara, Mexico by some 38,633 people who joined the massive aerobics exercises in June 1998.

Biggest Catholic University in the World
The University of Santo Tomas (UST), an academic institution founded by the Dominicans in Sampaloc, Manila is considered as the world's largest Catholic university located in one campus in terms of student population.

Biggest Money in the World
In 1998, during the Philippine Centennial celebration of independence, the Central Bank asked the Guinness Book of World Records to accredit its P100,000 commemorative bills, measuring 8 1/2 inches wide and 14 inches long, as the world's largest legal tender. The commemorative bills were called Brobdingnagian bills.

Biggest Bamboo Organ in the World
The bamboo organ at St. Joseph Church in Las Pinas City is arguably the world's largest bamboo organ. The centuries-old musical instrument was constructed between 1792 and 1819. It has 174 bamboo pipes, 122 horizontal reeds of soft metal, a five-octave keyboard, and 22 stops arranged in vertical rows.

Biggest Volume of Text Messages
Smart Communications, one of the two giant mobile phone networks in the country, claimed that the volume of text messages passing through its network reached 240 million daily as of 2001. This excluded text messages sent via the other networks. Such volume of text messages is said to be larger than those sent in the entire European continent during the same year.

Biggest High School in the World
The Rizal High School in Caniogan, Pasig City (eastern Metro Manila) is said to be the world's largest high school in terms of student population. The school has more than 20,000 students.

Biggest Flower in the World
In February 2002, an environmental organization discovered what could be one of the world's largest flowers in the 5,511-hectare Sibalom National Park in Antique province. Measuring about 22 inches in diameter, the endangered flower, locally named as "Uruy", (Rafflesia sp.) has no stem and leaves. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Biggest Salad in the World
The residents of Baguio City took pride in having tossed what was believed to be the world's largest salad - a three-ton mix of assorted vegetables.

On September 29, 2002 during the Tossed Salad Festival in commemoration of the city's 93rd charter anniversary, 67 students and members of the Baguio Association of Hotels and Inns (Bahai) mixed 2,976 kilograms of lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers and other vegetables in a tin and wrought iron bowl measuring 20 feet long, 10 feet wide and 2 feet deep.

Some 13,657 people were able to partake of the P1.5 million mixtures. They paid P20 for each serving of the tossed salad with Thousand Island dressing and another take-out bowl of salad with a gourmet vinaigrette dressing consisting of apple cider vinegar and olive oil.

The city broke its own record set a year earlier. On September 16, 2001, a 917-kilogram of salad was able to feed 4,861 residents and tourists of Baguio City. On September 14, 2002, a religious group prepared a giant Caesar's salad that fed only 1,000 people in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Biggest Candy in the World
On March 15, 2002, 25 people in Davao City spent six hours to cook, mold and roll the world's largest durian candy bar - a 6-meter, 200-kilogram delicacy made of durian, a smelly but sweet fruit commonly associated with the name of the city. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Biggest Pearl in the World
A Filipino diver discovered what is now described as the world's largest pearl in a giant Tridacna (mollusk) under the Palawan Sea in 1934. Known as the "Pearl of Lao-Tzu", the gem weighs 14 pounds and measures 9 1/2 inches long and 5 1/2 inches in diameter. As of May 1984, it was valued at US$42 million. It is believed to be 600 years old.

Biggest Province in the Philippines
Palawan is considered as the largest province in the country. It has a total land area of 14,896.3 square kilometers distributed in 1,769 islands and is composed of one city, 23 municipalities and 431 barangays. The next largest provinces in the country are Isabela, with a land area of 10,664 square kilometers; and Cagayan, 9,002 square kilometers.

Biggest Mass Wedding
On February 14, 2003, Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo officiated what could be the largest gathering of couples who exchanged their vows at 10th Avenue in Caloocan City. There were 900 couples who attended the wedding ceremony.

Biggest Chair in the Philippines
In April 2003, furniture makers in Ilagan, Isabela province completed what could be the largest armchair in the country. Measuring 5.5 meters in length and 3 meters in height, the armchair called "Botaka ni Goliath" was made of narra and rattan. Around 1,600 board feet of uncut wood were used. During assembly, 15 people had to carry the chair's feet and arms.

Biggest Shabu Haul
On December 9, 2002, Valenzuela City police discovered P2.2 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu at a warehouse that was razed by fire. The 656 kilograms of shabu, 195 kilograms of liquefied shabu and 200 kilograms of unfiltered shabu in the warehouse on Malinis Street in Lawang Bato, is said to be the largest narcotics haul ever.

Biggest Income
In December 2002, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) has ordered American recruitment agency Brown and Root and its local partner Asia International Builder Corp. to pay 1,975 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) over US$609 million in back wages, damages and retirement pay.

Biggest Mall in Asia
The Philippines is home to one of the largest shopping malls in Asia. The SM Megamall located at the Ortigas commercial business district (CBD) boasts of world-class facilities that have a combined floor area of 331,657 square meters and built on a 10.5-hectare site. The shopping complex is comprised of two buildings connected by air-conditioned bridges and a tunnel.

The mall had a total of 550 retail, service shops and dining outlets while its 12 film theatres had a combined seating capacity of 11,074. The mall's indoor and outdoor parking facilities can accommodate up to 3,000 cars.

The SM Megamall, however, may no longer be the country's largest. Sy dreams of constructing the "world's largest indoor shopping mall" soon. Dubbed as "Mall of Asia", the project will be built on his five-hectare Manila Bay reclamation property.

Biggest Convention Center
One of Asia's largest convention facilities is the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), which has 4,000 seats. PICC is located at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex, which sits on a 21-hectare reclaimed area at the Manila Bay.

Biggest Amphitheater in the Philippines
The Freedom Ring Giant Amphitheater in the controversial Expo Filipino in Pampanga province is considered as the largest amphitheatre in the country. It can hold as many as 35,000 people at a single event. Expo Filipino, however, has yet to become fully operational.

Biggest Hospital in the Philippines
The Philippine General Hospital in Manila is considered as the country's largest medical institution. The hospital has over 1,000 in-patient beds and receives 3,000 outpatient visits per day. It was established on September 1, 1910.

Biggest Church in the Philippines
The Gothic-designed basilica of Saint Martin of Tours in the heritage town of Taal in Batangas province is said to be the largest Catholic Church in the country.

Biggest Dam in the Philippines
If completed, the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan province would become the country's tallest and largest dam. Built on the lower Agno River, the US$1.2 billion dam would measure 200 meters in height and is expected to generate 345 megawatts of electricity. Its construction began in 1998 while completion is expected by 2004.

Biggest Gas Field in the Philippines
The Malampaya gas field located northeast off Palawan contains what could be the Philippines' largest deposit of natural gas. The gas field was discovered in 1989, and since then the giant oil company, Shell Philippines has engaged in a multi-billion project in the area.

Some US$4.5 billion were allocated to complete the project that is said to be the single biggest foreign investment in the Philippines. The Malampaya gas field reportedly contains not less than 2.5 trillion cubic feet and 85 million barrels of condensate, a by-product of natural gas that is used as fuel to run gas-fired turbines. These reserves are enough to serve the fuel requirement of a 3,000-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle power plant for 20 years. The project took off in May 1998. It involved the construction of a 504-kilometer pipeline from the area to Tabangao, Batangas.

Biggest Tree in the Philippines
The oldest and tallest tree in the Philippines is found at the entrance gate of Magallanes town, east of Butuan City in Agusan del Norte province. This "Bita-og" tree (Calophyllum inophyllum), which was declared as the country's official tree in 1998 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is said to be five centuries old. The tree, which was first recognized on December 7, 1980, measures 305.585 centimeters in bole diameter.

Biggest Coconut Palace
What can be considered as the country's largest coconut building is the so-called Coconut Palace, an architectural wonder made from the coconut tree mixed with other indigenous material. About 70 percent of the structure is made from different parts of the coconut tree. It consists of seven rooms. It is located at the CCP Complex.

Biggest Strawberry Cakes
The people of La Trinidad town in Benguet province baked the country's largest sponge cake - a 1.2-metric ton, seven-foot structure that fed 10,000 people during the annual Strawberry Festival on March 18, 2002. It took four bakers nearly 16 hours to complete the cake.

On March 22, 2003, the people of La Trinidad surpassed the record by baking two giant strawberry cakes, one of which cost P110,000 to produce and measured 8 1/2 in diameter, six feet long and six feet high. Eric Espadero and three other chefs used 800 kilograms of fresh strawberries, 6,600 eggs and 920 kilograms of flour for the two cakes.

In November 2001, the Benguet province baked its own giant carrot cake.

Biggest Calamay
In March 2003, around 3,000 people of Candon City in Ilocos Sur province tasted what could be the largest calamay or rice cake that has ever been baked in the country. The giant calamay measured five meters in diameter and two inches thick. About 40 women prepared the calamay made from 184 kilograms of malagkit or ground glutinous rice, grated meat of 800 coconuts, 480 kilograms of brown sugar, and 160 more coconuts that were grated to produce gata or coconut milk.

Biggest Binallay
On May 29, 2003, around 1,000 residents of Ilagan, Isabela partook the country's biggest binallay or native rice cake during the town's 317th founding anniversary. The cake measured 3.7 meters tall and 0.6 meter in diameter.

Biggest Bounty
In May 2002, the United States embassy in Manila raised US$5 million as a bounty against five leaders of the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group that has held an American couple as hostages from May 2001 to June 2002. Abu Sayyaf snatched the American couple along with 18 others from a beach resort in Palawan province on May 27, 2001. On June 7, 2002, a military rescue operation led to the death of one of the American hostages. Two weeks later, the military announced the death of the leader of the Abu Sayyaf faction responsible for the abduction of the American couple.

Biggest Mural in the Philippines
In 1953, when the Philippines hosted the International Fair, Carlos "Botong" Francisco was contracted for P39,000 to paint a mural measuring 88 meters long and eight meters wide. The giant mural, which depicted 500 years of Philippine progress, later appeared in colored center spread of Newsweek magazine.

Biggest Painting in the Philippines
Juan Luna's Spolarium is considered as the largest painting in the country. It measures 4.6 meters wide and 7.72 meters long and is now on display at the National Museum in Manila.

Biggest Companies in the Philippines
In terms of gross revenues, the National Power Corp. (Napocor) topped all companies in the country with P116.6 billion in the year 2000. The next nine largest corporations were Meralco, with total gross revenues of P108 billion; Texas Instruments, P95 billion; San Miguel Corp., P90 billion; Petron Corp., P87 billion; Shell, P84 billion; PLDT, P63 billion; Caltex, P56 billion; Fujitsu, P49 billion; and Metrobank, P44 billion. In terms of net income, Southern Energy topped the list with P8.5 billion in 2000. It was followed by Pagcor, with P8 billion; San Miguel, P6.8 billion; Southern Energy Quezon, P6.2 billion; and SM, P4.2 billion.

Biggest Park in the Philippines
The Sierra Madre national park in northern Luzon is the country's largest natural park. The 359,000-hectare park is the home of endangered species such as pawikan (Chelonia mytas), bayakan or giant bat, Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), wild boar (Sus philippinesis), Philippine brown dear (Cervus marianus), cloud rat (Ratus mindorensis), flame-breasted fruit dove, kalaw (Philippine hornbill), bukarot (Philippine crocodile), and native owl.

Biggest Lake in the Philippines
Laguna de Bay, an inland body of water covering 900 square kilometers, is the country's largest lake. Located between the provinces of Rizal and Laguna, the lake receives its water from 21 river systems. In the middle of the lake lies the island of Talim, a heavily populated settlement of mostly fishermen.

The second largest lake in the country is Lake Sultan-Alonto in Mindanao. Commonly known as Lake Lanao, the lake covers an area of 355 square kilometers. Meanwhile, the world's largest inland body of water is the Caspian Sea, which is actually a lake in the boundary of Europe and Asia and covering an area of 143,240 square miles. Lake Superior (North America), Lake Victoria (Africa), the Aral Sea (Russia) and Lake Huron (North America) are also among the world's largest lakes.

Biggest Eagle in the World
Also known as the monkey-eating eagle, the endangered Philippine eagle is one of the largest in the world. With scientific name Pithecophaga jefferyi, the Philippine eagle lives in the rainforests of Isabela, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao. It has similarities with Papua New Guinea's Harpy Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguinea).

Measuring about one meter in height, the average Philippine eagle has a 76-centimeter highly arched, powerful bill. It lives on large snakes, hornbills, civet cats, flying lemurs and monkeys - the reason why it is also called monkey-eating eagle. It creates its nests in large trees some 30 meters from the ground.

Biggest Bats in the World
The Philippines has at least 56 species of bats. It is home to the largest among the 1,000 known bat species in the world.

The three-layered virgin forest of Subic Bay and Bataan is home to the world's largest bats: the giant flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) and the golden crown flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus). Over the years, these two species of giant fruit bats have roamed around the 10,000-hectare Subic Forest National Protected Area, which is considered the biggest roosting site of bats in the world.

Biggest Endangered Animal in the Philippines
People used to call Mindoro as the "Land of the Tamaraws". About 10,000 heads of these unique pygmy water buffalos were roaming around the island-province of Mindoro in the 1900s. But that was a century ago. Today, the Tamaraws in the province are in danger of extinction, and Mindoro might lose the symbol that it once proudly introduced to the world.

The Tamaraw, scientifically known as Bubalus mindorensis, is endemic to Mindoro. Belonging to the family of buffalos, the same categorical group of the Philippine carabao, the Tamaraw is the largest endangered land animal in the Philippines today. In 1996, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed it as one of the ten most endangered species in the world.

Biggest Fish in the World
Donsol, a fishing town in Sorsogon province, serves as a sanctuary to a group of 40 whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), which are considered as the largest fish in the world.

Locally known as "butanding", whale sharks visit the waters of Donsol from November to May. They travel across the oceans but nowhere else have they been sighted in a larger group than in the waters of Sorsogon. They measure between 18 to 35 feet in length and weigh about 20 tons. In 1996, a marine biologist discovered that whale sharks are ovoviviparous, which means that the females produce live offspring from eggs hatched in the uterus.

The Philippine government declared whale sharks as endangered species in 1998, thereby banning its plunder and exploitation. Right now, the Department of Tourism is promoting eco-tourism to protect the whale sharks in Donsol.

Biggest Shells in the World
Tridacna gigas, one of the world's largest shells, can be found under Philippine waters. Tridacna gigas grows as large as one meter in length and weighs 600 pounds. Meanwhile, a shell called glory of the sea (Connus gloriamaris), considered as one of the most expensive shells in the world, is also found in the Philippines and .

Biggest Reptile in the World
The saltwater crocodile, which can be found in the Philippines and other Asian countries, is considered as the world's largest reptile. Scientifically known as Crocodylus porosus, it is different from Mindoro's freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), which is a relatively smaller species.

An adult saltwater crocodile measures between six to seven meters (20-23 feet) and weighs about two to three tons. There were tales that a 27-foot saltwater crocodile was killed near Lake Taal in Batangas in 1823. It reportedly took 40 men to bring the body ashore. When the men cut the crocodile's body open, they found the body of a horse in seven pieces. The largest crocodile ever sighted was a 33-footer in Borneo in 1920. It was believed to be 200 years old.

Biggest Filipino Boxing Champion
Ceferino Garcia was the heaviest and biggest Filipino ever who became a world-boxing champion. Known for his bolo punch, he captured the world middleweight title on October 2, 1939 when he knocked out Fred Apostoli in New York. He defended his crown against top rivals twice (Americans Glen Lee and Henry Armstrong) before losing his title in May 1940.

Before he switched to the middleweight division, Garcia became a welterweight champion when he knocked out boxing legend and war hero Barney Ross in 1937 and Henry Armstrong in 1938.

He was born in 1912 and grew up in Tondo, Manila. In 1977, Ceferino Garcia was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame and into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1981.

Biggest Lead in a Basketball Game
The Philippine team registered what could be the world's biggest lead in an amateur basketball game when it clobbered Brunei Darussalam, 160-19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on July 2, 2000.

The 141-point lead could be the biggest for any amateur basketball team since basketball was introduced in the Philippines by the Americans. During the game, the Philippine national team limited the Brunei squad to only 19 points. It later won the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Young Men's Tournament crown against Malaysia.

World's Smallest Volcano
Taal Volcano, a 406-meter-high crater, is said to be the world's smallest volcano. It is described as "a crater within an island within a lake" because it stands as an island at Taal Lake. The lake was formed after the volcano, which used to be much larger, collapsed. The ridges around Tagaytay City, which overlooks the lake, are believed to be part of the crater of the old volcano.

These ridges now serve as the border of the 18-mile-diameter Taal Lake and stretch 32 kilometers from Mount Batulao to Mount Sungay. Also considered as one of the world's most active volcanoes, Taal Volcano has erupted over 20 times since 1572.

Smallest Bat in the World
The Philippines has at least 56 species of bats. It is home to the smallest among the 1,000 known bat species in the world.

The smallest bat in the world is the Philippine bamboo bat (vespertilionid), which belongs to the vespertilionid family. This bat measures about four centimeters (1 1/2 inches) in length and has a wingspan of 15 cm. Approximately, it weighs 1.5 grams (1/20 ounce).

Smallest Mammal in the World
South of Palawan, lies the Balabac Island, home of the world's smallest hoofed mammal - the Philippine mouse deer. Locally known as Pilandok (Tragalus nigricans), this ruminant stands only about 40 centimeters at the shoulder level.

In other countries, it is called chevrotain, or simply mouse deer. Contrary to its name, pilandok is not a member of the deer family. It belongs to the family Tragulidae in the mammalian order Artiodactyla. The male species has no antlers like those of a real deer. Instead, it uses its large tusk-like canine teeth on its upper jaw for self-defense; in the same way a deer uses its antlers.

Aside from the Pilandok, other mouse deer species include the Malay mouse deer or napu and the African water chevrotain. They are found in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and India. While the mouse deer are widely distributed across Asia, their dwindling population has alarmed the World Conservation Union, which declared them as endangered in 1996.

Smallest Monkey in the World
In many respects, the Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) is different from other animals. Considered as the world's smallest primate, it measures only about twelve centimeters in length. Its two big eyes cannot move and do not have a tapetum - the upper protective tissue. Because of this, the Philippine tarsier has learned to turn its head 180 degrees. It has also two grooming claws on each foot and an almost bald tail extending about nine inches.

Found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Mindanao, the Philippine tarsier got its name from its elongated tarsus bone. An ordinary tarsier weighs between 117 and 134 grams. It is able to move between trees by leaping as far as three meters. It also has keen senses of hearing and sight.

Today, there are only about 1,000 tarsiers inhabiting the wilds of Corella town in Bohol province where the biggest concentration of these rare animals was once reported. Ensuring the continued existence of the Philippine tarsiers is the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc.

Smallest Fish in the World
The world's smallest freshwater fish is found in the Philippines. The dwarf goby (Pandaka pygmaea) measures 1.2 centimeters or less than half of an inch, the tiniest known vertebrate. American Ichthyologist Albert Herre first discovered it in Malabon River in 1925.

The Philippines is also the home of sinarapan, the world's smallest commercial fish. Sinarapan, scientifically known as Mistichthys luzonensis, is a goby found only in Lakes Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur province. Sinarapan grows to an average length of 1.25 centimeters, only slightly longer than the dwarf goby. Today, unabated fishing in the two lakes threatens the population of sinarapan.

Smallest Shell in the World
Pisidum, the world's tiniest shell, can be found under Philippine waters. Pisidum measures less than 1 millimeter long.

Smallest Town in Terms of Population
The town of Kalayaan, a group of small islands in the Pacific Ocean west of Palawan province, had the smallest population among municipalities at 223 as of 2000.

Smallest Painting in the Philippines
Miniaturist Norris Castillo created what is perhaps the smallest piece of painting in the country. Known as "the Harvest", the oil-on-canvas painting measures 1/4 inches in width and 3/8 inches in length. It is now exhibited at the National Museum. Castillo claimed that he has created more than 10,000 pieces of painting. (Source: Panorama magazine)

Smallest Province in the Philippines
The smallest province in the Philippines is Batanes, with only a total land area of 209 square kilometers.

Longest Serving Editor in the World
Sy Yinchow, an 84-year-old Filipino-Chinese journalist living in Manila's Binondo district, is perhaps the world's longest-serving, living editor-in-chief of daily newspapers. As of 2003, Sy was still serving the chief editor of the United Daily News, a leading Chinese-language daily in the Philippines. He has been an editor-in-chief of Manila-based publications for 58 years since 1945, surpassing the record of Sir Etienne Dupuch who had served as the editor-in-chief of the Nassau Daily Tribune in the Bahamas for only 53 years from 1919 to 1972.

Aside from his colorful journalism career, Sy has written 20 books and translated over 100 English and 72 French poems into Chinese. He is an honorary president of the Hong Kong-based World Association of Chinese Writers and a fellow of the International Writing Programme of the University of Iowa.

Longest Barbecue in the World
On April 30, 2002, about 50,000 people participated in the "Kalutan ed Dagupan" festival in Dagupan City (Pangasinan province, Northern Luzon, Philippines) to help grill and partake of the 1,001-meter long barbecue, that broke the previous World Record of 613 meter-long barbecue grilled in Canchia, Peru on November 13, 1999.

The people of the city used hundreds of grills, each measuring 1.2-meter long, to cook the barbecue. The grills' total measure was about 800 meters long, enough to surpass the Peruvian record. The barbecue consisted of bangus (milkfish), pork, chicken, vegetables and cold cuts. A video footage was sent to the Guinness Book of World Records for validation. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Longest Mat in the World
The people of the agricultural town of Basey, Samar own the distinction of having weaved the world's longest mat, or "banig" in the local parlance. During the town's Banigan-Kawayan Festival on September 29, 2000, hundreds of people paraded the mat, which extended for more than a kilometer.

The one-meter wide mat has been weaved for several weeks by groups of people from the different barangays of Basey. While the mat was not submitted as an entry to the Guinness Book of World Records, Basey Mayor Wilfredo Estorninos described the feat as a source of pride for all Basaynons.

Each year, the town, which has weaving as its prime industry, comes to life when it celebrates outlandishly the feast of St. Michael, its patron saint. The highlight of the feast is the Banigan-Kawayan Festival, where the women of Basey weave a variety of intricately designed mats from sedge grass locally known as tikog (Fimbristylis milliacea). This tradition was handed down from many generations. The Church of Basey was built in 1864.

Longest Bridge in the Philippines
The country's longest bridge is the San Juanico Bridge, a steel structure connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte. Built in 1973 under the Marcos administration, the 2.16-kilometer bridge crosses over the picturesque San Juanico Strait as a part of the Maharlika Highway. Also known as Marcos Bridge, San Juanico Bridge has 43 spans rising 41 meters above the sea. Bunton Bridge in Cagayan province is said to be the country's second longest bridge.

The title of the longest bridge, however, may soon belong to a bridge, which will be built in the Manila Bay. This cable suspension bridge will link Metro Manila to the provinces of Bataan and Cavite. It will be patterned after the Tokyo Bay Aqualine, which connects Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture to Kisarazu City in Japan.

Among the longest bridges in the world are the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the East Bridge-Great Belt Fixed Link in Denmark, the Hoga Kusten in Sweden, and the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong.

Longest Traffic Buildup in the Philippines
On the night of May 26, 2003, the northbound and southbound lanes of the North Luzon Tollway from Bocaue, Bulacan to Balintawak, Quezon City turned into a parking lot of thousands of vehicles trapped in floods. Rains induced by tropical storm Chedeng caused the garbage-infested Malhacan River in Meycauayan to rise above the street level. The traffic buildup that extended to EDSA left thousands of commuters stranded for a whole night.

A bus that left Cubao, Quezon City at 4 p.m. of May 26 reached Bocaue, Bulacan at 2 a.m. of the next day. The usually 15-minute ride from Camachile to Bocaue turned into a grueling and nerve-wracking 8-hour saga for drivers and commuters. Thousands of office workers that left Makati City at 5 p.m. of May 26 were lucky to reach their homes in Bulacan at 4 a.m. of the next day. Others spent the night under the rain while catching for a ride along EDSA.

Third Longest Coastline
The Philippines, one of the world's largest archipelagos, also has one of the longest combined coastlines in the planet. The total length of the country's coastlines is 36,289 kilometers or almost twice that of the United States. It is said to be the third country with the longest combined coastlines, after Canada and Indonesia.

Longest Cave in the Philippines
The 15-kilometer St. Paul Cave in Palawan province is considered as the longest natural cave in the country. Other notable caves in the Philippines are the 8.9-kilometer Odloman Cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental; and the 7.7-kilometer Odessa Tumbali Cave in Penablanca, Cagayan.

In terms of vertical range, the deepest cave is the Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal Cave in Sagada Mountain Province. Its deepest point is 163 meters from its mouth.

Longest Underground River in the World
Palawan's St. Paul's underground river is said to be the world's longest underground river. The navigable part of the river inside the cave of the 4000-acre St. Paul Subterranean River stretches 8.2 kilometers in length (5 miles). However, this title is being disputed in Vietnam where an underground river known as Son Trach River reportedly extends 7 miles in length. Filipino explorers, however, claimed that once fully measured, St. Paul's total length would reach 15 kilometers.

Longest River
Cagayan River or Rio Grande de Cagayan, with a total length of 353 kilometers, is the longest and widest river in the Philippines. It bisects the Cagayan Valley from north to south. Also considered as the mightiest watercourse, Cagayan River sources its water from smaller rivers and streams in the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre, Caraballo, Cordillera, and Balete Pass.

The other notable rivers in Luzon are Chico, Abra, Pampanga, and Bicol. In the south, the principal rivers are Mindanao (known in its upper course as the Pulangi) and Agusan.

Meanwhile, the underground river of St. Paul's Natural Park in Palawan is considered as one of the world's longest subterranean rivers. The world's longest rivers are the Nile River in Egypt and Amazon River in South America. Also worth mentioning are the Yangtze River in China, Mekong River in Vietnam, and Euphrates River in Iraq.

Longest Mountain Range
The longest mountain range in the country is Sierra Madre, which stretches from Cagayan province in northeastern Luzon to Aurora province in southern Tagalog.

Longest Underground Railway
The country's first subway remains to be built, but this early, passengers of MRT3 (Metro Rail Transit) had the chance to know what it is like to travel underground. The MRT line, which spans from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, passes through an underground tunnel, measuring hundreds of meters, along EDSA corner Buendia Avenue in Makati City.

The MRT is a US$565 million project, involving 60 Czech-made trains. At present, it has 10 stations, which were built at key road intersections in Metro Manila. The average distance between stations is 1.300 kilometer.

There were plans to build a 100-kilometer railway system from Fort Bonifacio in Makati City to Clark in Pampanga. Based on the plan, five to seven kilometers of this railway will be elevated while 10 kilometers will be laid underground, making it the first true subway in the country.

Tallest Building in the Philippines
What can be considered the country's tallest building is located along Ayala Ave. corner Herrera Street in Makati City. In the group of skyscrapers at Makati's financial district, PBCom (Philippine Bank of Communications) Tower dominates with its 241-meter height. The building, which rises 55 floors from the grounds of Ayala Avenue, was designed by Skidmore, Owens and Merill (SOM) and developed by property giant Filinvest.

The PBCom tower, which was completed by the end of 2000, surpassed the height of Petron MegaPlaza that soars 45 stories from the grounds of Gil Puyat Ave., also in Makati City. But the record may soon belong to a building that remains to be built. The Moldex Realty Marketing Inc. (MRMI) said it plans to build a 57-storey tower at 1322 Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

The title of the world's tallest building belongs to Malaysia's twin Petronas Towers that rise 451.9 meters from the street level (including its pinnacle). Other world famous high-rise buildings include Chicago's Sears Tower and New York's Empire State Building and the former World Trade Center buildings.

Tallest PBA Player
The tallest PBA player is Edward Joseph Feihl of TJ Hotdogs. Feihl who stands seven feet tall is half German. With his height, Feihl could bang bodies with the centers in the NBA. Feihl was part of the Philippine Centennial Team, which won third place in the 1998 Asian Games.

Feihl is at least three inches taller than other PBA centers like Marlou Aquino, Paul Asi Taulava, James Walkvist, Andy Seigle and Bonel Balingit.

Meanwhile, the tallest basketball player who has played in the NBA is Gheorghe Muresan (7'7 or 2.31 m). But the tallest basketball player in the world was Suleiman Ali Nashnush (8'1/2" or 2.45 m) of the Libyan team. The tallest man in history was Robert Wadlow (8'11 or 2.72 m).

Highest Mountain
Towering at a height of 2,954 meters (9,692 feets), Mount Apo is the highest peak in the country. Located 25 kilometers south of Davao City, the mountain which forms part of the Mount Apo National Park is blessed with hot springs, sulfur pillars, geysers, lakes, rivers and waterfalls. It is home to a number of endemic animals such as the Philippine eagle, falconet and mynah. Its peak can be reached on a four-day hiking trip.

Apo means "grandfather of all mountains". Scientists classify it as a semi-active volcano. Materials from previous eruptions have made the soil around the mountain extremely fertile. The mountain's base covers 72,796 hectares of mountain ranges that extend from Davao del Sur to Misamis Oriental. While the mountain's peak looks snow-capped, the white appearance is actually caused by the presence of sulfur.

Highest Waterfalls
The highest waterfall in the country is the 388-meter-high Aliwagwag Falls, in Cateel town, Davao Oriental province. The cascade has 13 rapids and looks like a stairway with 84 steps of varying heights.

The second highest waterfall is located in Barangay Rogongon, 54 kilometers from Iligan City. Limunsudan Falls, a two-tiered fall, has a combined height of 870 feet. Its lower cascade alone measures 400 feet, higher than the entire height of Maria Cristiana Falls.

Maria Cristina Falls, also in Iligan City (Lanao del Norte), towers at 320 feet. Also known as the "Mother of Industry", Maria Cristina Falls supplies 80 percent of the total energy requirement of the Mindanao region. Another breathtaking waterfall in Iligan City is the Tinago Falls, located 13 kilometers from the city proper. As its name implies, this 420-foot waterfall lies hidden in a deep ravine. The world's highest waterfall is the Angel Falls in Venezuela. As a tributary of Caroni River, this waterfall has a total elevation of 3,281 feet.

First Circumnavigator of the Globe
Although many historians considered him as the first circumnavigator of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan never completed his voyage around the planet. Magellan, a sea captain, commanded a fleet of five wooden Spanish ships with 241 men on board and embarked on what is now considered as "the greatest of all epics of human discovery". Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer who discovered America for Spain, traveled 8,000 miles aboard a Spanish ship across the Atlantic Ocean. But Magellan's men embarked on an expedition that brought them 42,000 miles around the planet.

The voyage began on September 20, 1519. Magellan and his three remaining ships reached the Philippines on March 17, 1521. On April 27, he was killed by the men of Lapulapu, chieftain of Mactan Island in the Philippines. Only one ship, the Trinidad, with 18 European crewmen led by Sebastian del Cano and four Malay crewmen (maybe Filipinos) completed the trip around the world and arrived in Seville, Spain in 1522.

First Landing
On March 16, 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in service of Spain landed at Samar.

First Mass
On March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday) Spanish friar Pedro Valderama conducted the first Catholic mass in Limasawa, Leyte. Rajah Kolambu, who forged a blood compact of friendship with Magellan two days earlier, attended along with Rajah Siagu.

First Filipino Christians
On April 14, 1521, Rajah Humabon, Rajah Kolambu, and 400 other Filipino natives were baptized into Christianity during a ceremony administered by friar Pedro Valderamma.

First Filipino Priest
In 1590, Martin Lakandula was ordained as an Augustinian priest, becoming the first native Filipino to serve as a friar. In 1906, Jorge Barlin became the first Filipino bishop under the Roman Catholic Church. The first Filipino archbishop was Viviano Gorordo while the first Filipino cardinal was Rufino Cardinal Santos.

First Chair
It was said that Filipinos first used a chair in April 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan gave Rajah Humabon of Cebu a red velvet Spanish chair. According to Halupi, a book of essays on Philippine history, early Filipinos used to sit on the floor.

First Spanish Monument
Also on April 14, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan planted a huge cross in Cebu. It was here where friar Valderama baptized Rajah Humabon, Rajah Kolambu and 400 other Filipinos into Christianity.

First Battle
On April 14, 1521, the first battle between Filipinos and the European conquerors took place in Mactan, Cebu. Filipino chieftain Lapu-lapu defeated Magellan and his men. After Magellan was killed, Sebastian del Cano led his men back to Spain, completing their voyage around the planet.

First Religious Order
The Franciscans were the first Catholic religious order to establish their presence in the Philippines. The Franciscans came here in 1577; Jesuits, 1581; Dominicans, 1587; Recollects, 1606; Paulists, 1862; Sisters of Charity, 1862; Capuchins, 1886; and Benedictines, 1895.

First Spanish-Filipino Marriage
In 1585, Spanish soldier Pablo Alvarez married Nicolasa de Alvarez, a native of Lubao, Pampanga.

First Muslims
Makdum, Rajah Baguinda and Abu Bakar propagated Islam in the Philippines in the 15th Century.

First Spanish Governor General
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who founded the first European settlement in Cebu City in 1565, is considered the first Spanish governor general in the Philippines. He founded the city of Manila and declared it the capital of the archipelago on June 3, 1571. The last Spanish governor general in the Philippines was Riego delos Rios in 1898.

First Archbishop
Domingo Salazar was the first archbishop of the Philippines, which was regarded as a single diocese in the 1580s.

First Filipina Directress
According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, Sor Candida Ocampo was the first and only Filipino who became a directress of an Spanish institution in the Philippines. In 1594, Ocampo, who was born in Camarines Sur, was appointed as the directress of Colegio de Santa Isabel.

First Cannon Maker
Even before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, Filipino natives had already learned the trick of making cannons, perhaps from Chinese traders. Historians claimed that Panday Pira who lived between 1483 and 1576 had devised the cannons which Muslim leader Rajah Sulayman used to protect Manila against the invading Spanish troops. Panday Pira was from Tarlac.

First Chinese Kingdom
After attacking Manila, Chinese conqueror Limahong established a kingdom near the mouth of Agno River in Pangasinan province on December 3, 1574. Agno was the seat of the old civilization. Historians have mentioned one Princess Urduja who ruled Pangasinan before the Spaniards came. In 1660, Filipino leader Malong attempted to establish another kingdom in Pangasinan.

First Revolt
The first attempt to rise against Spanish colonial rule was carried out by chieftains of Bulacan led by Esteban Taes in 1587. On October 26, 1588, Spanish authorities discovered a plot by Magat Salamat of Hagonoy who tried to enlist the support of his relatives in Borneo.

First Filipino in Exile
Felipe Salonga of Polo, Bulacan (now Valenzuela City) became the first Filipino who was put in exile by Spanish authorities for starting a revolt in Bulacan in 1587. He was exiled to Mexico.

First Mention of King of Tagalogs
New historical writings have mentioned the name of one Raha Matanda or Rajah Ache (Lakandula) who ruled over Tondo, a kingdom encompassing an area that now includes Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal and Quezon in the 16th Century. Rajah Matanda was the heir to his father's throne and was a grandson of Sultan Siripada I (Bolkeiah I) of Borneo. In 1643, Don Pedro Ladia of Borneo who claimed to be a descendant of Rajah Matanda started a revolt and called himself the king of the Tagalog. He was executed in Manila. Historians said that when the troops of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi attacked Manila in 1571, the men of Rajah Soliman - the king of Manila - rose up in resistance.

In 1847, Apolinario dela Cruz of Tayabas was considered king of the Tagalogs. Bernardo Carpio, a mythical giant character, was also regarded as a king of the Tagalogs. In the 1900s, the revolutionary government proclaimed Macario Sakay as the president of the Tagalog Republic.

First Chinese Revolt
On October 3, 1603, the Chinese rose in revolt in Manila and was driven away to San Pablo, Laguna where they made their last stand.

First Juan dela Cruz
A certain Pantaleon Perez led the Pangasinan revolt on November 3, 1762. Perez assumed the name Juan dela Cruz Palaris. It was mentioned that on November 11, 1849, most illiterate Filipinos during the administration of Spanish governor general Narciso Claveria y Zaldua were given the Christian surname dela Cruz. Our great ancestors, who could not read and write, drew a cross as their signature on documents and so were known for their dela Cruz surnames. In contrast, Filipino descendants of rajahs and noble men were given the option to keep their names. Among the clans, who were also exempted from forced labor and paying taxes under the Spanish rule, were the Lakandulas, Solimans, Gatmaitans, Gatbontons, Salongas, Layas, Lapiras, Macapagals, Salamats, Manuguits, Balinguits, Banals, Kalaws, among others.

First Filipino
The first man who used Filipino as a title of citizenship was Luis Rodriguez Varela, a Spaniard who was born in Manila. He preferred to be called El Conde Pilipino in 1795. (Source: Halupi)

First Map
The first Philippine map was drawn in 1734 by Nicolas dela Cruz and Francisco Suarez under the instruction of Jesuit historian Pedro Murillo Velarde. The original map was 27 inches wide and 42 inches long.

First Dutch Presence
On June 10, 1647, a Dutch fleet arrived in Manila Bay and later attacked Cavite province.

First British Presence
On October 4, 1762, British forces invaded Manila. They took possession of Intramuros until May 31, 1764.

First Filipino Printer
The Spaniards introduced the art of printing in the Philippines, almost half a century before the Americans learned how to use it. It is believed that the first book in the country was Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua China, which was printed in 1593 by Juan de Vera, a Filipino-Chinese. In 1948, Fray Jose Gonzales of the Dominican Order discovered this book in the Vatican Library. Tomas Pinpin is regarded as the first Filipino printer. He was born in Abucay, Bataan but records about his birth were lost after the Dutch invaders destroyed the town of Abucay in 1646. Pinpin learned the art of printing from the Chinese artisans when he worked in the shop of Filipino-Chinese printer, Luis Beltran.

Among his works were Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (1610) and the Librong Pag-aaralan nang mga Tagalog nang Uicang Castila (1610) printed in Bataan. From 1609 to 1639, Pinpin printed more than a dozen titles. Other literary pieces, which appeared during this period were the poems of Pedro Bukaneg (1590-1626), Fernando Bagongbanta (1605), and Pedro Ossorio (1625). The art of modern printing was discovered by German scholar Johannes Gutenberg (1394-1468). The Chinese, however, are credited for having developed their own system of printing, hundreds of years before Gutenberg was born.

First Newspaper
In 1637, Tomas Pinpin published Successos Felices (Fortunate Events), a 14-page newsletter in Spanish that is now widely regarded as the first Philippine newsletter. On December 1, 1846, La Esperanza, the first daily newspaper, was published in the country. Other early newspapers were La Estrella (1847), Diario de Manila (1848) and Boletin Oficial de Filipinas (1852). The first provincial newspaper was El Eco de Vigan (1884), which was issued in Ilocos.

First Magazine and Journal
Seminario Filipino, the first religious magazine in the country, was first issued in 1843. Meanwhile, El Faro Juridico became the first professional journal in the country when it saw print in 1882.

First Guide Book
According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the first guidebook in the Philippines (Guia de Forasteros) was printed in 1834.

First Novel
According to literary expert Bievenido Lumbera, the first Filipino novel was Ninay, written by Pedro Paterno and published in 1880. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere was published in 1887 while El Filibusterismo came out of the press in 1891. The first English novel written in English by a Filipino was Zoilo Galang's A Child of Sorrow.

First Woman Writer and Poet
According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the first Filipino poetess was Leona Florentino of Ilocos while the first Filipino woman writer was Rosario de Leon of Pampanga. The first Filipino woman novelist, Galang added, was Magalena Jalandoni from Visayas while the first Filipino woman who wrote an English novel was Felicidad Ocampo.

First Non-Catholic Marriage
The first non-Catholic marriage in Manila under the Spanish control took place in the early 19th Century when American Henry Sturgis, who arrived in the country in 1827, married Josephina Borras of Manila. They were wed aboard a British warship at the Manila harbor.

First Bakery
In 1631, the Spanish government established and operated the first bakery in Manila.

First Drugstore
Botica Boie is considered the first drugstore in the country, having been established by Dr. Lorenzo Negrao in 1830.

First Lighthouse
In 1846, the Farola was built at the mouth of Pasig River, becoming the first lighthouse in the country.

First Electric Lamp
The first electric lamp in the country is said to be the one designed by Ateneo students in 1878, 12 years before Thomas Houston Electric Co. installed Manila's first electric street lights.

First Botanical Garden
In 1858, Governor General Fernando Norzagaray ordered the establishment of the Botanical Garden. It can now be found beside the Manila City Hall.

First Waterworks
Manila had its first centralized water system in July 1882 following the completion of the Carriedo waterworks, whose reservoir was in Marikina.

First Railroad
In 1892, a railway connecting Manila and Dagupan was completed. It was operated by the Manila Railroad Company.

First Telephone System
The first telegraph line was opened in 1873 while the country's first telephone system was established in Manila in 1890. Electric lines were first installed in 1895.

First Mining Firm
In the early 19th Century, Johann Andreas Zobel founded the first iron and copper mining firm in Bulacan and Baguio. The first Zobel in the country was Jacobo Zobel Hinsch, a German who went to Manila in 1849. One of the Zobels - Jacobo Zobel Zangroniz latter married Trinidad Ayala de Roxas, an heir of the rich Ayala and Roxas families.

First Calendar
The first calendar with a Philippine almanac was first released in 1897. The first issue of the calendar was titled "La Sonrisa".

First Filipino Chemist
Johann Andreas Zobel also founded the first chemical laboratory in the country. Meanwhile, Anacleto del Rosario is considered as the first Filipino chemist.

First Philanthropist
Dona Margarita Roxas de Ayala, a daughter of Domingo Roxas, is considered as the first philanthropist in the country. She assumed the control of the family's Casa Roxas in 1843 and was one of the founders of La Concordia College.

First Social Club
The first social club was established in Manila in 1898. It was the Filipino Independiente, a circle of educated and rich Filipino nationalists. It succeeded Jose Rizal's La Liga Filipina, which was more of a movement.

World's First Steel Church
The steel church of San Sebastian, now Basilica Minore, is considered as the world's first-ever all-steel basilica. Designed by Don Genaro Palacios in 1883, this small, jewel box church was prefabricated in Belgium. The steel plates, weighing about 50,000 tons were brought to the Philippines in six ships. The walls were filled with mixed gravel, sand and cement to fortify the structure. Stained glass windows from France were later installed. The church, an earthquake-proof structure, was completed in 1891. There were arguments that French architect Gustavo Eiffel, who designed the Eiffel Tower of Paris and Statue of Liberty in New York, was also the one who designed the San Sebastian Church.

First Hotel
It is believed that Hotel del Oriente in Binondo, Manila was the first hotel built in the Philippines. The hotel was a two-story building with 83 rooms fronting the Plaza de Carlos III. It was a first-class hotel constructed in the 1850s just beside the famous landmark, La Insular Cigarette and Cigar Factory. The national hero - Jose Rizal - reportedly stayed at Room 22 of that hotel, facing the Binondo Church. Hotel del Oriente was among the crown jewels of the old Binondo (or Minondoc as it was earlier known) which was named after binundok. It was part of the Provincia de Tondo (now Manila) and was declared one of its districts in 1859.

Both Hotel del Oriente and La Insular were burned down during the Japanese Occupation. The Metrobank building now occupies the former site of the two buildings. The oldest surviving hotel in the country is the Manila Hotel, which was built in 1912. The world's first hotel was the Tremont, which opened in Boston in 1829. It had a dining room for 200 people, 12 public rooms and 120 bedrooms.

First Republic
Early Philippine republics were Kakarong de Sili republic in Pandi, Bulacan; Tejeros Convention in Malabon; and Biak na Bato republic in San Miguel, Bulacan. Historians, however, wrote that the first real Philippine republic was established in Malolos, Bulacan on January 21, 1899. Two days later, the First Philippine Republic was inaugurated while General Emilio Aguinaldo was declared its first president.

First President of Katipunan
It was Deodato Arellano who became the first president of the Katipunan, a revolutionary movement against Spanish rule in the Philippines.

First Vice President
Mariano Trias is considered as the first Filipino vice-president who assumed the post in 1897.

First Army Chief
General Artemio Ricarte served as the first captain general of the Philippine Army which was established by the Tejeros Convention on March 22, 1897. Ricarte was replaced by General Antonio Luna on January 22, 1899.

First Calendar
The first calendar with a Philippine almanac was first released in 1897. The first issue of the calendar was titled "La Sonrisa".

First Protestant Mission
The first Presbyterian mission arrived in the country in April 1899. American couple Dr. and Mrs. James Rodgers led the mission.

First Filipino Protestant Minister
Nicolas Zamora, a former Catholic priest, later became the first ordained protestant minister in the Philippines.

First Election
The first municipal election in the Philippines was held in Baliuag, Bulacan under the supervision of American military governor general Arthur MacArthur on May 6, 1899.

First Ice Cream Parlor
In December 1899, Clarke's Ice Cream Parlor became the first ice cream parlor in the Philippines when it opened its store at Plaza Moraga in Binondo, Manila. Metcalf Clarke owned it.

First Autonomous Region
Before the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) were formed in the 1980s, Panay Island used to have "Cantonal Republic of Negros". The Americans, however, abolished the republic and turned Negros into a regular province on April 30, 1901.

First American Civil Governor
The first American civil governor in the Philippines became the 27th president of the United States. William Howard Taft, who served in the Philippines from 1901 to 1903, was also the only man who became a US president (1909-1912) and then a Supreme Court chief justice (1921-1930). Known for his weight of over 300 pounds, Taft became a very notable person in the US and the Philippines. One of the largest road networks in Metro Manila, the Taft Avenue, was named after him. President McKinley sent him to head the Philippine Commission in 1900. His task was to form a civil government in a country disrupted by the Spanish-American War and the rebellion led by General Emilio Aguinaldo, whom local historians called the country's first president.

First Superintendent of Manila Schools
Dr. David Prescott Barrows, one of the passengers of American ship USAT Thomas, was appointed the first superintendent of schools for Manila and later the first director of the Bureau of Education. USAT Thomas was named after General George Henry Thomas, a hero of the Battle of Chickamauga during the American Civil War. American journalist Frederic Marquardt coined the term Thomasites to refer to American teachers who came to the Philippines aboard USAT Thomas in 1901. (Source: Panorama Magazine)

First Filipino Superintendent
Camilo Osias was the first Filipino division superintendent of schools. Osias later became a senator.

First American College
The Philippine Normal School (PNS) was the first college established in the country under the American government. PNS opened its campus to Filipino students in Manila on September 1, 1901. It became the Philippine Normal University on January 11, 1992.

First Concrete Building
According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the Kneedler Building was the first concrete office building in the Philippines.

First Filipino Chief Justice
In 1901, Cayetano Arrelano became the first Filipino chief justice of the court.

First Registered Professionals
A friend of Jose Rizal, Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, holds the distinction of being the first doctor to sign in the Book I of Registered Professionals on January 25, 1902. Pardo de Tavera, a scientist, was a part of the first Civil Government in the 1900s. Among the members of the Pharmacy profession, it was Dr. Leon Ma. Guerrero who appeared as the first registrant on the second earliest compiled Book I. The date was May 22, 1903. Guerrero is known in history books as the first among many Filipinos to put the Philippines on the scientific map of the world. In Book I of Dentistry, it was Dr. Wallace G. Skidmore who first registered on September 21, 1903. The Board of Dentistry was the first board of professionals created in 1899. The idea of organizing the boards of professionals came from the Americans who occupied the Philippines in 1899. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

First Inventor
In 1853, the Spanish colonial government awarded a gold medal to Candido Lopez Diaz, a Filipino who invented a machine for Manila hemp or abaka.

First Filipino Chemist
Johann Andreas Zobel also founded the first chemical laboratory in the country. Meanwhile, Anacleto del Rosario is considered as the first Filipino chemist.

First Dentist
Bonifacio Arevalo is widely considered as the first Filipino dentist. In 1908, he was the founding president of Sociedad Dental de Filipinas, the first dental organization in the country. In 1912, Colegio Dental del Liceo de Manila became the first dental school. The first woman dentist was Catalina Arevalo.

First Economist
According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the first Filipino economist was Gregorio Sanciangco.

First Pilot
Leoncio Malinas is considered as the first Filipino pilot. He first flew his plane on April 20, 1920.

First Accountants
Vicente Fabella is considered as the first Filipino certified public accountant (CPA) and Belen Enrile Gutierrez, the first woman CPA in the country.

First Cardiologist
The first Filipino cardiologist was Dr. Mariano Alimurung, who became an honorary member of the Mexican Society of Cardiology.

First West Point Graduate
Vicente Lim was the first Filipino who graduated from the prestigious West Point Academy, a military school in the United States.

First Female Professionals
Among Filipino women, it was Maria Francisco de Villacerna who became the first lawyer; Honoria Acosta-Sison, first physician; Catalina Arevalo, first dentist; Encarnacion Alzona, first historian; Celia Castillo, first sociologist; Filomena Francisco, first pharmacist; Belen Enrile Gutierrez, first CPA; Socorro Simuangco, first dermatologist; Carmen Concha, first film director and producer; Criselda J. Garcia-Bausa, first paleontologist; Felipe Landa Jocano, first anthropologist; and Ali Macawaris, first oceanographer.

A visitor of this website said that Elena Ruiz Causin of Cebu could be among the first female lawyers in the country.

First Railroad
The Manila-Dagupan Railroad was completed in 1901, becoming the country's first railway system.

First Automobile
In 1900, La Estrella del Norte shipped from France to the Philippines a "George Richard", the first ever automobile to have landed on the native soil. Its owner was one Dr. Miciano, a rich doctor. The first shipment of automobiles for sale in the country was in 1907, with Bachrach Motors, an affiliate of American firm Ford Motor Co. as the importer.

First Labor Union
Isabelo delos Reyes, a writer, established the Union Obrera Democratica, the first organized labor union in the country on February 2, 1902.

First Political Party
On November 6, 1902, Pedro Paterno, a writer, scholar and former prime minister of President Emilio Aguinaldo, founded the Liberal political party.

First Opera
In 1905, Magdapio, the first Filipino opera, was staged at Zorilla Theater. Pedro Paterno wrote the opera, which was set to the music of Bonus.

First Convention of Governors
For the first time on October 2, 1906, the governors of Philippine provinces met in a convention in Manila. Sergio Osmena presided the convention.

First General Elections
The country's first general elections were held on July 30, 1907 under the American government. The people elected the members of the First Philippine Assembly.

First Speaker
The first speaker of the Philippine Assembly, whose members were elected in 1907, was Sergio Osmena.

First Actor in Politics
Before Lito Lapid became governor of Pampanga and Bong Revilla assumed the governorship of Cavite, Jose Padilla Sr., a movie actor in the 1930s, had served as the provincial governor of Bulacan. The first actor who invaded the senate was Rogelio dela Rosa.

First Diplomats
Benito Legarda and Pablo Ocampo were the first Filipino resident commissioners to the Unites States.

First Labor Day
The first Labor Day in the Philippines was celebrated on May 1, 1913 during the first National Labor Congress in Manila.

First Film
The first Filipino-produced film, "La Vida de Rizal" was released in 1912. Jose Nepomuceno produced the first Filipino full-length film "Dalagang Bukid" in 1919.

First Actor in Politics
Before Lito Lapid became governor of Pampanga and Bong Revilla assumed the governorship of Cavite, Jose Padilla Sr., a movie actor in the 1930s, had served as the provincial governor of Bulacan. The first actor who invaded the senate was Rogelio dela Rosa.

First Movie Theater
Salon de Pertierra, the country's first movie theater, was built in Escolta, Manila in 1897. A short French film was first shown in the threater.

First Comic Stip
"Kenkoy" is considered as the first comic strip in the Philippines. Cartoonist Tony Velasquez first published the comic strip in 1929.

First TV Station
Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) Channel 3, the first television station in the country, went on the air in 1953.

First Woman Cabinet Officials
Sofira Reyes de Veyra served as "social secretary" under the Quezon and Roxas administrations. In 1941, former President Elpidio Quirino named Asuncion Arriola Perez as the secretary of the Bureau of Public Welfare.

First Woman Senator
Geronima Pecson was elected to senate in 1947, opening the doors for Filipino women who wanted to join national politics.

First Olympian
David Nepomuceno, a Filipino serving in the US Navy, was the first Filipino Olympian. A sprinter, Nepomuceno was the country's sole representative to the 1924 Olympics, which was held in Paris.

First Balagtasan
The first balagtasan, a local term for poetic debate in honor of Francisco Balagtas, took place in Manila on April 6, 1924. The first participants were Jose Corazon de Jesus and Florentino Collantes.

First International Opera Singer
Before Lea Salonga became famous in London, New York and Paris for her portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, a Filipino woman had long gained international recognition in the world of theater. Jovita Fuentes became famous in Europe for her opera lead roles in Madama Butterfly, Turandot, La Boheme, Iris, Salome and Li Tae Pe in the 1930s.

First Grand Opera
Noli Me Tangere, an adaptation of Jose Rizal's first novel became the first Filipino full-length or grand opera in 1957.

First Woman Barber
In June 1927 issue of Philippine Free Press, Martina Lunud from Olongapo City was featured as "Manila's Lady Barber" who could also be the first professional woman barber. She had to find her niche in the male-dominated profession and worked for La Marina barbershop and People's barbershop in Sta. Cruz, Manila later. "This is not a girl's work, I think, but I have done my best to a certain extent, and my customers like my work," the Free Press quoted Lunud as saying. (Source: Ambeth Ocampo, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Asia's First Airline
The Philippine Airlines (PAL), which was established in 1941, takes pride in being Asia's oldest commercial airline. However, huge financial losses forced its owner Lucio Tan to close the airline in September 2000. It resumed operations a few months later. The first commercial flight in the country was recorded on March 15, 1941 when a twin-engine Beech Model 18 owned by PAL carried five passengers from Manila to Baguio City in 45 minutes.

First Senate President
The country's first senate president was Manuel Quezon (1917-1935) under the US government. The senate has produced a number of presidents and political luminaries such as Manuel Roxas, Sergio Osmena, Claro M. Recto, Jose Laurel, Camilo Osias, Eulogio Rodriguez, Juan Sumulong, Quintin Paredes, Lorenzo Tanada, Jose Diokno, Benigno Aquino, Ferdinand Marcos, Arturo Tolentino, Gil Puyat, Jovito Salonga, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

First Female Justice
Cecilia Munoz Palma became the first woman to top the bar exam with a score of 92.6 percent in 1935. Palma also became the first female prosecutor in 1947, the first woman judge at the Court of First Instance in the 1950s, first female justice of the Supreme Court in 1973 and first female president of a constitutional commission in 1986.

First House Speaker Under Republic
Eugenio Perez of San Carlos, Pangasinan became the first speaker of the House of Representatives under the Republic in 1946. Among the laws passed during his tenure were the Magna Carta for Labor, the Minimum Wage Law, the Rural Bank Law and the Central Bank charter.

First Woman Cabinet Officials
Sofira Reyes de Veyra served as "social secretary" under the Quezon and Roxas administrations. In 1941, former President Elpidio Quirino named Asuncion Arriola Perez as the secretary of the Bureau of Public Welfare.

First Woman Senator
Geronima Pecson was elected to senate in 1947, opening the doors for Filipino women who wanted to join national politics.

First Woman Battalion Commander
Lt. Col. Ramona Palabrica-Go became the first woman battalion commander in the history of the male-dominated Philippine Army in January 2003. She was appointed as commander of the elite Aviation Battalion under the Light Armor Brigade based at Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija province. She was 45 years old and had three children at the time of appointment.

First National Celebration of June 12
The first national celebration of June 12 as Independence Day took place in 1962 under the Macapagal administration. Former President Diosdado Macapagal signed the law moving the celebration of the holiday from July 4 to June 12 on May 12, 1962. Quezon Representative Manuel Enverga was the one who proposed the law.

First US President To Visit Manila
US President Dwight Eisenhower became the first incumbent American president to have visited the Philippines when he arrived in Manila on June 14, 1960.

First National Artist
Fernando Amorsolo, a painter, was the first national artist declared by the Philippine government. The award was conferred on Amorsolo in April 1972, several days after his death.

First American Multinational Firm
Computer chips manufacturer Intel Philippines Mfg. Inc. claimed that it was the first American multinational company that established a branch in the Philippines in 1974. Today, the Philippine branch of Intel is one of the top exporters of semiconductor components in the country and contributes significantly to the cash flow of its mother company in the US, which is said to be the world's largest corporation in terms of gross income.

First Aeta Lawyer
At 26, Wayda Cosme became the first Aeta to become a lawyer when she passed the bar exam in 2001. Cosme, a law graduate from Harvadian Colleges in San Fernando City, Pampanga, works for the Clark Development Corp. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

First Woman President
In February 1986, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, widow of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, became the country's first woman president and the country's 11th president. In January 2001, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal, became the 14th president of the Philippines and the second woman to assume the government's highest post.

First President in Prison
Deposed President Joseph Estrada, who lost the presidency to a military-backed people's revolt, was arrested on charges of plunder and corruption in April 2001. His arrest fomented the now infamous May 1 mob revolt that was suppressed by government forces. As this was being written, the trial of Estrada was still ongoing at the Sandiganbayan or the anti-graft court.

First Muslim Justice Secretary
In January 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Simeon Datumanong, a Muslim, as the secretary of the Department of Justice, replacing Hernando Perez, who resigned on corruption charges.

First Award of Ancestral Domain
In what the Arroyo government described as a historic event and the first in the world, it awarded on July 20, 2002 a certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) for the town of Bakun in Benguet province where some 17,000 Kankanaey and Bago people live. The title covers some 29,444 hectares of ancestral land.

Oldest Province
Aklan, originally known as Minuro it Akean, is considered as the oldest province in the country and believed to have been established as early as 1213 by settlers from Borneo. Its first ruler was Datu Dinagandan. In 1399, Kalantiaw grabbed the throne. In 1433, Kalantiaw III formulated a set of laws that is known today as the Code of Kalantiaw.

Oldest Town
Unisan, Quezon could be the oldest town in the Philippines. The people of Unisan claimed that their town is now 481 years old, having been established in 1521, the same year that Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines. All other towns in the country were established not earlier than 1565, when Spain formally occupied the Philippines as a colony.

A Malayan queen named Ladya reportedly founded Calilayan, the old name of the town. In 1876, Calilayan was renamed Unisan which was derived from the Latin word uni-sancti, meaning "holy saint". (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Oldest City
Cebu City is considered as the oldest city in the country, as this was the site of the earliest European settlement established by Spanish conqueror Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565.

Oldest Fort
The first Spanish settlement in the country, Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, was located inside Fort San Pedro in Cebu City. The fort's construction began in 1565.

Oldest Street
Calle Colon in Cebu City is considered as the oldest street in the country. Named after explorer Christopher Columbus, Calle Colon was first constructed in 1565 by men of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

Oldest Stone Church
The Baclayon Church in Bohol is considered as the oldest stone church in the Philippines. But some historians disagree, claiming that San Agustin Church in Manila deserves the title.

Church historians claim that the cornerstones of San Agustin Church were laid as early as 1571, 25 years before Baclayon Church was built in 1596. But most people believe the title should be kept by the latter, since it is situated in the island first occupied by the troops of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the country's first Spanish governor general.
Bohol was where a friendship was sealed with blood between chieftain Rajah Sikatuna and Legazpi. The event is known today as ''The Blood Compact.''

Oldest Hospital
The San Lazaro Hospital could be the oldest hospital in the country. According to Pampango historian Zoilo Galang, the San Lazaro hospital was established in 1578; Enfermeria de Naga, 1583; and Hospital de San Juan de Dios, 1596.

Oldest Church Bell
The oldest church bell in the country is said to be the one found in Camalaniugan, Cagayan. That bell was reportedly forged in 1595.

Oldest Bridge
The Jones Bridge, formerly known as Puente de Espana, was first built in 1701. It was rebuilt by the Americans in 1916 and renamed after Atkinson Jones.

Oldest University
The University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City is considered as the oldest school in the country and in Asia. Formerly known as the Colegio de San Ildefonso, it was founded by the Spanish Jesuits on August 1, 1595. This makes the Cebu-based university older than the University of Santo Tomas (1611) in Manila and Harvard University (1636) in the United States.

The University of Santo Tomas, however, contests this title. Formerly known as the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, UST was the first school, which got a university status in 1645. USC became a university in 1948. UST also claimed that the original USC was closed in 1769 as a result of the expulsion of the Jesuits. It reopened in 1783 under a new name and ownership. But the USC officials stick to their claim. The university observed its 400th foundation day on August 21, 1995.

Oldest Vocational School
The Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades (DHVCAT) in Bacolor, Pampanga is said to be the oldest vocational school in Asia. Augustinian Friar Juan Zita and civic leader Don Felino Gil established the vocational school on November 4, 1861.

Oldest Company
Ayala Corp., one of the largest conglomerates in the country, is also the oldest existing company around. It was established in 1834 by sugar barons Domingo Roxas and Antonio de Ayala. It was later renamed as Casa Ayala, then as Ayala y Compania and recently as Ayala Corp.

Oldest Bank
In 1881, Domingo Roxas, an ancestor of the Ayala family, became one of the first directors of Banco Español-Filipino de Isabel II, which was founded by virtue of a royal decree issued by Queen Isabel II. The bank issued the country's first currency notes the following year. Considered as the first private commercial bank in the country, the bank came to be known as the Bank of Philippine Islands in 1912. The oldest savings bank was Monte de Piedad, which was established in 1882.

Oldest Military Supply Shop
The oldest military supply shop in the country was said to be Alfredo Roensch and Co.

Oldest Rizal Monument
What can be considered as the oldest Rizal monument in the country is a 20-foot metal structure standing at a park in Daet, Camarines Norte. Its construction reportedly began on December 30, 1898 and was finished in February 1899. In comparison, the Rizal monument at the former Luneta park was built in 1912.
Oldest Vice
The earliest vice among native Filipinos, according to historians, was the chewing of betelnut or "nganga". It was said that Filipinos had been chewing betelnut for 3,000 years.

Oldest Insurance Firm
Insular Life Insurance Company was established on November 26, 1910, becoming the oldest insurance agency in the country.

Oldest Epics
In a 1962 study, E. Arsenio Manuel said the country had at least 19 epics, which were passed to the present generation from our early ancestors through oral chanting. Among these so-called ethnoepics were 13 epics among pagan Filipinos, 2 among Christian Filipinos, and 4 among Muslim Filipinos. These included the Ilocano epic Lam-ang, Manuvu's Tuwaang, Sulod's Hinilawod and Maranaw's Bantugan.

Most Populated Islands
As of 2000, around 56 percent of Filipinos were living in Luzon, while only 23.7 percent were living in Mindanao and 20.3 percent in the Visayas.

Most Populated Region
Southern Tagalog or Region 4 had the most number of inhabitants at 11.8 million as of 2000, higher than 9.9 million in Metro Manila and 8 million in Central Luzon. The combined population of these three regions made up for around 39 percent of the country's total population.

Most Densely Populated Region
Metro Manila or the National Capital region is the most densely populated region in the Philippines. As of 2000, there were 15,617 persons occupying each square kilometer of land in the metropolis, or nearly 61 times the population density of 255 persons per square kilometer in the whole country.

Region with Most Cities
As of 2002, Western Visayas or Region 6 had a total of 16 cities beating Metro Manila as the region with the most number of cities. Metro Manila had only 13 cities, 4 municipalities and 1,694 barangays.

Largest Province
Palawan is considered as the largest province in the country. It has a total land area of 14,896 square kilometers distributed in 1,769 islands and is composed of one city, 23 municipalities and 431 barangays. The next largest provinces in the country are Isabela, with a land area of 10,664 square kilometers; and Cagayan, 9,002 square kilometers.

Most Populated Province
Cebu province, including its 6 cities, had a total population of 3.1 million as of 2000, the highest among the country's 79 provinces. Other highly populated provinces were Pangasinan, with 2.434 million inhabitants; Bulacan, 2.23 million; Negros Occidental, 2.14 million; and Cavite, 2.06 million.

Most Densely Populated Province
As of 2000, Cavite province in Southern Tagalog was the most densely populated among provinces with 1,602 inhabitants per square kilometer while Apayao province in Cagayan Valley was the most sparsely populated with only 24 persons per square kilometer.

Richest Provinces
In its 2000 survey, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) identified the ten provinces with the lowest poverty incidence levels. Each of the four districts in Metro Manila, composed of several cities and/or municipalities, was treated as a province in the survey.

The 2nd district of Metro Manila (Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City and San Juan) topped the list, with a poverty incidence of only 4.1 percent while the 4th district (Las Pinas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Pateros and Taguig) came in second with 4.9 percent.

Others in the list are Bulacan, with a poverty incidence of 5.4 percent; 1st district of Metro Manila (Manila), 5.8 percent; Batanes, 7.5 percent; Rizal, 8 percent; Laguna, 8.6 percent; 3rd district of Metro Manila (Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon and Navotas), 9 percent; Bataan, 9.9 percent; and Cavite, 10.2 percent.

Poorest Provinces
In its 2000 survey, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) identified Sulu province (ARMM) as the poorest province in the Philippines, with a poverty incidence level of 63.2 percent. Masbate (Bicol) registered a poverty incidence level of 62.8 percent while Tawi-Tawi had 56.5 percent. Other provinces in the list of the 10 poorest are Ifugao, which had a poverty incidence of 55.6 percent; Romblon, 55.2 percent; Maguindanao; 55.1 percent; Lanao del Sur, 55 percent; Sultan Kudarat, 54.3 percent; Camiguin, 53.1 percent; and Camarines Norte, 52.7 percent.

Bulacan Had Highest Human Development Index
Provinces near Metro Manila registered the highest human development index (HDI), a gauge of quality living, in the country. Bulacan, a province in Central Luzon and located just north of Metro Manila, topped the list of the 77 provinces, with an HDI of 0.760 in 2000.

Bataan, also in Central Luzon, came in second with an HDI of 0.746. Located south of Metro Manila, Cavite (southern Luzon) was third in the list with an HDI of 0.735 while Rizal, also a province in southern Luzon located just east of Metro Manila, came in fourth with an HDI of 0.733.

Other provinces in the top ten list are Batanes (Cagayan Valley region), with an HDI of 0.717; Laguna (southern Luzon), 0.709; Ilocos Norte (northern Luzon), 0.684; Batangas (southern Luzon), 0.683; Pampanga (central Luzon), 0.665; and Isabela (Cagayan Valley region), 0.649.

Province with Most Number of Cooperatives
Apart from topping the list of provinces in terms of income and literacy, Bulacan also boasts of its high number of cooperatives estimated as 1,120 with total assets of P3.8 billion as of 1998. The province had also registered the lowest poverty incidence of 17 percent.

Sulu Had Lowest Human Development Index
Appearing at the bottom of the HDI ladder in 2000 are Mindanao provinces which have been most devastated by decades of armed conflict. The NSCB identified the ten most lagging provinces in terms of human development as Sulu (western Mindanao), Tawi-Tawi (western Mindanao), Basilan (western Mindanao), Ifugao (Cordillera region), Maguindanao (central Mindanao), Lanao del Sur (central Mindanao), Agusan del Sur (northern Mindanao), Western Samar (eastern Visayas), Lanao del Norte (central Mindanao), and Sarangani (southern Mindanao).

Province with Most Cities
As of 2002, Negros Occidental in Western Visayas had 13 cities, 19 municipalities and 661 barangays.

Province with Most Municipalities
As of 2002, Cebu province in Central Visayas had 6 cities and 47 municipalities. Bohol, on the other hand, had 1 city and 47 municipalities.

Province with Most Barangays
As of 2002, Iloilo province in Western Visayas had 2 cities, 42 municipalities and 1,901 barangays.

Least Populated Province
As of 2000, Batanes province had the lowest population among provinces at 16,467. It was followed by Camiguin, with 74,232 inhabitants; Siquijor, 81,598; and Apayao, 97,129.

Most Populated City
Quezon City in northern Metro Manila is the country's most populated city. With a total population of 2.17 million as of 2000, Quezon City is composed of numerous subdivisions and has the highest concentration of urban poor residents in Metro Manila. Other highly populated cities in the country are Manila, with 1.58 million residents; Caloocan, 1.18 million and Davao, 1.15 million. The least populated city is Tagaytay City in Cavite province, with a population of less than 45,500.

Most Polluted City
People go to Baguio City during summer because of its cool weather and fresh air. Ironically, a World Bank study in 2001 has found Baguio City's air as the most polluted in the country. The city's air reportedly had 75.2 micrograms of particles per cubic meter, compared to Metro Manila's 65.8, Cebu City's 45 and Davao City's 39.8.

The Bible Also Mentions the Philippines
It can be easily understood that no verse in the Bible carried the term Philippines, since the Bible was written two thousand years ago or centuries before the Spaniards came here. However, there are verses in the Bible that prophesy about the Philippine archipelago and other islands in the Pacific. In the chapter 24 of the Book of Isaiah, verses 15 to 16 read "Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: 'Glory to the Righteous One.'" The Philippines is the only Christian archipelago in the Pacific covering East Asia.

Arroyo and Sukarnoputri Share Similarities
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines and Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia have remarkable similarities. Both are 54-year-old women who had been vice-presidents before becoming presidents in place of their predecessors who were ousted in the year 2001. Both of them were daughters of former presidents of the world's two largest archipelagos who lost the presidency in 1965 to dictators. Both women have three children and their husbands were being pursued by controversy. Both visited Washington in their first year as presidents and met US President George W. Bush, another offspring of a former president who also assumed power in 2001. Arroyo and Sukarnoputri are not entirely similar though. The former is a Catholic Christian from the world's fifth largest Christian country while the latter is a Muslim from the country with the world's largest Muslim population.

Bulacan Produced Queens
Marcelo del Pilar, the father of Philippine journalism; Francisco Balagtas, the father of Philippine literature; Jose Corazon de Jesus, father of balagtasan; Nicanor Abelardo, father of kundiman; Francisca Reyes-Aquino, mother of Philippine dances; Gerry de Leon, a father of Philippine movies; Guillermo Tolentino, one of the fathers of Philippine arts; Jose Reyes, a father of Philippine medicine; and Dely Magpayo, a mother of Philippine broadcasting, were all born in Bulacan province. Atang dela Rama, the mother of Philippine theater, lived in Bulacan. Aside from national fathers and mothers, Bulacan also produced queens, namely: Lydia de Vega, Asia's former sprint queen; Regine Velasquez, Asia's song bird; and Michelle Aldana, Miss Asia-Pacific beauty queen.

Babe Ruth Scored Homeruns in RP
Babe Ruth, the American baseball legend who had over 200 homeruns in his professional career, once played in the baseball field of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. In 1934, Ruth and another baseball great, Lou Gehrig, selected an All-Star team that toured Asia where they played 18 games. The All-Star selection stopped in the Philippines and played at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex from December 2 to December 9. Gehrig beat Ruth when he scored the first recorded homerun at the Rizal complex on December 2. Ruth scored the 2nd homerun on the same day and 4th homerun on December 9. The other players of the same selection who also scored homeruns at the Rizal complex were Earl Averill and C. Gehringer.

7 Cabinet Officials Were from Harvard
In a speech before an American delegation early in 2002, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has claimed that her Cabinet officials include seven Harvard graduates and three Wharton alumni. The 54-year-old president added that four of her economic managers had been top executives on Wall Street prior to joining government service in the Philippines. President Arroyo, herself, has a Ph. D. in Economics, which she earned from the University of the Philippines (UP). Before this, she had studied for two years at the Georgetown University where she had former US President Bill Clinton as a classmate.

Manila Played Host To Big Events
Manila served as a host to some of the world's biggest events in the past several decades. On November 22, 1995, the country hosted 21 world leaders, including former US President Bill Clinton, during the 4th Economic Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). In 1974, Former First Lady Imelda Marcos ordered the construction of the Folk Arts Theater to be the site of the 23rd annual Miss Universe beauty pageant on July 19. The prestigious beauty contest was held again in the country in 1994. On October 1, 1975, the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City was the venue of the infamous "Thrilla in Manila", the thrilling boxing match between Heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Manila also hosted other international sports events such as the Asian Games in 1954 and the Southeast Asian Games in 1981 and 1991. In 1980, the Marcos administration ordered the construction of the grand Coconut Palace to host John Paul II during his Manila visit. The head of the Vatican state visited Manila again in January 1995.

Sabah Once Belonged to Sultan of Sulu
Sabah, an oil-rich region forming the northern part the great Borneo Island, used to be a property of the Sultan of Sulu. Its 73,620-square-kilometer land area is about twice the size of Switzerland and teems with incomparable natural resources. The territory is still being claimed by the Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III. The Sulu sultanate was founded by Rajah Baginda in 1430. According to the present sultan, his claim goes as far back as 1704 when the Sultan of Brunei ceded part of then North Borneo which now comprises Sabah to the Sultan of Sulu in the southern Philippines for his help in suppressing a rebellion. There are about 500,000 Filipinos, most of them Muslims, living in Sabah. They fled to the territory in the 1970s during heavy fighting between Muslim rebels and the government troops. Sabah is only four hours by boat from the southernmost island-province of Tawi-Tawi in the Philippines.

Coconut Workers Own San Miguel Corp.
There are 3 million hectares planted to coconut trees, the second largest agricultural area after rice fields (4 million hectares). The coconut industry employs about 3.4 million Filipinos. Some 18 to 20 million more Filipinos depend on the industry for their livelihood, according to the United Coconut Associations of the Philippines (UCAP). About 90 percent of those employed in the coconut industry are small farmers, who earn P10,000 a year or P25 a day.

Coconut farmers are among the most exploited segments of Philippine society. Driven to squalor by Marcos cronies who thrived on the so-called coconut levies, the coconut farmers represent the oldest sector of the domestic economy. In 1642, the Spanish colonial government forced each Filipino to plant 200 coconut trees, because Spanish shipbuilders had a large need for charcoaled coconut shells and coconut husks. Coconut products have gradually become the country's top export, accounting for 35 percent of all exports in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s, coconut products were the country's leading exports of raw materials. New economic policies initiated under the Aquino administration led to a slow-phased shift to industries, which eventually put the coconut industry at the tailend of government priorities. In 2001, coconut exports represented only 1.6 percent of the country's total exports.

In 1971, the dictatorial government of the late President Ferdinand Marcos established the Coconut Investment Fund (Cocofund) by imposing a levy of P15 per 100 kilograms of copra for nine years between 1973 and 1982. Supposedly, the fund should serve as subsidy to coconut products for domestic consumption. However, the cocofund, which amounted to a total of P9.695 billion by August 1982, was turned into a private fund used to finance three financial institutions, including the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB). The cocofund was also used to acquire the majority shares of San Miguel Corporation, the country's largest food and beverage conglomerate. A known Marcos crony, Danding Cojuangco, still retains the chairmanship of both UCPB and San Miguel until today. The fund, which is estimated at over P100 billion today, has yet to be transferred to the accounts of the coconut farmers. (Source: http://www.virtual-asia.com/ph)

A Mayor Held Office for 5 Decades
No other local official had the distinction of serving an elective post for almost half a century. Pablo Cuneta, the late mayor of Pasay City and father of popular actress, Sharon Cuneta, died at 90 on September 27, 2000 after serving the government for 50 years. In 1947, then President Elpidio Quirino appointed him vice mayor of Pasay City. In 1955, he was elected mayor, a post which he held until 1967 when he lost to Jovito Claudio in the mayoralty election. He emerged victorious in the 1972 elections and served his constituents in Pasay City until 1986 when he was ordered ousted by the Aquino administration. Cuneta won in the 1988 mayoralty election and served his post uninterrupted until 1997 when his health began to fail. He was awarded a golden trophy for his 50th year in public service in the same year.

A Priest Took Up Arms Against Americans
From 1900 to 1902, Catholic priest Gregorio Labayan Aglipay took up arms against American soldiers in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Aglipay founded the Liwanag branch of the Katipunan in Victoria, Tarlac, attended the Malolos Congress and became the ecclesiastical governor of Nueva Segovia (Ilocos) in 1899. In his religious role, Aglipay is considered as the Martin Luther of the Philippines for founding the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or the Philippine Independent Church, which celebrated its centenary on August 3, 2002. A century earlier, the Union Obrera Democratica, a confederation of 10 labor organizations headed by Isabelo de los Reyes, broke ties with the Vatican and designated Aglipay as the Obispo Maximo (supreme bishop) of their new religion. The Catholic Church then excommunicated Aglipay. An American general called Aglipay a better soldier than a bishop. (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Osmena Clan Is the Oldest Political Dynasty
The Osmena clan is perhaps the oldest and the most dominant political dynasty in the country. This political dynasty began when Sergio Osmena Sr. replaced Manuel Quezon as president of the Commonwealth government during the war. His son, Osmena Jr. became a senator and his grandson, Osmena III is now an incumbent senator. John Osmena, a former mayor of Cebu City, is also a senator today. Lito Osmena, a long-time governor of the province of Cebu, vied for the presidency in the 1998 presidential election. Tomas Osmena was a mayor of Davao City.

Six Vice-Presidents Became Presidents
Six former vice-president became presidents, namely: Sergio Osmena, Elpidio Quirino, Carlos Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Three Senate Presidents Became Presidents
Three former senate presidents became presidents, namely Manuel Quezon, Manuel Roxas, and Ferdinand Marcos.

Two Speakers Became Presidents
Two former House speakers became presidents, namely: Sergio Osmena Sr. and Manuel Roxas.

Three Presidents Died in Office
Three Philippine presidents were not able to finish their terms of office. They were Manuel Quezon who died in New York City on August 1, 1944; Manuel Roxas who died of a heart attack on April 15, 1948; and Ramon Magsaysay who died in an air accident on March 17, 1957.

First 3 Beauty Queens Married Pinoys
The first Miss Universe, Armi Kuusela of Finland won the crown in 1952 and married Virgilio Hilario of Tarlac the following year. The first Miss International (1961), Maria Stella Marquez Zawadsky of Colombia, married Filipino millionaire, Jorge Araneta. The first Miss Asia (1965), Angela Filmer of Malaysia, married Jose Faustino, also a Filipino.

A Filipino Spread Love Bug Virus
In May 2000, the so-called "love bug" computer virus spread worldwide and infected millions of computer files. The virus, quickly infiltrated government and corporate computer systems around the world. Described as the worst computer virus ever created, the "love bug" wrought damages amounting to US$10 billion. It could not have been big news in the Philippines, if not for the fact that the suspected creator of the virus is a Filipino. He was identified as Onel de Guzman, a student of AMA Computer College in Quezon City.

Caloocan City Has Two Separate Parts
Caloocan City is the only city in the Philippines with two areas set apart from each other by other towns and cities. Its first area, known as the urban portion, covers Monumento and is bounded on the south by Manila, on the west by Navotas and Malabon and on the north by Valenzuela City. Its second area, known as Caloocan II, is a hilly portion between Bulacan province and Quezon City.

Orchids Breeds Were from RP
Waling-waling or Vanda sanderiana, is described as the "Queen of Philippine Orchids". One of the largest species in the world, waling-waling was discovered by German Taxonomist Heinrich Gustav Reicheinback in Mindanao in 1882. Since then, it has become the most sought-after flower in Mindanao and helped in the flourishing of the world's multibillion-dollar orchid and cutflower industry. The massive deforestation in Mindanao threatens the region's wildlife, including waling-waling which used to abound in the tropical forest of Mount Apo and its surrounding areas. Today, it is believed that Waling-Waling has more species abroad, particularly in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Hawaii. Of the 9,000 flowering plants in the world, about 3,500 are endemic to the Philippines. Human activities, however, pose a great threat to their existence.

Romulo Coined "I Shall Return"
It was Carlos P. Romulo, who coined the famous phrase "I shall return" by General Douglas MacArthur. Romulo was MacArthur's press officer at that time.

Romulo Put RP in UN Map
According to Beth Day Romulo, Carlos P. Romulo literally put the Philippines on the world map. "When the UN official seal which depicts the world was being selected, Romulo asked 'Where is the Philippines?'

The answer came, 'It's too small to include. If we put the Philippines, it would be no more than a dot.'

'I want that dot,' Romulo insisted." The UN seal now has a tiny dot for the Philippines.

MacArthur Was Field Marshall of Philippine Army
Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon appointed American four-star Maj. Gen. Douglas MacArthur as Field Marshall of the Philippine Army in 1935. Attached with the appointment was MacArthur's extra monthly pay of US$3,980 that made him the highest paid military officer in the world, according to American historian Carlos D'Este in his book "Eisenhower, A Soldier's Life".

Eisenhower Wrote Quezon's Speeches
In the book "Eisenhower, A Soldier's Life", American historian Carlos D'Este claimed that Dwight Eisenhower became an adviser and speechwriter of Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon in the Philippines. When Quezon sought an exile in the US, he met Eisenhower in Washington D.C. and offered him "a lavish stipend of some one hundred thousand dollars for services rendered the Philippines during his four years there, which Eisenhower courteously rejected." This was before Eisenhower was appointed as the supreme commander of all allied forces and planned the now infamous Normandy Invasion in Europe during World War II. Eisenhower later became a US president.

Filipinos Had Headed International Organizations
Carlos P. Romulo became president of the United Nations 4th General Assembly; Cesar Bengzon, president of the World Court Justice; Blas Ople, president of International Labor Organization; Jose Aspiras, president of World Tourism Organization; Jesus Tamesis, president of World Medical Association; Arturo Tanco, president of World Food Council; Florencio Campomanes, president of International Chess Federation; Justiniano Montano, president of World Boxing Council; Gonzalo Puyat II, president of International Amateur Basketball Federation; Ramos del Rosario, president of World Jaycee International;

Jolly Bugarin, president of International Criminal Police Organization; Mercedes Concepcion, president of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population; Lolita Delgado-Fransler, president of Association of International College of Women; Modesto Farolan, president of International Union of Official Tourist Organizations; Florencio Moreno, president of World Highway Engineers Association; Quintin Gomez, president of the 8th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists; Cielito del Mundo, president of World Family Institute Inc.;

Fe del Mundo, president of International Women's Medical Association; Amelito Mutuc, president of World Association of Lawyers; John Choa, president of Y's Men International; Roman Cruz, president of Orient Airlines Association; Manuel Nieto, president of Oriental Boxing Federation; Rufus Rodriguez, president of World Association of Law Students; Edward dela Rosa, president of World Association of Pharmaceutical Distributors; Esther Vibal, president of International Inner wheel;

Antonio Delgado, chairman of Boy Scouts World Conference; Marcelo Fernan, secretary general of the Academy of American and International Law Alumni; Norman Certeza Sr., governor of Kiwanis International; Eduardo Chuidian, general manager of Association of International Shipping Lines; Rafael Salas, executive director of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities; and Dioscoro Umali, assistant director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Tolentino and Amorsolo Were Classmates
Guillermo Tolentino and Fernando Amorsolo, both national artists in arts, were classmates at the UP School of Fine Arts. Guillermo Tolentino was the one who carved the UP Oblation while Amorsolo was known for his paintings about barrio life and women.

15 National Artists Were from Manila
Aside from Manila, there is no other city or province, which owns the distinction of having produced 15 national artists. Three of these national artists - Levi Celerio, Cesar Legaspi and Rolando Tinio - were born in Tondo, the same district that produced Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and yes, Juan Flavier. Other national artists who were born in Manila include Fernando Amorsolo, Francisco Arcellana, Ishmael Bernal, Gerardo de Leon, Nick Joaquin, Arturo Luz, Jose Maceda, Antonio Molina, Juan Nakpil, Andrea Veneracion, Jose Garcia Villa and Honorata "Atang" dela Rama. Coming far behind Manila in having produced a great number of national artists is Bulacan province, the birthplace of six national artists.

Bulacan Produced Great Musicians
Aside from producing heroes and poets, Bulacan is known as the birthplace of great Filipino composers, singers and dancers. Nicanor Abelardo, who is widely regarded as the father of kundiman, was born in San Miguel, Bulacan while Francisco Santiago, another pioneer of kundiman, grew up in Sta. Maria town. Noted composer Antonino Buenaventura was born in Baliuag town while contemporary composer Ernani Cuenco was born in the capital town of Malolos. Honorata "Atang" dela Rama, the great theater actress before the war, made Bulacan her home and married poet and national artist Amado Hernandez of San Miguel.

The father of Levi Celerio, the poet of Philippine music, was from Baliuag. Francisca Reyes Aquino, the mother of Philippine dances, was born in the town of Bocaue. Composer and singer Rey Valera was born in Meycauayan town. At present, three divas from Bulacan - Regine Velasquez, Jaimie Rivera and Claire dela Fuente own the finest voices that this country has ever heard.

A Filipino Supervised a Russian Orchestra
Redentor Romero had served as the conductor of the 100-member Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, which received worldwide acclaim.

Pasyon Was a Poem
The long poem read and chanted by Catholic devotees during the Lent first appeared in 1704. Entitled Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon Nation, the poem was written in octosyllabic verse by Gaspar Aquino de Belen.

Balagtas Had Other Works
Francisco dela Cruz Balagtas, the 19th Century poet from Bulacan, wrote more than 100 plays, comedies, awits and koridos. Most of these works, however, were burned in a fire that gutted his house in Udyong, Bataan in 1892. Fortunately, copies of three of his works were found elsewhere. Aside from the well-known awit Florante at Laura, other existing works of Balagtas were a short farce entitled La India Elegante y e! Negrito Amante and a full-length komedya entitled Orosman at Zafira.

A Filipino was Declared Emperor
In 1926, Florencio Intrencherado was proclaimed emperor of Negros Occidental province. In the 1900s, the people of Negros declared a republic in Panay, which was later abolished by the US government.

A Filipino Refereed Muhammad Ali
In October 1975, Carlos Padilla Jr. served as the referee in the world-boxing match between Ali and Frazier in what was dubbed as thrilla in Manila.

A Brazilian Became Filipinos' Darling in 2000
Leila Barros, a fine-looking volleyball player from Brazil, became the Filipino crowd's darling in the staging of World Women's Volleyball Grand Prix in Manila in 1999 and 2000. Leila, a five-foot-eight player, led her team to the first runner-up finish in the 1999 event, which was won by Russia. Brazil won the crown in 1994, 1996 and 1998. The Filipino audience used to ignore the game of volleyball until they saw Leila spike the ball with the elegance and style no one else could show.

Inside the court, the 28-year-old Brazilian beauty was noted for her intensity and leaping ability, which enabled her to penetrate the stonewall defense of her six foot rivals. Behind the pretty face was her seriousness and sheer determination to win each game. She moves with the agility of Martina Hingis and the form of Anna Kournikova. Not a few Filipino men fell in love with her flash images on television. Some of those who were lucky to see her personally waved placards proposing marriage, not knowing that the young, otherwise innocent looking star player has been married for four years. How sad! Just the same, Leila moves and jumps with the charm of any 16-year-old girl "oozing with sensuality", as one sports columnist put it. At a time the Philippines was troubled by many problems, all it needed was a little inspiration from someone like Leila, who reminded the Filipino men of the beauty of life.

Intel Chips Were Manufactured in RP
Intel Corp., the world's largest corporation, has been operating in the Philippines for almost 30 years. Calling itself as the first multinational company that established a branch in the country, Intel manufactures processors and chips in its Philippine plant, which is expected to be Intel's biggest assembly and testing operations worldwide soon. Other foreign electronic and IT firms in the country are Texas Instruments, Toshiba, Trend Micro, Fujitsu, and America Online (AOL).

Marcos Was Last Lawyer President
Eight Filipino presidents were laywers. All former presidents from Manuel Quezon in 1935 to Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, except Ramos Magsaysay, had practiced law. Starting 1986, the next four presidents were non-lawyers, namely: Corazon Aquino, a housewife; Fidel Ramos, a military general; Joseph Estrada, an actor; and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an economist.

A Filipino Ruled an Island
In 1956, Tomas Cloma, a Filipino explorer, discovered an island in the South China Sea. Cloma named the island as "Freedomland" which he tried to rule by establishing his own government.

A Planetoid was Named After a Filipino
The minor planet Biyo, which has a diameter of four to nine kilometers and was formerly called planet 13241, was named after Dr. Josette Biyo, a teacher at the Philippine Science High School in Iloilo City who won the International Excellence in Teaching Award during the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held in Louisville, Kentucky in 2002. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory in the United States game the name.

Scientists Endorse Four Medicinal Plants
The country's Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAR) has included four medicinal plants - lagundi, sambong, yerba Buena and tsaang gubat - in its list of drugs. Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) also endorses the use of the four plants and six others to cure particular ailments or diseases. The use of lagundi is encouraged to cure cough; sambong, urinary tract stones; yerba Buena, muscle pains; tsaang gubat, intestinal colic; niyog niyugan, intestinal worms; bayabas, for wound wash; akapulko, skin infection; ulasimang bato, uric acid; garlic, high blood cholesterol; and ampalaya, high blood sugar.

There Were Mummies in the Philippines
A tribe in Kabayan town, Benguet province used to mummify the bodies of their dead. Until now, the mummified bodies of their ancestors are hung at the burial rocks in the area.

Someone Made Magsaysay Famous
The person responsible for making the late President Ramon Magsaysay famous as the champion of the masses was Jose V. Cruz, a journalist. At 30 years old, Cruz first served as the press secretary of Magsaysay.

Filipino Doctors Apply as Nurses in the US
So enamored are Filipinos about working in other countries for higher income that 2,000 doctors are now taking up nursing examination for the possibility of working in the US. The Philippine Nurses Association disclosed that in June 2002 alone, at least 100 doctors took the nursing board examinations. A doctor applying for a nurse in the US said that he would earn in a month as a nurse in the US what he is earning in a year as a doctor in the Philippines. Some Filipino nurses earn up to US$5,000 monthly in New York and California. Reports said the US would need additional 600,000 nurses until 2010 while Japan would require 1.2 million nurses during the same period. Filipino nurses are also trooping to Europe, particularly United Kingdom. Ironically, the Philippines has one of the lowest ratios of doctors and nurses against the population.

Salaried Workers Carry Burden of Taxes
Citing data from the National Tax Research Center (NTRC), Finance Secretary Isidro Camacho said that in the year 2001, there were 2,605,505 individual taxpayers who filed their income tax returns and paid a total of P80.42 billion.

About 2,079,745 salaried workers, or 80 percent of the income tax payers, paid a total of P66.3 billion in income taxes, accounting for 82 percent of the total collection. Professionals or self-employed individuals contributed only P10.75 billion or only 13 percent of the income taxes while capital gains tax paid by individuals reached P3.18 billion.

In particular, self-employed individuals or single-proprietors paid P10.13 billion while professionals paid only P620 million. Based on these figures in 2001, professionals paid only P20,447 in income tax while salaried workers paid P31,879.

According to the DOF, this should not be the case since professionals are actually earning much higher than salaried workers. Citing a 1997 government survey, the DOF said that salaried workers earned only P582.7 billion while professionals received P1.159 billion during that year. Measured per capita, salaried workers earned an average of P223,642 while professionals earned P2.204 million in 1997.

In the year 2002, for example, only 2.8 million Filipinos of the total 30 million workers, businessmen and professionals paid their income taxes. As of October 2002, there were over 30 million Filipinos in the labor force, about 15 million of whom were salaried workers, 11 million were self-employed and 4 million were unpaid family workers.

One government study showed that over the past 11 years (1991 to 2001), leakage from the individual income tax amounted to P608 billion. This was on top of the P610 billion that were lost to leakage in the value added tax (VAT) scheme.

Americans Are 25 Times Richer
Equitable distribution of wealth would hardly resolve the poverty problem in the country. In reality, the country's per capita income or the imaginary figure referring to every Filipino's equal share in the country's total wealth, is below US$1,000. In comparison, countries like the United States, Germany, Japan and even Singapore have a per capita income of over US$25,000. This means that an ordinary American is 25 times richer than an ordinary Filipino. What would be needed to relieve poverty is to enlarge the economic pie by drawing more capital and resources into the country, so every Filipino would get a larger share.

Among Questionable Claims Are:

1. The Philippines is the world's second largest English-speaking nation. In reality, most Filipinos do not speak English on the street while the Department of Education is bothered by Filipino students' low English proficiency level. In comparison, English is the main language in the streets of United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and other British territories.

2. The Philippines has the largest Christian population in Asia. China actually has over 80 million Christians and is therefore the country with largest Christian population in Asia.

3. The Philippines was second to Japan in economic prosperity in Asia in the 1950s. Coming out of World War II, most East Asian countries, including the Philippines, were in still in recovery in the 1950s. Some of them had just won their freedom while economic prosperity was a strange phrase during that period. Even our parents would agree that life was harder in the 1950s. The Philippines never became rich and its golden age has yet to set in. Economic situation, however, was less burdening in 1996 and 1997 under the Ramos administration.

4. The Philippines is an agricultural economy. The Philippines is no longer an agricultural country. It cannot even produce enough rice, sugar or wheat to feed its entire population and has to import food from Thailand, Vietnam and the United States. The country's agricultural exports comprised less than 5 percent of its total outbound shipments in 2001. While the agriculture sector employed 37 percent of the workforce in 2001, it contributed only 21 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP). The industrial and services sectors contributed the remaining 79 percent to the domestic economy.

5. Filipinos are the happiest people in the world. The World Values Survey conducted by University of Michigan in 1998 ranked Iceland 1st and the Philippines 12th among 54 countries in happiness index. The Philippines was ranked first among Asian countries though. The truth is happiness cannot be measured.

6. Early Filipinos had a perfect socio-economic and justice system before the Spaniards came. There was never a perfect society in the world and tales about gold abounding in the Philippines five centuries ago remain to be proven. The fact is slavery, war, witchcraft, beheading and human sacrifice were already present in the country before the Spaniards came.

7. The Philippines is a favorite destination of foreign tourists. It could have the finest beach resorts in the world, but the Philippines gets only about 2 million foreign tourists annually. In comparison, smaller Asian countries like Singapore and Hong Kong receive over 8 million foreign guests every year.

8. The Philippines is one of the safest and most peaceful places on earth. That is what the Department of Tourism claims but according to the International Red Cross, the Philippines registered the world's fourth highest number of casualties and injuries as a result of natural disasters and man-made calamities from 1992 to 2001 - 5.8 million cases in all. It was behind China, India and Iran. China and India were expected in the accident list because they have the largest populations in the world.

9. Equitable distribution of wealth would resolve the poverty problem in the country. In reality, the country's per capita income or the imaginary figure referring to every Filipino's equal share in the country's total wealth, is below US$1,000. In comparison, countries like the United States, Germany, Japan and even Singapore have a per capita income of over US$25,000. This means that an ordinary American is 25 times richer than an ordinary Filipino. What would be needed to relieve poverty is to enlarge the economic pie by drawing more capital and resources into the country, so every Filipino would get a larger share.

10. Basketball is the dominant sports in the Philippines. Not any more. Because of the growing youth population and the lack of basketball courts, most Filipino children are now trooping to computer game shops and billiard halls.

11. Filipinos invented the fluorescent lamp that illuminated the world and the Lunar Rover used by American astronauts on the moon. The National Academy of Science and Technology disagrees.

Most Profitable Businesses Today Include:

1. Gambling in the form of online lottery or text games
2. Power generation and distribution, thanks to purchased power cost adjustment
3. Mobile phone networks, as long as the country is hooked to texting
4. Beer and wine production as always
5. Drug manufacturing and retail, because medicines here are twice as expensive
6. Computer training centers which promise instant jobs after graduation
7. Kindergarten schools with exorbitant tuition fees
8. Caregiver training centers for people wanting to go to Canada and US
9. Immigration consultancy which offers expensive seminars
10. Job placement agencies
11. Pyramid selling
12. Laundry services for American troops
13. Importing ukay-ukay
14. Selling pirated VCDs and software
15. Kidney buy and sell
16. Smut publishing, as in yellow journalism
17. Billiard tables for rent
18. Computer game shops
19. Money exchange in Basilan
20. Bikini car wash as the one in Iloilo City

Most Populated Islands
As of 2000, around 56 percent of Filipinos were living in Luzon, while only 23.7 percent were living in Mindanao and 20.3 percent in the Visayas.

Most Polluted City
People go to Baguio City during summer because of its cool weather and fresh air. Ironically, a World Bank study in 2001 has found Baguio City's air as the most polluted in the country. The city's air reportedly had 75.2 micrograms of particles per cubic meter, compared to Metro Manila's 65.8, Cebu City's 45 and Davao City's 39.8.

wow it's so shocking that luzon has more than 56 percent of filipino's hehe.... and i seriously didn't think baguio was clean, no offense to people from there though.


thanks for the intersting info's

wow it's so shocking that luzon has more than 56 percent of filipino's hehe.... and i seriously didn't think baguio was clean, no offense to people from there though.


thanks for the intersting info's

metro manila alone has more than 13 million people.

"First Circumnavigator of the Globe
Although many historians considered him as the first circumnavigator of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan never completed his voyage around the planet. Magellan, a sea captain, commanded a fleet of five wooden Spanish ships with 241 men on board and embarked on what is now considered as 'the greatest of all epics of human discovery'."

Actually, Magellan did circumnavigate the world and Enrique too, his Malay assistant. Previously, Magellan was in the Far East and took along a Malay, Enrique, on his voyage back to Spain. Afterwards he proceeded to go to the Far East via the Western Hemisphere. By the time Magellan reached the Philippines, he and Enrique did manage to circumnavigate the world, though not continuously.

Most Profitable Businesses Today Include:

1. Gambling in the form of online lottery or text games
2. Power generation and distribution, thanks to purchased power cost adjustment
3. Mobile phone networks, as long as the country is hooked to texting
4. Beer and wine production as always
5. Drug manufacturing and retail, because medicines here are twice as expensive
6. Computer training centers which promise instant jobs after graduation
7. Kindergarten schools with exorbitant tuition fees
8. Caregiver training centers for people wanting to go to Canada and US
9. Immigration consultancy which offers expensive seminars
10. Job placement agencies
11. Pyramid selling
12. Laundry services for American troops
13. Importing ukay-ukay
14. Selling pirated VCDs and software
15. Kidney buy and sell
16. Smut publishing, as in yellow journalism
17. Billiard tables for rent
18. Computer game shops
19. Money exchange in Basilan
20. Bikini car wash as the one in Iloilo City

What do these things say of Philippine climes? Very revealing.

"First Circumnavigator of the Globe
Although many historians considered him as the first circumnavigator of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan never completed his voyage around the planet. Magellan, a sea captain, commanded a fleet of five wooden Spanish ships with 241 men on board and embarked on what is now considered as 'the greatest of all epics of human discovery'."

Actually, Magellan did circumnavigate the world and Enrique too, his Malay assistant. Previously, Magellan was in the Far East and took along a Malay, Enrique, on his voyage back to Spain. Afterwards he proceeded to go to the Far East via the Western Hemisphere. By the time Magellan reached the Philippines, he and Enrique did manage to circumnavigate the world, though not continuously.


I read this too. This Enrique was actually a slave from one of the islands in the Philippines who was brought to the Malaysian Moluccas at the time of Fernando de Magallanes' first voyage to the East Indies. The explorers depended on him for translations as this guy spoke several Malay languages plus Portuguese/Castillan which he learned from previous European visitors. He was then bought and taken to Spain where Magallanes was planning a second expedition to the East by way of the west. His return to the Philippines would make him the real first circumnavigator of the world. And we all know Magallanes did not make it back to the Moluccas so his circumnavigation was incomplete.

A Filipino was Declared Emperor
In 1926, Florencio Intrencherado was proclaimed emperor of Negros Occidental province. In the 1900s, the people of Negros declared a republic , which was later abolished by the US government.



I didn't know that bit about the emperor,...

But the one about the republic, is folklore here,.. in fact the republic marker is a minute's walk from my house, kinda cool :colgate:

^^ Take a photo of it and post it here Kyle! :okay:

I will, the moment I fly back to bacolod.. :colgate:

I was actually surprised about the "dot" in the UN logo. I checked it on the net and to my surprise, I saw that the map of the Philippines is there, placed very very clearly. And it was not a dot, it is really the map of the Philippines. Well, I don't know why people think that our land area is small. It has actually a medium-size land area. About the same size as Japan and Italy.

The Bible Also Mentions the Philippines
It can be easily understood that no verse in the Bible carried the term Philippines, since the Bible was written two thousand years ago or centuries before the Spaniards came here. However, there are verses in the Bible that prophesy about the Philippine archipelago and other islands in the Pacific. In the chapter 24 of the Book of Isaiah, verses 15 to 16 read "Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: 'Glory to the Righteous One.'" The Philippines is the only Christian archipelago in the Pacific covering East Asia.


I dunno. That quote sounds so vague. The east may have been referring to any place east of Israel and the islands of the sea could've been any archipelago.

Here is a page with multiple translations of Isaiah 24:15

http://bible.cc/isaiah/24-15.htm

and 24:16

http://bible.cc/isaiah/24-16.htm

I'll leave it up to you to decide whether or not the Philippines was mentioned in the Bible.

Romulo Put RP in UN Map
According to Beth Day Romulo, Carlos P. Romulo literally put the Philippines on the world map. "When the UN official seal which depicts the world was being selected, Romulo asked 'Where is the Philippines?'

The answer came, 'It's too small to include. If we put the Philippines, it would be no more than a dot.'

'I want that dot,' Romulo insisted." The UN seal now has a tiny dot for the Philippines.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2070/unflagdotur5.png

^^ great read!

hLTkNpnKEkE

^ They changed the real lyrics of the song of Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay which says "Huwag kang mahihiya kung ang ilong mo ay pango."

Matapos akong paluhain ng youtube ni @Doggmann of Gary Granada's "Bahay", it's a welcome relief to see @AH-7Raja's upbeat tribute and dream for progress in the Philippines.

Francis Magalona's "Mga Kababayan Ko" with the use of native musical instruments is really awesome. I enjoyed the beat, the music and the message. The collage was superb. :applause:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkhl39IKLYo

My humble tribute to the Philippines, and to skycraper.com.

Many thanks to all forumers!

Please feel free to share your own versions of video or slideshow here. I thank you all. Enjoy! :banana:

Mabuhay!

:)

Thanks to all contributors to this thread. :)

^ They changed the real lyrics of the song of Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay which says "Huwag kang mahihiya kung ang ilong mo ay pango."

...hmmmm call it "cultural sensitivity" :lol: :lol:

...hmmmm call it "cultural sensitivity" :lol: :lol:

Dapat nga ni-retain nila yung line na 'yon (kahit isang line lang). Just like the "Black is beautiful" movement that changed the perception of beauty of people of color away from the caucasian standard.

fD7_WQfgSeM

oi u bypassed ferdinand marcos and GMA, the 2 best ever presidents we had after magsaysay.

anyway, its a great video, almost perfect kung di mo lang binaypas yung 2 presidents i mentioned. can you pls give us ur youtube nick or atleast the title of ur video so i can rate them with 5 and may also add it as well to my favorites? thanks for sharing my friend! good job! :cheers:

Matapos akong paluhain ng youtube ni @Doggmann of Gary Granada's "Bahay", it's a welcome relief to see @AH-7Raja's upbeat tribute and dream for progress in the Philippines.

Francis Magalona's "Mga Kababayan Ko" with the use of native musical instruments is really awesome. I enjoyed the beat, the music and the message. The collage was superb. :applause:



Thanks to all contributors to this thread. :)

thanks and you're very welcome Lili! stay tune for more videos to come! :)

hLTkNpnKEkE

galing uh san mo nakukuha yang mga vintage photos mo comrade? nice videos!

hey check my other videos too just find 'my tribute to the AFP' at youtube.com. cheers for you! :cheers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkhl39IKLYo

My humble tribute to the Philippines, and to skycraper.com.

Many thanks to all forumers!

Please feel free to share your own versions of video or slideshow here. I thank you all. Enjoy! :banana:

Mabuhay!

:)

:applause: just saw this. i admire your patriotism. that was an old song that you used for the first half of your video. simple and literal as it may be, it was still a powerful song that carries an inspirational message to all pinoys.

things like these are very much needed especially nowadays when people are having doubts and uncertainties about the future of the country. and to those of you guys who think the philippines would be better off scattered and divided, take this guy as an example. you don't just whine and give up when the going gets tough. but instead you face these challenges with fierce determination and unshakable hope.

hey maybe someday you can do something that focuses mainly on the southern regions? like those in mindanao in particular. yeah things aren't pretty over there right now, but i feel any message of hope and inspiration would really be a big help :)

Do not go gentle into that good night
-Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

galing uh san mo nakukuha yang mga vintage photos mo comrade? nice videos!

hey check my other videos too just find 'my tribute to the AFP' at youtube.com. cheers for you! :cheers:

tokayo, those picture are SSC downloads (during my lurking days back in 2004)... can you provide us the link of your AFP tribute or better yet post them here...use this command to post youtube videos here

[*youtube] (here you insert the numbers appearing after the = sign ) [/youtube*] then delete the *sign

thanks and :cheers:

oi u bypassed ferdinand marcos and GMA, the 2 best ever presidents we had after magsaysay.

anyway, its a great video, almost perfect kung di mo lang binaypas yung 2 presidents i mentioned. can you pls give us ur youtube nick or atleast the title of ur video so i can rate them with 5 and may also add it as well to my favorites? thanks for sharing my friend! good job! :cheers:


:lol: regarding FM and GMA... incidentally, i couldnt find appropriate pictures
of them in 2004 kaya na skip .... my youtube nick is rajahsoliman (http://www.youtube.com/rajahsoliman)
i have a series of video projects (done during my early "tinkering" days with NERO), it's called: Philippine Video Project 2004

Did you know?

Palawan is the one and only province in the Philippines that has not been hit by an earthquake!

Bantayan, Cebu is the one and only place in the Philippines permitted by the Catholic Church to eat meat during Good Friday

Sulu is the one and only province in the Philippines that has not been hit by a typhoon!

source: Rated K

tokayo, those picture are SSC downloads (during my lurking days back in 2004)... can you provide us the link of your AFP tribute or better yet post them here...use this command to post youtube videos here... thanks and :cheers:

unVnu3jaWhg

tokayo, those picture are SSC downloads (during my lurking days back in 2004)... can you provide us the link of your AFP tribute or better yet post them here...use this command to post youtube videos here... thanks and :cheers:

Sure. Here are my videos of My tribute for our soldiers I, II, III, IV
unVnu3jaWhg
NA0FfqwETIc
ecAm_1eY6XE
tRDqCceri6I

Enjoy. :D

Grabe. hindi ako makapaniwala. How did they know that? Lalo na yung sa Sulu. Gosh wala pang typhoon.

^ Nagresearch sila ng husto at tinanong nila ang mga experts sa mga field na iyon :D

Did you know?

Bantayan, Cebu is the one and only place in the Philippines permitted by the Catholic Church to eat meat during Good Friday

source: Rated K

our family used to go to madridejos in bantayan every holy week. Good Friday is like their fiesta and people there really prepare a big feast, of course with lots of meat.

"First Circumnavigator of the Globe
Although many historians considered him as the first circumnavigator of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan never completed his voyage around the planet. Magellan, a sea captain, commanded a fleet of five wooden Spanish ships with 241 men on board and embarked on what is now considered as 'the greatest of all epics of human discovery'."

Actually, Magellan did circumnavigate the world and Enrique too, his Malay assistant. Previously, Magellan was in the Far East and took along a Malay, Enrique, on his voyage back to Spain. Afterwards he proceeded to go to the Far East via the Western Hemisphere. By the time Magellan reached the Philippines, he and Enrique did manage to circumnavigate the world, though not continuously.

Ferdinand Magellan never circumnavigated the world. He started it, but he was not the one who finished it.

I was actually surprised about the "dot" in the UN logo. I checked it on the net and to my surprise, I saw that the map of the Philippines is there, placed very very clearly. And it was not a dot, it is really the map of the Philippines. Well, I don't know why people think that our land area is small. It has actually a medium-size land area. About the same size as Japan and Italy.

The Philippines is a bit small compared to Italy, but it's way small compared to Japan.

Did you know?

Bantayan, Cebu is the one and only place in the Philippines permitted by the Catholic Church to eat meat during Good Friday

source: Rated K

Then how could the people there be called Catholics?

In the Philippines, Filipinos were introduced to the English language in 1762 by British invaders, not Americans.

Los Angeles, California was co-founded in 1781 by a Filipino named Antonio Miranda Rodriguez, along with 43 Latinos from Mexico sent by the Spanish government.

Founded in 1595 by Spaniards, the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines is older than Harvard and is the oldest university in Asia. University of Santo Tomas in Manila, established in 1611, is Asia's second oldest.

Paskuhan Village in the province of Pampanga is Asia’s only Christmas theme park and the third of its kind in the world.

The antibiotic erythromycin — used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections, middle ear infections, and skin infections — was created by Filipino scientist Abelardo Aguilar, and has earned American drug giant Eli Lilly billions of dollars. Neither Aguilar nor the Philippine government received royalties.

Of the 500 known coral species in the world, 488 are found in the Philippines.

Of the eight species of marine turtles worldwide, five are reported to be found in the Philippines: the Green Turtle, Hawkbill, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, and Loggerhead.

Of the eight known species of giant clams in the world, seven are found in the Philippines.

The largest bell in Asia hangs at the belfry of the 221-year old Pan-ay Church, Capiz Province. It is 7 feet in diameter and 7 feet in height, and weighs 10.4 tons. Its tolling can be heard as far as 8 km. away. It was casted from 70 sacks of coins donated by the townspeople as a manifestation of faith and thanksgiving.

Do you know that "simlish" or the language of the sims from The sims games is actually an experiment from two languages? ukranian and tagalog?

Btw... if you watch the film constantine somewhere in the first part, you'll notice that theres a Philippine flag (nung me nagpapakulo ng takure?) then in the part where the girl was being exorcist, the girl said "papatayin natin siya!"

^^ lol nonesense

^^ Actually, that's really interesting in my part. I have to play the Sims 2 again and pay closer attention.

Very good thread! Lots of interesting trivia. Kimber, where did you find all that?

^^ I Googled "Philippine Trivia." :okay:

^ Oh.:lol: I was giving you too much credit then.

Do you know that "simlish" or the language of the sims from The sims games is actually an experiment from two languages? ukranian and tagalog?

Btw... if you watch the film constantine somewhere in the first part, you'll notice that theres a Philippine flag (nung me nagpapakulo ng takure?) then in the part where the girl was being exorcist, the girl said "papatayin natin siya!"

^^ lol nonesense

I actually like the part in 30 rock where Alec Baldwin tells the girl: you should wear that to work...

and she, short and wearing this horrid, pink dress replies :
"Yeah, if I was President of the Philippines"

Oh btw, that line is repeated, several times a day on starworld, they're using it to promote 30 rock..... paging Gloria's stylist.... do your job...

Did you know...?

San Miguel Pale Pilsen is featured in the anime feature Ghost in the Shell. The movie has scenes wherein Bateau (one of the leading characters) drinks a can of San Miguel Beer, which was recreated onscreen faithfully to its real life appearance.

In the movie Shaolin Soccer, Fung is drinking a can of San Miguel Beer when he meets Steel Leg for the first time.

well what's the pink dress looks like>?

Do you know that "simlish" or the language of the sims from The sims games is actually an experiment from two languages? ukranian and tagalog?

Btw... if you watch the film constantine somewhere in the first part, you'll notice that theres a Philippine flag (nung me nagpapakulo ng takure?) then in the part where the girl was being exorcist, the girl said "papatayin natin siya!"

^^ lol nonesense

astig!! :) never knew about the sim language... :)


found it on wiki

Simlish is a fictional language featured in Maxis' Sim series of games. It debuted in SimCopter, and has been especially prominent in The Sims and The Sims 2. Simlish can also be heard in SimCity 4, albeit far less frequently. It also featured to an extent in the Firaxis game Sid Meier's SimGolf. Designer Will Wright was conscious of the need for dialogue in the game, but thought that using a real language would make it sound too repetitive.

The Sims development team created the unique Simlish language by experimenting with fractured Ukrainian and Tagalog (one of the major languages of the Philippines). Inspired by the code talkers of WWII, Sims creator Will Wright also suggested experimenting with Navajo.

Although it is entirely improvised, Simlish does have a reasonably consistent sound. The vowels are more heavily emphasized than in English, which has more of a Latin sound to it. It is also almost entirely spoken with the front part of the tongue and mouth; the sound ee (as in meet) and the letter y are commonly used, and there are few, if any, guttural sounds.



nakakatuwa naman.. :)

others might argue, that's why we, the carolinians (members of the University of San Carlos family) only claim that USC is the oldest school (as in formal school) in Asia rather than use the term "university" because the school was only granted with its university status in the 1940s if im not mistaken...

In the Philippines, Filipinos were introduced to the English language in 1762 by British invaders, not Americans.

Los Angeles, California was co-founded in 1781 by a Filipino named Antonio Miranda Rodriguez, along with 43 Latinos from Mexico sent by the Spanish government.

Founded in 1595 by Spaniards, the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines is older than Harvard and is the oldest university in Asia. University of Santo Tomas in Manila, established in 1611, is Asia's second oldest.

Paskuhan Village in the province of Pampanga is Asia’s only Christmas theme park and the third of its kind in the world.

The antibiotic erythromycin — used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections, middle ear infections, and skin infections — was created by Filipino scientist Abelardo Aguilar, and has earned American drug giant Eli Lilly billions of dollars. Neither Aguilar nor the Philippine government received royalties.

Of the 500 known coral species in the world, 488 are found in the Philippines.

Of the eight species of marine turtles worldwide, five are reported to be found in the Philippines: the Green Turtle, Hawkbill, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, and Loggerhead.

Of the eight known species of giant clams in the world, seven are found in the Philippines.

The largest bell in Asia hangs at the belfry of the 221-year old Pan-ay Church, Capiz Province. It is 7 feet in diameter and 7 feet in height, and weighs 10.4 tons. Its tolling can be heard as far as 8 km. away. It was casted from 70 sacks of coins donated by the townspeople as a manifestation of faith and thanksgiving.

^ Yes, USC is the oldest school in Asia, UST is the oldest university in Asia :)

Paskuhan Village lost its beauty.

trivia ba?

the fountain at the fuente park in cebu

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/cebu/DSC00167.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/cebu/DSC00133.jpg

trivia ba?

the fountain at the fuente park in cebu

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/cebu/DSC00167.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/cebu/DSC00133.jpg

tama ka the fountain found in our current 50 pesos and at the fuente park is the same, as we go back to our phil. history, cebu is one of the oldest city in the country..

Did you know that?

ENGLISH WAS 1ST INTRODUCE IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1782 BY THE BRITISH INVADERS, NOT THE THE AMERICANS. AND THE PHILIPPINES IS THE 3RD LARGEST ENGISH NATION NEXT TO USA.

List of the largest mid-size cities to the smallest mid-size cities:

Zamboanga City - 142,100 -mindanao
Butuan City - 81,728 -mindanao
Iligan City - 81,337 - mindanao
General Santos City - 53,606 - mindanao
Cagayan de Oro City - 48,885.83 - mindanao
Tarlac City - 35,000 - luzon
Batangas City - 28,330 - luzon
Lipa City - 20,940 - luzon
Bacolod City - 16,145 - visayas
Iloilo City - 7,023 - visayas
San Fernando City, Pampanga - 6,774 - luzon
Angeles City - 6,216.16 - luzon
Baguio City - 4,900 - luzon

Note: Land Area (in hectares)

if you have noticed ang mga malalaki na mid-size cities ay nasa mindanao***
and in the future this mid-size cities will become metros or even mega cities

^^ Is that a trivia or a vision?

Did you know...?

San Miguel Pale Pilsen is featured in the anime feature Ghost in the Shell. The movie has scenes wherein Bateau (one of the leading characters) drinks a can of San Miguel Beer, which was recreated onscreen faithfully to its real life appearance.

In the movie Shaolin Soccer, Fung is drinking a can of San Miguel Beer when he meets Steel Leg for the first time.

And that San Miguel Corporation is the largest food and beverages conglomerate in SEA or the whole Asia, I'm not sure which of the two.

^ Yes, USC is the oldest school in Asia, UST is the oldest university in Asia :)

Okay, I stand corrected. :)

trivia ba?

the fountain at the fuente park in cebu

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/cebu/DSC00167.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/peejay_domek/cebu/DSC00133.jpg

Oo nga no? Galing! :D

Did you know that?

ENGLISH WAS 1ST INTRODUCE IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1782 BY THE BRITISH INVADERS, NOT THE THE AMERICANS. AND THE PHILIPPINES IS THE 3RD LARGEST ENGISH NATION NEXT TO USA.

...and the UK.

And that San Miguel Corporation is the largest food and beverages conglomerate in SEA or the whole Asia, I'm not sure which of the two.




The San Miguel Cerveza (http://www.sanmiguel.es/)in Spain is also popular (San Miguel Fabricas de Cerveza y Malta S.A., part of the San Miguel-Mahou group).

I still doubt that fact about the 3rd largest English Nation. I think that was true in the 60's.

^^ Isn't San Miguel Cerveza the former name of SMC when it was founded a long, long time ago?

^^ no it's different....

San Miguel Corp, is asia's largest food and beverage conglomorate .... :colgate:

as we go back to our phil. history, cebu is one of the oldest city in the country..

Not just one of the oldest but indeed the oldest :D

I guess you all have heard of this factoid

Filipino Design Artists in "Finding Nemo

'Bahay kubo' ( "Nipa" Hut)

LOOK closely into that dentist's aquarium, right where the little clownfish Nemo is resting. Yes, that is a bahay-kubo. That little touch is only one of the different contributions to the Disney/Pixar film "Finding Nemo" courtesy of two Filipino artists involved with the production. It may be set in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, but there's a lot of the Philippines in there, thanks to Nelson Bohol and Gini Cruz.

Bohol, 41, is one of the movie's main background designers. "I provide the environment, props, anything they need," says Bohol on the phone. Bohol, born in Catbalogan, had always liked drawing since he was little. After graduating with a degree in architecture from the Manuel L. Quezon University in 1985, Bohol went to work for Burbank Animation in Makati, cutting his teeth on Saturday morning cartoon shows.

Bohol fell in love with the possibilities of this new industry. Bohol and four other animation artists formed their own company in 1991. Shortly after, Bohol got to work on early episodes of the now ubiquitous Nickelodeon show "Rugrats." When the show received an Emmy, the Filipino animators even received a certificate attesting to the Emmy win. While that was a proud moment for Bohol, there was more awaiting him.

In 1996, 20th Century Fox's animation division held an exam for local artists, intent on finding talent they could bring to the States. Thinking he had nothing to lose, Bohol took the exams, and wound up among the 50 artists-there were over 150 applicants- accepted by Fox Animation.

Working out of Phoenix, Arizona, Bohol got to work on such Fox animated flicks as "Anastasia" and "Titan A.E." In 2000, he moved to Pixar Animation Studio, where he designed environments and props for a movie that took three years to finish -- "Finding Nemo," the latest Disney/Pixar collaboration.

Bohol explains that he is still very much into the traditional aspects of animation. "Lapis at papel pa rin (still pencil and paper for me)," he laughs, "I don't know much about computers."

'Pinoy closeness'

Still very fond of his homeland, Bohol applied some personal touches to the aquarium tank in the dentist's office. "The aquarium is 100 percent mine," he says proudly. First, he was responsible for the bahay-kubo. Next, he used Mt.Mayon as an inspiration for the miniature volcano inside the aquarium, Mt. Wanahakalugi: "But I couldn't make it as perfect as the real Mayon."

Last, he added a very personal touch. "In the aquarium, there are three tiki heads. They're actually caricatures of three artists who worked on the movie." The one to the right resembles another Filipino-blooded artist, Ricky Nieva, while another the one on the left is of a Korean-American colleague.

"The one in the middle, that's me," laughs Bohol, "complete with bigote and nunal (mustache and mole)."

Now residing in the East Bay in Northern California with his wife and four kids, Bohol is ecstatic about his time working with Disney and Pixar. "This is it! This is the best place to work, my dream from when I started." Citing Marikina as his hometown, Bohol loves basketball and misses the "samahan" (closeness) among Filipinos and the food-he even hopes to visit soon. Yet he never forgets how lucky he's been. "Oh my God, I'm so blessed."

Animator Virginia "Gini" Cruz's path to Pixar is not too different even if her role differs from Bohol's. Cruz was born in Pasay City but left the country when she was three as her parents migrated to Guam. "My late father wanted me to study here because he said the education was good," Cruz recalls. Originally dragged home "kicking and screaming," she found out she enjoyed herself here, studying at St. Scholastica's College Manila for high school and taking up fine arts at the University of Santo Tomas, majoring in advertising. After graduating in 1987, she returned to Guam, where she worked in advertising, but her artistic sense was pulling her in a different direction.

She studied computer art at New York's School of Visual Art, putting together a reel of animation for her thesis. She sent it out to different companies, but when Pixar called in 1996, Cruz knew immediately where she wanted to go. "I really, really wanted to work with them." Working with Dory In some capacity or other, Cruz got to work on "Toy Story 2," "A Bug's Life" and "Monsters, Inc." But her biggest contribution so far is her involvement with "Nemo," as she got to animate Dory, the forgetful bluefish voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. It was, after all, her job to look at the character designs, listen to the recorded voice, and make sure that Dory said what she was supposed to. "I loved working on Dory," Cruz enthuses. "It really appeals to me, the idea of this fish with short term memory loss. Ellen DeGeneres was amazing. She has such a rich array of emotions in her voice."

Cruz also enjoyed working briefly on the cowgirl Jessie from "Toy Story 2."

Unlike Bohol, Cruz works primarily with computers but adds wryly, "I'm the one who keeps calling the system guys when I can't get it to work." Cruz says one has to learn to use technology if you work on actually animating characters "but it doesn't necessarily make it easier. You have a lot of details to take care of. It's all the same, in the end."

Like Bohol, she is relishing being able to work with Disney: "I am still amazed. I mean, every movie I watched when I was a kid was by Disney."

Next adventure

The very busy Cruz loves living in the eclectic city of San Francisco, where she is currently trying to develop a green thumb by cultivating a garden. "If I didn't have my garden, I'd just be at work all week." She's been back to the country several times, recently for a wedding. But work is what drives her these days.

As "Finding Nemo" proves, Filipino craftsmanship comes in many forms but remains resilient and vibrant, visible in the way Dory mouths her lines perfectly or the mesmerizing seascape unfolding on the screen. Bohol and Cruz are now deep into work for Pixar's next adventure-the superhero tale "The Incredibles," due out in fall, 2004.

^^ kewl

I think the world's largest pearl is from the Philippines, right?

Not just one of the oldest but indeed the oldest :D

And also the oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines. :okay:

I think the world's largest pearl is from the Philippines, right?

Yup. If I'm not mistaken, it's from Davao City or Palawan.

I think the world's largest pearl is from the Philippines, right?

http://www.karipearls.com/images/pearl-allah.jpg

The Pearl of Lao Tzu aka The Pearl of Allah

The Pearl of Allah, the largest pearl on record, was recovered from a giant clam on May 7, 1934, off the coast of Palawan Island, Philippines. The pearl is 9.4 inches long and weighs about 14 lbs. According to the "Guinness Book of Records," the San Francisco Gem Laboratory has valued the pearl at $40 million. The Muslim diver who found the pearl said its surface bore the image of a turbaned face, and he named it the Pearl of Allah.

^^ Mas mukha siyang human brain kesa turbanned face. :colgate:

The San Miguel Cerveza (http://www.sanmiguel.es/)in Spain is also popular (San Miguel Fabricas de Cerveza y Malta S.A., part of the San Miguel-Mahou group).

I still doubt that fact about the 3rd largest English Nation. I think that was true in the 60's.

I heard somewhere, I think on a Youtube comment, that SMB in RP tastes way better than the one in Spain.

Can anyone confirm?

kala ko rin human brain sculpture:lol:

did you know that the largest flower can also be found in the Philppines ..
Raflesia Manilena
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7729/rafmiraraffmlaxs2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Raflesia Speciosa
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6300/rafmiraraffspeciosagd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://www.haribon.org.ph/index.php?q=node/view/342

did you know that our shorline is 2nd longest next to Indonesia.

did you know that if watch from space the Philippines looks like a pearl neclace.

Did you know that?

ENGLISH WAS 1ST INTRODUCE IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1782 BY THE BRITISH INVADERS, NOT THE THE AMERICANS. AND THE PHILIPPINES IS THE 3RD LARGEST ENGISH NATION NEXT TO USA.

I doubt that Philippines is the 3rd largest English speaking nation. The majority doesn't even use it as a primary language. Most Filipinos without proper education have a hard time stringing English words into sentences with ease when they speak it.

I'm posting a question though. It's been bugging me for the very long time, but doesn't the Philippines looks like a sitting dog? Of all the countries in the world, ours is the most unique because it has a shape. If Italy looks like a boot, and Japan looks like a sword, and Vietnam looks like a scimitar, the Philippines looks more like that shape more than them.

I heard somewhere, I think on a Youtube comment, that SMB in RP tastes way better than the one in Spain.

Can anyone confirm?

It depends on the person. I know some also say that San Miguel RP taste like urine or something.

5Fc6bntjuzU

Es un trozo de Ghost in the shell dónde se ve claramente que se están bebiendo una Cerveza San Miguel.

This is the video for ghost in the shell. Its dubbed in Spanish but you guys can understand it. :)

I'm posting a question though. It's been bugging me for the very long time, but doesn't the Philippines looks like a sitting dog? Of all the countries in the world, ours is the most unique because it has a shape. If Italy looks like a boot, and Japan looks like a sword, and Vietnam looks like a scimitar, the Philippines looks more like that shape more than them.

closer look of our archipelago it looks like an old man w/ a walking stick ..that's why we re called sick man of asia :colgate:


Luzon is the head, visaya's the body , mindanao feet and palawan the cane.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4447/philippineshv2.gif (http://imageshack.us)

closer look of our archipelago it looks like an old man w/ a walking stick ..that's why we re called sick man of asia :colgate:


Luzon is the head, visaya's the body , mindanao feet and palawan the cane.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4447/philippineshv2.gif (http://imageshack.us)


lol i hink it was china who was called the sick man of asia...

Luzon is the head, visayas the body, palawan the cane and the mindanao is the feet (the southeast of davao and the lake land body near lake sebu will be the feet)... then what is zamboanga? :lol:

did you know that our shorline is 2nd longest next to Indonesia.

The Philippine shoreline is the world's third longest after Canada and Indonesia. :)

did you know that if watch from space the Philippines looks like a pearl neclace.

Really? Would you be kind enough to post a photo of that? It sounds interesting. :)

I'm posting a question though. It's been bugging me for the very long time, but doesn't the Philippines looks like a sitting dog? Of all the countries in the world, ours is the most unique because it has a shape. If Italy looks like a boot, and Japan looks like a sword, and Vietnam looks like a scimitar, the Philippines looks more like that shape more than them.

I do think so, too. A howling dog on a sitting position. Look at Lingayen Gulf. It looks like the mouth of a howling dog.

The Philippines is an "Inverted Y" :colgate:

^^ Not so. But if you disregard Panay, Negros, Cebu and Bohol, then it could look like an inverted Y.

did you know that the largest flower can also be found in the Philppines ..
Raflesia Manilena
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7729/rafmiraraffmlaxs2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Raflesia Speciosa
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6300/rafmiraraffspeciosagd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://www.haribon.org.ph/index.php?q=node/view/342

mabaho yan diba?i remember merong tumubong ganyan sa mintal tapos sabi ng mge residents mabaho daw

Philippines actually looked like an old man

The Philippines is an "Inverted Y" :colgate:

Wow, have you been attending the Antonio Luna lectures lately?

Anyway, I still believe the Philippines looks like a sitting dog.

Puerto Princesa **** is the largest **** in the Philippines.

Another trivia

Philippines actually looked like an old man

I see it as a child in a fetal position.

flip mindanao over and you'd see some kind of warrior wearing a horned helmet and raising one arm...

It depends on the person. I know some also say that San Miguel RP taste like urine or something.

5Fc6bntjuzU

Es un trozo de Ghost in the shell dónde se ve claramente que se están bebiendo una Cerveza San Miguel.

This is the video for ghost in the shell. Its dubbed in Spanish but you guys can understand it. :)

I can understand some Japanese and I can tell you the subtitles don't match the dialog. haha.

It depends on the person. I know some also say that San Miguel RP taste like urine or something.



:)

actually it's more on the beer,... if its been stored properly and it's brand new, it will taste like heaven...

but if it's been too long on the shelf, it will really taste like urine,.. so always pick where you buy it from,.. plus you have to know the proper way to drink it... :colgate:

drink light beer...
i hate beers... they made my dad's tummy big:lol:
and i dont want it to happen to me

actually it's more on the beer,... if its been stored properly and it's brand new, it will taste like heaven...

but if it's been too long on the shelf, it will really taste like urine,.. so always pick where you buy it from,.. plus you have to know the proper way to drink it... :colgate:

ice cold red horse for the win!

actually it's more on the beer,... if its been stored properly and it's brand new, it will taste like heaven...

but if it's been too long on the shelf, it will really taste like urine,.. so always pick where you buy it from,.. plus you have to know the proper way to drink it... :colgate:


ummmm.. how do u guys know that it would taste like urine?.. have u tasted urine?.. hehehe.. :nuts:

PHILIPPINES: More than the usual Asia.. agree?

Did you know the Philippine flag is unique in that it can indicate a state of war. When the flag is upside-down, with the red field on top, it means that the Philippines is at war.

(EVERYONE HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT) :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/250px-War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png

Don't think we ever used it though... :(

http://www.karipearls.com/images/pearl-allah.jpg

The Pearl of Lao Tzu aka The Pearl of Allah

The Pearl of Allah, the largest pearl on record, was recovered from a giant clam on May 7, 1934, off the coast of Palawan Island, Philippines. The pearl is 9.4 inches long and weighs about 14 lbs. According to the "Guinness Book of Records," the San Francisco Gem Laboratory has valued the pearl at $40 million. The Muslim diver who found the pearl said its surface bore the image of a turbaned face, and he named it the Pearl of Allah.

It indeed resembles a human brain.

^gawin kaya nilang pendant to or earring :lol: 14lbs!

Did you know the Philippine flag is unique in that it can indicate a state of war. When the flag is upside-down, with the red field on top, it means that the Philippines is at war.

(EVERYONE HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT) :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/250px-War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png

Don't think we ever used it though... :(

Well, there's always times of international competition. If I were ever watching an olympic or boxing match at the stadium where it's taking place, I'd hold it with red on top. heheh.. "THIS MEANS WAR!!! Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy!" haha

;12447904']mabaho yan diba?i remember merong tumubong ganyan sa mintal tapos sabi ng mge residents mabaho daw

as in napakabaho :lol: anyway it smells like a rotten dead carcass to lure flies and insects

Did you know the Philippine flag is unique in that it can indicate a state of war. When the flag is upside-down, with the red field on top, it means that the Philippines is at war.

(EVERYONE HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT) :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/250px-War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png

Don't think we ever used it though... :(

i think this also applies to the american flag...
I have you guys seen the movie "the last _____" something...?
The prisoner raised the flag upside down as a symbol of the fall or victory... forgot what it was...

^^ how would the japanese flag looks when defeated ?

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8609/japanflag1tz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

solution: white paint or eraser :D

Well, there's always times of international competition. If I were ever watching an olympic or boxing match at the stadium where it's taking place, I'd hold it with red on top. heheh.. "THIS MEANS WAR!!! Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy!" haha

great idea, but i think that you might get fined for it...i remember a news report about some sour-grapping politician who displayed inverted philippine flags at his home, i think he was sanctioned for it...

^^ dude stop that.. I was there during the sea games , when pinoys started throwing mineral water bottles at the boxing ring.. wag magpapadala sa emosyon :colgate:

Too bad i was in the Philippines during the Asian Games in Doha...
yes, Filipinos indeed turned the flag upside down during matches...

The title of the world's tallest building belongs to Malaysia's twin Petronas Towers that rise 451.9 meters from the street level (including its pinnacle). Other world famous high-rise buildings include Chicago's Sears Tower and New York's Empire State Building and the former World Trade Center buildings.


...how about Taipei 101? Is it the current record holder? ...and by year 2008, Burj Dubai will be the new record holder...


...me taking this pic while i was in Taipei
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/diehardbisdako/taipei_101_pic4.jpg

^ Must've been a copy-paste material posted by Kiretoce ;)

I'm posting a question though. It's been bugging me for the very long time, but doesn't the Philippines looks like a sitting dog? Of all the countries in the world, ours is the most unique because it has a shape. If Italy looks like a boot, and Japan looks like a sword, and Vietnam looks like a scimitar, the Philippines looks more like that shape more than them.

sbi nla the philippines looks like a saya

^^ That is also explained in Antonio Luna's Parisian Woman.

great idea, but i think that you might get fined for it...i remember a news report about some sour-grapping politician who displayed inverted philippine flags at his home, i think he was sanctioned for it...

I'll remember to not do this when I'm in the Philippines.. hehehe... I didn't think the govt would be this serious with the flag.

closer look of our archipelago it looks like an old man w/ a walking stick ..that's why we re called sick man of asia :colgate:


Luzon is the head, visaya's the body , mindanao feet and palawan the cane.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4447/philippineshv2.gif (http://imageshack.us)


to me Luzon looks like an Octupus while Mindanao looks like a Crab, both the Octupus and the Crab both eyeing too eat the Visayan region.

while Palawan looks like a Whale just looking at the Octopus and the Crab.

:lol:

I've read a book before and said that the Philippines looks like a camel from the east which the wise men rode to israel to visit the newborn king. I find that interesting, really...

I'll remember to not do this when I'm in the Philippines.. hehehe... I didn't think the govt would be this serious with the flag.

I remember a fil-am basketball player was deported/fined bec he sang the Philippine Nat'l Anthem rap style ...kaya ingat na lang ;)

^^ how would the japanese flag looks when defeated ?

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8609/japanflag1tz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

solution: white paint or eraser :D

I heard the Japanese flag was made after all the workaholics couldn't work anymore and the national flag was the last thing on their list of things to do.:lol:

flip mindanao over and you'd see some kind of warrior wearing a horned helmet and raising one arm...

Wow. Cool find. :okay:

drink light beer...
i hate beers... they made my dad's tummy big:lol:
and i dont want it to happen to me

Me, neither. Light talaga ako. Strong Ice minsan. :colgate:

Did you know the Philippine flag is unique in that it can indicate a state of war. When the flag is upside-down, with the red field on top, it means that the Philippines is at war.

(EVERYONE HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT) :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/250px-War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png

Don't think we ever used it though... :(

We used it, yes. I just forgot why. But abvillareal said we used it when we waged war with Japan. I don't know if that's it, but he maybe right. Dunno. All I remember is that we used that. :colgate:

^gawin kaya nilang pendant to or earring :lol: 14lbs!

Kumusta un, Dex? :lol:

...how about Taipei 101? Is it the current record holder? ...and by year 2008, Burj Dubai will be the new record holder...


...me taking this pic while i was in Taipei
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/diehardbisdako/taipei_101_pic4.jpg

It's the current title-holder. Namali lang yata si Kuya Kimber. :wink2:

the trivia article mentioning the petronas towers was written before taipei101 was finished so that explains the "misinfo"

Have a solemn Holy Week and Happy Easter to all my countrymen!

Did you know the Philippine flag is unique in that it can indicate a state of war. When the flag is upside-down, with the red field on top, it means that the Philippines is at war.

(EVERYONE HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT) :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/250px-War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png

Don't think we ever used it though... :(

let's see. we've waged two major wars since this flag was created in 1898.
there was the 1898-1901 Filipino-American War when the Filipinos (or Aguinaldo at least) must have possibly turned it upside-down.
And then the war with the Japanese when we were a Commonwealth.

lol i hink it was china who was called the sick man of asia...

Luzon is the head, visayas the body, palawan the cane and the mindanao is the feet (the southeast of davao and the lake land body near lake sebu will be the feet)... then what is zamboanga? :lol:

the more fuller version is,...

what is zamboanga??
what is sulu island...and what is malaysia??:lol: :lol:

My version of why the Philippines looks like a dog

Batanes islands are the dandruff and the fleas
Pangasinan is like the eyeball sockets
Bataan and Cavite are like the fangs
Metro Manila is the tongue
Quezon Province is the esophagus
Marinduque is the heart
Mindoro is the Chest
Cebu is the small intestine
Leyte is the big intestine
Iloilo is the stomach
Negros Island is the liver
From Bicol region to Samar is the back, the "Spine"
The whole mindanao looks like a pelvic bone
Davao is the gluteus maximus... (why my beloved city, why?)
Samal Island is the bone for the tail
The Zamboanga Peninsula are the hind legs of the dog
The Palawan island is the front leg of the dog

what is zamboanga??
what is sulu island...

I'm beginning to think the Philippines is not the sick man of asia but sick of something else. :lol: :lol: :lol:

^gawin kaya nilang pendant to or earring :lol: 14lbs!

isabit sa ilong

Bamboo Organ at the church in Las Pinas :)


ThisFire

the only of its kind instrument in the whole world housed in the Parish of St. Joseph (Las Piñas Church) :)

Mt. Hamiguitan "The Enchanted Mountain"

Mt. Hamguitan / Bonsai Fields
Truly one of Mother Nature's gifts to the Filipino people, the Bonsai fields pf Mt. Hamguitan, which is situated no less than 5,345 feet above sea level, consists of more than 1,000 hectares of forest life filled with wild and exciting flora and fauna. As the name suggests, Bonsai trees span most of the given area. These century-old trees stand 2-3 feet tall, with the tallest reaching only 5 feet in height, and are so sturdy that one can literally carry the weight of a man on its branches. It is like finding oneself suddenly in a veritable enchanted garden right in the middle of the jungle. Also located at Barangay La Union, this wonder has already been featured in Magandang Gabi Bayan for its uniqueness and mystical quality. The area is also a sanctuary of rare and exotic birds and animals, including the world famous Philippine Eagle. Because of its beauty and charm, the mountain has become a favorite camping sit


http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/9440/apr30191at1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Feeling like Gulliver
at the 'pygmy forest'
By Nenette Bundalian

STORIES about the ''pygmy forest'' of San Isidro in Davao Oriental have ranged from the extraordinary to the very impressive to the simply outrageous.

Sometime in June and July, I was supposed to visit the place which is a member-municipality of the Provincial Agro-Industrial Corridor (Paic) Magbalusta (Mati, Banay-Banay, Lupon, San Isidro and Tarragona) in Davao Oriental.

The Local Government Support Program (LGSP) was supposed to help launch it as an alternative tourism destination in Mindanao, together with three other Paics in Southern Mindanao.

Since the highlight of any trip to San Isidro was a visit to this forest, I was dissuaded from going. The trek, according to some, is arduous, to say the least. The place is very far with journey time ranging from three to 10 days. The trail is leech-infested, etc., etc.

But upon the instigation of San Isidro Mayor Justina M.B. Yu, who already recognizes her municipality's potential for community-based tourism, the LGSP was requested to assist in the preparation of their tourism master plan and the eventual launching of these tourism potentials.

So in October, off we went.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3206/apr30175pg1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3359/hamigitan01sa5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9307/dynamicboundaryfr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/6113/hamigitan02zh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mt. Hamiguitan

On the third day, we were off to Mt. Hamiguitan, the site of the ''pygmy forest.''

In Barangay Tumaliti, where the trek begins, more outrageous stories would send us off--the dwarf monkeys which enter one's ears if one's not careful, and other tall tales meant to dissuade the faint-hearted.

Despite the ''horror'' stories, we embarked on our trip at noon. The first half was not ''arduous'' and we did not need a rescue chopper. It afforded us a view of second growth and residual forest cover left behind by loggers. With its abandoned roads, a weed-covered bulldozer and a maze of steel cables, logging made a mark on the mountainous landscape.

The five-hour walk would have been shorter had it not been for the driving rain that made us feel like toddlers playing. The first campsite, Kapatagan Uno, was reached at 5:30 p.m. where we pitched tent and prepared dinner. After eating and laughing our throats hoarse, the non-stop rain made us crawl inside the comforts of our tents.

At 7 a.m. the next day, we continued our trek. Knowing better now that the trail would not be as tricky as purported to be, we took our time appreciating the flora and fauna.

Nature's way

Mini-waterfalls adorn the way, while small snakes, butterflies deep in conversation, frogs in camouflage, mossy 45-degree climbs, and others made the walk very rewarding--the first time I ever touched a tree wrapped in gel-like moss.

Despite the delay from gawking, we arrived at the second campsite, Kapatagan Dos, just in time for lunch. Being already at the foot of the ''pygmy forest,'' we took time to eat and had siesta waiting for the sun's heat to wane a little since there would be no shade under the trees only two feet tall.

At 2:30 p.m., we started going up to the forest. Standing in the middle of the 400-plus hectare bonsai field, one feels like Gulliver.

Narra, almaciga, pine and other varieties of trees that dwarfed us on our way up are small yet strong enough to sit on.

Underneath the canopy of trees, it looked much like looking up in an ordinary thicket, except that passersby would appear like giants about to trample you.

Pitcher plants, which looked like giant condoms, are miniature replicas seeming to have adjusted their size to avoid insulting the majestic tree species.

Because of the rocky soil, the trees grew stunted. But the weeds grow to normal size, often dwarfing the gnarled trees on which they grow on.

At 3:30 p.m., we had to hurry back to the campsite since the fog could easily cover the whole bonsai field in minutes, putting us in danger of losing our way.

Sure enough, the minute we turned our backs, the fog was rapidly descending and enveloping the enchanted forest of the dwarfs.

After sleeping in for another night, we trekked down the mountain. Just as exciting as the climb up, the forest never tired of entertaining us through the myriad activities of nature.

Most exciting was the rushing wind between two mountains, like huge sea waves breaking toward shore, and the whining cicadas like chainsaws cutting trees.

No, the small monkeys are just tales, the ''trickiness'' of the trail was just meant to impress those who have not been there, and the 10-day walk was simply a manifestation of fear of not having been there themselves.

What is true is that it is a challenging trek that affords one the pleasure of communing with nature in a place rarely reached.

What is truest of all is that there exists a vast expanse of land where anybody could play Gulliver in one of his travels and look down at a forest untouched by the greed of man.

more photos
http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5015/bonsai113zr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/7855/bonsaisml1200cb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/3750/bonsaisml3200pd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3557/bonsaisml4113ho5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/8701/bonsaisml5200ud7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Tinagong Dagat (Hidden Sea)
This is situated a thousand feet above sea level. The site is uninhabited and considered as one of the most puzzling phenomena of nature. It can be seen at Barangay La Union in the midst of the virgin forest. A trekking destination for everyone who loves nature at its best.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8162/hiddensea200if6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Twin Falls
MAJESTIC AND GRAND. This site was not knows to have existed until the trail was made. It is also situated Barangay La Union, near the Bonsai Fields. This soothing and fantastic scenery is where you can be refreshed from all stressful activities.
[URL=http://imageshack.us]http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9330/twinfalls113da1.jpg

The next wonder of the world !:cheers::cheers: :cheers:

Wala lang, interesting Miss Universe trivia:

The very first Miss Universe (from Finland), the very first Miss Asia (from Taiwan), the very first Miss International (from Colombia) and the very first Miss ASEAN (from Malaysia) all married Filipinos.

The Philippines has won the Miss Photogenic award six times, followed by England and Puerto Rico, both with five. Puerto Rico won its five awards during a six-year period (1999-2004, did not win in 2000).

source: wikipedia

di ba that miss international from colombia is Madam Stella Marquez de Araneta? Shje married a tycoon who hailed from Bago city negros occidental.

Miss Silliman - a pageant older than Miss Universe & Miss World
A PAGEANT 60 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Imagine yourself to be in the year 1946. It is the dawn after the Second World War, and people are still shell-shocked from the darkness that descended on the country in 1941. Three years of living under the fear of the shadows of Japanese soldiers have left Dumaguete—and Silliman University—smoldering in ruins.

Everything reminds you of grim realities, and everyone seems to be preoccupied in finding lost family members and in rebuilding homes bombed or ransacked and occupied by enemy forces. All is now on the road to a state of recovery—but all that is anchored on some flimsy sense of hope. Morale was down, and Sillimanians return to a campus still reeling from war ghosts.

And yet amidst the sorrowful and miserable mist that blanketed the reconstruction stage, the desire to divert the students’ attention from the pervading atmosphere of gloom sprouted almost out of nowhere. Comprising a comradeship they called “Barbaric Inc.,” a group of aspiring Silliman writers—staff members of The Sillimanian, which is the old name of what is now the Weekly Sillimanian—introduced what could have easily been regarded as a public mockery of the serious mood of that time. They introduced to Silliman a popularity contest of sorts where friendships and acquaintances were the winning tickets to the titles Most Popular Coed, Campus Cover Girl, and Campus Headline Girl which were equal to the ranks of first, second, and third places, respectively.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7728/mssu1940sol8.jpg

But instead of drawing the public’s ire, the writers’ massive campaign stirred up what could now be regarded as the badly-needed spark to ignite the extinguished fire of student activism in campus activities.

Now reawakened, everyone, by casting his vote, was involved in the selection of the “best” among the candidates. When the votes were tallied, Miss Patria Obsequio was adjudged as the Most Popular Coed, while Zonzayda Cueva was proclaimed Campus Cover Girl and Evelyn Gentilez as Campus Headline Girl. Their prizes? A month’s worth of movie passes to the Town (which used to be V Cinema, now a parking lot behind Cang’s) and Park Theaters.

Since then, the search for the fairest of Silliman’s women—in a pageant older than Miss Universe or Miss World—has metamorphosed into what it is now today.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3908/mssu1955kp5.jpg

In 1947, although still determined by campus votes, the title Most Popular Coed was changed to Miss Silliman. Freshman Leticia San Gabriel of the College of Education romped away with the crown.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9513/mssu1951rm2.jpg

By 1949, more titles were vied for and these included Miss Silliman, Miss Collegiate, Miss Student Government, Miss Sillimanian, and Miss High School.

As years passed, the Miss Silliman title was changed to recognize the selection of beauties through a talent showdown. Miss Silliman then became Miss Mardi Gras. Here, the contestants paraded in their costumes to the rhythm of the Silliman Band’s music at the amphitheater where the casting of votes was held. Time further witnessed the evolution of the title, from Grand Carnival Queen, to Miss Lakambini, to Mutya ng Silliman, and finally back to Miss Silliman.

It was only in the late 1960s that Miss Silliman underwent a landmark change that resulted into what is now, by all accounts, a full-fledged pageant.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9720/mssu1992gh6.jpg

Evolving from being a plain popularity contest, beauty became an important criterion for the search, as well as a sense of glamour, wit, and womanly build. But foremost among these considerations was the intellectual capabilities of the candidates who represented the cream of Silliman women. In 1979, the conservative audience in Dumaguete City saw an unraveling of flesh courtesy of a new pageant portion and became quite irked by its introduction, thus abolishing the bathing suit segment, which was briefly resurrected only in 1996, during the 50th anniversary of the pageant.

Today, the Miss Silliman is considered to be the top in the list of the most awaited Founders’ Day activities of Silliman University in Negros Oriental. Every year, hordes of Sillimanians—students and alumni—as well as non-Sillimanians flood the gates of the Silliman gymnasium, hoping to snare tickets to the year’s best show.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8841/mssu2001rr3.jpg

Miss Silliman has become very much a part of Dumaguete’s history as crowds swarm the city streets during the Parada Sillimaniana just to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned Miss Silliman waving her hand.

Such colorful history of the Miss Silliman marks its changes through time, through challenges, and through the conventions of every period.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4599/mssu2003af9.jpg

One thing’s for sure, however: Miss Silliman will continue to hold unto its original purpose—to bolster flagging morale, and to provide color for a few days in August. But most of all, it is a celebration of another kind of beauty—a beauty with purposeful intelligence—the way only the Miss Silliman Pageant can truly be.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

a copy&paste from Miss SU website.. wala lang!.. :colgate: :colgate: :colgate:

Did you guys know that Filipinas was the center of Arts before in Asia in terms of Western/European Arts?

The Filipinos excelled so much that many Chinese were attracted to the modern educational system built by Western colonizers in Manila. Huang Suibi and Yang Gengtang traveled from Xiamen to Manila to study oil painting and sculpture. Upon their return to China, they founded the Xiamen Art School in 1918. from 1936, the volatile political situation in Xiamen forced many of the school's students and teachers to flee. from Kwok Kian Chow and Chow Yian Ping, Modern Art in Southeast Asia (Nanning: Guangxi meishu chubanshe, 2006, pp. 24-25.

"In the history of nations there are names that by themselves signify an achievement, that recall passion and greatness, names that...become a pact, a symbol of peace, a bond of love between the nations. The names of Luna and Hidalgo belong to these; their glories illumine the two extremes of the globe - the East and the West, Spain and the Philippines." - José Rizal

Wala lang, interesting Miss Universe trivia:

The very first Miss Universe (from Finland), the very first Miss Asia (from Taiwan), the very first Miss International (from Colombia) and the very first Miss ASEAN (from Malaysia) all married Filipinos.

The Philippines has won the Miss Photogenic award six times, followed by England and Puerto Rico, both with five. Puerto Rico won its five awards during a six-year period (1999-2004, did not win in 2000).

source: wikipedia

I didn't know you are into this, or are you? Then you can visit these web pages: www.mabuhaypageants.com, www.globalbeauties.com, or www.missosology.org. Lots of news and pictures about local and international pageants. Hehehe!

Gustave Eiffel is the engineer of the san sebastian church.

when the manila city hall was completed, it was the country's tallest structure.

more info please...keep it up!

I read somewhere that there were no Cockroaches in the country until the colonizers arrived. What was rampant those days were the termites!

Las Islas Filipinas (also referred to as Spanish East Indies) was once comprised of the islands in Western Pacific that now belong to the states of: the Philippines, Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia. It had its capital in Manila under centuries of rule by Spanish Governor-Generals until 1899 when they got splitted up and taken over by Americans and Germans.

The Caroline Islands (now divided into the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau) were used to be called "Nuevas Filipinas" (New Philippines).

Chamorro language and culture (of Guam and Marianas) are the closest relatives of Filipino given the Hispanic and Austronesian heritage shared by these two nations.

There was a possibility of keeping these dependencies under the Philippine territorial jurisdiction had the Malolos Government only been recognized.

In Asia, the Philippines is one of only two countries with a predominant Roman Catholic population. The other one, Timor Leste, also shares similarities with the Philippines in terms of mestizo populace, language (their national language, Tetum, is Malayo-Polynesian based as well with Iberian influences too coming from Spain's cousins, the Portuguese), and the ASEAN dream where Timor Leste is expected to be a member within 3 years.

let's see. we've waged two major wars since this flag was created in 1898.
there was the 1898-1901 Filipino-American War when the Filipinos (or Aguinaldo at least) must have possibly turned it upside-down.
And then the war with the Japanese when we were a Commonwealth.

I think in the Fil-Am War we used the KKK flag.
We were under the American flag in WWII.

Filipinos have been roaming the world as early as the 16th century, first setting foot in Southern Mexico. Were it not for a quirk of historical fate, the early Pinoy migrants could have settled much of California when it was still under Spanish rule.

In 1675, a small colony of Pinoy seafarers were discovered to have set up a small village in the outskirts of New Orleans called the Manila Village. The village, some 100 miles from New Orleans, consisted mainly of Filipino males and their sons (110 women) with their own rules and quasi-laws. They were known as the Manila men living in stilt houses in the forbidding swamps of Louisiana.

Not many post-Vietnam war generation Filipinos know, for instance, that the popular Mexican men's dress--the guayabera-was patterned after the Barong Tagalog. And that Mexicans love to feast on mangoes while the average male prefers the tuba wine extracted trom coconuts.

Or that coconut tree, known to Mexicans as the palmera, originally came from the Philippines. Inversely, the Filipinos came to like chocolate from cacao beans trom Mexico) and the pineapple.


And much more historical gems are chronicled in a newly-published book "Manila Men" by veteran journalist Floro L. Mercene who spent years alternately working as a newspaperman and researching for his book. For this, he traveled extensively in the US and Mexico interviewing historians, scholars and Mexicans with Filipino ancestry dating back to four generations.

The book makes for easy reading, written in journalese style bereft of any literary pretensions. It’s so riveting especially for history buffs, students and plain folk interested in knowing more about their country's colorful past.

Manila Men chronicles the early attempts by Pinoys to seek better lives and fortunes in foreign lands, very much like the present-day OFWs (overseas foreign workers). Those early migrants were mostly seafarers~ conscripted by the Spanish viceroys in Manila to join the crew of the trade ships known as the Galleons and the Spanish naval ships.

These Galleons are instructed to bypass Lower California and Lousiana on their way to Acapulco to avoid attacks by local pirates and the British buccaneers. But when stormy weather overtook the ships in these areas, they were forced to seek shelter at the coves and small ports where they replenish their supplies.

Most of the Pinoy crews jumped ship at these spots in the southern ports of Mexico to escape the long, perilous sea voyage (five to six months) one way. They suffered from ill-treatment by the officers~ low pay~ diseases like scurvey and beri-beri, or starvation after the ship's rations and water supply run out.

Once ashore, the Pinoy deserters had to fend for themselves in a strange new land. At many Mexican villages, they were welcomed by the Aztec Indian tribes with whom they intermarried. Much later, they easily melted into the Mexican society as the Pinoys, unlike the other new conscripted migrants from Asia, were not treated as slaves after the Spanish king decreed the special privilege for Filipinos.

The early Manila immigrants left an indelible imprint on the Mexican population. There has been hardly any attempt by Mexican and Filipino historians and anthropologists to fully document the vast influence and contributions of Filipinos from Manila to Mexico's cultural fabric~ and vice versa.

Mercene's book makes no claim to having the answers to all the questions but a deep reading of Manila Men will give more than just a cursory knowledge of the close cultural and historical affinity of the two Countries.

It's full of tantalizing snippets of personal histories of the early Filipinos who uplifted themselves into becoming outstanding citizens of Mexico. A Mexican family who traces its Filipino ancestry three to four generations was reputed to have had forebears who became Mexican presidents.

Other interesting tidbits:

*** During Word War II, Mexico sent a small contingent of its military force to the Philippines to help the Americans liberate the island from the Japanese. A Mexican pilot, of Filipino ancestry, engaged the Japanese airmen in dog fights in Luzon.

*** The popular dish ceviche relished by many Mexicans is almost a copycat of our kilawin. Cooking rice the Filipino way found adherents among Mexicans used to eating maize ( corn) as their staple food.

*** The popular Tagalog song-Zamboangueña-was originally composed by a Mexican soldier in the Spanish army garrison in Zamboanga to serenade the Filipina girls in that city. The original lyrics were in Spanish.

*** Mexican males have taken to cockfighting no doubt introduced by the early Filipino immigrants to Mexico. It's as popular in Mexico as it is in the Philippines today. Mexicans have their own version of our topadas. Some Mexicans have even adopted Philippine boloes.

*** Many of the Galleons that plied the Pacific were built by Filipino shipbuilders and carpenters in Mexico, Baja California and New Orleans. Filipino shipwrights became much sought-after in the Americas, Mexico and the Philippines for their fine craftsmanship.

*** The shrimp fishing industry both in New Orleans and parts of South Mexico was started by Filipinos. Soon, these entrepreneurs moved on to exporting their bountiful harvests, which they dried in the sun, to Asia and some parts of South America.

Such is the affinity of the two countries, and invariably to Spain that one noted Filipino columnist, Alejandro Lichauco, once posited the rhetorical question why the Philippines never took advantage of its historical closeness to Spain.

Writing for the Daily Tribune, Lichauco wrote that even the Spanish ambassador to Manila lamented the fact that the Philippines, desperate for closer diplomatic and financial links to the European Union of which Spain is a leading member, never asked the assistance of its former mother country.
There's such a rich lode of cultural goodwill between Mexico and the Philippines (and invariably Spain) that Mercene's book unravels to the inquisitive Filipino reader the many cultural facets buried in unrecorded history .

Manila Men as a new book was launched at the University of the Philippines last February 23. It's priced at three hundred pesos a copy. An American edition is in the works.

http://manilamaildc.net/article1896.html

^^ My only problem with this is that note all Filipino who went to the Americas or Europe are from Manila or Manileños. :doh:

I read somewhere that there were no Cockroaches in the country until the colonizers arrived. What was rampant those days where the termites!

Between the termites and roaches, I'd prefer the latter.

Between the termites and roaches, I'd prefer the latter.

I'd rather have roaches too.. At least they aren't eating your house. The next time you have an earthquake, your whole house will collapse due to weak foundation. There goes your bahay kubo. haha.

Las Islas Filipinas (also referred to as Spanish East Indies) was once comprised of the islands in Western Pacific that now belong to the states of: the Philippines, Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia. It had its capital in Manila under centuries of rule by Spanish Governor-Generals until 1899 when they got splitted up and taken over by Americans and Germans.

The Caroline Islands (now divided into the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau) were used to be called "Nuevas Filipinas" (New Philippines).

Chamorro language and culture (of Guam and Marianas) are the closest relatives of Filipino given the Hispanic and Austronesian heritage shared by these two nations.

There was a possibility of keeping these dependencies under the Philippine territorial jurisdiction had the Malolos Government only been recognized.

In Asia, the Philippines is one of only two countries with a predominant Roman Catholic population. The other one, Timor Leste, also shares similarities with the Philippines in terms of mestizo populace, language (their national language, Tetum, is Malayo-Polynesian based as well with Iberian influences too coming from Spain's cousins, the Portuguese), and the ASEAN dream where Timor Leste is expected to be a member within 3 years.



If that is so, then these islands should be handed back to the Philippines. Imagine all those rich fishing grounds. Not to mention fantastic holiday spots plus magnificent retirement homes!!

Why, we should become a great maritime fishing nation like Taiwan or Japan. After all, we are an archipelagic people. It is but natural for us to take to the sea.

^^ we are a "big time" marine fishing grounds problem we are held by "big time" Japanese and Taiwanese financiers :D

If that is so, then these islands should be handed back to the Philippines. Imagine all those rich fishing grounds. Not to mention fantastic holiday spots plus magnificent retirement homes!!

Why, we should become a great maritime fishing nation like Taiwan or Japan. After all, we are an archipelagic people. It is but natural for us to take to the sea.

The question is if these people want to be with the Philippines especially give our political, environmental and economic state.

^^Same thing with Sabah, even if we legally win back the land, I wonder if the Malaysian farts there would want to be a part of our country because they're quite rich already.

If that is so, then these islands should be handed back to the Philippines. Imagine all those rich fishing grounds. Not to mention fantastic holiday spots plus magnificent retirement homes!!

It would be a hard time getting back those colonies since most of these lands are already independent and some are colonies or protectorates of other countries, e.g. Guam and Marianas to the USA.

Awww, c'mon, guys. Think "rich fishing grounds", "retirement homes".

The British pulled a magic trick on the native population of Fiji, for instance. They deluged in with Indians from India. Now majority of the populace is Indian.

In Guam, methinks we outnumber the Chamorros (are there any left at all?) by a wide margin.

If we could only dump a couple of million of our squatters (peanuts compared to our 90million people) on all those yummy islands, then conduct a plebiscite. Voila! Instant expansion. We'll still have enough people left in the Philippines.

Just dreaming, dreams are free...:lol: :lol: :nuts:

I read somewhere that 4 out of 10 Chamorros (Guam/Marianas natives) have Filipino ancestry. Also, Filipinos comprise the largest "foreign" ethnic group in Guam and Marianas. The Chamorros have Hispanic names too and are largely Roman Catholic. The only difference: Chamorros are classified as Pacific Islander while Filipinos are classified as Asian. :)

Culturally and historically, Marianas, Carolinas and Filipinas are one nation. We were not only hispanicized, we also were americanized as them. Though the majority would have to settle with the status quo. They have the edge cos they're where America's day begins while America's days in the Philippines have already ended.

Awww, c'mon, guys. Think "rich fishing grounds", "retirement homes".

The British pulled a magic trick on the native population of Fiji, for instance. They deluged in with Indians from India. Now majority of the populace is Indian.

In Guam, methinks we outnumber the Chamorros (are there any left at all?) by a wide margin.

If we could only dump a couple of million of our squatters (peanuts compared to our 90million people) on all those yummy islands, then conduct a plebiscite. Voila! Instant expansion. We'll still have enough people left in the Philippines.

Just dreaming, dreams are free...:lol: :lol: :nuts:

^^ Someone's got some delusions of grandeur about taking over the world! :lol:

bago mapapiyok o makasalita ang mga native pnoy sa mga istorya nila tungkol sa old society ng pnas nung mga kapanahunan pa ng mga lolo nila, o mga kwento tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay (archeological stuff) kailan mo munang ibili sila ng alak at painumin. dito nakukuha ang mga kwento kwento ng buong buhay ng pnas, sa alak :)

First Mass in the Philippines was held in Masao, Butuan

^^ Someone's got some delusions of grandeur about taking over the world! :lol:

Hear me out, bro. This is our masterplan. This is a splendid idea.

First, to ensure fast results our government ought to hire all the illegal loggers to cut off the remaining hardwood or forest canopy of the Cordilleras and Sierra Madre.

Second, the gov’t should construct humungous balangays a la Noah’s Ark. The orig balangay was a longboat. For the life of me, I cannot imagine why a boat could be used to replace barrio, one is essentially a waterborne transport whilst the latter is, well, a land-based town or village. All those senseless pilipino inventions, now we have a “barangay”. Na hala, sige.

Third, the gov’t should collect all the squatters in Metro Manila and load them all in the balangays. Then the govt should sub-contract professional activists and assign a few per boat to jazz up & lead our Masa. Their primary mission is to cry “Political persecution and we seek political asylum in your islands.”

Fourth, the govt should initiate an Amazing Race or Dragon Boat race amongst the balangays. Their direction should be toward our target Pacific islands. Upon reaching the islands, they are to overwhelm the local populace by sheer numbers. “Go forth & multiply”. Thence, they conduct a plebiscite and opt to return to Mother Philippines.

Fifth, to further empower our Masa, they do a reverse Leyte Landing or VJ (Victory over Japan) Day. With all those Pacific islands in our possession and with all our balangays; our Masa can thus island hop across the Pacific and overwhelm Hawaii. The local Fil-Hawaiian homes are not to be touched. They can easily be distinguished because they all have the ubiquitous Malunggay plants in front of their houses.

Sixth, from there they can proceed on a grand rush toward El Estado de California a la Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande. Thence, they can link up with all our Middle Class TNTs lurking about. Mas class tayo kasi naka-Noah’s Ark balangays pa. See, ain’t that neat? Whilst we're at it, a couple of our boats could also land on Easter Island and build rebultos or busts of all our Fil. Presidents.

Seventh, that will definitely solve your PROBLEMA SA POPULATION in your thread. And no, I ain't talkin world conquest. Simply turning the Pacific Ocean into Mare Nostrum or Mare Filipinas. Hurray! :banana: :cheers:

^ Hahaha! But that would be a call for war with the Amerikanos who basically own (through commonwealth, protectorate or trusteeship) most islands in the Pacific including the former Spanish East Indies I mentioned. IMO, your balangay would be easily blown to bits by the American islanders. Why not go for an armored galleon? But even the Manila-Acapulco galleons we had were already sunk by the US, metaphorically speaking of course. :D Mare Nostrum is already Mare Americanum.. hehe

Hear me out, bro. This is our masterplan. This is a splendid idea.

First, to ensure fast results our government ought to hire all the illegal loggers to cut off the remaining hardwood or forest canopy of the Cordilleras and Sierra Madre.

Second, the gov’t should construct humungous balangays a la Noah’s Ark. The orig balangay was a longboat. For the life of me, I cannot imagine why a boat could be used to replace barrio, one is essentially a waterborne transport whilst the latter is, well, a land-based town or village. All those senseless pilipino inventions, now we have a “barangay”. Na hala, sige.

Third, the gov’t should collect all the squatters in Metro Manila and load them all in the balangays. Then the govt should sub-contract professional activists and assign a few per boat to jazz up & lead our Masa. Their primary mission is to cry “Political persecution and we seek political asylum in your islands.”

Fourth, the govt should initiate an Amazing Race or Dragon Boat race amongst the balangays. Their direction should be toward our target Pacific islands. Upon reaching the islands, they are to overwhelm the local populace by sheer numbers. “Go forth & multiply”. Thence, they conduct a plebiscite and opt to return to Mother Philippines.

Fifth, to further empower our Masa, they do a reverse Leyte Landing or VJ (Victory over Japan) Day. With all those Pacific islands in our possession and with all our balangays; our Masa can thus island hop across the Pacific and overwhelm Hawaii. The local Fil-Hawaiian homes are not to be touched. They can easily be distinguished because they all have the ubiquitous Malunggay plants in front of their houses.

Sixth, from there they can proceed on a grand rush toward El Estado de California a la Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande. Thence, they can link up with all our Middle Class TNTs lurking about. Mas class tayo kasi naka-Noah’s Ark balangays pa. See, ain’t that neat? Whilst we're at it, a couple of our boats could also land on Easter Island and build rebultos or busts of all our Fil. Presidents.

Seventh, that will definitely solve your PROBLEMA SA POPULATION in your thread. And no, I ain't talkin world conquest. Simply turning the Pacific Ocean into Mare Nostrum or Mare Filipinas. Hurray! :banana: :cheers:

:hilarious Godspeed your quest Don Quixote!

^ Hahaha! But that would be a call for war with the Amerikanos who basically own (through commonwealth, protectorate or trusteeship) most islands in the Pacific including the former Spanish East Indies I mentioned. IMO, your balangay would be easily blown to bits by the American islanders. Why not go for an armored galleon? But even the Manila-Acapulco galleons we had were already sunk by the US, metaphorically speaking of course. :D Mare Nostrum is already Mare Americanum.. hehe

Not really. You can round up either the squatters or the secessionists. Those "persecuted" Pinoys landing on American territories and other allied states can be treated like the Vietnamese boat people and all the immigration laws, regulations and priority quotas for other countries will be suspended in their favor. Then, they will be granted American citizenship. Then, they will reacquire Filipino citizenship under dual citizenship laws. Then, global expansion and dominion. mwahahahaha.... :sly:

^ oh! the Sabah-Jabidah approach? haha!! That one failed though. Malaysian intelligence was too quick to find out of our annexation plans. hehe! Maybe the USA and people like Bush are actually what people say they are. And we could probably be successful this time. Let's start! wehehehe! But don't tell your landlord or mortgagor about our plans ha? :D

:hilarious Godspeed your quest Don Quixote!

:lol:

Nope, the Sabah issue was weakened because (this is from Malaysian sources, of course) our Sultan of Sulu still receives monetary compensation (or tribute, or whatever) from the Malaysian govt. Furthermore, it is a sticky issue when a "Christian" govt steps into an "argument" between our Southern brethren who share identical cultures to this day.

Back to the Pacific, yeah definitely, with our huge population we ought to teach those haughty & snooty Pacific Islanders where they originally came from. They should be taught they have Asiatic origins. Dapat nga magmano silang lahat sa atin. Nakalimot na ata ah. Pa'no kasi na-hamlet or "Potemkim village" or na-marginalized na ang mga iyan under their white settlers. No, we sneak in thru the backdoor, no sense getting our boats blown out of the water.

K, a Mexican friend told me they are merely reclaiming what they lost during the US-Mexican War. And this time they are more successful, without firing a single shot! That's the idea. :)

Did You Know: Malaysia pays the Sultanate of Jolo some 5,000 ringgits annually (read: that’s not even enough to pay for a small apartment in Makati for the same period of time ) to lease Northern Borneo.

The lease amount has remained unchanged (except the original currency was Mexican pesos) since the late 1880s when Malaysia was still a British colony.

As everybody knows, natural resources-rich Borneo accounts for 40 percent of Malaysia’s total revenues.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/0427&282007/companies05.html

^^5,000 ringgits for BILLIONS of DOLLARS and they still treat many of our illegal Filipino migrants there as trash? Naku...

^^

But the onus is on the Sultan of Sulu himself. He hasn’t been forthright in pushing for what he thinks belongs to him. Using the Philippine government as his pawn in squaring off with Malaysia will never do. What further weakens his “high moral ground” is his continued acceptance of his Malaysian stipend. How can one howl protest with his right hand whilst collecting money with his left, however small the amount may be?

With each passing year, any hopes of “regaining” Sabah grows dim, what with further Malaysian consolidation in the form of migrant Malays and a stronger economy and a stronger military. If the ancestors of the Sultan were really keen on pursuing this, then they should have been more clear in their position with the erstwhile Spanish, the American and, even for a moment, the Japanese administrations.

Is it any wonder then that the Malaysians, or for that matter a growing number of Asians, view us with a condescending attitude?


P.S. methinks we could put our million strong squatter legions again to good use; after all, Malaysia has only a paltry 26million population… :D

^^5,000 ringgits for BILLIONS of DOLLARS and they still treat many of our illegal Filipino migrants there as trash? Naku...

Its because they are illegals and were not a powerful nation to affect their government.

The very first monument to Jose Rizal - erected in Daet, Camarines Norte, 1898

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/475291831_5ae811a43a_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/475291827_a28d8ecb0a_o.jpg
Photos by Shubert Ciencia
(http://www.flickr.com/people/bigberto/)

^^is Rizal refered to as the Filibuster?

Ferdinand Magellan never circumnavigated the world. He started it, but he was not the one who finished it.



The Philippines is a bit small compared to Italy, but it's way small compared to Japan.



Then how could the people there be called Catholics?

FYI :
The Philippine's Land Area : 300,000 sq. km.
Japan's Land Area : 377,835 sq. km.
Italy's Land Area : 301,2230 sq. km.

Did you know the Philippine flag is unique in that it can indicate a state of war. When the flag is upside-down, with the red field on top, it means that the Philippines is at war.

(EVERYONE HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT) :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/250px-War_Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png

Don't think we ever used it though... :(


i read somewhere that it is flown upside down in Zamboanga Sibugay to denote a state of war. im not really sure.

^^is Rizal refered to as the Filibuster?

Is the second novel written by Philippine national hero José Rizal. It is a sequel to Noli Me Tangere and like the first book, was written in Spanish. He began the work in October of 1887 while practising medicine in Calamba. In London (1888), he made several changes to the plot and revised a number of chapters. Rizal continued to work on his manuscript while in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels, finally completing it on March 29, 1891 in Biarritz. It was published the same year in Ghent. (wiki)

^^ Wowowee... I've never seen this one! Ayayay!

Btw, everybody forgot this one:

*Whaleshark interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon... and i-add din natin to:
*CWC - best wakeboarding facility in the world, located in Pili, Camarines Sur

What is that jungle that has really steep mountains and it's all covered with trees? that litterally looks like

/\/\/\/\/\

What is that jungle that has really steep mountains and it's all covered with trees? that litterally looks like

/\/\/\/\/\

the jungle is where the bonsai fileds are , the actual area od the bonsai field iis 600 has. , the mountain is called Mt. Hamiguitan .

felt like in Liliput land the 600 has. bonsai forest in Mt. Hamiguitan



http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/2317/472292120544141f1b9sq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)




this is really a strange place not only bec trees are small but plants and some grasses too! amazing

ex: they call this orchid dendrochilum maybe the size of each flower is about 3 inches
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/7047/47110163928a23b9e32nh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


this is her small sister , look at the leaf in the background it is the normal size of dendrochilum orchid leaf
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6857/4711008352bb6f937cfbn9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7467/47108505691b55b7092dh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

you thought this is a grassland ..its a landscape of miniature dendrochilum sorrounded by minature trees .

here's more of bonsai fields

miniature pitcher plant
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5636/472294372c939a2c417ru4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7499/472292990549cdf58d1ht1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

this 1 is really a strange plant
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6086/472296870ac774c2ae2pp9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/7530/472316281802fff36f5mj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is not a plant it's some kind of an insect.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6131/47230502601eca3710dai3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's another nature wonder

Samal Bat Cave: The World’s Largest

DAVAO CITY — The Monfort Bat Cave on Samal Island was recently determined to house the world’s largest colony of Geoffroy’s rousette fruit bats (Rousettus amplexicaudatus) with approximately 1.8 million bats. Bat Conservation International (BCI) the leading bat conservation organization based in Austin, Texas, U.S.A. came to visit the Monfort cave last June 2006 to evaluate the cave and determine its relative significance. BCI identified potential threats and provided management and research recommendations. The current colony exceeds the carrying capacity of the cave as large numbers of bats roost in risky locations, even on the ground which is very unusual and under large rocks on the cave floor making them very susceptible to predation by rats, crows, snakes, cats and dogs. Hunting by humans and disturbance of this species in other bat caves in the region has likely driven many bats to seek refuge in the protected Monfort Bat Cave.

A Declaration of Understanding was signed in June 2006 by Monfort Conservation Park, Bat Conservation International, several key organizations such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, The Island Garden City of Samal, Kinaiyahan Foundation, Inc. Peace Republic, Inc, and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.to facilitate the long term protection of the cave.

In January 2007, Norma Monfort, MCPark Trustee together with a group of local conservationists and Bat Conservation International scientist, Dr. David L. Waldien established the Philippine Bat Conservation, Inc. (PBC) a non-governmental organization in order to facilitate and lead regional conservation of bats and critical habitats through specific action-oriented partnerships, to help conduct conservation, research, and education activities at the Monfort Bat Cave which is being established as a national model for bat conservation and management.

On April 20, 2007, Mrs. Teresita B. Antalan accompanied by the Honorable City Mayor of IGACOS, Rogelio Antalan and assisted by Dr. David Waldien did the honors of cutting the ribbon during the official opening of PBC’s outdoor educational exhibit entitled The Wonders of Bats. The event hosted jointly by Philippine Bat Conservation and the Monfort Conservation Park was widely attended by various government and non-government organizations, local barangay officials and guests from both the business and private sectors all wishing that the exhibit which is now a permanent fixture at MCPark will let people know the ecological value of bats, the significance of the Monfort Bat Cave instilling in each visitor the pride of co-ownership and feeling that sense of responsibility to understand and take care of all those who share this planet with us.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9941/samalmapid5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6402/bat1sk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The species of bats at the Bat Sanctuary are a fruit eating species. Here you find them roosting alongside the walls of the caves.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9277/colony2ry1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Bat Sanctuary at Monfort Conservation Park is home to 5 different colonies of bats. By looking down into the caves, one can witness a whole colony of bats.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9480/batdark1ui6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Looking into the cave after dark. The tiny white dots are not stars; they are
many pairs of bat eyes!


http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9510/batdark3dw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Bats during circadian flight.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3373/cocoux7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
View looking towards the water.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/830/mcpshivbaba1hy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Shiv Baba, as viewed from the bat caves

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1475/colony1yf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Bat Sanctuary at Monfort Conservation Park is home to 5 different colonies of bats. By looking down into the caves, one can witness a whole colony of bats.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9721/mcppaintings1wu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://www.batsanctuary.org/mcpark.htm

There are no 7 wonders in the philipiines because its impossible say that there are 7 best wonders out of the inumerable wonders of the philippines. Using the 7 number would only favor the best known places.

My Personal List of the Country's 7 Wonders

Natural Wonders
1. Mayon Volcano
2. Sagada
3. Puerto Princessa Subterranean River Park
4. Chocolate Hills
5. Tubbataha Reefs
6. Batanes Province
7. El Nido and Coron and their Lagoons, Caves and Limestone Cliffs

Man-made Wonders of the Pre-Modern Era (pre-1900's)
1. Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
2. Vigan
3. Intramuros de Manila and the San Agustin Church
4. San Sebastian Church
5. Spanish Forts in the Philippines
6. Mummies of Ifugao
7. Angono Petroglyphs

Man-made Wonders of the Modern Era (1900's and beyond)
1. Art Deco Buildings Collection of Manila
-Metropolitan Theater
-Far Eastern University Main Building, etc.
2. Cultural Center of the Philippines
3. San Juanico Bridge
4. Coconut Palace
5. Neoclassical and Colonial American Buildings Collection of Manila
-Post Office Building
-Manila City Hall
-Legislative Building
-Department of Tourism Building, etc.
6. Cebu Provincial Capitol
7. Ayala Center

Intangible Wonders
1. Sinulog Festival
2. Hudhud Chants
3. The Maranao Epics
4. Biag ni Lam-ang
5. El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal
6. People Power Revolutions 1 and 2
7. Ifugao Culture of the Igorots, Ibaloys and other Cordilleran Ethnic Tribes

Did you know that the first bus company in the Philippines was born in Iriga City, Camarines Sur in July 1914 when Albert L. Ammen, a former American serviceman established the A.L. Ammen Transport Co., Inc (ALATCO) with an initial fleet of one converted two-cylinder Grawbosky truck.

Here's an old photo of the ALATCO terminal in Naga City

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/247936137_e4ffbd223f_o.jpg
Photo by Bus A Bus (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63625488@N00/)

FYI :
The Philippine's Land Area : 300,000 sq. km.
Japan's Land Area : 377,835 sq. km.
Italy's Land Area : 301,2230 sq. km.

Then I'm right, am I not?

Did you know that the first bus company in the Philippines was born in Iriga City, Camarines Sur in July 1914 when Albert L. Ammen, a former American serviceman established the A.L. Ammen Transport Co., Inc (ALATCO) with an initial fleet of one converted two-cylinder Grawbosky truck.

Here's an old photo of the ALATCO terminal in Naga City

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/247936137_e4ffbd223f_o.jpg
Photo by Bus A Bus (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63625488@N00/)

Can you imagine this? look at these folks during the early 1900's...they are so well dressed....and these was taken in Iriga? kahit pumunta ka sa forbes park..ang papangit ng suot ng tao....