PHILIPPINES

An archipelago of 7,107 islands and islets with approximately 2,000 islands are inhabited. Total land area is 300,000 sq. kms. or 115,707 sq miles. General location
is a little above the equator or 22 degrees north of the equator.

Boundaries are to the north is Taiwan, to the south are the Celebes Sea and the islands of Borneo, to the east is the Pacific Ocean, and to the west is the South China Sea.


There are 3 major Island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. And we are now in the Visayas group. Luzon is the biggest island with Mindanao the second biggest. The general population is 80,000,000.

Languages spoken are Pilipino-national language, and English. There are however 138 dialects and their variations spoken all over the country.

Climate is tropical with 2 seasons present: rainy season is from the months of June to November and dry season from the December to May. Average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius or 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Average humidity is 70%. Average rainfall is 58 inches or 147.32cm.

The Topography is mountainous and hill with narrow coastlines. Mt. Apo as the highest peak 9,600 feet 0r 3,200 meters and the Philippine Deep recognized as the second deepest ocean depth with 25,400 feet 0r 10,802 meters. ( Compared to the world’s lowest place which is the “Johnson Deep”) in the Marianas Islands which is 35,640 feet.

People of the Philippines

People of the Philippines

a) Aetas/Pygmies – crossed the land bridges from the mainland Asia 25,000 years ago. They were less than 4 feet tall with black skin, dark kinky hair and flat noses. They belong to the Stone Age. Hunting and Fishing people.
b) Indonesian – The first sea migrants. Tall with height from 5 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall. The first group came in 3,000 B.C. Second group arrived in 1,000 B.C. They were lighter in color, had culture and Tattoed bodies. They were farming, hunting and fishing people.
c) Malays – They came in boats, first group arrived in 200 B.C. to 100 A.D., they were headhunters. Second group in 100 A.D. 10 1300 A.D., they were the alphabet using Malays. Third group in 1300 A.D. to 1500 A.D., Muslim Malays.



Our Malayan Culture:
Our Malayan Ancestors brought their Political ideas, Social customs, Religious beliefs, arts, sciences, industries, and folklore to our country. In due time, it was modified by contacts with India, China, Arabia, Spain, and America.

We are Asian in geography and Malay ancestry. The family was the basis of society. The Parents were loved, respected and obeyed. The father was the head of the family and the mother was the homemaker. The children were given love and discipline.

Society was divided into 3 classes:

1) the nobles called Maharlikas, who occupied the highest place in society and enjoyed greatest political and social rights which were denied the freeman and the slaves;

2) the freeman called the Timaguas, who were free-born persons or former slaves who were set free (they composed the middle class); and

3) the slaves called alipin, who belonged to the lowest class. The aliping namamahay, live in their houses, owned properties, could not marry without consent of their master and could be sold anytime. Our ancestors: practiced divorce on the grounds of adultery by the wife, desertion of the husband, loss of affection, cruelty, insanity and childlessness;

had their own form of government called barangay ruled by datu who was chief executive, legislator, judge and in war, was the commander of the warriors; tattooed their bodies to enhance their bodily beauty and to shoe their war record; had oral and written literature which consisted of myths, legends, songs, poems, fables, proverbs and riddles;

had alphabets consisting of 3 vowels (serving as five) and 14 consonants; practice herbal medicines, knew astronomy (use the sun, moon and stars for navigation), engineering (constructed the famous Ifugao rice terraces), mathematics (had numerals up to 100,000,000);

had religion which were mostly pagans except for Muslims (Islamic religion was introduced in Sulu in 1380 by Mahdum, and Arab missionary from Malacca); and had a lot of superstitious (beliefs (believed in witches, Voodooism, the magic powers of amulets or charms).

Pre Hispanic Cebu

Pre Hispanic Cebu – The earliest civilization in Cebu was circa 400 and 100 B.C., when the migrating Kalanay groups from Annam and Tonkin carried over the Iron Age.

They spoke Malay-Polynesian languages and had knowledge in iron forging, clothe weaving and glass ornamentation. Marriage was polygamous especially among the rich but tended to monogamy in that the first wife was number one in other ways than in chronological order.

Authority passed from father to sons and in the latter’s default, to the eldest daughter or her husband. The natives lived in houses made of wood and bamboo raised from the ground by stilts under which animals are kept.

The men wore G-strings and tattoos all over their bodies recording their exploits in battles. The women wore skirts of bark cloths and jewelry. They had Laws, Arts, music and worship Idols made of wood to which pigs were sacrificed and eaten by women. For trips along the shore, they had barotos, (dugout canoes) and the balanghais, (plankboats with outriggers) for war and long trips.

They planted rice, ginger, bananas citrus and sugarcane. They raised pigs, cats and dogs for meat to supplement the seafood. They had wine from the coconut tree called tuba. Trade was in the form of barter with china (as early as the Sung to the Ming Dynasty), Siam, Cambodia, Champ (Vietnam), Borneo, Malacca, Annam and Tonkin.

BRIEF HISTORY - CEBU PROVINCE/CITY

CEBU PROVINCE – 360 mile/576 kms. from Manila, with a land area of 5,088 sq. kms or 3,180 sq. miles.

A province of 167 islands and islets with 6 cities and 47 municipalities . The cities are Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-lapu City, Danao City, Talisay City and Toledo City.

Topography is 80% mountainous and 20% flat. Highest peak is Mt. Manunggal, 3,300 ft. or 1,000 meters above sea level. Natural resources are mineral deposits of copper, coal amd limestone.

Top Non-traditional products are electronics/components, clothing and accessories and woodcraft and furniture. Top Traditional products are copra, mango, sugar and bananas (80 varieties). Population is 4 million, under 8 congressional districts.


CEBU CITY – Queen City of the south and the oldest City in the Philippines. Area is 286.90 sq. km. with a population of 1 million people, 15% is Chinese, controlling 80 % of shipping companies are primarily based in Cebu. There are 9 Universities and 38 colleges.


BRIEF HISTORY – Zubu, was the original name of the settlement from the Cebuano word ubog meaning to wade in knee deep water because of its shallow coastlines.

Later change to Cebu by the Spaniards because of pronunciation difference, which comes from the Spanish word sebo or lard. This was the first permanent Spanish settlement established by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

It was the first Spanish City in 1571 and Chartered city in 1937.

Historical Voyages to the Philippines:

Historical Voyages to the Philippines:

Ferdinand Magellan’s Expedition (1519) – A Portuguese, led the Spanish expedition which led to the rediscovery of the Philippines. On August 10, 1519, he left Seville, Spain in search of the Spice Islands.

The expedition consisted of 5 ships: Trinidad (flagship), San Antonio, Conception, Victoria and Santiago. The crew of 265 men were composed of Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, French, Negroes, Moors, a German, and Englishman and a Malay from Malacca now called Malaysia (Magellan’s slave – Enrique).

They sailed from Seville to the port of San Lucar. The voyage began September 20, 1519. They reach the Canares, sailed along the coast of Africa, crossed the Atlantic (the ship Santiago was wrecked by storm at Rio de Santa Cruz),

discovered the strait later know as the Strait of Magellan where the ship San Antonio deserted and returned to Spain, crossed the Pacific Ocean with just 3 ships, reach Guam, sailed further till they discover the Philippines islet of Homonhon.

They landed there on March 16, 1521 and saw the first Filipinos. They left the Islet and sailed for Limasawa on Holy Thursday March 28, 1521, was welcomed by Rajah Kolambu and the next day they made the first treaty of friendship by sealing it with a blood compact.

Easter Sunday March 31, 1521 the first Christian Mass was celebrated by Fr. Pedro Valderama on the shores of Limasawa and called the country “Archipelago of San Lazarus”. Magellan heard of the rich kingdom of Zubu from Rajah Kolabu sa he wanted to go there.

The King Limasawa guided him. They entered the port of Cebu on April 7, 1521. Sent his Malay slave ashore to express his greetings to the King, and to ask permission to land. Rajah Humabon accepted his gesture of friendship but ask them to pay the customary dues, which all foreign ship usually paid upon entering the port.

Magellan refused to pay. Humabon was warned by traders of Siam now called Thailand, of the power of European arms, he did not press his demand and allowed them to land. Magellan and Humabon celebrated a blood compact to seal their friendship.

On April 21, 1521 a Mass was held at the shore and Magellan planted a wooden cross. That same day the King and his Queen along with their 800 subjects were baptized. They were requested to burn their pagan idols. Magellan gave the Queen the image of the Sto. Nino (Holy Child of Jesus).

He saw his death in the battle of Mactan. The Victoria reach the port of San Lucar, Spain on September 6, 1522 with only 18 survivors left including Sebastian de El Cano (ship’s commander and Antonio de Pigafetta (the expedition’s chronicler). Magellan’s expedition lasted 2 years, 11 months and 16 days.

It was the first circumnavigation: it proved that the world is round: it enriched man’s knowledge of geography and it paved the way for the Spanish colonization and Christianization of the Philippines.

After Magellan’s death, Duarte Barbosa took over. He was an abusive leader who maltreated Magellan’s slave Enrique, who should have been set free after Magellan’s death (as per Magellan’s last will and testament).

Enrique and King Humabon plotted the massacre of the Spaniards after getting them drunk. The 115 survivors left with the ships the Trinidad and Victoria. The Conception was burned in Bohol for lack of men to navigate it. The Portuguese tried to capture the Victoria but failed.


Enrique de Malacca –

He is our first “labor Export”, the first man, a Malay by Heritage and a Cebuano by birth, to circumnavigate the world as a result. Enrique’s route; he started off in Cebu, then to Malacca, India, Africa, Portugal, Spain, Guam, and Home – a full circle around the world.

Enrique de Malacca was born in a southern, coastal town in Cebu. His early life was unknown, but it said to be fishing off the southern coast of Cebu when he was captured by pirates.

There was a bustling slave trade in Malacca (now Malaysia), a Portuguese colony. It was to a slave center in this Portuguese satellite that Enrique landed. Magellan, bought Enrique as his personal slave. He named him Enrique de Malacca.

Enrique who knew the language of trade, Bisaya, became Magellan’s interpreter in the court of Rajah Humabon in 1521. At the time Magellan came in 1521, Malay was widely understood and was the language used in negotiations with the King of Cebu.

The trader King of Sugbu, who dominated international trade, exacted tributes from ships that anchored from the port of Sugbu. At the battle of Mactan, Enrique saw his master, Magellan fall at the sword of Lapu-lapu. He decided not to return to Spain as a slave.



A. Loaisa’s Expedition (1525) –

After shipwreck and succeeding deaths of the commanders, they reached Mindanao but failed to go to Cebu due to strong winds that drove them to the Moluccas.


B. Cabut’s Expedition (1526) –

It failed to find the way to the Pacific due to the mutiny of the crew and Indian attacks. It returned to Spain.


C. Saavedra’s Expedition (1527) –

Prepared by Mexico by Cortes (Spanish conqueror of Mexico) on orders of King Charles I, this may be said as the first Mexican expedition to the Philippines. Its objectives were to find out what happened to the Spaniards who had been left in Cebu in 1521:
to look for the Trinidad which failed to reach Panama: to inquire what happen to the Cubot’s expedition and to find out what happened to Loaisa’s expedition. After shipwreckage, they reach Mindanao and tried to go to Cebu but were blown by wind to tidore where they found the survivors from the loaisa’s expedition. They were captured by the Portuguese.

D. Villalobos Expedition (1542) – They were to explore and colonize the Philippines; establish friendly relations with the natives; encourage the spread of Christianity; and find the return route to Mexico. They befriended King Makandula of Tandaya Island (Samar) and named the island Filipina in Honor of Prince Felipe of Austurias. Later, the whole group of islands came to be called “Las Islas Filipinas”. This was the only achievement of Villalobos. He failed to colonize the Philippines.

E. Legaspi’s Expedition (1564) – Led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, the expedition left Mexico on November 21, 1564 with 4 ships (San Pedro, the flagship) and 380 men.

They were instructed to colonize the Philippine; convert the people to Christianity and find a return route to Mexico. Legaspi reach Cebu on February 13, 1565 but did not land due to the hostilities of the native.

Instead, he sailed to other islands (Leyte and Limasawa), tried to reach Mindanao but was windblown to Bohol. On March 16, he made a blood compact with the friendly King of Bohol, Rajah Sikatuna and a few days later, with another King Rajah Sigala. From Bohol, Legazpi sailed to Cebu and arrived on April 27, 1565.

Rajah Tupas, son of Humabon defied and fought the Spaniards but lost and escaped. The next day Juan de Camus discovered the Image of the Sto. Nino in a burned Cebuano house. Legaspi established the first Spanish settlement, which he named the “City of the Most Holy name of Jesus”.

Legazpi was a kind and wise colonizer. He offered peace and friendship to King Tupas and forgave the Cebuanos for resisting his landing. He invite them to rebuild their homes. King Tupas was convince of Legazpi’s sincerity. He returned with his people and live in peace with the Spaniards. On June 4, 1565, Tupas and Legazpi signed a peace treaty, the first Fil-Spanish Treaty in History.

CEBU's TOURIST SPOTS

FORT SAN PEDRO –

The smallest and oldest fort in the Philippines, named after the flagship of Legazpi. It was built of wood in May 1565, ordered built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to protect the Spaniards against the hostile natives.

It was rebuilt in coral stones and finished in 1738. It is triangular in shape with a total area of 2,025 sq/m and the wall are 20 feet high and 8 feet thick. It became a barracks during the American regime, later converted into schoolrooms were formal education was given.

During World War II, it served as a fort for the Japanese soldiers then as a hospital for the wounded. Much later, it housed the botanical garden, the Zoo and presently a Museum displaying artifacts from the ship, the San Diego.



MAGELLAN’S CROSS -

Planted on April 21, 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan this marked the spot where Fr. Pedro Valderama, chaplain of Magellan’s ship, baptized the first Christian Filipinos, Led by Rajah Humabon, Queen Amihan and 800 of their followers.

The Augustinian priest built the kiosk and encased the original cross in tindalo wood to protect it from the natives who began taking chips from it believing it has miraculous powers.



BASILICA MINORE DEL STO. NINO -

This church was ordered built by Miguel Lopez de Legazp and Fr. Urdaneta on the site of the house where the image of the Sto. Nino was found by a Spanish soldier Juan de Camus in 1565. The wooden Church was burned in 1598, was rebuilt in 1602 and rehabilitated 1740.

It was conferred the title of Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino in 1965 during the 400th celebration of the Christianization of the Philippines. It still houses the Oldest Catholic relic, the image of the Sto. Nino de Jesus, which was Magellan’s baptismal gift to the Queen of Cebu, Hara Amihan in 1521.

The natives also believed it to be miraculous.




STO. NINO DE CEBU –

The Image obsereved Fray Urdaneta, was like those made in Flanders (Belgium) during the 16th century. Given by the Belgian priest to the Queen of spain and was given to Magellan as Patron of his voyage.

After the baptism of the Queen and King of Cebu, Hara Amihan was given the Christian name of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon, King Carlos. The image is reputed to possess miraculous power. Aware of this, King Charles III awarded it during the 17th century, the toison de Oro or the Golden Fleece.

During the rites held to commemorate the 4th centennial of the Monarch, gifted it with a golden crown.



SINULOG –

Pagan ritual dance in honor of their Gods. The dance moves two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums. This movements resembles the current sulog of what was know as Cebu’s Pahina River.

Because the Augustinian missionaries appreciated native culture, the sinulog was preserved but limited to honoring the Santo Nino. The devotees offering candles and dancers shouting “Pit Senor” or hail to the King. They have to shout because they want to make sure that they will be heared.

Historians now say that Sinulog, which is of pagan origin, is the link between the country’s pagan past and its Christian present. In 1980, David S. Odilao Jr. then the Regional Director of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development(MYSD), organized the first ever Sinulog parade.

The Sinulog Festival today is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January with a Mardi Gras street dancing of contingents performing the ritual sinulog dance or a free interpretation of the Philippine folk dances to the rhythmic beat of the drums.

It is also during Sinulog or Sto. Nino Fiesta that the reenactment of the First European-Asian wedding in 1571 was done. The marriage was between King Tupas’s niece (later baptized and called Isabel) and Legazpi’s Greek master carpenter-Andres Calafate.



COLON STREET –

The Oldest street in the Philippines named after Christopher Columbus or Cristobal de Colon, an Italian explorer. Established by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1565. Linking old Pari-an District to Pahina Central.

It was the entertainment center with theaters featuring zarzuelas and is still a shopping district.



HERITAGE OF CEBU MONUMENT –

A combined project of the Church and the Local Government. Commissioned National Artist Ed Catrillo, the designer of the Edsa Shrine to do it. From a cost of PhP14 million to the final cost was Php40 million.

It depicts important events and personalities of Cebu, the Commonwealth period to the beautification of Blessed Pedro Calungsod. It was Inaugurated in December 2000. Pedro Calungsod was a young visayan church assistant who went to Guam with a Jesuit Priest, Fr. Diego de San Vitores to spread Christianity but both were killed by the native Chamorros on April 2, 1672 in Tumhon Bay Guam.

Both were beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 5, 2000.




DON SERGIO OSMENA Sr. –

He was born on September 9, 1878 in Cebu City. Married twice with 10 children by the first wife. He learened English under Josephine Bracken (Jose Rizal’s wife) who was then a Cebu resident.

In 1900 he founded and edited “El Nuevo Dia” in Cebu, the first daily newspaper. He was elected Governor of Cebu, Speaker of the First Philippine Assembly and Vice President of the Commonwealth Republic of the Philippines.

Bacame President of the Commonwealth Republic of the Philippines after the death of President Manual Quezon.