DOCSLIB.ORG

Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of the Luzon Arc, Philippines

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of the Luzon Arc, Philippines Geochemistry and tectonic setting of the Luzon arc, Philippines MARC J. DEFANT Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620 RENE^C^^AUR^Y } laboratoire de Petrologie et G. S. Oceanologie et Geodynamique, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, 29287 Brest, France JELLE DE BOER Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06457 JEAN-LOUIS JORON Groupe des Sciences de la Terre, Laboratoire Pierre Siie, Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Saclay, B.P. 2, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France ABSTRACT ment) with the Manila Trench. In contrast, unreported analytical data, along the entire ex- Babuyan segment samples (north) have un- tent of the Luzon arc and to discuss possible Miocene (10 Ma) to Recent volcanism is usual island-arc Nd and Sr isotopic ratios that origins of these compositional variations. associated with eastward subduction along fall below the mantle array; they appear to be the Manila Trench for some 1,200 km from the result of sediment source contaminants or GEOLOGIC SETTING the Coastal Range in Taiwan south to Min- a unique mantle composition. Incorporation doro. We suggest calling this the "Luzon of sediments analyzed from eastern China Tectonic Framework arc." There are five distinct segments along and Taiwan into a MORB-type mantle can this arc: Mindoro, Bataan, Northern Luzon, explain the Nd and Sr isotopic ratios of the The Manila Trench is a broadly arcuate Babuyan, and Taiwan. The Bataan and Min- Babuyan segment. (concave eastward) structure, which extends doro segments in the south are separated by a from about 13° to 21° N (Figs. 1 and 2). It was northeast-southwest zone of volcanoes. The INTRODUCTION studied in relative detail by Ludwig and others Northern Luzon segment consists of Pliocene (1967), Hayes and Ludwig (1967), and Hayes to Pleistocene necks and plugs that run along The Manila Trench extends 900 km north- and Lewis (1984). Earthquake focal mecha- the entire western section of Northern Luzon. ward from Mindoro to Taiwan. It results from nisms are relatively rare. De Boer and others The Babuyan segment (10 Ma to Recent) is the east-dipping subduction of the South China (1980) computed the convergence to be east- made up of a larger number of active volca- Sea oceanic basin beneath the Luzon terrane northeast-west-southwest (67° ± 30°). The na- noes than are other segments of the Luzon (Fig. 1). This subduction zone is associated with ture of the arc crust is poorly understood. arc. The Taiwan segment is composed en- collision zones at both its southern (Mindoro) Another subduction system occurs east of tirely of extinct volcanoes in the Coastal and northern (Taiwan) edges (Stephan and Luzon, where subduction along the Philippine Range and on the islands of Lanhsu and others, 1986). Volcanism associated with sub- Trench has generated the Bicol arc (Fig. 1). Lutao (late Miocene to 1.8 Ma). duction is more or less geographically continu- Subduction appears to have been reactivated The nature of volcanism throughout the ous from Marinduque to the Coastal Range of along the East Luzon Trough, but lack of seis- Luzon arc is clearly subduction related with Taiwan (Fig. 1). Most volcanism occurred in the mic activity deeper than 70 km (Hamburger and calc-alkaline affinities; high Th/La ratios; and Quaternary and the late Pliocene, but the oldest others, 1982) suggests that the west-dipping negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies. The earli- lavas were erupted in the late Miocene (ca. 10 subducting plate is presently not deep enough to est phase of volcanism so far recorded (10 Ma; Richard, 1986; Richard and others, 1986). generate volcanic activity. Ma), however, is tholeiitic (island of Calayan The predominant rock type is andesite, although in the Babuyan segment) with mid-oceanic- individual volcanoes can be basaltic or range in Geodynamic History ridge basalt-like (MORB-like) light-rare- composition from basalt to rhyolite. The rocks earth element and large-ion Iithophile element are calc-alkaline (Defant, 1985; Richard, 1986; The oldest available K-Ar ages of calc- concentrations and low Th/U ratios. Jacques, 1987) with the exception of the Ca- alkaline lavas from the Luzon arc are approxi- There are clear differences in Sr and Nd layan island tholeiitic complex. mately 10 m.y. Biostratigraphic correlations isotopic ratios among the samples from the A number of recent studies along segments of suggest that the volcanic activity began approxi- Luzon arc. Samples from the southern seg- the "Luzon arc" have expanded the existing data mately 13-14 Ma in the Coastal Range of Tai- ments (Mindoro through Bataan) fall within base and now allow for an overview and integra- wan (Pelletier, 1985) and approximately 15 Ma the mantle array, with higher Sr and lower tion of the geochemical data (de Boer and oth- in Northern Luzon (P. Maleterre, 1987, personal Nd isotopic values than those of MORB. Pb ers, 1980; Ragland and Defant, 1983; Defant, commun.). These data suggest that subduction isotope data indicate sediment involvement. 1985; Richard, 1986; Jacques and others, 1986; along the Manila Trench immediately followed The isotopic values have been interpreted to Jacques, 1987; Knittel and Defant, 1988; Knit- opening of the South China Sea oceanic basin result from source contamination by slab- tel and others, 1987, 1988; Defant and Ragland, (ca. 32 to 17 Ma, according to Taylor and derived fluids (Bataan segment) and by 1988; Defant and others, 1988). The objectives Hayes, 1980, and Ru and Pigott, 1986). The subducted crustal material from collision of of this contribution are to compare the geochem- beginning of collision between the Luzon micro- the Mindoro-Palawan terrane (Mindoro seg- istry of the volcanic rocks, including previously plate and the continental margins of the South Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 101, p. 663-672, 7 figs., 1 table, May 1989. 663 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/101/5/663/3380617/i0016-7606-101-5-663.pdf by guest on 01 October 2021 664 DEFANT AND OTHERS Figure 1. Schematic map showing the major tectonic features along the Luzon arc (shown by diagonal rul- ing) (tectonic features are after Pelletier, 1985). Major volcanoes are shown as triangles, and necks are shown as circles. 1, Bataan AFV; 2, Bataan BAV; 3, Macolod Corridor; 4, Mindoro segment; 5, Northern Luzon segment; 6, Babuyan segment; 7, Taiwan segment; A, Lingayen-Dingalan fault; B, Philippine fault; C, Tablas fault. The cross pattern (+) illustrates continental blocks. necks and plugs. This segment is separated from the Bataan segment by the Lingayen-Dingalan fault (A, Fig. 1). The Babuyan segment has the largest number of active volcanoes, compared to the other segments of the Luzon arc. It includes Mount Cagua in Northern Luzon and the islands from Camiguin to Batan (Fig. 1). The Taiwan segment represents the northernmost volcanism along this arc and is composed entirely of extinct volcanoes in the Coastal Range and on Lanhsu and Lutao. Central Luzon. The spatial distribution of volcanoes throughout the chain of activity asso- ciated with the Manila Trench is somewhat ir- regular. A narrow zone of arcuate volcanism, the Bataan lineament (region 1, Fig. 1), exists along the western coast of Central Luzon for approximately 130 km. Volcanoes within this lineament (arc-front volcanoes, AFV) are more tightly spaced than elsewhere in the Philippines. Four volcanoes have developed in back of this main lineament and may roughly parallel it (behind-arc volcanoes, BAV) (region 2, Figs. 1 and 2). K-Ar dates indicate that volcanism was initiated in the AFV and later began in the BAV (Defant and others, 1988). Dates within the AFV range from approximately 7 to 0.2 Ma, whereas within the BAV, the dates range from approximately 1.7 to later than 0.1 Ma (Fig. 2). The arcuate nature of the AFV, and perhaps the BAV, is rather abruptly terminated in the vicinity of Mount Taal (Fig. 1). Here, the vol- canic chain trends northeast-southwest and is apparently associated with northeast-southwest China Sea (north) and the Mindoro-Palawan Volcanism in the Luzon Arc normal faulting. This volcanic field, the Ma- terrane (south) probably occurred about 7 Ma colod Corridor, extends approximately 60 km (Stephan and others, 1986) and 10-15 Ma (Mc- The five segments of the "Luzon arc" are across more than half of Central Luzon (region Cabe and others, 1982,1987), respectively. Col- termed Mindoro and Bataan (of Central Luzon), 3, Figs. 1 and 2). Volcanic activity within this lision ceased in Mindoro during the late Northern Luzon, Babuyan, and Taiwan. The corridor occurred from approximately 0.6 Ma to Miocene or Pliocene but is ongoing in Taiwan Mindoro and Bataan segments are divided by the present (there was older activity not asso- (Fig. 1; Stephan and others, 1986; McCabe and the Macolod Corridor. The Northern Luzon ciated with faulting). This may represent a pull- others, 1982, 1987). segment consists of Pliocene to Pleistocene apart zone (Defant and others, 1988). Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/101/5/663/3380617/i0016-7606-101-5-663.pdf by guest on 01 October 2021 GEOCHEMISTRY AND TECTONIC SETTING OF LUZON ARC, PHILIPPINES 665 AGE OF VOLCANISM (m.y.) 10 9 Coastal Chain Taiwan Segment Lutao Lanhsu Egg: Batan Babuyan de Claro ••""."......I J Babuyan Segment 1 Camiguin Cagua Northern Luzon Segment Baguio 1 Bataan AFV S« Bataan Segment 2 Bataan BAV Macolod Corridor SgBSBwgifeg Mindoro Segment Mindoro Segment SU High-K Medium-K lili Low-K Figure 2. Ages and potassium contents of volcanic centers of the Luzon arc. Data from de Boer and others (1980), Wolfe (1981), Defant (1985), Richard and others (1986), Richard (1986), Jacques (1987), P.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Petrology, Sedimentology, and Diagenesis of Hemipelagic Limestone and Tuffaeeous Turbidites in the Aksitero Formation, Central Luzon, Philippines
    Petrology, Sedimentology, and Diagenesis of Hemipelagic Limestone and Tuffaeeous Turbidites in the Aksitero Formation, Central Luzon, Philippines Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines, Republic of the Philippines, and the U.S. National Science Foundation Petrology, Sedimentology, and Diagenesis of Hemipelagic Limestone and Tuffaceous Turbidites in the Aksitero Formation, Central Luzon, Philippines By ROBERT E. GARRISON, ERNESTO ESPIRITU, LAWRENCE J. HORAN, and LAWRENCE E. MACK GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1112 Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines, Republic of the Philippines, and the U.S. National Science Foundation UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1979 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY H. William Menard, Director United States. Geological Survey. Petrology, sedimentology, and diagenesis of hemipelagic limestone and tuffaceous turbidites in the Aksitero Formation, central Luzon, Philippines. (Geological Survey Professional Paper; 1112) Bibliography: p. 15-16 Supt. of Docs. No.: 119.16:1112 1. Limestone-Philippine Islands-Luzon. 2. Turbidites-Philippine Islands-Luzon. 3. Geology, Stratigraphic-Eocene. 4. Geology, Stratigraphic-Oligocene. 5. Geology-Philippine Islands-­ Luzon. I. Garrison, Robert E. II. United States. Bureau of Mines. III. Philippines (Republic) IV. United States. National Science Foundation. V. Title. VI. Series: United States. Geological Survey. Professional Paper; 1112. QE471.15.L5U54 1979 552'.5 79-607993 For sale
    [Show full text]
  • Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy
    Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (RRP PHI 41076) SUMMARY POVERTY REDUCTION AND SOCIAL STRATEGY Country: Philippines Project Title: Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project Lending/Financing Sector Loan Department/ Southeast Asia Department Modality: Division: Transport and Communications Division I. POVERTY AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY Poverty targeting: General intervention A. Links to the National Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Growth Strategy and Country Partnership Strategy The project objectives support the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), 2017–2022,a which targets reducing poverty incidence from 21.6% in 2015 to 14.0% by 2022, or by about 6 million people. Among the targets under the strategic framework of the PDP, 2017–2022 are that (i) growth will be more inclusive, as manifested by a lower poverty incidence in rural areas, from 30% in 2015 to 20% in 2022; and (ii) the unemployment rate will decline from the current 5.6% (2017) to 3%–5% in 2022. The PDP notes that infrastructure undergirds a country’s socioeconomic development, the more strategically distributed it is—both by sectoral and spatially—the better it is for inclusive growth and sustainable development. A principal objective of Asian Development Bank (ADB) support for the Philippines is to help in the achievement of high, inclusive, and sustainable growth. Support for infrastructure development, including transport, forms a core part of ADB’s operational strategy for the country. B. Results from the Poverty and Social Analysis during PPTA or Due Diligence 1. Key poverty and social issues. Poverty incidence in the Philippines in 2015 was estimated at 21.6%, equivalent to about 22 million Filipinos who cannot afford their basic needs.
    [Show full text]
  • Biogeography of Mammals in SE Asia: Estimates of Rates of Colonization, Extinction and Speciation
    Biological Journal oflhe Linnean Sociely (1986), 28, 127-165. With 8 figures Biogeography of mammals in SE Asia: estimates of rates of colonization, extinction and speciation LAWRENCE R. HEANEY Museum of <oology and Division of Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, U.S.A. Accepted for publication I4 February 1986 Four categories of islands in SE Asia may be identified on the basis of their histories of landbridge connections. Those islands on the shallow, continental Sunda Shelf were joined to the Asian mainland by a broad landbridge during the late Pleistocene; other islands were connected to the Sunda Shelf by a middle Pleistocene landbridge; some were parts of larger oceanic islands; and others remained as isolated oceanic islands. The limits of late Pleistocene islands, defined by the 120 ni bathymetric line, are highly concordant with the limits of faunal regions. Faunal variation among non-volant mammals is high between faunal regions and low within the faunal regions; endcmism of faunal regions characteristically exceeds 70%. Small and geologically young oceanic islands are depauperate; larger and older islands are more species-rich. The number of endemic species is correlated with island area; however, continental shelf islands less than 125000 km2 do not have endemic species, whereas isolated oceanic islands as small as 47 km2 often have endemic species. Geologirally old oceanic islands have many endemic species, whereas young oceanic islands have few endemic species. Colonization across sea channels that were 5-25 km wide during the Pleistocene has been low, with a rate of about 1-2/500000 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Evaluating the Position of Iraya Among Philippine Languages
    International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics 13 Academia Sinica, Taipei July 18-23, 2015 Re‐evaluating the position of Iraya among Philippine languages Lawrence A. Reid University of Hawai‘i A L R Presentation Plan • Introduction • About the Iraya language • Position of the Northern Mindoro languages • Contact diffusion into Iraya • Conclusion A L R Mindoro A L R Mindoro A L R Introduction (1) • Iraya is one of the more than 150 Malayo‐Polynesian languages spoken in the Philippines. • It is spoken by the older generation of some 5000 on the island of Mindoro, the 7th largest island in the Philippines. • There are at least 7 languages spoken on the island, of which Iraya is the most northerly and is adjacent to the Batangas area of northern Luzon, where Tagalog is the main language. A L R Introduction (2) • Iraya is distinctly different in a number of features from the other languages of Mindoro, and of the Philippines. • These features include different pronominal forms and functions, several changes in the structure of noun phrases, changes in the patterns of verb structures, changes in word order, and other sentential features, not commonly found in other Philippine languages. A L R Introduction (3) • The question being asked is to what extent these features are retentions, the result of innovations unique to Iraya, or are developments that are the result of contact diffusion. • One factor that needs to be considered: Iraya people have phenotypical features that distinguish them from lowland Philippine peoples, primarily in that they typically have wavy to curly hair, a feature found to a more pronounced degree in Negrito populations of the Philippines, suggesting that these were also a Negrito group that has been heavily influenced by in‐ migration of non‐Negrito peoples.
    [Show full text]
  • Part Ii Metro Manila and Its 200Km Radius Sphere
    PART II METRO MANILA AND ITS 200KM RADIUS SPHERE CHAPTER 7 GENERAL PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA CHAPTER 7 GENERAL PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA 7.1 PHYSICAL PROFILE The area defined by a sphere of 200 km radius from Metro Manila is bordered on the northern part by portions of Region I and II, and for its greater part, by Region III. Region III, also known as the reconfigured Central Luzon Region due to the inclusion of the province of Aurora, has the largest contiguous lowland area in the country. Its total land area of 1.8 million hectares is 6.1 percent of the total land area in the country. Of all the regions in the country, it is closest to Metro Manila. The southern part of the sphere is bound by the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, all of which comprise Region IV-A, also known as CALABARZON. 7.1.1 Geomorphological Units The prevailing landforms in Central Luzon can be described as a large basin surrounded by mountain ranges on three sides. On its northern boundary, the Caraballo and Sierra Madre mountain ranges separate it from the provinces of Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya. In the eastern section, the Sierra Madre mountain range traverses the length of Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. The Zambales mountains separates the central plains from the urban areas of Zambales at the western side. The region’s major drainage networks discharge to Lingayen Gulf in the northwest, Manila Bay in the south, the Pacific Ocean in the east, and the China Sea in the west.
    [Show full text]
  • Vocal Divergence and New Species in the Philippine Hawk Owl Ninox Philippensis Complex
    FORKTAIL 28 (2012): 1–20 Vocal divergence and new species in the Philippine Hawk Owl Ninox philippensis complex P. C. RASMUSSEN, D. N. S. ALLEN, N. J. COLLAR, B. DEMEULEMEESTER, R. O. HUTCHINSON, P. G. C. JAKOSALEM, R. S. KENNEDY, F. R. LAMBERT & L. M. PAGUNTALAN We show, based on morphology and especially vocalisations, that the Philippine Hawk Owl Ninox philippensis requires treatment as seven allopatric species and at least one additional subspecies. Morphological distinctions between three groups of taxa are striking, and although taxa within one major group are relatively similar in plumage they vary rather consistently in size and proportions. It has not been possible until now to resolve the species limits in this complex due mainly to the lack of sound recordings of key taxa, a problem now rectified. Vocalisations differ significantly between all seven species, the limits of which are incongruent with all previous taxonomies. Taxa from Mindoro ( mindorensis ), Mindanao ( spilocephala ), Camiguin Sur (named herein), and the Sulu Islands ( reyi ) exhibit especially great vocal differences from all other taxa along with smaller but consistent differences in plumage and morphometrics. Although specimens have been in museum collections for many years, two of these species and one subspecies have heretofore remained undescribed, and we formally name these taxa for science. The recommended species-level treatment and English names of the N. philippensis complex are: Luzon Hawk Owl N. philippensis ; Mindanao Hawk Owl N. spilocephala ; Mindoro Hawk Owl N. mindorensis ; Sulu Hawk Owl Ninox reyi ; Romblon Hawk Owl N. spilonota ; Camiguin Hawk Owl new species; and Cebu Hawk Owl new species.
    [Show full text]
  • Discovery O F Triassic Conodonts from Uson Islands O F the Calamian
    No. 2] Proc. Japan Acad., 56, Ser. B (1980) 69 14. Discovery of Triassic Conodonts from Malajon and Uson Islands of the Calamian Island Group, Palawan Province, the Philippines, and Its Geological Significance By wataru HASHIM0T0,*) Shigeru TAKIZAWA,**) Guillermo R. BALCE, * * * ) Ernesto A. ESPIRITU, * * * and Crisanto A. BAURA* * * > (Communicated by Teiichi KoBAYASxi, M. J. A., Feb. 12, 1980) This short article deals with the discovery of Epigondolella ab- neptis (Huckriede) , a Lower Norian index conodont of Japan, in the limestone at the southeastern coast of Malajon Island, the Calamian Island Group, and its geological significance. The general geology of the Calamian Island Group had not been surveyed since Smith (1924) reported the manganese-bearing chert formation from Busuanga Island and limestone from Coron Island, until 1978, when H. Fontaine reported the geological and palaeon- tological results of his reconnaissance works conducted in this island group (Fontaine, 1978, 1979; Fontaine et al., 1979). The Calamian Island Group is geographically situated between Mindoro and Palawan Islands, where the Mindoro and the Palawan Metamorphics are exposed respectively. Concerning the origin of these schists in the Recent Palawan Arc trending from Palawan to Mindoro, Gervasio (1971) and Hashimoto and Sato (1973) are of different opinions. Gervasio (1971) referred to the schist in the Palawan Arc as the basement of the Philippines and the non-metamorphosed Palaeozoic sediments including limestone in northern Palawan as well as that in the Calamian Island Group and the Permian limestone on Carabao Island as Palaeozoic formation deposited in a miogeosyncline, occur- ring in an east-west direction upon the basement schist terrain.
    [Show full text]
  • INFORMATION to USERS the Most Advanced Technology Has Been
    INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photo­ graph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are re­ produced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. These are also available as one exposure on a standard 35mm slide or as a 17" x 23" black and white photographic print for an additional charge. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI University Microfilms international A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 Nortfi Zeeb Road.
    [Show full text]
  • ADDRESSING ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE in the PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES Second-Largest Archipelago in the World Comprising 7,641 Islands
    ADDRESSING ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES Second-largest archipelago in the world comprising 7,641 islands Current population is 100 million, but projected to reach 125 million by 2030; most people, particularly the poor, depend on biodiversity 114 species of amphibians 240 Protected Areas 228 Key Biodiversity Areas 342 species of reptiles, 68% are endemic One of only 17 mega-diverse countries for harboring wildlife species found 4th most important nowhere else in the world country in bird endemism with 695 species More than 52,177 (195 endemic and described species, half 126 restricted range) of which are endemic 5th in the world in terms of total plant species, half of which are endemic Home to 5 of 7 known marine turtle species in the world green, hawksbill, olive ridley, loggerhead, and leatherback turtles ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE The value of Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is estimated at $10 billion–$23 billion per year, making wildlife crime the fourth most lucrative illegal business after narcotics, human trafficking, and arms. The Philippines is a consumer, source, and transit point for IWT, threatening endemic species populations, economic development, and biodiversity. The country has been a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1992. The value of IWT in the Philippines is estimated at ₱50 billion a year (roughly equivalent to $1billion), which includes the market value of wildlife and its resources, their ecological role and value, damage to habitats incurred during poaching, and loss in potential
    [Show full text]
  • 4 Indigenous Languages for Development: the Philippine Experience
    4 Indigenous languages for development: the Philippine experience Nestor Castro Philippine languages The Philippines is an archipelago composed of 7,107 islands with a population of 75 million people. Because of its archipelagic character, there are more than a hundred languages in the Philippines. The Summer Institute of Linguistics identified at least 151 languages in the country. Except for one Creole language, Chavacano, all of these languages belong to the Western Malaya-Polynesian subfamily of the Austronesian languages. These languages are further classified as belonging to the following language groups: Northern Philippine (70 languages), Central Philippine (46languages), Southern Philippine (22languages), Sarna Bajaw (?languages), Southern Mindanao (5languages), and Sulawesi Sangil (1 language). Despite this big number, only eight of these languages make up 85 percent of the entire Philippine population. These are Tagalog, Sugbuhanon, Iloko, Pangasinan, Hiligaynon, Bikol, Kapampangan, and Waray. Native speakers of these eight languages comprise the ethnic majority of the country, i.e. the lowland Christian Filipinos. Tagalog is the language spoken in Manila, the national capital, and the outlying provinces. Because of its strategic position, it has been designated as the national language since the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935. While the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandated that the national language is 'Filipino', this is based on the Manila dialect of Tagalog. Minority languages The remaining 15 percent of the population are further divided into 143 language groups. Since ethnic identity, especially in the Philippines, is largely defined by language, the speakers of these 143 languages comprise the ethnic minorities of the country. These ethnic minorities can further be classified into two distinct groups: the Bangsa Moro, found in southern Philippines, and the 'indigenous peoples', who are scattered in the relatively isolated areas of the archipelago.
    [Show full text]
  • Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus Mindorensis Merlijn Van Weerd
    Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis Merlijn van Weerd Centre of Environmental Science, Leiden University, Abel Tasmanstraat 5bis, Utrecht 3531 GR, Netherlands ([email protected]) Common Names: Philippine crocodile (English), buwaya 2009 IUCN Red List: CR (Critically Endangered. Criteria (general Philippines), bukarot (northern Luzon) A1c. Observed decline in extent of occurrence >80% in 3 generations. C2a. Less than 250 adults in the wild, populations highly fragmented and declining; IUCN 2009) (last assessed Range: Philippines in 1996). Taxonomic Status The Philippine crocodile was described in 1935 by Karl Schmidt on the basis of a type specimen and three paratypes from the island of Mindoro (Schmidt 1935, 1938). Schmidt also described the closely related New Guinea freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae) in 1928 and later made a comparison of morphological differences between C. mindorensis, C. novaeguineae and C. porosus, maintaining C. mindorensis as a separate species (1956). However the Philippine crocodile has long been treated as C. novaeguineae mindorensis, a sub-species of the New Guinea crocodile, by other authorities. Hall (1989) provided new evidence of the distinctness of the Philippine crocodile and nowadays C. mindorensis is generally treated as a full species endemic to the Philippines. Figure 1. Distribution of Crocodylus mindorensis. Figure 2. Juvenile C. mindorensis in Dunoy Lake, in Northern Sierra Madre National Park, northern Luzon. Photograph: Merlijn van Weerd. Conservation Overview CITES: Appendix I Ecology and Natural History CSG Action Plan: The Philippine crocodile is a relatively small freshwater Availability of recent survey data: Adequate crocodile. Although much is still unknown, studies at two Need for wild population recovery: Highest captive breeding facilities [Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Potential for sustainable management: Low Conservation Centre (PWRCC), Palawan Island (Ortega Van Weerd, M.
    [Show full text]
  • Maynilad Water Services, Inc. Public Disclosure Authorized
    Fall 08 Maynilad Water Services, Inc. Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Valenzuela Sewerage System Project Environmental Assessment Report Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized M a r c h 2 0 1 4 Environmental Assessment Report VALENZUELA SEWERAGE SYSTEM PROJECT CONTENTS Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Project Fact Sheet ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Brief Description of the Project .................................................................................................................. 8 A. Project Location ............................................................................................................................. 8 B. Project Components ....................................................................................................................... 9 C. Project Rationale .......................................................................................................................... 10 D. Project Cost .................................................................................................................................. 10 E. Project Phases ............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]