Philippine units of measurement

A number of units of measurement were used in the Philippines to measure quantities including mass, area and capacity. Metric system has been compulsory since 1860 in the Philippines.[1]

System before metric system

Spanish units and local units were used.

Mass

A number of units were used to measure mass. One catty was equal to about 600 g.[1] Some other units are given below:

1 punto = 1/3 catty

1 chinanta = 10 catty

1 lachsa = 48 catty

1 caban = 97 catty

1 pecul = 100 catty.[1][1]

One caban of rice was equal to 133 lb while one caban of cocoa was equal to 83 1/2 lb.[2]

Area

One belita was equal to 2795 m2.[1][3] Some other units are given below:

1 loan = 0.1 balita

1 quignon = 10 balita.[1][1]

Capacity

Several units were used to measure capacity. Some units are given below:

1 kaban = 99.90 l

1 chupa = 0.000 003 75 m3

1 ganta = 1 /25 kaban

1 apatan = 1/4 chupa.[1][1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology 1. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 59.
  3. ↑ Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 151, 153. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.