PHILIPPINE TRIVIA

Longest Underground River

The world's longest underground river system accessible to man can be found at the St. Paul National Park in
the province of Palawan. It is 8 kilometers long.
Largest Philippine Wild Animal
The largest Philippine wild animal, the tamaraw (Bubalus minodrensis), is a dwarf water buffalo similar to
the carabao except that it is smaller and its horns grow straight upward into a "V" form. It is found only in
the island of Mindoro.
Highest Mountain
The highest mountain in the Philippines is Mt. Apo, a dormant volcano found in Mindanao, at 2,954 meters
(10,311 feet above sea level). It is considered as the "Grandfather of Ail Philippine Mountains." Mt. Pulog in
Luzon is the second highest at 2,928 meters (9,604 feet).
Largest City
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.
Oldest City
Cebu is the oldest Philippine city.
Longest Religious Holiday
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.
Only Christmas Theme Park
Paskuhan Village in the province of Pampanga is Asia's only Christmas theme park and the third of its kind
in the world.
Yoyo
The popular toy, the yoyo, was invented by 16th century hunters in the Philippines.
Winner of Best Underwater Images
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.

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Biggest Wildlife Sanctuary

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.
Erythromycin
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.
Whale Shark
The largest fish in the world, the Whale Shark, regularly swims to the Philippine waters. It is locally known
as Butanding.
Shortest Freshwater Fish
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.
Coral Species
Of the 500 known coral species in the world, 488 are found in the Philippines.
Rarest Shell
There are 12,000 or so seashells in the Philippines. The Conus Gloriamaris or "Glory of the Sea" is the rarest
and most expensive.
Marine Turtles
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.
Giant Clams
Of the eight known species of giant clams in the world, seven are found in the Philippines.
Only Steel Church in Asia
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.
Largest Bell in Asia
The largest beII 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 cast from 70 sacks of
coins donated by the townspeople as a manifestation of faith and thanksgiving.

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Island of Seven Volcanoes

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 that has more volcanoes (7) than towns
(5).
Asia's Biggest Dam
Magat Dam is Asia's biggest dam project at the time of its construction. It serves the primary function of
power generation and irrigation.
Mightiest River
The Cagayan River or Rio Grande de Cagayan is the Philippines' mightiest watercourse the longest and
widest river in the country. Small streams originating from Balete Pass, Cordillera, Carabalio and Sierra
Madre Mountains meet other streams and rivers and flow to the Cagayan River.
First-of-a-Kind Suspension Bridge
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 [locos
Region via the scenic Patapat Road on theflocos Norte-Cagayan Inter-Provincial national highway.
Oldest 'Work of Art'
The Angono Petroglyphs cultural heritage site dates back to circa 3000 B.C. and is the most ancient Filipino,
or more aptly, prehistoric Filipino 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.
Oldest Golf Club
Ilo-Ilo Golf and Country Club is the oldest golf club in the Philippines. Irish engineers built it in 1908.
Narrowest Strait
San Juanico Strait is said to be the narrowest yet the most navigable strait in the world.
Biggest Karst Formation
The Calbiga Cave is the Philippines' biggest karst formation 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
subterranean watercourse.
Only Existing Pipe Organ in Mindanao
At the Immaculate Conception Cathedral can be found the only existing pipe organ in Mindanao. The 2nd
largest pipe organ in the Philippines, the huge instrument took 2 years to built and was brought over by sea
from Germany in 23 crates.

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Second Largest Lake

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 Southeast Asia. The lake is home to the endemic cryprinids, the
species found only in the lake and nowhere else in the world.
Asia's First Airline
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.
World's Largest Pearl
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 I [Link] of May 1984, it was Valued at US$42 million. It is believed to be 600 years old.
World's Second Deepest Spot Underwater
The world's second deepest spot underwater is in [Link]. This spot, known as the Philippine Deep or
the Mindanao Trench, is about 10,497meters or 34;440 feet below sea iOvel. The Philippine Deep is in the
floor of the .Philippine Sea. The German ship Emden first plot . IJ64ecl the trench in 1927.
'Rome of the Philippines'
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.
Biggest Catholic Church in Asia
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.
'Switzerland of Benguet'
Kibungan is known as the "Switzerland of Benguet" because of the frost during the cold months.
Biggest Pineapple Plantation in the Far East
The Del Monte Pineapple Plantation in Bukidnon is considered to be the biggest in the Far East.
World's Largest and Tiniest Shells
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 [Link] and weighs 600 pounds while
Pisidum is less than 1 millimeter long.
'Sanctuary' to Whale Sharks
Donsol, a fishing town in Sorsogon province, serves as a sanctuary to a group of 40 whale sharks
(Rhincodon typos), which are considered as the largest fish in the world, measuring between 18 to 35 feet in
length and weighing about 20 tons. Locally known as "butanding", whale sharks visit the waters of Donsol
from November to May. They travet-across the oceans but nowhere else have they been [Link] in a larger

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group than in the waters of Sorsogon.

Philippine Cockatoo
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 haernaturopygia), which belongs to Psittacidae or the
family of parrots. Some cockatoos can tive 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 Bear Cat
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 then 'forests of Palawan, Borneo, Burma and Viettl a m 'it belongs to the famlily
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, is home to 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
The Philippine mouse deer, the world's smallest hoofed mammal, is found only in the Balabac Islands, south
of Palawan. Locally known as Pilandok (Tragalus nigricans), this ruminant stands only about 40 centimeters
at the shoulder level.
Flying Lemur
Flying Lemur, one of the most distinct creatures on earth lives in the Philippines. It does not 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.
Zero Kilometer Reading
The flagpole located in Rizal Park is the start of 0 kilometer reading in measuring all distances from Manila.
Second Largest Bird in the Planet
The monkey-eating PHILIPPINE EAGLE is the second largest bird on the planet (next only to the American
Condor).

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines

Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park
Location: Middle of the Sulu Sea, 181 kilometers southeast of Puerto Princess, Palawan
Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993
The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 33,200 hectares including the north and south reefs. It is a
marvelous marine wilderness and a special ecosystem much appreciated for its beauty as well as its scientific
value.
It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species, with 80% coral cover of 46
coral genres and 376 fish species. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular
100-meter perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two-coral islands.
Tubbataha's north islet is a nesting site for sea birds of all kinds and endangered hawksbill sea turtles; a
diver's paradise with gorgonian seafans, soft corals, and gigantic sea sponges serving as home to turkey fish,
anemone crab, banded seasnakes, nudibranchs, starfish, catsharks, surgeon fish, bat fish, and butterfly fish.
The rare, unusual-looking fox-faced rabbit fish can also be found in the marine park. Marine turtles,
including the critically endangered hawksbill and green turtle, nest on some of the beaches.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Location: Saint Paul Mountain Range on the northern coast of Palawan
Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with
its underground river. The river is unique because it flows directly into the sea, and its lower portion is
subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The
site contains a whole ecosystem --- from mountain to the sea-, and protects forests, which are among the
most significant in Asia.
A highlight of each visit is a ride through its 8 km-long underground river which runs through a dome of
stalactites complemented by stalagmites running the entire length of the cave.
The park is a popular destination for bird watching and is known for regular sightings of threatened bird
species of Palawan peacock-peasant and Philippine cockatoo and the endemic birds Palawan scopsowl,
swiftlet, hornbill, flyeater and blue flycatcher, tit and flowerpecker. It is blessed to have the Palawan flying
fox, Oriental small-clawed otter, stinkbadger, binturong, flying squirrel, mountain tree squirrel and
porcupine.
The park also features an exciting Monkey Trail with its series of wooden paths to the forest.
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
Location. Ifugao
Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995
The 2,000-year old Banaue Rice Terraces the most extensive anywhere in the world - were carved into the
mountains of lfugao by ancestors of the Batad indigenous people. The terraces are located approximately
1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4,000 square miles) of

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the mountainside.
Known as the "eighth wonder of the world", the terraces were carved with only simple tools and bare hands.
They are fed by an ancient irrigation system, an ingenious complex of bamboo pipes and canals, drawing
water from streams created by bubbling springs located in the mountain rainforests.
Considered as a monument to man's genius in turning a rugged and forbidding terrain into a source of
sustenance, the rice terraces stand to be the most awe-inspiring man-made landscape in the Cordilleras. They
are also invariably called "The Stairway to the Sky."
Historic Town of Vigan
Location. Vigan, flows Sur
Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999
The 16th century town of Vigan is "an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European
trading town in East and East Asia". Its architecture reflects the fusion of cultural elements from the
Philippines, China and Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that has no parallel anywhere in East and
Southeast Asia.
Seemingly impervious to time, spared from rebellion and the ravages of war, Vigan has remained unchanged
and its many preserved historic sitesmore than 180 edifices make it look like "a piece of Spain." With its
grand cathedral, massive mansions with red-tile roofs and spacious balconies, narrow cobblestone streets,
horse drawn carriages, and friendly faces peering out of large windows, Vigan is a place where "time stood
still".
Baroque Churches
Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993
San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila
Built in 1587, the San Agustin Church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines, the only one that remains
as the original evidence of the 16th-century Spanish architecture. It has defied several earthquakes and the
heavy shelling of both Japanese and American forces in 1945 and now stands as a reminder of the grandeur
of the past.
The structural design of the church is extraordinary. It boasts of the only example in the country of a barrel
vault, dome, and arched vestibules supporting its choir loft, all made of stone. Its facade is notable for its two
pairs of columnsthe lowest pair in Doric style, the upper pair in Corinthian topped by a pediment
surmounted by a Cross. The main door, carved out of Philippine molave, has a bas-relief of St. Augustine
and his mother, Santa Monica. San Agustin Church represents the art and technology of Spanish, Chinese
and native cultures fused together "to suit human sentiments and faiths that found expression in customs and
traditions that were evolved through the centuries."
As the best-preserved example of an urban ecclesiastical complex in the Philippines, the compound serves
not only as a historical document of the Spanish colonial heritage but also as a repository of the most
important works of art and literature of the period.
Miag-ao Church in Iloilo
Built in yellow-orange sandstone, the large fortress-church of Miag-ao was completed in 1797. It served as a

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fortress against raids of marauding Moro pirates.

The church is amazingly beautiful because of its two asymmetric pyramidal towers and its finely sculptured,
yellow sandstone facade. Its facade's carving is the pinnacle of Filipino naive art, in which craftsmen
abandon all restraints to interpret Western decorative styles in the local folk idiom. The central element in the
facade is Saint Christopher, clad like a Filipino farmer with rolled-up trousers. He carries the Christ Child on
his back while holding on a to a lush coconut tree for support. Beside him are guava and papaya trees,
flanked by ornamental urns. The scene merges Western Catholic iconography with a folk interpretation of
coastal Iloilo countryside.
San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Paoays San Agustin Church, built in 1604, is one of the most outstanding variants of earthquake baroque
in the Philippines, where the primary consideration was to design the structure for earthquake protection.
The faade of San Agustin Church is astounding but its most prominent feature is the phalanx of buttresses
that juts out perpendicularly fro the sidewalks, purposely to strengthen the walls and the entire structure
against earthquake damage. Fourteen massive S-shaped buttresses in rhythmic cadence from he ground to the
roofline.
The church is an aye-catcher as it emerges from a beautiful open space, unlike many other churches located
within urban settings.
Nuestra Senor de la Asuncion in Santa Matia, Ilocos Sur
The Church of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria is unique for its utter disregard for the
traditional Spanish urban plan of constructing the church to face the plaza, and less imposing religious and
official buildings grouped around. It also has a citadel appearance as the church, with its convent and belt
tower, stands alone on the crown of a solitary hill encircled by a stonewall, with stone stairways leading to
the church.
It is the only church in the Philippines exuding the ambience of a Mediterranean hill town with its convent
built parallel to the church faade and its bell tower detached from the main church. Evoking a Chinese
pagoda, the bell tower of octagonal shapes of decreasing diameter is crowned by a small dome tapering to
the sky with an oriental grace.
Philippine Trivia
Interesting Facts You Should Know
1. Doctrina Christiana is the first book published in the Philippines, was published in 1593, by the
Dominican press. Because of the monopoly of printing presses by religious orders prior to the 19th century,
early written literature was predominantly religious in content and in purpose.
2. The first women's magazine in the Philippines was El Hogar (The Home), which first came out in 1893.
3. The first Filipino immigrants to the United States (1850) settled in Louisiana.
4. Emilio Aguinaldo lost to Manuel L. Quezon in the country's first presidential elections in 1935.
5. The largest crocodile ever captured in the Philippines (1823) was found in Laguna de Bay.

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6. Fort San Pedro was the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.
7. Farmers' Market Foodome is the largest restaurant in the Philippines (in Quezon City).
8. Cesar Virata is the first and last Prime Minister of the Philippines after WW II.
9. The Cagayan River, the Philippines longest river, originates in Nueva Vizcaya.
10. Aimee Carandang is the first Filipina to become a commercial plane pilot.
11. The oldest Philippine university for women is Centro Escolar University.
12. Jose P. Laurel has the most children (7) among the Philippine presidents.
13. Eva Estrada Kalaw is the first Filipina to be elected senator twice, in 1965 and in 1971.
14. The first modern building in the Philippines is considered to be the Crystal Arcade in Escolta, completed
in 1932.
15. Aurora is the only Philippine province named after a first lady.
16. The biggest game preserve and wildlife sanctuary in the Philippines is located on Calauit Island in
Palawan.
17. The most translated Philippine poem is Mi Ultimo Adios.
18. The Philippine mammal with the biggest eyes in relation to its body is the tarsier.
19. Bagumbayan was the original name of Luneta Park.
20. Iniibig and gawa are the first and last words of Panatang Makabayan.
21. The Presidential Saber is awarded to the top graduate of the Philippine Military Academy.
22. The original Philippine flag, sewn in Hong Kong in 1898, was made of silk.
23. Gen. Tomas Karingal was the first assassinated victim of the NPA's Alex Boncayao Brigade.
24. Frank Murphy was the last American governor-general of the Philippines.
25. After the United States, the Philippines have the most Boys Scouts.
26. After Happy Birthday, the song most sung in the Philippines is Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem.
27. Hajji Butu was the first Muslim Filipino to become a senator.
28. The most popular and durable of all Philippine almanacs is called Kalendariong Tagalog ni Honorio
Lopez.
29. Rainier Lagman was the first Filipino to have a heart transplant.

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30. Gemma Cruz was the first Filipina to win an international beauty title - Miss International 1964.
31. P5 million was the highest prize offered for the capture of then-rebel-now-turned-senator Gringo
Honasan.
32. Palawan has the largest land area among the Philippine provinces.
33. Negros Occidental has the most cities among Philippine provinces.
34. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was the first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines.
35. Evangeline de Castro of Baguio was the first Filipina to win the Miss Philippines title.
36. Cebu is the oldest Philippine city.
37. The word Filipinas first appeared in coins.
38. Archipelago de San Lazarus was the name Ferdinand Magellan first gave to the islands he "discovered."
39. Alphabetically, the first province of the Philippines which comes first is Abra in the Ilocos region.
40. The largest Philippine wild animal is the tamaraw (a species of buffalo, similar to the carabao). It is
found only in the island of Mindoro.
41. Rio Grande de Mindanao is the longest river in Mindanao.
42. The first line of Jose Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios is Adios patria adorada.
43. Luzon is the biggest island (141,395 sq km) among the Philippine Archipelago which consists of 7,107
(most figures) islands and islets stretching some 1,850 kilometers from north to south and 1,107 kilometers
from west to east at its widest point.
44. Mt. Apo in Mindanao, a dormant volcano, is the highest mountain in the Philippines at 2,954 meters
(9,689 feet). Mt. Pulog in Luzon is second at 2,928 meters (9,604 feet).
45. Cagayan River in Luzon is the longest river, snaking for 353 kilometers (221 miles) across the provinces
of Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Cagayan before finally flowing into the South China Sea in Aparri in
Cagayan.
46. The first recorded intermarriage of a Filipino to a white foreigner was the wedding of Rajah Tupas'
widowed niece to a Greek ship caulker who had sailed to the Philippines with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (ca
1565).
47. According to the 1990 census, Metro Manila has a population density of 12,315 persons per square
kilometer (32,000/ [Link].), the highest in the country.
48. The longest underground river system accessible to man IN THE WORLD is located at the St. Paul
National Park in Palawan.
49. The hottest day in the Philippines was recorded on April 29, 1912 when the temperature reached 108.32
degrees Fahrenheit (42.4 degrees Celsius) in Tuguegarao, Cagayan. The coldest day was recorded in Baguio

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city back in January 7, 1903 when the thermometer dipped way down to 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees
Celsius).
50. The safest province geologically is Palawan. It is farthest province from volcanoes and earthquake faults.
51. Marissa Delgado - The first Filipina who appeared in Playboy (sometime in 1965). She wasn't a
centerfold but she did expose ... her back! The first Filipina who appeared as a centerfold is the beautiful
Lourdes Estores of Hawaii.
52. The Tagalog term for dye is jobus or jobos which came from the name Joe Bush. Joe Bush was an
American who set up a cleaning and dyeing shop in Manila back in the 1940s. His products were powdered
dyes with the trade name Joe Bush.
53. Galunggong (mackerel) has the distinction to be the most widely caught fish in Philippine waters.
54. 8 - ocho, walo, eight - is the size of Imelda's shoes.
55. Ma Mon Luk - credited to be the inventor of mami. He was a Cantonese immigrant who probably named
the dish after his surname and the Chinese word for noodles which is mi.
56. The first ice cream parlor in the Philippines was called Clarke's Cafe located at Plaza Moraga in
Binondo. It opened sometime in 1899.
57. Kristo the Tagalog name of bookmakers at cockfights. He's called that because he poses like Jesus when
he calls for bets and shouts the odds (arms extended like the Lord himself).
58. The first Greek fraternity in the Philippines is the University of the Philippines' Upsilon Sigma Phi
(established in 1918). It does not have any branches outside the UP system. Among its alumni are the
preserved ex-President Ferdinand E. Marcos and his arch-nemesis, the late Senator Benigno 'Ninoy Forever'
Aquino. The first sorority with a Greek name is Sigma Delta Phi, also at UP and sister sorority of Upsilon
Sigma Phi, established in 1938. (Partly contributed by Butch Bandong.)
59. Davao City is the largest city in the Philippines with an area of 2,211 sq. km., about three times the size
of Metro-Manila.
60. Manila Hotel is the first building to be air-conditioned.
61. Philippine Airlines' first flight was from Manila to Baguio on March 15, 1941. The plane was a twinengine Beech Model 18 carrying five passengers. There was no attendant or lavatory. It reached Baguio in 45
minutes.
62. The largest employer in the Philippines other than the government is San Miguel Corporation which has
over 39,000 full-time employees.
63. Luneta Hotel, corner T.M. Kalaw and Roxas Blvd is said to be the oldest multi-storyed building in the
Philippines

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