Republic of the Philippines

Region IX, Zamboanga Sibugay

WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

Siay External Studies Unit

Dacanay, Siay Zamboanga Sibugay

Innovations in information technology have shrunk the world. Through the use of the World
Wide Web, anyone can access information from different corners of the earth. All information becomes
more meaningful and useful as one takes them in the context of their physical environment, particularly
geography. Everything happens in the context of a place and that is why people are so interested about
places - their location, direction, and characteristics. Geography is the study that provides all these.

Geography has been playing an important role in the rise and fall of nations, in the struggle of
various peoples for their survival, and in the development of unity among them.

The Nature of Geography

A very popular description of geography is that it is the study of the earth's surface. It covers the
understanding of the relationship of man with his physical environment. It deals with the understanding
of the landforms, directions, climate, population, soil, and activities of the people in the context of their
physical environment. Geography is classified into two categories; namely, physical geography and
human geography. Physical geography includes the following studies:

Geomorphology. This discipline deals with the study of the landforms. Children will therefore study
rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, valleys, plains, mountains, to name a few.

Biogeography (Ecogeography). This discipline deals with the study of plants and animal distribution.

Climatology. This discipline deals with the study of climates and weather.

On the other hand, human geography may be subdivided into:

Cultural geography. which studies population distribution and its changing pattern.

Economic geography. which deals with the analysis of the economic activities of man in relation to his
environment.

Political geography. deals with the projections of the political boundaries of countries, their changes,
and the reasons for such changes; and

Urban geography. deals with the growth of towns and cities.

Geography brings together natural sciences, as it seeks to explain the wonders and beauty of
the surface of the earth and the life patterns on it, geography remains a distinct science in itself.

Fundamental Concepts

Teaching geography among the grade school pupils requires a simple but precise discussion of
some basic concepts. It will help the students grasp the essence of geography and prepare them for
more complex ones.
Significance of Geography

The father of Celso was going to work abroad. His father was hired by an engineering firm in
Kuwait. Celso asked his mother where Kuwait is. Unfortunately, his mother did not know.

The study of geography is significant to all, not only to the Filipino migrant workers. It is significant
because of the following:

1. It provides people with location and direction.

Many people travel for different reasons. Some travel to work. Others travel for pleasure; and
still others travel to study or to attend a conference. They all want to know where they are heading for,
and what awaits them in their place of destina- tion. Geography will tell them the shortest way to the
place, what to expect, and which direction to go.

2. It prepares travelers.

Because geography provides information about the place and the people, travelers will be able
to prepare the proper clothes to bring, consider the things they will need to protect themselves, and
decide on the best time of the year to travel. They can anticipate things and consequently prepare
themselves.

3. It helps people understand one another.

As one becomes familiar with the geography of a place one gets to understand the lifestyle of
it's people. One becomes tolerant of other people's ways and appreciates their positive character. For
example, a child who is familiar with the geography of the Mountain Province will understand why the
Ifugaos’ made the rice terraces.

4. It helps leaders make decisions.

Leaders who know how to use geography will be able to make wise decisions. For example, the
leaders will know what infrastructure projects will be best for a particular region. They will be able to
come up with projects that are suited to the characteristics of the place. In effect, they can use the
place's geographical features to the best advantage of the people.

5. It is important to determine the economic development of a nation.

Knowledge of the physical features and natural resources of a place is signifi- cant to investors.
For example, mineral deposits are extremely important to them. The location of their business
enterprise is also of great value. Entrepreneurs make many decisions based on geographical data. For
example, settlements along rivers (like those of the early Filipinos along the Pasig River), tend to develop
faster because of their accessibility to traders and travelers. The strategic location of a place and its
natural resources make it truly attractive to investors.

Tools in the Study of Geography

The earth's surface is reflected in three tools which make the study of its surface easy; namely,
maps, globes, and atlases.

Maps. Maps are flat projections of the earth's surface. Since all the information regarding a place or
locality cannot be contained in just one map, different kinds of maps have developed. These are the
following:
Political Map. This map shows the boundaries of governmental units or territories. Topographic Map.
This map shows the landforms of a given area.

Cadastral Map. This map shows ownership of parcels of land.

Meteorological Map. This map shows the relationship between atmosphere and

weather conditions.

Transportation Map. This map shows the highways, roads and transportation of a given area.

Historical Map. This map shows exploration or trade routes invasions, and other historical movements
of events.

Distributional Map. Also known as thematic or statistical map, this map shows the distribution of things
on the earth's surface. Example: race, species, soil, mineral deposits, etc.

Aside from the map, the globe, which is a three-dimensional representation of the earth's
surface, can facilitate the understanding of geography. Using lines that meet at the poles of the sphere,
the globe projects a continuous image of equal distance, equal areas and equal angles. The globe can
also effectively illustrate the earth's relationship with the other heavenly bodies.

A useful reference is the Atlas, which is a compilation of maps and charts of a particular region
or the entire world with materials which provide pupils with concrete illustrations of the earth's surface,
the understanding of the physical and cultural geography of peoples becomes easy.

Conclusion

The knowledge of geography is vital in understanding people. Their growth and development, and their
cultures are all affected by the geographical characteristics of their place. The understanding of peoples
and their relationship with the physical environment is the heart of geography.