United States Central Intelligence Agency. Philippines, Principal Vernacular Languages. [Washington: Central Intelligence Agency, 1964] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/78694783/.
This map a way to begin conversations about culture and daily life in the Philippines. In addition to the geographical region, the large number of languages and dialects spoken can increase understanding of the region. This resource is incredibly valuable in exploring the setting for a novel, story, or poem set in the Philippines.
This map shows the geographical layout of the Philippines along with information about languages spoken in different regions.
The Philippines is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world with many local dialects spoken. Prior to the invention of the internet, many people were much less familiar with details about different cultures and languages.
- How is information about a country’s geography, culture, and setting useful when reading a text?
- Why is knowledge of prominent languages in an area valuable information?
- What can this map tell us about the culture of the Philippines?
Academic Standards for English Language Arts-Pennsylvania
CC.1.2.8.I: Analyze two or more texts that provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.
- This map can be used in conjunction with others to look at information about the Philippines and how the culture has changed over time. This can also be done to discuss sources of information, bias, and why numbers or information (such as the language information on this map) may differ by source.
CC.1.4.9–10.V: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
- Students can use this map to learn not only about the Philippines but also about the colonizers of the Philippines and how the languages and cultural practices became so diverse. They can use this map to then search for similar maps to compare and contrast data from both.
- Teachers can use this map as part of a set of texts or resources to explore the setting of a novel that takes place in the Philippines, such as Trash by Andy Mulligan or Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay. Many activities for setting can enhance literature analysis skills and help students research different cultures and settings.
- Teachers can use this resource to discuss nonfiction text features and practice reading nonfiction texts.
- Teachers can use this resource to discuss language and communication, along with how those shape cultures and interactions.
- Those who have issues with the promotion of other languages or cultures may object to the presence of information about different cultures and languages. Many of the cultures in the Philippines still have ancestor worship as well as animism as part of their culture. This could be a challenge for students from a more monotheistic belief system.
Links to resources for approaching those topics
- To combat the concerns, The Pew Center, a nonpartisan research center that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world, has many different resources about the global religious landscape and how beliefs reflect a country’s history and culture.
- Philippines administrative divisions: A map showing different regions of the Philippines.
- Philippines: A basic geographical map of the Philippines.
- Teacher’s Guide to Trash by Andy Mulligan.
- The Nations Online Project has many similar resources to examine colonization, culture and languages across the globe.
- Google Arts & Culture also has different ways to research the cultures in other areas of the world, like Central and South America.