The
Philippines consists of 7,107 islands, of which only 2,000
are inhabited. Only about 500 of the islands are larger than a
square kilometer and 2,500 of them are not even named. The total
area of the Philippines is 299,404 square kilometers. The highest
mountain is Mt. Apo, near Davao in Mindanao, at 2,953 metres.
The islands of the Philippines can be conveniently divided into
three groups. First, there is Luzon, the largest and northernmost
island and the site of the capital, Manila. The nearby islands
of Mindoro and Marinduque are generally included with Luzon. At
the other end of the archipelago is the second largest island,
Mindanao. Third, there is the tightly-packed island group known
as the Visayas. There are seven major islands in this group -
Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Masbate. Cebu is
the central island of the group and Cebu City is a major tourist
destination.
There are over 30 volcanoes in the Philippines, 10 of which are
classified as being active. The longest rivers are the Cagayan
River, the Rio Grande de Pampanga and the Agno in Luzon; the Rio
Grande de Mindanao and the Agusan River in Mindanao.
Today, there are about 67 million Filipinos; approximately
8 million of whom live in Metro Manila. Filipinos are basically
of Malay stock with Chinese and Spanish ancestries. Although an
ever growing number of Filipinos are becoming urbanized, a great
majority of Filipinos still till the land and live off it comfortably.
Known for their hospitality, Filipinos are a warm and friendly
people. Visitors are welcomed like members of the family and it
is no surprise to find house guests being offered the best room
in a Filipino home. Smiles are abundant in the islands.
Map of the Philippines | About
Places/Cities in the Philippines
