PHIL GEO

• History of the Philippines:
• Philippines began at least 709,000 years ago

  Homo luzonensis was present on Luzon at least 67,000 years ago

  Earliest known modern human from Tabon Caves in Palawan dating about 47,000 years

  Negrito groups were the first inhabitants

  Seafaring Austronesians migrated southward from Taiwan around 3000 BC
• Geography of the Philippines:
• Situated in the western Pacific Ocean

  Consists of about 7,640 islands

  Divided into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

  Bounded by the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, and Celebes Sea

  Shares maritime borders with various countries

  Covers an area of 300,000 km

  Population of around 109 million people

  Manila is the capital, Quezon City is the largest city
• Climates in the Philippines:
• Five types of climates: tropical rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna, humid subtropical, and oceanic

  Two seasons: wet season and dry season

  Warmest months are March through October

  Winter monsoon brings cooler air from November to February

  May is the warmest month, January is the coolest
• Philippine Discovery:
• In 1380 CE, arab missionary Makhdum Karim brought Islam to the Philippines

  On March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines, named it after King Philip II of Spain, and colonised the country for 333 years
• Philippine Independence:
• June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed independence in Kawit, Cavite

  Philippine flag was first shown and waved

  Proclamation formalised with Acta de la Proclamation de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino

  Signed by 98 Filipinos
• Physical Features of the Philippines:
• Philippine Islands are tops of underwater mountains

  Igneous rock appears throughout the archipelago

  Large expanses of level land are rare

  Most rivers are less than 20 miles long

  Soils are classified into three broad groupings
• Three Branches of the Philippine Government:
• Legislative Branch:

  Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives

  Senate is the upper part, House of Representatives is the lower part

  Senate is composed of 24 senators

  House of Representatives has the power to impeach officials and originate money bills
• Executive Branch:

  Headed by the President

  President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

  President appoints cabinet members

  Executive seat of government is Malacañang Palace
• Judiciary Branch:

  Headed by the Supreme Court

  Other court types include Lower Collegiate Courts, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Regular Courts, Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, Muslim Courts, Sharia District Courts, Sharia Circuit Courts