The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands in the south
China Sea situated between Taiwan to the north and Borneo to the
south.Just 2,000 0f its islands are inhabited and only 500 are larger
than a kilometre square. The nine largest islands of luzon,
Mindanao, Palawan, Panay,Mindoro, Samar, Negros, Leyte and
,Cebu make up 90% of the nation's land area.
The original people of the Philippines were the ancestors of the
people known today as Negritos or Aeta.They are an Australo-
Melanesian people with dark skin and tight, curly brown hair.
They are also distinctively small and short stature. As the Pygmies in
adapted locally to the tropical jungles of the Philippines.
The Aeta are a nomadic hunting and gathering people who forage
in small family bands with an informal organization and
leadership. They were once widespread thoughout the Philippines
but are now found only in the remote highland areas of luzon,
Palawan, Panay, Negros andMindanao. |
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