Philippine Trivia
copyright 2007 Island Breeze All rights reserved
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.
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).
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 known as the "Queen City of the South" 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 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.
The largest fish in the world, the Whale Shark, locally known as
Butanding, regularly swims to the Philippine waters. Donsol a
fishing town in Sorsogon province serves as a sanctuary to a group
of 40 Whalesharks and can be seen from november to may. No
where else in the world have Whale Sharks been sited in a larger
group than Sorsogon. Whale Sharks can grow up to 18 to 35 feet in
length and weighed uo to 20 tons.
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.
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.
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 2007, it was valued at US$60 million. It is believed to be
600 years old.
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.
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!")
Rizal's execution made him a martyr for the Philippine Revolution. His execution was carried out by a Filipino infantry firing squad backed by Spanish troops.
One of the most exotic and endangered bird species in the world
is the Philippine Cockatoo. They are known for mimicking human
voices and can live up to 50 years.
The Del Monte Pineapple plantation in Bukidnon is considered to
be the largest plantation in the far east.
Camiguin province holds the distinction of having the most volcanoes per square kilometer than ay other island on earth. It is also the only place in the Philippine which has more volcanoes(7) than towns(5).
The Tamaraw is the countries largest wild animal. It belongs to the Buffalo family of species and is only found on the island of Mindoro.
South of Palawan lies Balabac Island. It is home world
smallest hoofed mammal - The Philippine Mouse Deer. Locally
known as "Pilandok". The Mouse Deer stands at about 40
cetimeters at the shoulder level.
The Flying Lemur is one of the world's most distinct Primates.
The flying lemur can glide 100 meters in a single leap, yet has
no wings and is nocturnal.
Lipa City in Batangas is dubbed "the Rome of the Philippines" beacaus of the arge number of seminaries, monasteries and convents.
Lake Lanao is home to the endemic Cyryprinas found only in this lake! No one else in the world. Lake Lanao is considered to suspect be the deepest lake ing the Philippines.
Tagala - the Philippines first Filipino-Spanish dictionary which was printed in 1613, 25 years older than the first book printed in the United States.
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.
that the American soldiers brought to the country in the 1940s.
Enterprising Filipinos salvaged the surplus engines and came out
unique vehicles of art.
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).
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 known as the "Queen City of the South" 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 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.
The largest fish in the world, the Whale Shark, locally known as
Butanding, regularly swims to the Philippine waters. Donsol a
fishing town in Sorsogon province serves as a sanctuary to a group
of 40 Whalesharks and can be seen from november to may. No
where else in the world have Whale Sharks been sited in a larger
group than Sorsogon. Whale Sharks can grow up to 18 to 35 feet in
length and weighed uo to 20 tons.
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.
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.
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 2007, it was valued at US$60 million. It is believed to be
600 years old.
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.
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!")
Rizal's execution made him a martyr for the Philippine Revolution. His execution was carried out by a Filipino infantry firing squad backed by Spanish troops.
One of the most exotic and endangered bird species in the world
is the Philippine Cockatoo. They are known for mimicking human
voices and can live up to 50 years.
The Del Monte Pineapple plantation in Bukidnon is considered to
be the largest plantation in the far east.
Camiguin province holds the distinction of having the most volcanoes per square kilometer than ay other island on earth. It is also the only place in the Philippine which has more volcanoes(7) than towns(5).
The Tamaraw is the countries largest wild animal. It belongs to the Buffalo family of species and is only found on the island of Mindoro.
South of Palawan lies Balabac Island. It is home world
smallest hoofed mammal - The Philippine Mouse Deer. Locally
known as "Pilandok". The Mouse Deer stands at about 40
cetimeters at the shoulder level.
The Flying Lemur is one of the world's most distinct Primates.
The flying lemur can glide 100 meters in a single leap, yet has
no wings and is nocturnal.
Lipa City in Batangas is dubbed "the Rome of the Philippines" beacaus of the arge number of seminaries, monasteries and convents.
Lake Lanao is home to the endemic Cyryprinas found only in this lake! No one else in the world. Lake Lanao is considered to suspect be the deepest lake ing the Philippines.
Tagala - the Philippines first Filipino-Spanish dictionary which was printed in 1613, 25 years older than the first book printed in the United States.
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.
