Bisaya
Encyclopedia
The Visayans are a Filipino ethnic group
whose members are speakers of one or more Visayan languages
, the most widely spoken being Cebuano
, Hiligaynon
, and Waray-Waray
. They live in the Visayan island group
and in many parts of Mindanao
. Some have migrated
to other parts of the Philippines, including Luzon
. The Visayans are the largest Filipino ethnic group, numbering at around as of 2010 98 million.
and Negrito
s who migrated steadily to the islands since about 30,000 years ago. These early settlers were Animist tribal groups. In the 12th century, settlers from the collapsing empire of the Sri-Vijayan, Majapahit and Brunei
, settled in the Visayan islands. By the 14th century, Arab
traders and their followers venturing into the Malay Archipelago
, converted some of these tribal groups into Muslims. These tribes practiced a mixture of Islam and Animism beliefs. There is also some evidence of trade and immigration between other Asian people in the area as early as the 9th century.
The Visayans first encountered Western Civilization
when Portuguese
explorer Ferdinand Magellan
reached the island of Cebu
on March 16, 1521. The Visayas eventually became part of the Spanish colony of the Philippines
and from then onwards, the history of the Visayans is intertwined with the history the Philippines. With the four centuries of contact with Spain
, Mexico
and the United States
, a common lowland Christian Filipino culture
emerged (other Filipino cultures include that of the Muslim Filipinos). The Visayans share this culture with the Ilocanos
, Kapampangans
, Tagalogs
, and Bicolanos
. These ethnolinguistic groups form the majority of the Filipino population and have embraced Democracy
, Christianity
, the Latin alphabet
, western ways of dressing and education, and English
as a secondary language. Many Visayans also spoke Spanish during the Spanish period.
The 16th century marks the beginning of the Christianization of the Visayan people, with the baptism of Rajah Humabon
and about 800 native Cebuanos. The Christianization of the Visayans and Filipinos in general, is commemorated by the Sinulog festival and the feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child), the brown-skinned depiction of the Child Jesus given by Magellan to Rajah Humabon’s wife, Hara Amihan (baptized as Queen Juana). By the 17th century, Visayans already took part in religious missions. In 1672, Pedro Calungsod
, a teenage indigenous Visayan catechist and Diego Luis de San Vitores
, a Spanish friar, were both martyred in Guam
during their mission to preach Christianity to the Chamorro people.
Some prominent leaders of the Philippine Revolution
in the late 19th century were Visayans. Among leaders of the Propaganda movement was Graciano López Jaena
, the Ilonggo who established La Solidaridad
(The Solidarity). Pantaleon Villegas (better known as León Kilat
) led the Cebuano revolution in the battle of Tres de Abril (3rd of April). One of his successors, Arcadio Maxilom
, is a prominent general in the Philippine-American War
.
There have been three Philippine Presidents
from the Visayan region: the Cebuano Sergio Osmeña
, the Ilonggo Manuel Roxas
and the Boholano Carlos P. García
. In addition the Visayas has produced three Vice-Presidents, four Senate Presidents
, eight Speakers of the House, six Chief Justices
,and five Presidential Spouses including Imelda Marcos
.In international diplomacy the Visayas has produced a United Nations Undersecretary general, the Negros Occidental
native Rafael M. Salas
who served as the Head of the UNFPA. In the lines of religion, there have been two Visayan Cardinals
, and a saint; Pedro Calungsod
. The business magnate Jon Ramon Aboitiz
is from Cebu.
Throughout the centuries, Spaniards, Japanese,Chinese, and other groups have settled in Visayan cities like Bacolod
, Cebu
, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Iloilo
, Ormoc
and Mindanao
cities like Cagayan de Oro and Davao
. Many of them have intermarried with Visayans and their descendants have taken on Visayan as their primary language. Many high-land Negritos have also been assimilated into mainstream Visayan society.
Visayans have likewise migrated to other parts of the Philippines and abroad. A large part of Mindanao
is populated by Visayans. In Metro Manila
, many are of Visayan descent. The Visayans have also followed the pattern of migration of Filipinos abroad
and some have migrated to other parts of the world starting from the Spanish and American period and after World War II
. Most are migrants or working as overseas contract workers.
Kabisay-an refers both to the Visayan people collectively and the lands occupied by them. The English translation, Visayas, is used only to refer to the latter. From a geopolitical standpoint, the Philippine region of the Visayas comprises the following islands: Panay
, Romblon
, Guimaras
, Negros, Cebu, Bohol
, Siquijor
, Leyte
, Biliran
and Samar
.
Visayans refer to their respective languages as Binisaya or Bisaya. The table below lists the Philippine languages classified as Visayan by the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Although all of them belong to the same language family of Visayan, not all speakers identify themselves as Visayan. The Tausūg ethnic group, for instance, only use Bisaya to refer to Christian Visayan-speakers.
According to the same survey, "Majority (92 percent) of the household population in Central Visayas Region were Roman Catholics. This was followed by Aglipayan (two percent) and Evangelicals (one percent). The remaining five percent belonged to other religions that include United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iglesia ni Cristo or other religions."
For Eastern Visayas, "Majority of the total household population in Eastern Visayas were Roman Catholics. It comprised more than 93 percent of the total household population, followed by Aglipayan (two percent) and Evangelicals (one percent). The remaining 15 percent were either Iglesia ni Cristo,Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Islam and other religions."
Visayans are known in the Philippines for their festivities such as the Ati-atihan
, Sinulog
, Dinagyang, Sandugo
and the MassKara
festivals.
Ethnic groups in the Philippines
The Philippine islands are inhabited by number of different ethnic groups. The majority of the population is composed of ethnolinguistic groups whose languages are Austronesian in origin. Many of these groups converted to Christianity, and adopted many foreign elements of culture...
whose members are speakers of one or more Visayan languages
Visayan languages
The Visayan languages of the Philippines, along with Tagalog and Bikol, are part of the Central Philippine languages...
, the most widely spoken being Cebuano
Cebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
, Hiligaynon
Hiligaynon language
Hiligaynon, often referred to as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian language spoken in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.Hiligaynon is concentrated in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Capiz but is also spoken in the other provinces of the Panay Island group, including Antique,...
, and Waray-Waray
Waray-Waray language
Wáray-Wáray or Samarnon is a language spoken in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and in some parts of the Leyte and Biliran in the Philippines...
. They live in the Visayan island group
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
and in many parts of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. Some have migrated
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
to other parts of the Philippines, including Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
. The Visayans are the largest Filipino ethnic group, numbering at around as of 2010 98 million.
History
The early people on the Visayas region were AustronesiansAustronesian people
The Austronesian-speaking peoples are various populations in Oceania and Southeast Asia that speak languages of the Austronesian family. They include Taiwanese aborigines; the majority ethnic groups of East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Madagascar, Micronesia, and Polynesia,...
and Negrito
Negrito
The Negrito are a class of several ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia.Their current populations include 12 Andamanese peoples of the Andaman Islands, six Semang peoples of Malaysia, the Mani of Thailand, and the Aeta, Agta, Ati, and 30 other peoples of the Philippines....
s who migrated steadily to the islands since about 30,000 years ago. These early settlers were Animist tribal groups. In the 12th century, settlers from the collapsing empire of the Sri-Vijayan, Majapahit and Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, settled in the Visayan islands. By the 14th century, Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
traders and their followers venturing into the Malay Archipelago
Malay Archipelago
The Malay Archipelago refers to the archipelago between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia. The name was derived from the anachronistic concept of a Malay race....
, converted some of these tribal groups into Muslims. These tribes practiced a mixture of Islam and Animism beliefs. There is also some evidence of trade and immigration between other Asian people in the area as early as the 9th century.
The Visayans first encountered Western Civilization
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
when Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
explorer Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
reached the island of Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
on March 16, 1521. The Visayas eventually became part of the Spanish colony of the Philippines
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
and from then onwards, the history of the Visayans is intertwined with the history the Philippines. With the four centuries of contact with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a common lowland Christian Filipino culture
Hispanic culture in the Philippines
Hispanic influence on Filipino culture are customs and traditions of the Philippines which originated from three centuries of Spanish colonization. Filipinos today speak a variety of different languages; the most common being Ilocano, Tagalog, Cebuano, English and Spanish...
emerged (other Filipino cultures include that of the Muslim Filipinos). The Visayans share this culture with the Ilocanos
Ilocano people
The Ilocano or Ilokano people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. Aside from being referred to as Ilocanos, from "i"-from, and "looc"-bay, they also refer to themselves as Samtoy, from the Ilocano phrase "sao mi ditoy", meaning 'our language here.' The word "Ilocano" came from...
, Kapampangans
Kapampangan people
The Kapampangans or Capampan͠gans are the sixth largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group, numbering about 2,890,000. The original Kapampangans may have descended from Austronesian-speaking immigrants to Luzon during the Iron Age.The province of Pampanga is traditional homeland of the Kapampangans...
, Tagalogs
Tagalog people
The Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
, and Bicolanos
Bicolano people
The Bicolanos are the fifth-largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.-Area:Bicolanos live in the southeastern peninsula of Luzon, now containing the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. Many Bicolanos also live near in the province of...
. These ethnolinguistic groups form the majority of the Filipino population and have embraced Democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, the Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
, western ways of dressing and education, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as a secondary language. Many Visayans also spoke Spanish during the Spanish period.
The 16th century marks the beginning of the Christianization of the Visayan people, with the baptism of Rajah Humabon
Rajah Humabon
Rajah Humabon was the Rajah of Cebu at the time of Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in the Philippines in 1521. There is no official record of his existence before the Spanish arrival, but extensive narration by Italian historian Antonio Pigafetta was made on Humabon and the...
and about 800 native Cebuanos. The Christianization of the Visayans and Filipinos in general, is commemorated by the Sinulog festival and the feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child), the brown-skinned depiction of the Child Jesus given by Magellan to Rajah Humabon’s wife, Hara Amihan (baptized as Queen Juana). By the 17th century, Visayans already took part in religious missions. In 1672, Pedro Calungsod
Pedro Calungsod
Blessed Pedro Calungsod is a Filipino Roman Catholic martyr who was killed while doing missionary work in Guam in 1672. He was beatified on March 5, 2000, by Pope John Paul II. As a skilled sacristan and teacher of cathecism, he was a companion of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to the Marianas...
, a teenage indigenous Visayan catechist and Diego Luis de San Vitores
Diego Luis de San Vitores
Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores was a Spanish Jesuit missionary who founded the first Catholic church on the island of Guam. He is responsible for establishing the Spanish presence in the Mariana Islands.-Early life:...
, a Spanish friar, were both martyred in Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
during their mission to preach Christianity to the Chamorro people.
Some prominent leaders of the Philippine Revolution
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
in the late 19th century were Visayans. Among leaders of the Propaganda movement was Graciano López Jaena
Graciano López Jaena
Graciano López Jaena was a Filipino journalist, orator, and revolutionary from Iloilo, well known for his written work, La Solidaridad....
, the Ilonggo who established La Solidaridad
La solidaridad
La Solidaridad was an organization created in Spain on December 13, 1888. Composed of Filipino liberals exiled in 1872 and students attending Europe's universities, the organization aimed to increase Spanish awareness of the needs of its colony, the Philippines, and to propagate a closer...
(The Solidarity). Pantaleon Villegas (better known as León Kilat
León Kilat
Pantaleón Villegas better known as León Kilat , was a revolutionary leader in Cebu during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. He was born in Bacong, Negros Oriental, to Don Policarpio Villegas and Doña Ursula Soldi...
) led the Cebuano revolution in the battle of Tres de Abril (3rd of April). One of his successors, Arcadio Maxilom
Arcadio Maxilom
General Arcadio Maxilom y Molero was a Filipino teacher and hero of the Philippine Revolution.He was born in Tuburan, Cebu to Roberto Maxilom, the town gobernadorcillo, and Gregoria Molero. His family were members of the local gentry, or principalía...
, is a prominent general in the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
.
There have been three Philippine Presidents
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
from the Visayan region: the Cebuano Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
, the Ilonggo Manuel Roxas
Manuel Roxas
Manuel Acuña Roxas was the first president of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines and fifth president overall. He served as president from the granting of independence in 1946 until his abrupt death in 1948...
and the Boholano Carlos P. García
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
. In addition the Visayas has produced three Vice-Presidents, four Senate Presidents
President of the Senate of the Philippines
The President of the Senate of the Philippines, or more popularly known as the Senate President, is the presiding officer and the highest ranking-official of the Senate of the Philippines. He/she is elected by the entire body to be their leader...
, eight Speakers of the House, six Chief Justices
Chief Justice of the Philippines
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines presides over the Supreme Court of the Philippines and is the highest judicial officer of the government of the Philippines...
,and five Presidential Spouses including Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos
Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986...
.In international diplomacy the Visayas has produced a United Nations Undersecretary general, the Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
native Rafael M. Salas
Rafael M. Salas
Rafael M. Salas , was the first head of the United Nations Population Fund from its inception in 1969 up to his death in 1987 . Salas is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines...
who served as the Head of the UNFPA. In the lines of religion, there have been two Visayan Cardinals
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
, and a saint; Pedro Calungsod
Pedro Calungsod
Blessed Pedro Calungsod is a Filipino Roman Catholic martyr who was killed while doing missionary work in Guam in 1672. He was beatified on March 5, 2000, by Pope John Paul II. As a skilled sacristan and teacher of cathecism, he was a companion of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to the Marianas...
. The business magnate Jon Ramon Aboitiz
Jon Ramon Aboitiz
Jon Ramon Aboitiz, is a Filipino businessman, and the president of the Aboitiz & Co., and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., part of the Aboitiz Group...
is from Cebu.
Throughout the centuries, Spaniards, Japanese,Chinese, and other groups have settled in Visayan cities like Bacolod
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
, Cebu
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
, Ormoc
Ormoc City
The City of Ormoc is a 1st class city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. The city's name is derived from ogmok, an old Visayan term for lowland or depressed plain. It is the first non-provincial city of the Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 177,524 people...
and Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
cities like Cagayan de Oro and Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
. Many of them have intermarried with Visayans and their descendants have taken on Visayan as their primary language. Many high-land Negritos have also been assimilated into mainstream Visayan society.
Visayans have likewise migrated to other parts of the Philippines and abroad. A large part of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
is populated by Visayans. In Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, many are of Visayan descent. The Visayans have also followed the pattern of migration of Filipinos abroad
Overseas Filipino
An Overseas Filipino is a person of Philippine origin who lives outside of the Philippines. This term applies both to people of Filipino ancestry who are citizens or residents of a different country and to those Filipino citizens abroad on a more temporary status.Most overseas Filipinos migrate to...
and some have migrated to other parts of the world starting from the Spanish and American period and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Most are migrants or working as overseas contract workers.
Language
Kabisay-an refers both to the Visayan people collectively and the lands occupied by them. The English translation, Visayas, is used only to refer to the latter. From a geopolitical standpoint, the Philippine region of the Visayas comprises the following islands: Panay
Panay Island
Panay is an island in the Philippines located in the western part of the Visayas. Politically, it is divided into five provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo, all in the Western Visayas Region. It is located southeast of the island of Mindoro and northwest of Negros, separated by the...
, Romblon
Romblon
Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon....
, Guimaras
Guimaras
Guimaras is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The island is located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros...
, Negros, Cebu, Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
, Siquijor
Siquijor
Siquijor is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality also named Siquijor. To the northwest of Siquijor are Cebu and Negros, to the northeast is Bohol and to the south, across the Bohol Sea, is Mindanao.Siquijor is the third...
, Leyte
Leyte Island
Leyte is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines.The island measures about 180 km north-south and about 65 km at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km in some places...
, Biliran
Biliran
In 1945 liberated by the Philippine Commonwealth forces of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was landed in Biliran with the local guerrilla forces by the attack of the Japanese troops from the island during the Battle of Biliran during World War II.-Conversion:On April...
and Samar
Samar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
.
Visayans refer to their respective languages as Binisaya or Bisaya. The table below lists the Philippine languages classified as Visayan by the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Although all of them belong to the same language family of Visayan, not all speakers identify themselves as Visayan. The Tausūg ethnic group, for instance, only use Bisaya to refer to Christian Visayan-speakers.
| Language | Speakers | Date/source | Aklanon | 1990 census | Ati Ati (tribe) The Ati is a Negrito ethnic group in Panay, which is located in the Visayas , the central portion of the Philippine archipelago... |
1980 SIL | Bantoanon(Asi ASI -Names:* ASI Solutions, an Australian IT company* Asi, a Russian name for the Ossetians* Asi, another name for the Orontes River* Asi language, a language spoken by Bantoanons from the island of Banton, Philippines... ) |
2002 SIL | Butuanon Butuanon Butuanon may refer to:*The Butuanon language, an Austronesian language and member of the Visayan language family, spoken in the Philippines.*The Butuanon people, speakers of the Butuanon language.... |
1990 census | Caluyanon Caluyanon language Caluyanon is a dialect of the Kinaray-a language and spoken in the Caluya Islands, Antique in the Philippines. Most of its speakers use Hiligaynon as their second language.-External links:*... |
1994 SIL | Capiznon Capiznon Capiznon is an Austronesian language spoken in Western Visayas in the Philippines. Capiznon is concentrated in the province of Capiz in the northeast of Panay Island.... |
2000 | Cebuano Cebuano language Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino... |
1 | 1995 census | Cuyonon Cuyonon language Cuyonon is a language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.-External links:*, cuyonon.org... |
1990 census | Hiligaynon Hiligaynon language Hiligaynon, often referred to as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian language spoken in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.Hiligaynon is concentrated in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Capiz but is also spoken in the other provinces of the Panay Island group, including Antique,... |
1 | 1995 | Inonhan Onhan language The Onhan language is a Kinaray-a language spoken, along with the Romblomanon and Asi languages, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. The language is also known as Inunhan and Loocnon.... |
2000 WCD | Kinaray-A Kinaray-a language Kinaray-a is an Austronesian language spoken mainly in Antique Province in the Philippines. It is also spoken in Iloilo province, the south of Capiz Province, and certain villages in Mindanao that trace their roots to Antique Province or Kinaray-a speaking areas of Iloilo and Capiz Provinces... |
1994 SIL | Malaynon | 1973 SIL | Masbatenyo Masbatenyo language Masbateño is a Visayan language spoken by more than 600,000 people, primarily in the province of Masbate in the Philippines. It is close to Capiznon and Hiligaynon , both spoken on Panay... |
2002 SIL | Porohanon Porohanon Porohanon are the people of Poro island, Cebu in the Philippines. They are part of the wider Visayan ethnolinguistic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. They speak the Porohanon language, and Cebuano as their second language.... |
Ratagnon Ratagnon Ratagnon is one of the eight indigenous groups of Mangyan in the southernmost tip of Occidental Mindoro and the Mindoro Islands along the Sulu Sea. Today only around 2 to 5 people constitute the group, and the Ratagnon language is nearly extinct.... |
2000 Wurm | Romblomanon(Ini Ini Ini was a king at Thebes, Egypt, during the 8th century BCE.Menkheperre Ini or Iny Si-Ese Meryamun was probably Rudamun's successor at Thebes but was not a member of his predecessor's 23rd Dynasty. Unlike the 23rd dynasty rulers, he was a local king who ruled only at Thebes for at least 4–5 years... ) |
1987 SIL | Sorsogon Sorsogon Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region; it is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City and borders the province of Albay to the north... , Masbate |
1975 census | Sorsogon Sorsogon Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region; it is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City and borders the province of Albay to the north... , Waray |
1975 census | Surigaonon Surigaonon language Surigaonon is a local Philippine language spoken by Surigaonon people in the province of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and some portion of Agusan del Norte especially the towns near the Mainit Lake... |
1990 census | Tausug Tausug language Tausūg is a language spoken in the province of Sulu in the Philippines, in Malaysia, and in Indonesia by the Tausūg people.... |
2 | 2000 SIL | Waray-Waray Waray language Waray may refer to:* The Waray language of Australia* The Waray-Waray language of the Philippines... |
1990 census | Total | 33,463,654 |
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Religion
According to a survey made in 2000, "Majority (86.53 percent) of the population of Western Visayas were Roman Catholics. Aglipayan (4.01 percent) and Evangelicals (1.48 percent), followed, while 7.71 percent belonged to other religious affiliations."According to the same survey, "Majority (92 percent) of the household population in Central Visayas Region were Roman Catholics. This was followed by Aglipayan (two percent) and Evangelicals (one percent). The remaining five percent belonged to other religions that include United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iglesia ni Cristo or other religions."
For Eastern Visayas, "Majority of the total household population in Eastern Visayas were Roman Catholics. It comprised more than 93 percent of the total household population, followed by Aglipayan (two percent) and Evangelicals (one percent). The remaining 15 percent were either Iglesia ni Cristo,Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Islam and other religions."
Festivals
Ati-Atihan Festival
The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño , concluding on the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines....
, Sinulog
Sinulog festival
The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. The festival commemorates the Cebuano people's pagan origin, and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism....
, Dinagyang, Sandugo
Sandugo Festival
The Sandugo Festival is an annual historical celebration that takes place every year in Tagbilaran City on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. This festival commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi...
and the MassKara
MassKara Festival
The MassKara Festival is a festival held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province in the Philippines every third weekend of October nearest October 19, the city's Charter Inauguration Anniversary.-History:...
festivals.
External links
- Visayan Languages
- Visayan
- The issues on the use of the word ‘Bisaya’ by Henry Funtecha, Ph.D. The News Today. August 28, 2009 Iloilo City, Philippines.