I have noticed that Filipinos, especially the young, are poor in geography. It is understandable that they may have little knowledge about international geography; however, it is not excusable having no knowledge about Philippine geography. I can't help but wonder what teachers are teaching in schools. Well, sad to say, based on experience, my schools never taught geography.
When playing Pinoy Henyo, a strategy is to observe some rules. These rules help you avoid to experience a mental block.
- Think logically. Be cohesive. Do not reply in random.
- The easiest to thinking logically is to visualize order. For example, when enumerating cities, visualize how the cities are positioned geographically on a map. To illustrate, to mention the 17 cities in NCR (Pateros included which is not yet a city), start with Caloocan down to Muntinlupa.
- An alternative is to mention the places alphabetically. But this may take time if you have to go through each letter in the alphabet; unless you already have an idea beforehand which letters make the names of the places.
- Mention words that are related every time.
- Association or homogeneous technique. Name places that are related or associated, either by letters or by any other means. For example, Manila and Quezon City were both made capital of the Philippines.
- Rule of three's. You will easily remember words if you mention them in 3s. Also, speak words in 3s for better auditory understanding. Pause for a sec every 3 words you mention.
- Chunk technique. Group related words in chunks instead of enumerating a long list.
- Observe logic. Be cohesive. Do not reply in random. Mention words that are related every time.
- As much as possible, limit your answers to yes or no only. If answering puede may just cause confusion, do not say it unless you want to lead your partner to the right direction.
Main Category: Lugar (Place)
Lugar has two major categories: Philippines and Abroad. In this post, we list places in the Philippines.
To narrow down your choices, break Philippines into three categories: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao.
Further, if Luzon, there are three subcategories: North, South, NCR. North refers to regions north of NCR; while South refers to regions south of NCR.
If NCR, immediately enumerate all the cities of NCR including Pateros, which is not yet a city; but for the purpose of the game, assume that it is one of them.
Categories: Lugar > Philippines > Luzon > NCR
Following is the list of cities (and one municipality) in NCR listed alphabetically. There are only 17. If your strategy is to enumerate the places alphabetically, study first the list to avoid going through all the letters of the alphabet.
First take note of the first and last letters -- which are C and V which stand for Caloocan and Valenzuela. Notice also that there are more Ms and Ps in the list; there's only one L and one N. So that you don't miss L and N, think LMN. Then enumerate the Ps. The remaining single letters are QST; just think QRST then eliminate the R. Now, practice.
- Caloocan
- Las Pinas
- Makati
- Malabon
- Mandaluyong
- Manila
- Marikina
- Muntinlupa
- Navotas
- Parañaque
- Pasay City
- Pasig
- Pateros
- Quezon City
- San Juan City
- Taguig
- Valenzuela
Technique and Strategies to Easily Recall the cities of NCR
If you are having a hard time enumerating the cities of NCR alphabetically, try by geographic location starting from the top. It is much easier to remember all the cities.
The topmost city of NCR is Caloocan; the southernmost is Muntinlupa. With that in memory, you are preparing your mind that you would be enumerating the NCR list of cities from top to bottom.
After Caloocan, mention the cities by the bay which are: Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela. So, here's how you are going to say it. (Note that the cities are listed alphabetically.)
Lugar: Philippines > Luzon > NCR > Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela.
Then, add to the list the two cities that were once capital of the Philippines: Manila and Quezon City. Thus, you say:
Philippines > Luzon > NCR > Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela | Manila, Quezon City
Cities that were formerly part of Manila
Four cities used to be part of Manila namely: San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay. It is easier to remember these four cities geographically rather than alphabetically. Examine the map. These are the cities you pass by riding the MRT via EDSA. Just think of the MRT stations: Ortigas, Crossing, Ayala, Taft.
Thus, your list goes like this:
Philippines > Luzon > NCR > Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela | Manila, Quezon City | San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay
Note how the list is chunked into smaller groups as denoted by the vertical bar. It is easier to recall the list if you chunk them in smaller groups.
Cities in NCR that were formerly part of the province of Rizal
And lastly, add to the list the cities and town that were formerly municipalities of the province of Rizal, namely:
- Marikina
- Pasig
- Pateros
- Taguig
- Parañaque
- Las Piñas
- Muntinlupa.
In some cases, you may have to mention City. For example, if Pasay is correct but not quite, then it must be Pasay City. If Pasay City is neither exactly correct, then it must popular places in Pasay City which are, there are only a few: NAIA, Cultural Center of the Philippines, PICC, (part of) Roxas Boulevard, (part of) Manila Bay, Villamor / Villamor Airbase, Cartimar, Leveriza, Libertad, Nichols, Tramo.
It is unlikely that long names such Cultural Center of the Philippines will be asked. Unpopular roads are also unlikely to be asked.
Finally, this is how your list should go:
Philippines > Luzon > NCR >
- Caloocan (top most)
- Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (cities by the bay)
- Manila, Quezon City (capitals of the Philippines)
- San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay (formerly part of Manila)
- Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Parañaque, Las Piñas (formerly part of Rizal)
- Muntinlupa (bottom most)
Recalling the Cities of NCR via Main Thoroughfares
Another way to remember the list of the cities so that you do not miss a thing, imagine you are traveling from Bulacan to Laguna via NLEX, EDSA then SLEX.
As you leave Bulacan, the very first city in Metro Manila that you will pass by is Valenzuela. As you enter the Balintawak Toll Plaza, you would have reached the lower part of Caloocan. (The upper and lower Caloocan are separated by a portion of Valenzuela).
As you pass by the Eternal Gardens, across is the entrance to Malabon. Adjacent to Malabon is Navotas, which is nearest by the bay.
Once you reach the Balintawak Clover Leaf, you have reached Quezon City. Unless you take the Metro Manila Skyway route, you are bound for Manila; otherwise, ply the route via EDSA riding the MRT. You will be passing by five MRT stations in Quezon City.
As you exit the Santolan MRT station (sandwiched by Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo), you would be passing by San Juan, then Mandaluyong as you approach Ortigas station. Once you are introduced to the site of Megamall, just behind it is Pasig.
As you cross the Pasig River, you are now entering the city of Makati. There are four MRT stations in Makati, the fourth of which is Magallanes.
Now off to SLEX. As you pass by the Villamor Airbase, you are now passing through Pasay City. Opposite the Villamor Airbase is what is now Taguig, the claimed portion of Makati. As you pass by the Bicutan Exit, you are now traversing Parañaque, and then to Muntinlupa. You would know you are in Muntinlupa once you have reached Alabang.
There's one city that you would not be crossing; and that's Las Piñas. Las Piñas is in the western part of Parañaque and Muntinlupa. You would also not passing by Pateros, which is the only municipality in NCR. Pateros is bounded by Pasig, Makati and Taguig.
What if it's not a city
What if the player said Yes to one of the cities you mentioned but not exactly the correct answer. This means that you are looking for a famous place or destination in that city. It could be a famous landmark, a district or a highway.
Famous districts in Manila and famous destinations
- Binondo (Escolta, Ongpin, Jones Bridge)
- Ermita (Luneta, Rizal Park, Quirino Grandstand, Liwasang Bonifacio, Lawton)
- Intramuros (Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago)
- Malate (Roxas Blvd, Manila Zoo, Rizal Memorial Stadium)
- Paco (Plaza Dilao, Paco Park)
- Pandacan
- Quiapo (Plaza Miranda)
- Sampaloc (University Belt, Dangwa)
- San Andres
- San Miguel (Mendiola, Ayala Bridge, Malacañan Palace)
- Santa Ana
- Santa Cruz (Rizal Avenue)
- Santa Mesa
- Tondo (Divisoria)
Famous destinations in Manila crossing multiple districts
- Roxas Blvd
- Quezon Blvd
- Taft Avenue
Other popular destinations in other cities in NCR
- MUNTINLUPA: Alabang
- QUEZON CITY: Cubao, Diliman, Eastwood City, EDSA Shrine, Quezon Memorial Circle, Tomas Morato
- SAN JUAN: Pinaglabanan
- MANDALUYONG: Crossing, Kalentong, Shaw Boulevard
- MAKATI: Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, Buendia, Guadalupe
- PASAY: NAIA, MIA
- PASIG: Ortigas
- TAGUIG: BGC
Popular destinations across NCR
Some places can be found across adjacent cities in Metro Manila.
- EDSA
- SLEX
- NLEX
- Pasig River
Famous Bridges in NCR
- MacArthur Bridge (in Manila)
- Jones Bridge (in Manila)
- Ayala Bridge (in Manila)
- Guadalupe Bridge (in Makati)
- Nagtahan Bridge (in Manila)
Categories: Lugar > Philippines > Luzon > North
If the place is not in NCR, then it could either be in Northern Luzon or Southern Luzon. For the purpose of the Pinoy Henyo game, NORTH refers to places or mainly provinces north of NCR. There are only 4 regions in the NORTH of Luzon.
- Region 1 (Ilocos Region)
- Region 2 (Cagayan Valley)
- Region 3 (Central Luzon)
- Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR
If you could imagine the map of the Philippines. at the topmost (northern part), in the West or left side of the map is Region 1 – that's the Ilocos Region where you find Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. On the right side is Region 2, the eastern part – that's Cagayan Valley. Between Regions 1 and 2, is the mountainous part of northern Luzon which is called the Cordillera where you find Benguet, the famous city of which is Baguio. Below these 3 regions is the Central Luzon or Region 3 where you find Pampanga, Bulacan, etc.
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