On June 12, , Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent from Spain and proclaimed himself president. After ruling for years, the Spaniards finally left in and were replaced by the Americans who stayed for 48 years.
On July 4, , the Americans recognized Philippine independence. The Philippines is the third largest English-speaking country in the world. The country is divided into three geographical areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It has 18 regions, 81 provinces, cities, 1, municipalities, and 42, barangays.
Barangay - The smallest political unit into which cities and municipalities in the Philippines are divided. It is the basic unit of the Philippine political system. It consists of less than 1, inhabitants residing within the territorial limit of a city or municipality and administered by a set of elective officials, headed by a barangay chairman or punong barangay.
The Philippines is an archipelago composed of about 7, islands with a total land area, including inland bodies of water, of approximately , square kilometers , sq mi. Its 36, kilometers 22, mi of coastline makes it the country with the 5th longest coastline in the world.
The island of Borneo is located a few hundred kilometers southwest and Taiwan is located directly to the north. The Moluccas and Sulawesi are located to the south-southwest and Palau is located to the east of the islands. Most of the mountainous islands are covered in tropical rainforest and volcanic in origin.
The highest mountain is Mount Apo. It measures up to 2, meters 9, ft above sea level and is located on the island of Mindanao. The Galathea Depth in the Philippine Trench is the deepest point in the country and the third deepest in the world.
The trench is located in the Philippine Sea. The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay, upon the shore of which the capital city of Manila lies, is connected to Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, by the Pasig River. Situated on the western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
The Benham Plateau to the east in the Philippine Sea is an undersea region active in tectonic subduction. Around 20 earthquakes are registered daily, though most are too weak to be felt. The last major earthquake was the Luzon earthquake.
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century. Not all notable geographic features are so violent or destructive. A more serene legacy of the geological disturbances is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, the area represents a habitat for biodiversity conservation, the site also contains a full mountain-to-the-sea ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. Due to the volcanic nature of the islands, mineral deposits are abundant.
The country is estimated to have the second-largest gold deposits after South Africa and one of the largest copper deposits in the world. It is also rich in nickel, chromites, and zinc. Despite this, poor management, high population density, and environmental consciousness have resulted in these mineral resources remaining largely untapped. Geothermal energy is a product of volcanic activity that the Philippines have harnessed more successfully.
Luzon is the largest and most populous in the Philippine and the 15th largest in the world. Located in the northern region of the archipelago it is the economic and political center of the nation being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as well as Quezon City, the country's most populous.
With a population of Luzon is where you will find the capital, Manila. Metro Manila is the seat of government and the premier international gateway.
The Visayas , is one of the Philippines' 3 main island groups and characterized by natural and cultural diversity. In Boracay you will find most of the exotic Philippine hotels and resorts. In Corella, rare bug-eyed primates called tarsiers are protected at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. Mindanao is the second largest and southernmost major island in the Philippines.
It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country the other two being Luzon and the Visayas , consisting of the island of Mindanao and smaller outlying islands. Davao City is the largest city in Mindanao. As of the census, the island's population itself is 20,, people, while the Mindanao island group has 21,, inhabitants.
Davao City is the most populous in Mindanao as 1,, population, and the 2nd is Zamboanga City as , population, the 3rd is Cagayan de Oro City as , population, and followed by General Santos City as , population as of census. The island has seen a communist insurgency as well as armed Moro separatist movements.
Mindanao is considered the food basket of the Philippines. Eight of the top 10 agri-commodities exported from the Philippines come from here. Mindanao is also dubbed with the moniker as The Philippines' Land of Promise. Check out the Philippine Standard Time. Did you know that Surigao del Norte is an important transportation hub between Visayas and Mindanao?
Pulag as the most popular tourist hiking spot on this side of the country. Did you know that Benguet is a major producer of fresh vegetables and other perishable goods in the country? Did you know that the inhabitants of this province have been perfecting the art of their tattoo practice Batok for the last thousand years? The region is composed of five Muslim provinces, with the regional center in Cotabato city.
The native Maguindanaon and other non-Muslim groups are proud of a culture that revolved around the kulintang music, a type of gong music identifiable with the ethnic groups in Southern Philippines. Basilan Did you know that Basilan ranks third as the place where there is a narrow gap between the rich and the poor?
The share of wealth is very equitable here. Many tourists, both local and foreign, were caught up in this goal of completing all 81 provinces and were successful, and most probably know more of the country more than what is shown in tourist guidebooks. Will you take up the challenge of completing all 81 provinces? Whether you do or not, the Philippine Archipelago always has gifts for those who seek adventure and beauty in this part of the world where paradise exists.
Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. When possible this , I would like to start traveling around our country and explore its beauty. Thank you for this list and definitely by my guide. Anyone interested to travel together DM me in IG: ms. We can plan an itinerary. Because the more the merrier and cheaper?. The missing province here is Benguet which is supposedly the missing no. Anyway, this is a great site.
Very informative and travellers will surely appreciate this. Sarangani is part of Davao Occ. It is where you will see the influence of Indonesian culture and the home of Maitum Jars, Furthermore, Davao City is an independent City and therefore not included in the province of Davao del Sur.. Davao Region exports Bananas, pine apple, cacao, coconut and so on. Hey there! My next destination is the northern parts of Luzon.
Hmmm, got some ideas here. I think you wrote a little tourist spots about Cebu where in fact we have a lot of good beaches here. All these make them more vulnerable. You can visit dive-bohol. Thank you for sharing this list.
I now have an official guide to the 81 provinces of this country. I just went to my 36th province this month. Hopefully another this coming week. Thank you! Hi, thank you so much for this! This is a really helpful guide and I know I definitely needed this! The 81st and newest province is Davao Occidental, which was just established last Hope you correct it hehe thanks!
Thank you for spotting that Camille! La union is the surfing capital of the North, not the Philippines. Baler also is where the surfing started here in the Philippines. Hi Ms Mye! The best things to do here are nature-tripping and camping, caving, spelunking, trekking, rafting and outdoor sports. Pinatubo, one of the most destructive volcanoes in the world, which is located on the tripoint boundary of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga.
Zambales on the Western side and Aurora on the Eastern side of the province are both considered top beach and surfing destinations. The province of Aurora is located in the eastern part of Central Luzon region, facing the Philippine Sea. While its capital Baler has long been known as a surfing destination, the province is becoming more popular with backpackers and tourists for weekend and summer trips.
Beyond Baler, areas like Dingalan and Casiguran offer scenic landscapes and raw adventures. Bataan is best known for its historical significance as one of the last stands of American and Filipino soldiers before they were overwhelmed by the Japanese forces during World War II. The rising eco-tourism destination is home to beaches, mountains, turtle sanctuaries, bird-watching sites, springs and waterfalls.
Bulacan is known mainly for its heritage sites, historic caves , and fireworks industry. This province is often overlooked by tourists because of its proximity to Manila, but it has its share of secret spots for adventure-seekers including mountainous areas and trails for hiking and biking. While it may not have any beaches, it does have mountains and other landscapes like rivers and waterfalls worth exploring.
Enjoy the laid-back provincial life in farms and riverside resorts. Visit farms where you can ride carabao carts and enjoy authentic Kapampangan cuisine or go off-roading around the lahar trails of Mt. Pinatubo for an extreme adventure. Tarlac is often considered as a stopover destination for most travelers headed north.
But it has a lot of tourism potential, including historical sites, museums, adventure parks, religious destinations, hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, and local restaurants worth trying. Zambales is the second largest among the seven provinces of Central Luzon after Nueva Ecija. The Freeport Zone contains many casinos, parks, malls, beach-side huts, cottages, resorts, historical sites and a bay popular for yachting.
The whole region is home to various historical sites, farms, lakes, waterfalls and coconut plantations while the coastal province of Batangas is home to numerous beaches and dive spots. Batangas is one of the most popular tourist destinations near Metro Manila, known mainly for its beaches and dive sites. It contains the second largest international seaport in the country and is home to the well-known Taal Volcano.
You can spend the day swimming, diving and enjoying other outdoor activities. Cavite is one of the most industrialized and fastest-growing provinces in the Philippines. For locals, Tagaytay is one of the most popular choices for a quick weekend or day trips from Manila. You can enjoy the cooler climate while dining on fresh farm-to-table cuisine in many of the restaurants located along the ridge overlooking Taal Lake.
For those who want to experience simple country living, Laguna is a good day trip getaway from Manila. Laguna hugs the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. Quezon is a province southeast of Metro Manila, known for its mountains and vast coconut plantations. Mount Banahaw, one of the most sacred sites during pre-colonial times, is a major tourism draw and well-known pilgrimage site. Part of Quezon province connects the Bicol Peninsula to the main part of Luzon.
Quezon also includes Polillo Islands in the Philippine Sea, which has remote, but beautiful beaches. The province of Rizal, named after national hero Jose Rizal, also lies on the northern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.
This mountainous province is perched on the western slopes of the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range. The Southwestern Tagalog Region is one of the two regions in the country sharing no land border with another region, as they are mostly islands provinces. Marinduque is an island province known primarily for celebrating one of the oldest religious festivals of the country, the Moriones Festival during Holy Week.
The heart-shaped island is considered the geographical center of the Philippine archipelago. Occidental Mindoro occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro. Apo Reef is one of the best known and most popular dive sites in the country. Puerto Galera, located at the north-westernmost part of the province, is one of the most popular tourist destinations for locals, accessible by ferry rides from Luzon via the Batangas ports.
Palawan is an archipelagic province and one of the most biodiverse terrestrial and marine islands in the Philippines. It has been ranked as one of the most beautiful islands in the world and best island destinations in East and Southeast Asia by international publications because of its beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes.
Palawan is the largest province in the country in terms of the total area of jurisdiction. Romblon is an archipelagic province made up of several islands including Tablas the largest , Romblon Island and Sibuyan Island. Bicol is known for its volcanoes and colonial churches on the mainland, while the coastal provinces offer stunning island-hopping destinations, surf spots, whale shark encounters and rodeos. Albay is best known for being the home of Mayon Volcano, a perfectly symmetrical active stratovolcano visible throughout most cities of the province.
Albay has various natural wonders, including caves, waterfalls, beaches, and is known for its delectable cuisine and local industries. Camarines Norte occupies the northwestern coast of the Bicol Peninsula in the southeastern section of Luzon. Camarines Sur is the largest among the six provinces in the Bicol Region.
On the eastern portion of the province, you can find the Caramoan Peninsula and islands made popular worldwide by the reality show Survivor. Within the province lies Lake Buhi, where the smallest commercially harvested fish, the Sinarapan Mistichthys luzonensis , can be found.
Catanduanes is an island province, traditionally known for being frequently hit by typhoons. The province of Masbate is one of the oldest settlements in the country, with rolling, hilly and mountainous terrain and rugged topography. It consists of three major islands: Masbate Island, Ticao and Burias. Sorsogon is the southernmost province in Luzon with striking volcanic topography and a few little-known beaches, lakes, hot springs and waterfalls.
Located in the central part of the archipelago, Visayas consists of 16 provinces made up of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea. What I like most about destinations in the Visayas are its beautiful natural attractions, historical sites, and distinctive cuisine, particularly fresh seafood. Visayas offers an amazing destination for beach-lovers, adventure-seekers and foodies.
Some provinces in the Visayas are well known for their rich culinary history and dishes which have been greatly influenced by Chinese and Spanish cuisine.
Visayas is further divided into three administrative regions, namely: Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas. A municipality or city is designated as the capital which is the seat of the provincial government. Based on the census, the provinces with the highest population excluding highly urbanized cities are Cavite 4,, , Bulacan 3,, , and Laguna 3,,
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