Geography of the Philippines the Philippines, the Sierra Madre, stretching from Quezon province in the south to Cagayan in the north. 80 percent of the mountain range is tropical rainforest, which is diminishing from rampant illegal logging activity. The range serves as the eastern wall of Luzon Island that protects inhabitants from tropical cyclones usually coming from the Pacific Ocean. The largest plain of the nation is situated in the Central Luzon region and produces most of the national rice supply, earning itself the nickname ""Rice Bowl of the Philippines"". The plains encompass the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan. South
Basketball in the Philippines the NBA. The league's regulations are a hybrid of rules from FIBA and the NBA. The league was founded in Quezon City on April 9, 1975. The PABL was established to fill the void brought about by the collapse of the MICAA in 1981. In 1978, the Philippines hosted the FIBA World Championship which marks the first time that the international tournament was held in Asia. The Philippines was suspended by FIBA in 2005 due to a leadership crisis which affected the former national basketball association of the country, the Basketball Association of the Philippines. In 2007, the Samahang Basketbol