| The
exotic jeepney is a post-war creation inspired by the GI jeeps that the
American soldiers brought to the country in the 1940s. Enterprising
Filipinos salvaged the surplus engines and came out unique vehicles of
art.
Short
distance and feeder trips could not be more exciting than via
Philippine quick transports – the tricycle, a motorcycle with a
sidecar, and the pedicab, a bicycle with a sidecar.
The
world’s longest underground river system accessible to man can be found
at the St. Paul National Park in the province of Palawan.
The
largest Philippine wild animal, the tamaraw, is a species of the
buffalo that is similar to the carabao. It is found only in the island
of Mindoro.
The
highest mountain in the Philippines is Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano found
in Mindanao, at 2,954 meters (9,689 feet). Mt. Pulog in Luzon is the
second highest at 2,928 meters (9604 feet).
Filipino
bowler Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno was the first bowler to be elevated to
the International Bowling Hall of Fame based in St. Louis, Missouri,
USA. The Philippine Congress has named him “Greatest Filipino Athlete
of All Time.”
Philippine
National Hero and writer Jose Rizal could read and write at age 2. He
grew up to speak more than 20 languages, including Latin, Greek,
German, French, and Chinese. What were his last words? "Consummatum
est!" ("It is done!")
The
largest city in the Philippines is Davao City. With an area of 2,211
sq. km., it is about three times the size of the national capital,
Metro Manila.
Cebu is the oldest Philippine city.
Negros Occidental has the most cities among Philippine provinces.
Filipinos
celebrate the world’s longest religious holiday. The Christmas season
begins on September 1st, as chillier winds and Christmas carols start
filling the air, and ends on the first week of January, during the
Feast of the Three Kings.
Paskuhan Village in the province of Pampanga is Asia’s only Christmas theme park and the third of its kind in the world.
The
great Christmans lanterns of San Fernando, Pampanga can reach as big as
40 feet in diameter, using as many as 16,000 glowing bulbs.
The
exotic jeepney is the Filipino version of the jitney, the taxi/minibus
that travels along a fixed route, found in many countries.
The popular toy, the yoyo, was invented by 16th century hunters in the Philippines.
The
word "boondocks," which is now a part of the English language,
dictionary, and vocabulary, comes from the Tagalog word "bundok,"
meaning "mountain."
The
Philippines became the first Asian country to win FIVE major
international beauty pageant crowns — two for Miss Universe, in 1969
and 1973, and three for Miss International, in 1965, 1970, and 1979.
Diving
paradise Anilao, in the province of Batangas, is the theme of a picture
book that bagged the International Prize for Underwater Images at the
27th World Festival of Underwater Images in France in November 2000.
“Anilao" book creators and Filipino scuba divers Scott Tuason and
Eduardo Cu Unjieng defeated big names in underwater photography such as
Jacques Mayol, Pascal Kobeh, Monique Walker, and Alessandro Tommasi.
The
biggest game preserve and wildlife sanctuary in the Philippines is
located on Calauit Island in Palawan, which has the largest land area
among the Philippine provinces.
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.
Fernando
Amorsolo was officially the first National Artist of the Philippines.
He was given the distinction of National Artist for Painting in 1972.
Philippines
Herald war journalist Carlos P. Romulo was the first Asian to win a
Pulitzer Prize in Journalism in 1942. He was also aide-de-camp to
General Douglas MacArthur in World War II; Philippine resident
commissioner in the U.S. Congress from 1944-46; and the first Asian to
become UN President in 1949.
The largest fish in the world, the Whale Shark, locally known as Butanding, regularly swims to the Philippine waters.
The
world’s shortest and lightest freshwater fish is the dwarf pygmy goby
(Pandaka Pygmaea), a colorless and nearly transparent species found in
the streams and lakes of Luzon. Males have an average length of 8.7 mm.
and weigh 4-5 mg.
On
January 18, 1995, Pope John Paul II offered mass to an estimated 4 to 5
million people at Luneta Park, Manila, Philippines, making it to the
Guiness Book of World Records for the Biggest Papal Crowd.
The
Philippine Madrigal Singers bagged the 1997 European Choral Grand Prix,
the choral olympics of the world’s best choirs. The group, being the
only Asian choir, bested five regional champions from all over Europe,
earning them the title as the "world’s best choir."
There
are 12,000 or so species of seashells in the Philippines. The Conus
Gloriamaris or "Glory of the Sea" is the rarest and most expensive in
the world.
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
Basilica of San Sebastian is the only steel church in Asia and was the
second building to be made out of steel, next to the Eiffel Tower in
Paris.
The
largest bell in Asia hangs at the belfry of the 221-year old Panay
Church. 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.
The
World Cup, which was instituted in 1965, is contested annually by the
national champions of the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs
(FIQ). The highest number of wins is 4, by Filipino bowler Rafael
“Paeng” Nepomuceno: 1976, 1980, 1992, and 1996.
Filipino
Eriberto N. Gonzales Jr. consumed 350 chilis in 3 minutes at the annual
Magayon Festival chili-eating contest held at Penaranda Park, Legazpi,
Albay on May 27, 1999, making it to the Guiness Book of World Records
for the most chilis eaten.
The
longest possible eclipse of the Sun is 7 min. 31 sec. The longest
eclipse in recent times took place west of the Philippines on June 20,
1995, lasting for 7 min. 8 sec.
Camiguin
province holds the distinction of having the most number of volcanoes
per square kilometer than any other island on earth. It is also the
only place in the Philippines which has more volcanoes (7) than towns
(5).
The
900 sq m Relief Map of Mindanao in Dapitan City was personally done by
Dr. Jose Rizal. It was used as a device for teaching history and
geography to townsfolk.
The
Zamboanga Golf Course and Beach Park was founded in 1910 by Gov. John
Pershing. It is one of the oldest golf courses in the Philippines.
Isabela
City is the youngest city in the region. It was only on March 5, 2001
that the Municipality of Isabela, Province of Basilan was converted
into a component city Through RA 9023. On April 25, 2001, Isabeleños
ratified the new status of Isabela.
The
Kinabayo is an exotic and colorful pageant re-enacting the
Spanish-Moorish Wars, particularly the Battle of Covadonga where the
Spanish forces under General Pelagio took their last stand against the
Saracens. They were able to reverse the tide of war with the miraculous
apparition of St. James, the Apostle. A Kinabayo Festival is celebrated
every July in Dapitan City, attracting thousands of tourists to the
city.
The
altar at the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Dipolog City was designed by Dr.
Jose Rizal. The Cathedral was erected by the Spanish friars sometime in
1895, before Dipolog City became a municipality.
The
Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City is the original estate of Dr. Jose Rizal
which he acquired by purchase during his exile in Dapitan from 1892 to
1896.
RA
8973 signed by then President Joseph E. Estrada in February 2001
created the province of Zamboanga Sibugay. A total of sixteen
municipalities compose this newest province in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Magat
Dam is Asia’s biggest dam project at the time of its construction. It
serves the primary function of power generation and irrigation.
The
Cagayan River or Rio Grande de Cagayan is the Philippines’ mightiest
watercourse – the longest and widest river in the country. Small
streams originating form Balete Pass, Cordillera, Caraballo and Sierra
Madre Mountains meet other streams and rivers and flow to the Cagayan
River.
Magapit
Suspension Bridge is the first of its kind in Asia. It spans the
Cagayan River at Lallo and is 0.76 kilometers long. The hanging bridge
links the first and second districts of Cagayan going towards the
Ilocos Region via the scenic Patapat Road on the Ilocos Norte-Cagayan
Inter-Provincial national highway.
Angono
Petroglyphs – This cultural heritage site dates back to circa 3000 B.C.
and is the most ancient Filipino, or more aptly, prehistoric Filipino
work of art. Besides being the country’s oldest “work of art” it also
offers us an evocative glimpse into the life of our ancestors. The site
has been included in the World Inventory of Rock Art under the auspices
of UNESCO, ICCROM and ICOMOS and nominated as one of the “100 Most
Endangered Sites of the World.
PANCIT
HABHAB (Lucban)-Made from rice flour, these local noodles acquired its
name and developed its unique attraction by the way it is eaten.
Otherwise known as Pancit Lucban, these noodles are hawked in the
streets and served on a piece of banana leaf, sans fork or any other
utensils. Thus, it is eaten straight from the leaf, licking
permitted... "habhab"-style.
Tagala
- the Philippines first Filipino-Spanish dictionary which was printed
in 1613, 25 years older than the first book printed in the United
States.
Mayon
is the most beautiful mountain I have ever seen, the world-renowned
Fujiyama (Mt. Fuji) of Japan sinking into perfect insignificance by
comparison. British traveler-writer A. Henry Savage Landor
Ilo-Ilo golf and country club is the oldest golf club in the Philippines. It was built at 1908 by Irish Engineers.
Limasawa
Island – where Ferdinand Magellan first landed in the Philippines which
give way to the discovery of the Philippines and where the first mass
was celebrated.
San Juanico Strait - said to be the narrowest yet the most navigable strait in the world
Calbiga
Cave – The Philippines’ biggest karst formations and one of the largest
in Asia, the 2,968-hectare cave system is composed of 12 caves with
wide underground spaces, unique rock formations and sub-terranean
watercourse.
At
the Immaculate Conception Cathedral can be found the only existing pipe
organ in Mindanao. The 2nd largest pipe organ in the Phiippines. The
huge instrument took 2 years to built and was brought over by sea from
Germany in 23 crates.
Cagayan de Oro City - “The City of Golden Friendship,” known for its warm people and old-fashioned hospitality
Mt.
Apo, the Philippines highest mountain at 10,311 feet above sea level,
and considered as the “Grand-father of all Philippine Mountains”
Lake
Lanao is the second largest lake in the Philippines, probably the
deepest in the country and is considered one of the major tropical
lakes in Southeastern Asia. The lake is home of endemic cryprinids, the
species found only in the lake and nowhere else in the world.
Halo-Halo!
Halo-halo literally means, "mix-mix". And its is just that: a mixture
of sweetened fruits and beans, lavished with pinipig (crisp flattened
rice flakes), sugar and milk, topped by crushed ice and ice cream. You
know its summertime when halo-halo stand start sprouting by the
roadside and by the beach, all whipping up their heavenly concoctions
of such a refreshingly divine dessert. You can make your own by
selecting and mixing your ingredients to make a perfect Halo-Halo.
Halo-Halo is uniquely, unforgettably Filipino!
KALESA
- The kalesa or karitela is a horse-driven carriage that was introduced
during the 18th century. It was used by Spanish officials and the
nobles as a means of transportation. The Ilustrados, the rich Filipinos
who had their own businesses, used the kalesa not only for traveling
but as a means a means of transporting their goods as well.
BAKYA-Made
primarily of lightwood (laniti and santol trees), it is sculpted with a
slope and shaved to a smooth finish, then painted with floral designs
or varnished to a high sheen. The upper portions, which are made of
rubber or transparent plastic, are fastened to the sides by thumb nails
called "clavitos". The bakya industry prospered during the 1930s when
the Filipinos began exporting these to the other countries.
SORBETES-This
sweet treat was concocted in the early 1920's, a time where a single
centavo could buy you almost anything. The process of this ice cream
making and selling it in carts with colorful designs is still the same.
Back in the old days, these ice cream dealers bred their own cows and
milked them with their own hands to ensure the freshness and sanitation
of the milk needed to make the "dirty ice cream".
Waling
Waling Orchids - With some 800 to 1,000 species of orchids, the
Philippines has one of the richest orchid floras in the world.
Philippine orchids come in an amazing array of shapes, sizes and
colors. Most grow only in old-growth forest, often on branches of huge
trees dozens of meters above the forest floor.
Maria Teresa Calderon – A Filipina World champion speed reader as listed in the Guinness Book of World Records
In
the Philippines, Filipinos were introduced to the English language in
1762 by British invaders, not Americans. Philippines is the world's 3rd
largest English-speaking nation, next to the USA and the UK.
The Philippine Basketball Association is Asia's premier and the world's second oldest professional league.
Philippine
Airlines took to the skies on March 15, 1941, using a Beech Model 18
aircraft amid the specter of a global war. It became Asia's first
airline.
The
world's largest pearl was discovered by a Filipino diver 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.
Alto Broadcasting System (ABS) Channel 3, the first television station in the country, went on the air in 1953.
The
world's second deepest spot underwater is in the Philippines. This
spot, about 34,440 feet (10,497 meters) below the sea level, is known
as the Philippine Deep or the Mindanao Trench. The Philippine Deep is
in the floor of the Philippine Sea. The German ship Emden first plumbed
the trench in 1927.
The
symbolic name for the Philippines, Juan dela Cruz, is not a Filipino
invention? It was coined by R. McCulloch-Dick, a Scottish-born
journalist working for the Manila Times in the early 1900s, after
discovering it was the most common name in blotters.
Lipa
City in Batangas is dubbed as the “Rome of the Philippines” because of
the number of seminaries, convents, monasteries, retreat houses, and a
famous cathedral located in it.
Compostela Valley is known to be laden with gold, thus earning the monicker “Golden Valley of Mindanao”
Basilica
of St. Martin de Tours in Taal, Batangas built by Augustinian
Missionaries in 1572, is reputed to be the biggest catholic church in
East Asia. It is so huge that it can house another big church
Kibungan is known as the “Switzerland of Bengued” because of the frost during the cold months
The Delmonte Pineapple Plantation in Bukidnon is considered to be the biggest in the far east
Both
Tridacna gigas, one of the world's largest shells, and Pisidum, the
world's tiniest shell, can be found under Philippine waters. Tridacna
gigas grows as large as one meter in length and weighs 600 pounds while
Pisidum is less than 1 millimeter long. A shell called glory of the sea
(Connus gloriamaris) is also found in the Philippines and considered as
one of the most expensive shells in the world.
Seahorses
are small saltwater fish belonging to the Syngnathidae family (order
Gasterosteiformes), which also includes pipefish and sea dragons. Most
seahorse species, probably the most peculiar creatures in the water,
live in the Coral Triangle. There are at least 50 known seahorse
species in the world. They inhabit temperate and tropical waters but
most of them are concentrated in the warm coastal waters of the
Philippines.
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.
The Philippines is home to some of the world's most exotic birds.
One
of the most endangered species is the exotic Kalangay or the Philippine
cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), which belongs to Psittacidae or the
family of parrots. Some cockatoos can live up to 50 years. They are
known for mimicking human voices. Most of them measure 33 centimeters
in length and weigh 0.29 kilogram.
Palawan
bearcat is neither a bear nor a cat. Known in Southeast Asia as
binturong, the bearcat is a species of its own, with population in the
forests of Palawan, Borneo, Burma and Vietnam. It belongs to the family
of Viverridae (civets). The Palawan bearcat has a long body and a
pointed face leading to the nose. Its head and body measure 61 to 96
centimeters in combined length while its tail is almost as long. It
weighs 9 to 14 kilograms and lives up to 20 years.
Calamian
Deer - Calamian Islands, north of Palawan province, keep a species of
deer that cannot be found elsewhere. Scientists referred to the hog
deer in the islands as Calamian deer in order to distinguish them from
other hog deer in the world. An ordinary Calamian deer measures 105 to
115 centimeters in length and 60 to 65 centimeters high at the shoulder
and weighs about 36 to 50 kilograms. It is said to have longer and
darker legs, compared with other hog deer.
World's
Smallest Hoofed Mammal - 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.
Flying
Lemur - One of the most distinct creatures on Earth lives in the
Philippines. It doesn't have wings but it can glide across 100 meters
of space in a single leap. Like the lemurs of Asia, it moves around at
night. Its head resembles that of a dog while its body has similarities
with the flying squirrel of Canada.
In Mindanao, people call it "kagwang". Around the world, it is known as colugo or the flying lemur.
Did you know that the first four cities of Metropolitan Manila are: Manila, Quezon, Pasay and Caloocan
The flagpole located in Rizal Park, is where the starts of 0 kilometer reading in measuring all distances from Manila.
Quezon City is the second biggest city in the Philippines.
The Bonifacio Monument in Monumento, Caloocan City was designed by a noted Filipino sculptor Guillermo Tolentino
In
1916, in the Philippines, an offensive style of passing the ball in a
high trajectory to be struck by another player (the set and spike) were
introduced. The Filipinos developed the "bomba" or kill, and called the
hitter a "bomberino". (source: http://volleyball.org/history.html)
The PHILIPPINE EAGLE is the 2nd largest bird on the planet (next only to the American Condor)... |
