Northern Mindanao’s topography is varied. There are plains, forests, mountains, hills and coastal areas. The area supports agriculture and aquaculture. The soil is rich in minerals. There are hydro-electric plants to provide a steady supply of electricity. Northern Mindanao has a wealth of natural resources.
Although Mindanao was never fully conquered by Spain, traces of Catholic influence can be seen throughout the region: the site of the first Christian settlement in Bayug, Lanao del Norte; the Monastery of the Transfiguration (home of an impressive boys’ choir) in Malaybalay; and the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral (famous locally for its giant pipe organ) in Ozamiz.
The area’s cuisine has a strong Malay influence. Seafood is a staple. Spices – such as turmeric, garlic, ginger, roasted coconut, and chilies – are used liberally.
The region’s attractions are a mix of the historical, the natural, and the man-made. There are several beaches good for diving and snorkeling. You can go on mountain climbing expeditions. For the more adventurous, there’s rappelling in Katibawasan Falls. You can even see the fierce Philippine Eagle up close. Or go squid fishing and visit the Giant Clams Ocean Nursery in Kantaan, Guinsiliban.

Western Mindanao is named after the Maguindanaons who constituted the largest Sultanate historically, and evidence from maps made during the 17th and 18th centuries suggests that the name was used to refer to the island by natives at the time. Evidence of human occupation dates back tens of thousands of years. In prehistoric times the Negrito people arrived. Sometime around 1500 BC Austronesian peoples spread throughout the Philippines and far beyond.
Islam first spread to the region during the 13th century through Arab traders from present-dayMalaysia and Indonesia. Prior to this contact, the inhabitants of the area were primarily animists living in small autonomous communities. The indigenous population was quickly converted and the firstmosque in the Philippines was built in the mid 14th century in the town of Simunul. The Philippine sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao were subsequently in the 15th and 16th centuries, respectively. In the late 16th to early 17th centuries, the first contact with Spain occurred. By this time, Islam was well established in Mindanao and had started influencing groups as far north as present-day Manila on the island of Luzon.
Upon the Spaniards' arrival to the Philippines, they were dismayed to find such a strong Muslim presence on the island, having just expelled theMoors from Spain after centuries of fighting. In fact, the name Moros (the Spanish word for "Moors") was given to the Muslim inhabitants by the Spanish.[2] Caesarea Caroli was the name given by Villalobos to the island of Mindanao when he reached the sea near it. This was named after the Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire (and I of Spain).
The region is home to most of the country's Muslim or Moro populations, composed of many ethnic groups such as the Maranao and the Tausug, theBanguingui (users of the vinta), as well as the collective group of indigenous tribes known as the Lumad.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Lumads controlled an area which now covers 17 of Mindanao’s 24 provinces, but by the 1980 census, they constituted less than 6% of the population of Mindanao and Sulu. Heavy migration to Mindanao of Visayans, spurred by government-sponsored resettlement programmes, turned the indigenous Lumads and Moros into minorities.

Eastern Visayas or Region VIII is one of the two regions of the Philippines having no land border with another region, MIMAROPA being the other. It is composed of two main islands, Leyte and Samar, connected by the famous San Juanico Bridge. It consists of six provinces and seven cities,[2] namely, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, the cities of Ormoc City, Baybay City, Maasin City,Calbayog City, Catbalogan City, Borongan City and the highly-urbanized city of Tacloban, the regional center. These provinces and cities occupy the easternmost islands of Visayas: Samar, Leyte and Biliran.
Eastern Visayas lies on the east central part of the Philippines archipelago. It is composed of two main islands, Leyte and Samar, which formed the eastern most coast of the archipelago. It is bounded by Philippine sea on the east and north with San Bernardo Strait separating Samar island from southeastern Luzon: Camotes sea and Visayas sea on the west: Bohol sea on the south with Surigao Strait separating Leyte island from northwestern Mindanao. It has a total land area of 2,156,285 hectares or 7.2% of the country’s total land area.

Central Visayas, designated as Region VII, is a region of the Philippines located in the central part of the Visayas island group. It consists of fourprovinces—Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor— and the highly urbanized cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City. The region is dominated by the native speakers of Cebuano. Cebu City is its regional center.
The land area of the region is 15,875 km². As of the 2007 census, it has a population of 6,398,628, making it the 5th most populous of the country's 17 regions.

The Western Visayas region was created from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo (including its then-subprovince of Guimaras) and Negros Occidental by Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated Reorganisation Plan of President Ferdinand Marcos.


The Province of Palawan was transferred to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005 by Executive Order 429.[4] The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced in June 2005 that the transfer had been completed.[5] However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005 to address this backlash. This Order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from Region IV-B to Region VI.[3] Hence, Palawan is currently (as of May, 2007) still part of Region IV-B.

The Bicol Region is located in the southernmost tip of Luzon Island, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago. The total land area of the region is 18,054.3 km2 (6,970.8 sq mi),[5] which or 5.9% of the total land area of the country. Around 69.3% of the total land area is alienable and disposable while the remaining 30.7% is public forest areas.
The region is bounded by Lamon Bay to the north, Pacific Ocean to the east, and Sibuyan Sea and Ragay Gulf to the west. The northernmost province, Camarines Norte, is bordered to the north by the province of Quezon, thereby connecting the region to the rest of Luzon.

Southern Tagalog, the Batangas Regional Hospital serves as the referral center for patients coming from lower category hospitals in the Province of Batangas, Quezon and the island provinces of Romblon, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.

Region IV is divided into two, Region IV-A CALABARAZON to include  the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. Region IV B  MIMAROPA to include Mindoro (Oriental and Occidental) Marinduque,  Romblon and Palawan.

There are four (4) Congressional Districts within the province of  Batangas. The most populous being the Second District (to which Batangas  City belongs) and the Fourth District. Batangas province has three  cities,  Batangas City (the Capital)  Lipa City and Tanauan City. In addition,  Batangas province has 31 municipalities.

The Congressional Districts outside the province but within the region are Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, Romblon and Rizal. These districts are the source of patients  of the Batangas Regional Hospital, the primary source being the province of Batangas. The island provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro comes next probably because the port of Batangas is the gateway to South Luzon and the first  stop.