The Philippines is home to over 175 ethnolinguistic groups, most speaking Austronesian languages. Many coastal groups converted to Christianity and incorporated foreign cultural elements. Major groups include Ilocano, Tagalog, Visayans, Zamboangueño, and Subanon. In Mindanao and Sulu, some practice Islam and were called Moros by the Spanish. Indigenous Lumad groups live in Mindanao highlands and marshes, maintaining animist beliefs. The Negrito were the earliest settlers, including the Ati and Aeta who remain relatively isolated with 31,000 members estimated in 2004.
The Philippines is home to over 175 ethnolinguistic groups, most speaking Austronesian languages. Many coastal groups converted to Christianity and incorporated foreign cultural elements. Major groups include Ilocano, Tagalog, Visayans, Zamboangueño, and Subanon. In Mindanao and Sulu, some practice Islam and were called Moros by the Spanish. Indigenous Lumad groups live in Mindanao highlands and marshes, maintaining animist beliefs. The Negrito were the earliest settlers, including the Ati and Aeta who remain relatively isolated with 31,000 members estimated in 2004.
The Philippines is home to over 175 ethnolinguistic groups, most speaking Austronesian languages. Many coastal groups converted to Christianity and incorporated foreign cultural elements. Major groups include Ilocano, Tagalog, Visayans, Zamboangueño, and Subanon. In Mindanao and Sulu, some practice Islam and were called Moros by the Spanish. Indigenous Lumad groups live in Mindanao highlands and marshes, maintaining animist beliefs. The Negrito were the earliest settlers, including the Ati and Aeta who remain relatively isolated with 31,000 members estimated in 2004.
175 ethnolinguistic nations, the majority of whose languages are Austronesian in origin. Many of these nations converted to Christianity, particularly the lowland-coastal nations, and adopted foreign elements of culture. Ethnolinguistic nations include the Ilocano, Ivatan, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Tagalog, B icolano, Visayans (Aklanon, Boholano, Butuanon, Capizno n, Cebuano, Cuyonon, Eskaya, Hiligaynon, Karay- a, Masbateño, Porohanon, Romblomanon, Suludnon, Suri gaonon and Waray-Waray), Zamboangueño, Subanon, and more. In western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, there are ethnolinguistic nations who practice Islam. The Spanish called them Moros after the Moors, despite no resemblance or cultural ties to them apart from their religion. In the Agusan Marsh and the highlands of Mindanao, there are native ethnic groups collectively known as the Lumad. Most maintain their animistic beliefs and traditions, though some of them have converted to Christianity as well. The Negrito were among the earliest humans to settle the Philippines. The first known were the people of the Tabon man remains. The Negrito population was estimated in 2004 at around 31,000. Their tribal groups include the Ati, and the Aeta. Their ways of life remain mostly free from Western and Islamic influences.