Map of the ethnic groups of the Philippines by province.
Most ethnic groups in the Philippines identify themselves based on their language and background.
The majority of the population is composed of ethno-linguistic groups whose languages are Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) in origin, that converted to Christianity, and adopted European, and American culture. These ethnic groups include the Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, and Visayan.
In Mindanao, there are several ethnic groups who converted to Islam. They are known as Moros who are governed by Muslim leaders. In the province of Bukidnon there is an ethnic group of mountain dwelling people called Binukid who speak the Binukid language. However these individuals do not practice Islam.
The Negrito are a pre-Mongoloid people that migrated from mainland Asia, were the first human beings to settle the Philippines around 30,000 years ago. The Negrito population are estimated to be numbering around 30,000 in the Philippine population. The tribal groups of the Philippines include the Ati, Igorot, and the T'boli. Their ways of life remains free from Western, and Islamic influence. They are said to be the best basis for the study of pre-Hispanic culture.
Filipinos are an Asian ethnic group, a Mongoloid people part of the Austronesian group, a group of Malay/Malayo-Polynesian speaking people. Non-Malay/Malayo Polynesian ethnic groups also form a part of the Philippine population. These include Chinese, European (Spanish, and other European people), American, and other ethnic groups. There are also mixed blood individuals known as Filipino mestizos.
[edit] Population history
There are many ethnic individuals of different languages, cultures, ancestries, and among other ethnic groups living in the Philippines. The majority of Filipinos descended from a group of Taiwanese aborigines, and Negrito who settled in the islands about 6,000, and 30,000 years ago.The first human remains discovered by Anthropologist in the Philippines was that of the Prehistoric Tabon Man found in Palawan. The archaeological evidences indicate similarities of the two early human fossils also found in Indonesia, and China called the Java Man, and Peking Man.
The following group that arrived were the Negritos who occupied several scattered areas throughout the islands. Recent archaeological evidences describe by scientist Peter Bellwood, claimed that the ancestors of Filipinos, Malaysians, Indonesians, first cross the Taiwan Strait during the Prehistoric period. These early mariners are thought to be the Austronesian people of (Malayo-Polynesian)branch. They used boats to cross the oceans, and settled in regions now known as the Malay Archipelago, the Pacific Islands, and Madagascar.
By the 14th century the Malayo-Polynesian ethnic group had gradually over populated the Negrito population. Traders from southern China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, also contributed to the ethnic, and cultural development of the islands. By the 16th century, Spanish colonization brought two new groups of people to the Philippines. These are the European, and the Native American. Europeans settled in the Philippines, and some of them intermarried with the Malayo-Polynesian population. These gave rise to the Filipino Mestizo or individuals of mixed Malayo-Polynesian, and Spanish descent. The Native Americans that were brought to the Philippines, according to author Austin Craig, nearly numbered similar to the Malayo-Polynesian population. Most of them are of Nahuatl (Aztec) or Yaqui descent, or are Mexican mestizos themselves. Some of them intermarried with the Malayo-Polynesian population. By the opening of the Suez Canal in the 1800s, the Philippines was opened for foreign trade, and there are some Europeans such as the British, Germans, and French, who have settled in the islands. By the end of Spanish colonial period, the native ethnic groups of the Philippines began calling themselves Filipinos, a term that began with persons of pure Spanish descent born in the Philippines.
United States colonization in 1898 also brought in new ethnic groups, English American, and other ethnic groups, after the Philippines came under American control following the Spanish-American War. There had been attempts by some American government officials to alter the Philippine ethnic landscape, such as by resettlement of African Americans to the Philippines, although this has not materialized.[1]
The Philippines has over 180 indigenous ethnic groups, over half of which also represent unique linguistic groups. There have been some intermarriages between indigenous peoples, and foreigners migrating to the Philippines as colonizers, and immigrants.
[edit] Indigenous ethnic groups
[edit] Bicolano
The Bicolanos originated in Bicol, Luzon. There are several Bicolano languages, of which there is a total of about 3.5 million speakers.[2]Their language is referred to as Bikol or Bicolano.
[edit] Ibanag
Main article:
Ibanag peopleThe Ibanags are an ethnic group numbering around half a million people, who inhabit the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya.
[edit] Ilocano
Main article:
Ilocano peopleThe Ibanag, Ivatan, the Ilocano people are the inhabitants of the lowlands, and coastal areas of northern Luzon.[3] 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 the word "Iloco" or "Yloco."Ilocano are also found widespread in Manila, and some towns in the Visayas, and Mindanao.Ilocanos number about 9,136,000. [3][4]
There are about 8 million native speakers of Ilocano,[5] and most of these individuals are Christians. Many Filipino-Americans are of Ilocano descent. they make up 85% of the Filipino-American population in Hawaii.
[edit] Ivatan
Main article:
Ivatan peopleThe Ivatan are predominant in the Batanes Islands of the Philippines.
[edit] Kapampangan
The Kapampangan or Capampañgan people originated from the central plains of Luzon in Bataan, and Nueva Ecija. The Kapampangan language is spoken by about two million people.[6] Most Kapampangans are Christians.[7][8]
The Moros comprise of various ethnolinguistic groups in southern, and western Mindanao who are the same as other Filipinos, but whose religion is Islam. The largest of these are the Tausug, the Maguindanao, the Maranao, the Samal, the Yakan, and the Banguingui. These ethnolinguistic groups are different in terms of culture, religion, and have been politically independent.[9] Muslim Filipinos have an independent justice, and education system based in Cotabato City. They form about 5% of the Philippine population,[10] making them the sixth largest ethnic group in the country.
[edit] Pangasinense
Pangasinense are the ninth largest Filipino ethnic group. They originated from the northwestern seaboard of Luzon. [11]
[edit] Sambal
Main article:
Sambal peopleThe Sambal are the inhabitants of the province of Zambales, and the city of Olongapo in the Philippines. Sambals currently make up a large proportion of the population in the municipalities of Zambales province north of Iba.
[edit] Tagalog
Main article:
Tagalog peopleTagalog is the main language of the Capital Manila and the surrounding provinces in CALABARZON .The Tagalogs are one of the most widespread groups of people in the Philippines. The main religion of Tagalogs is Christianity, mainly Roman Catholicism and some Protestantism,.
Tagalogs have ancestries in other ethnic groups such as East Asian and as well as some South East Asian people that migrated/settled to Manila and CALABARZON that assimilated to Tagalog.That could of established several Native Tagalog communities formed by the assimilation of various Indigenous Philippine kingdoms.[12]The Tagalog culture of the Pre-Hispanic times was totally different from its forms today although they were the most westernized out of all the Filipino ethnic groups. Tagalog culture grew steadily to accept foreign, especially Spanish, British, and American cultural influences. [13][14] [15][12][12]The Tagalog language was chosen as an official language of the Philippines in the 1930s. Today, Filipino, a de facto version of Tagalog, is taught throughout the islands.[16] There are about 22 million speakers of Tagalog.[17][12]
[edit] Visayan
Visayans are an ethnic group living in the Visayas region. Some of these individuals are also found in some parts of Mindanao. There are various Visayan languages spoken in the Central Philippine region. They include Cebuano,[18] Ilonggo,[19] and Waray-Waray.[20]
There are some ethnolinguistic groups that have languages which are classified as Visayan, but do not identify their ethnic group as Visayan, such as the Muslim Filipino ethnolinguistic group known as the Tausug. Some of these individuals only use the Visayan identity to refer to those who are Christian.[21][21][21]
Ethnic groups include the Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Waray, Romblomanon, Masbateño, Karay-a, Aklanon, Cuyonon, various dialects, and other ethnic groups.
[edit] Tribal group
There are more than 100 highland, lowland, and coastland tribal groups in the Philippines. These include:
[edit] Badjao
The Badjao are found in the Sulu Archipelago.
[edit] Igorot
The Igorot (Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankana-ey), live in the highlands of Luzon. They are primarily located in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
[edit] Ilongots
The Ilongot are a headhunting ethnic group found in the Caraballo Mountains.
The Lumad of Mindanao includes several tribes such as the Manobo, the Tasaday, the Mamanwa, the Mandaya, and the Kalagan. They primarily inhabit the eastern parts of Mindanao such as the Caraga, and Davao Regions.
[edit] Mangyan
The Mangyan are found in Mindoro.
[edit] Negrito groups
The Negrito, Aeta, Batak, and Mamanwa lived in remote areas throughout the islands.
[edit] Palawan tribes
The tribes of Palawan are a diverse group of tribes primarily located in the island of Palawan.
[edit] Non-indigenous ethnic groups
[edit] Chinese
Filipinos of Chinese ancestry forms a minority in the Philippine population.[22]Most migrations of Chinese to the Philippines started during the Spanish colonial period, when foreign trade with other countries were opened to the Philippines. Their official population is unknown.[23][24] [25]
[edit] Spanish
Filipinos of Spanish ancestry form a minority in the Philippine population. Most of these mestizos are descendance from the Spanish, and Mexican settlers who settled in the islands during the Spanish colonial period. The official population of Filipinos mixed with Spanish ancestry is unknown, however according to a research study by Stanford University, about 3.6% of the Philippine population has varied mixtures of European ancestry, from either United States or Spanish rule.[26]
[edit] American
Filipinos of American ancestry form a minority in the Philippine population. Some of these multiracial individuals are descendants of American settlers during the United States colonial period; or tourists who have settled in the Philippines in the contemporary period. Their official population is unknown.[27]
Arabs forms a minority in the Philippine population. Their official population is unknown.
[edit] Indian
East Indian forms a minority in the Philippine population. Their official population is unknown.
[edit] Japanese
Persons of Japanese descent form a minority in the Philippine population. Their official population is unknown.[28]
[edit] Jewish
Jews forms a minority in the Philippine population. Their official population is unknown.
[edit] Korean
Koreans are approximately numbered a few hundred. Most are tourist or students studying in the Philippines.[29]
[edit] Mexican
Filipinos of Mexican descent form a minority of the population. Their official population is unknown.
Other ethnic groups include British, Belgian, Dutch, Italian, German, Polish, French, Scandinavian, Brazilian, Australian, New Zealander, Belgian, Russian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, and other ethnic groups.
[edit] See also
- ^ "Senator John Tyler Morgan and Negro Colonization in the Philippines". JSTOR. http://www.jstor.org/pss/274085. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
- ^ "Bicolano, Central". Ethnologue: Languages of the world. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=bcl. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ a b CCP Encyclopedia or Philippine Art, Peoples of the Philippines, Ilocano
- ^ "The filipino Community in Hawaii". University of Hawaii, Center for Philippine studies. http://www.hawaii.edu/cps//fil-community.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ "Ilocano". Ethnologue: Languages of the world. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ilo. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ "Pampangan". Ethnologue: Languages of the world. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=pam. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ CCP Encyclopedia or Philippine Art, Peoples of the Philippines, Kapampangan
- ^ Nick Joaquin, Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine Becoming (Pasig: Anvil Publishing, 2004), 236.
- ^ Nick Joaquin, Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine Becoming (Pasig: Anvil Publishing, 2004), 226.
- ^ "Muslim Filipinos". U.S. Library of congress: Country Studies. http://countrystudies.us/philippines/38.htm. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ "The Provincial Profile of Pangasinan". www.geocities.com. http://www.geocities.com/lppsec/pp/pangasinan.htm.
- ^ a b c d CCP Encyclopedia or Philippine Art, Peoples of the Philippines, Tagalog
- ^ Tagalog, tagailog, Tagal, Katagalugan". English, Leo James. Tagalog-English Dictionary. 1990.
- ^ CCP Encyclopedia or Philippine Art, Peoples of the Philippines, Tagalog
- ^ see Joaquin, Nick: Manila, my Manila
- ^ Rubrico, Jessie Grace (1998): The Metamorphosis of Filipino as National Language
- ^ "Tagalog". Ethnologue: Languages of the world. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tgl. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ "Cebuano". Ethnologue: Languages of the world. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ceb. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ "Hiligaynon". Ethnologue: Languages of the world. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=hil. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ "Waray-Waray". Ethnologue: Languages of the world. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=war. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ a b c CCP Encyclopedia or Philippine Art, Peoples of the Philippines, Cebuano
- ^ Teodoro A. Agoncillo, History of the Filipino People (Quezon City: Garotech Publishing, 1990), p. 24
- ^ Nick Joaquin, Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine Becoming (Pasig: Anvil Publishing, 2004), 42.
- ^ Benedict Anderson, ‘Cacique Democracy in the Philippines: Origins and Dreams’, New Left Review, 169 (May-June 1988)
- ^ Gavin Sanson Bagares, Philippine Daily Inquirer, A16 (January 28, 2006)
- ^ Cristian Capelli et al. (2001). "A Predominantly Indigenous Paternal Heritage for the Austronesian-Speaking Peoples of Insular Southeast Asia and Oceania" (PDF). American Journal of Human Genetics 68: 432–443. doi:10.1086/318205. http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/AJHG_2001_v68_p432.pdf.
- ^ Joshua Project: http://joshuaproject.net/peoples.php?rop3=110448&sf=population&so=asc
- ^ City of Manila, Evolution of the City of Manila. (archived from the original on 2004-12-07).
- ^ Smart launches text service in Korean, goodnewspilipinas.com, http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/docs/tech_milestones/archived/smart_korean.html, retrieved on 2008-04-27
[edit] External links
