The many languages and dialects in the Philippines are as diverse and are equally as

interesting as its 7,100 plus islands.

the following are the major languages in the Philippines (major meaning there are over
one million speakers):

Tagalog – This language is the basis for the national language of the country. The
previous requirement to teach and speak this language in schools nationwide resulted
to the huge increase in Tagalog-speaking Filipinos. Tagalog is mainly spoken in the
capital of Manila, the Greater Manila Area (or GMA) and the neighboring provinces
such as Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas (with variations in some
terms and in the accents). Not only that, one can go to other places around the
country and still be universally understood when he or she uses this language because
a lot of people around the country speak and understand Tagalog.

Cebuano – This was (and still is) a major contender for the Philippine language with the
highest number of native speakers (more than 20% of the entire population of the
country). It is mainly spoken in Cebu, one of the most progressive cities in the country. It
is also spoken in certain areas in Mindanao, including Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan,
Bukidnon and General Santos City.

Ilokano or Ilocano – this is spoken in the northern part of the Philippines. It is related to
other languages around the world such as Indonesian, Malay, Hawaiian, Samoan,
Tahitian and Chamorro (of Guam). With the spread of the Ilocano people around the
country, the use of this language has spread as well.

Bikolano or Bicolano – this is the language spoken in the Bicol Region, one of the
biggest regions in the country. There are said to be 8 varieties to this language,
categorized according to the geographical locations. A variation of the Bicolano
language, the Bisakol language, provides a link between Bicolano and Visayan
languages.

Hiligaynon or Ilonggo – A language known for its sweet intonation, the Hiligaynon
language is native to more than 7 million Filipinos. In addition, an additional 4 million
Filipinos know how to speak this language with a degree of proficiency. It is spoken in
Iloilo, Bacolod, PanayIslands, Capiz, Antique and Aklan. It is also spoken in some parts of
Mindanao such as in North and South Cotabato. , known for its melting pot of various
regions and languages, also has its own share of Hiligaynon-speaking Filipinos.

Waray – this is another language spoken in the Visayas islands (the middle part of the
country). It is spoken in Samar and Leyte and is closely associated with the Waray
people who are known for their toughness and strength.
Kapampangan – this is a major language found in the Luzon island or the northern part
of the country. It is spoken by people from the Pampanga province, a portion of Tarlac
and a portion of Bataan. It is also called Pampangueño.

Pangasinense – the language of the Pangasinan province (with a total population of

more than 2 million). Pangasinan is a province in Central Luzon. This language is closely-
related to the Ibaloi language, which is spoken in the mountain province of Benguet
and in BaguioCity (the summer capital of the Philippines).

To demonstrate how different these languages are, shown below are the translations of
selected English words to the respective local languages:

Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_Philippines

These are the major languages spoken in the country. There are a lot more such
languages such as those spoken in Mindanaolike Chavacano (a language spoken in
Zamboanga City and is closely related to the Spanish language); Surigaonon; Tausug
(language spoken by a Muslim tribe bearing the same name); Maranao (another
Muslim language); and Butuanon. These various languages highlight not only the
regionalistic differences of the Philippines but also the uniqueness of each of the regions
found within the country. Some of these languages are slowly declining in use or are
slowly merging with other languages. A conscious effort to revive these languages may
be needed in the long run to ensure their long-term survival.