Essay by Geoff Magsadia

The Philippines, officially called the Republic of the Philippines, is an island nation located western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. The country is an archipelago made up of 7,107 islands and is near the countries of Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Philippines has a population of just over 99 million people and it is the 12th largest country in the world.
Natural phenomena the. Philippines experience many typhoons because we are near the equator so we are surrounded by many bodies of water 
We use our resources by attracting tourists and making furniture and we have food that other countries don't have so they buy food from us so we earn a lot of money and our land forms they go here to visit us  so they pay us so we can buy more resources and more food that doesn't grow in the Philippines

Natural Disasters Hot Spots Report

I. Introduction

The Philippines is prone to many natural disasters. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis frequently happen because the country lies in the Pacific ring of Fire. Heavy rains, floods and mudslides occur because of the southwest and northeast monsoons and low and high pressure areas. Occasional heat also occur because the Philippines is very near the equator. The geographical setting of the Philippines is very inconvenient because it is very risk prone.

II. Natural Disasters Hot Spot in the Philippines

• Tarlac
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• North Cotabato
• Oriental Mindoro

These are only a few of the areas greatly affected by floods and heavy rain.

• Zambales
• Mindoro
• Panay
• Leyte
• Surigao

These are only a few of the areas that are affected by earthquakes.

• Camiguin
• Pampanga
• Batangas
• Cagayan
• Sorsogon

These are only a few places affected by volcanic eruptions.

III. Explanation

Places like Metro Manila are affected by floods because of the heavy rains that frequently pour down in Luzon. When the water rises from Manila bay, it goes straight to areas such as Metro Manila. It is not only natural bodies of water that rises and creates floods, dams also rise and must release water and areas near these dams are affected by floods. The trashes of the Filipinos contribute to these disasters so the people should learn to take care of their environment.

Zambales like many others, is affected by earthquakes because these areas lie on fault lines where these earthquakes occur. It is very dangerous for people to live in locations near these fault lines because there is no technology today that could predict such phenomena. The Philippines is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it is part of the Pacific ring of Fire.

Pampanga is a hot spot of natural disaster because possible volcanic eruptions may occur. It is not only Pampanga but many others that is threatened by possible eruptions. There are many active volcanos here in the Philippine. Sudden eruptions may occur so there is no harm in being prepared for such things.

Sources:

http://safetyhacks.com/http:/safetyhacks.com/health-safety/top-ten-flood-prone-areas-in-the-philippines-of-2011/

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:hazard-map-of-active-fault-and-trenches&catid=45&Itemid=500024

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57:active-volcanoes&catid=55&Itemid=114

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/EQLatest.html

Essay by: Mio Dizo

The Philippines is an archipelago covering a land area of 300,000 km2 and it has 7.107 islands. We have rainy and dry seasons. With all the islands, the Philippines makes a living off resorts and tourists because of the many beaches we have. Also, we have a variety of vegetation and plants because of the climates here.

Geography of the Philippines by: Arianna Sietereales

The Philippines has 7,107 island which compromises its beautiful archipelago. It  is located southeast of Asia surrounded by the Pacific ocean, Celebes sea, Indonesia, Malaysia and much more. The Philippines is divided into three major island; Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. There are many land forms such as mountains, volcanoes, flat lands, beach areas, a few plateaus and more. There are also many waters forms in the country such as lakes, seas, straights, waterfalls and much more.

Due to its geographical location, the Philippines experiences many natural phenomenons like storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. The country lies in the pacific ring of fire where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes frequently happen. Heavy storms also come because of the southwest and northeast monsoons. Because of these heavy rains, floods and mudslides frequently occurs. Occasional tsunamis also occur when a strong earthquake shakes. 

Geography can affect the way of life of the Filipinos in terms of work, supply, transportation and the like.Work is affected because people choose jobs that would fit they're geographical setting. For example, a man that lives in a plain would not choose a job as a fishermen because it does not fit they're setting, so he chooses a job as a farmer. The climate and weather is also affected by geography. People must do with the food that fits they're geography too. People who live in coastal areas would get most of they're food supply from the sea, lake or the bodies of water around them. In general, geography can deeply affect the lives of the Filipinos.

San Pedro Municipality

Location:

San Pedro is a municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is named after its patron saint, Saint Peter. San Pedro is Laguna's gateway to Metro Manila sharing its boundary with Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila's southernmost city. This position makes San Pedro a popular suburban residential community, where many residents commute daily for work in Metro Manila.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pedro,_Laguna


Brief History:

San Pedro became a town on January 18, 1725, when the Spanish King, Charles II, decreed that the town, formerly known as “Tabuko”, be a separate town from “Kabullaw”, now known as Cabuyao. By virtue of the last will of Philip V of Spain, Rodriguez de Figueroa or “Don Esteban”, a group of Augustinian Fathers gained the ownership of the Tunasán Estate. Later on, San Pedro became an hacienda of Colegio de San José, a group of Jesuits friars who took over the property which now is known as “San Pedro Tunasán”. “Tunasán” came from “Tunás” a medicinal plant, abundant on shoreline area. During that period, agriculture, fishing, duck raising, fruit trees, sampaguita were the main source of income of its residents. This period was highlighted by the growing tenant/landlord dispute. The tenants of Hacienda San Pedro Tunasán fought for their birthrights over their ancestral lands. This struggle took almost 423 years of unsuccessful resistance to Colegio de San José, and in 1938, the government bought the homesites of the San Pedro Tunasán Hacienda from the Colegio for re-sale to its tenants. This event laid to rest the tenants/landlord problem in the town. From the Spanish time until after the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, the scenario did change a bit, when on August 30, 1945 beginning to the Philippine Commonwealth forces against the Japanese, President Ramón Magsaysay signed at the historic town plaza the Land Tenancy Act. By virtue of this law, farm lots of the hacienda were bought by the Philippine Government to be sold at cost to the tenants or occupants of the farm lots in Bayan-Bayanan under the Narra Settlement Project of the Magsaysay Administration 

Sampaguita Festival - February 22 A week long festival which includes various activities ranging from cultural to sports, trade fairs, amateur singing contest, parades, historical exhibits, social & religious gatherings, tribal dance & sports exhibitions. The highlight of the festival is the Coronation Night of the "Hiyas ng San Pedro". The festival aims to promote tourism in San Pedro & to promote & revitalize Sampaguita industry in the locality.

Source: http://sanpedrolaguna.gov.ph/history.html

Physical Features:

San Pedro is a flat land near Laguna de Bay. It has a sandy and clay loam soil that develops into mud when there is heavy rain. Heavy rains are during the months of August till October while dry season begins January until the middle of May.

Source: http://www.fhi.net/fhiphilippines/cdp17L.htm#physical

Prominent Landmarks:

• Centro Pacita
• Sto. Rosario Parish Church
• Diocesan Shrine of Santo Sepulchre

Sources: http://www.wowlaguna.com/news-and-features/destinations/famous-man-made-landmarks-to-visit-in-laguna/

Population:



 According to the latest census, it has a population of 314,231 inhabitants in 48,341 households. With a total land surface area of 24.05km2, San Pedro is the smallest town of the first district of Laguna and the 3rd smallest in the entire province. However, it is the town with the highest population density in the province due to its ranking as the 2nd most populous town after Calamba City


Sources:http://sanpedrolaguna.gov.ph/history.html