Luzon Group
(2002 pop. of Central Luzon 85.2 million). The largest island group in the Philippine archipelago, the Luzon group includes the main island of Luzon and the island provinces of Palawan, Marinduque, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Batanes, Cananduanes, Masbate, and Rombkon. Together, these cover more than 109,000 square kilometers.
The Luzon group is divided into five regions based on geographic location and ethnolinguistic groupings of the population. Region 1, Ilocos Region, consists of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.
Region 2, Cagayan Valley, consists of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Batanes. In 1981, several provinces formerly in Regions 1 and 2 (Abra, Apayao, Benguest, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain province) were reconstituted into the Cordillera Autonomous Region, home to indigenous ethnic groups and cultural minorities with common historical and cultural heritages.
Region 3, Central Luzon, includes Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, and Bulacan. Angeles City and Olongapo City, in the provinces of Pampanga and Zambales, respectively, are independent of, although located in, those provinces.
Region 4, Southern Tagalog, consists of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Aurora, Quezon, and Romblon.
Region 5, Bicol Region, includes Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate. The national capital, Manila, is located in this region, in an enclave called the National Capital Region, which itself has twelve cities and five municipalities.
Luzon has a myriad of topographical features ranging from mountain ranges to volcanoes. At 2,928 meters, Mount Pulog is the highest mountain in Luzon. Several lakes and rivers, such as Laguna Lake, the largest lake in the Philippines, as well as a few active volcanoes, notably Mount Mayon in Albay and Mount Pinatubo in Zambales, are also in Luzon. Pinatubo's eruptions in 1991 and 1992 were so powerful that volcanic material rising into the upper atmosphere was carried around the world. Aside from the vast mineral and natural resources of the Luzon group, central Luzon is also the rice bowl of the Philippines, where most of the country's rice is produced.
Luzon is populated by people of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Tagalog, a member of the Austronesian family, is the most widely spoken language, though each region has its own local language.
Despite the diverse population, Catholicism is the predominant religion, with a few Protestant denominations and other local religions. The Luzon group is home to one of the simplest-living ethnic groups in the Philippines, the Negritoes, occupying the hinterlands, while the most modern metropolis in the country, Metro Manila, is also in Luzon.
The capital city of the Philippines, Manila was a bustling community engaged in trade prior to the arrival of the Spanish. After the Spanish established themselves in Manila in 1572, the city became a launching point for further expeditions into the rest of Luzon to spread Catholicism and Western civilization. It was also in Luzon that the revolution for Philippine independence started and where Philippine independence was proclaimed in 1898.
Further Reading
Action Asia. (1999) Adventure and Travel Guide to the Philippines. Hong Kong: Action Asia.
Department of Tourism, Philippines. (1994) The Philippines: Spirit of Place. Manila, Philippines: Department of Tourism.
Höbel, Robert. (1981) The Philippines. Hong Kong: Robert Rovena Ltd.
Lancion, Conrado, Jr. (1995) Fast Facts about Philippine Provinces. Manila, Philippines: Tahanan Books.
Mayuga, Sylvia, et. al. (1988) Philippines. Hong Kong: APA Publication.
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