Directory_and_Chronicle_1930 — Page 1490

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PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

they have desolated extensive plains; they have opened passages from the sea to the interior, and from the lake into the sea. There are many traditional stories of thes territorial revolutions, but of late disasters the records are trustworthy. That of 1796 was sadly calamitous. In 1824 many churches in Manila were destroyed, togethe with the principal bridge, the barracks, great numbers of private houses; and a chasm opened of nearly four miles in length. The inhabitants all fled into the fields, and si vessels in the port were wrecked. The number of victims was never ascertained. L 1828, during another earthquake, the vibration of the lamps was found to describe a are of four and a half feet; the huge corner stones of the principal gate of the city wer displaced; the great bells were set ringing. It lasted between two and three minute. rent the walls of several churches and other buildings, but was not accompanied b subterranean noises, as is usually the case." In 1852, 1863, 1869, and 1880 ther were terrible shocks of earthquake, and, in 1892, in the Province of Pangasina shocks were continually repeated during a month, shaking down buildings, crushin their inmates, and creating a panic among the inhabitants. The most noteworth volcanoes are Buheyan in Mindanao, Taal in Batangas, and Bulusan and Mayo in Albay. The last was in continual eruption and at times created terror in th surrounding country on account of the quantity of boiling water, ashes, and lava threw out. In 1814, 1886 and 1897 an eruption of this volcano destroyed entirely th villages of Malinao, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Polangui, and Albay.

The land area of the Philippines is covered largely with forests. The rest made up of cultivated iand, grass and open land, and mangrove swamps. The rive are generally small and short, but the Cagayan River, the largest in Luzon, drai one-fourth of the island. The Agno and Pampanga Rivers, two other important rive in Luzon, and the Agusan and Cotabato Rivers, in Mindanao, are also of conside able size. There are a few lakes in the Philippines and most of them are sma Laguna de Bay and Lake Taal, in Luzon, and the beautiful Lake Lanao, in Mindana being the most important.

CLIMATE AND HEALTH

The climate of the Philippines is among the best in the tropics. Generally speal ing, it is agreeably warm with cool niglits and pleasant late afternoons and ears mornings, although there are some places in the Islands where it cannot strictly be se described. December, January, February and March are very nearly ideal. Event during the months of April and May many parts of the islands, especially Manik enjoy a cool breeze. The rainy seasons are June to November for the centre ang west, and November to March for the oriental coasts and regions. During the rain season inundations of rivers are frequent, and travelling in the interior is at tim interrupted. Droughts, however, sometimes occur, which seriously impair crops. T year is divided into three seasons-the wet, the dry-cool and the dry-hot. The we season lasts in the west from the middle of June to the middle of November, t dry-cool season from the middle of November to the middle of February, and t dry-hot season from the middle of February to the middle of June. These seasoria periods, however, cannot be applied to all parts of the Philippines, for some parts a affected by different ocean currents which modify climatic conditions therein.

The death-rate among white residents in Manila is lower than the death rate s New York, San Francisco, or Chicago. Ideal health-resorts are found in many of tho highlands of the Philippines, like Antipolo in Rizal, Lucban and Sariay a in Tayabay Taal in Batangas, Silang and Indang in Cavite, Bukidnon and lands around La Lanao in Mindanao, and the plateaus of Baguio, approximately 5,000 feet above 7 level and about 175 miles from Manila. Medical reports speak highly of Baguio a health resort, and of the medicinal waters of Sibul Springs and Los Baños..

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The Philippine Health Service is the Government branch in charge of enforc measures and promulgating rules and regulation for the promotion and protection public health and for the maintenance of general sanitary conditions. Its jurisdict extends to all the cities, towns and barrios of the Islands. Due to its work, there been noticeable general health improvement all over the archipelago during the p two decades. The system of sanitation actually enforced in the Philippine Island conceded to be on a par with that of any other civilized country in the world. T people of the Philippines are beginning to realize the advantages of a well-organis and nation-wide system of sanitation. The old attitude of distrust towards sanita rules in the country has disappeared; the people to-day are exerting all their euerge toward promoting the gospel of clean and healthy living. Hospitals are fast increr