All three quakes had epicentres about 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north-east of Calapan town but were also felt by residents in Manila, about 140 kilometres (88 miles) away, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
A 5.2 quake at 10:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) Friday was followed by another of 3.7 at 1:27 am Saturday and a third of 4.7 at 8:09 am, the institute added.
The US Geological Survey however measured the quakes at 5.8, 5.6 and 5.5.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are not strong enough to generate a tsunami, the Philippine institute said, adding that they did not indicate a bigger quake was coming.
Tsunamis are usually generated by a quake of magnitude of about 7.0, the institute said.
The Philippines is part of the so-called "Ring of Fire" of volcanic islands along the western rim of the Pacific Ocean that sit on unstable earth plates and are prone to earthquakes.
Although about 10 quakes hit the Philippines every day, few are felt. Only three major, destructive tremors have been recorded in more than 30 years, according to the institute.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2006