Consolatrix College of Toledo City, Inc.

6038 Magsaysay Hills, Poblacion, Toledo City

Augustinian Recollect Sisters – Philippines
GE 12 – Philippine Indigenous Community
LESSON 5
Indigenous People in Central Philippines
Objectives
1. describe the way of life and traditions of the people in Central Philippines;
2. discuss the features of the Bisaya, Hilagaynon and Waray-Waray; and
3. propose solutions and measures to address the problems and issues
confronted by the ethnic groups in Central Philippines.

Central Philippines

Visayans or Visayan people, are a Philippine ethnolinguistic group native to

the whole Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and many parts of Mindanao.
They are the largest ethnic group in the geographical division of the country when
taken as a single group, numbering some 33.5 million. The Visayas broadly share a
maritime culture with strong Roman Catholic traditions merged with cultural
elements through centuries of interaction and inter-migrations mainly across the
seas of Visayas, Sibuyan, Camotes, Bohol and Sulu and in some secluded areas
merged with ancient animistic-polytheistic influences (i.e. Folk Catholicism). Most
Visayans are speakers of one or more Bisayan languages, the most widely spoken
being Cebuano, followed by Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) and Waray-Waray.

Cebuano, also called Cebuan or Sugbuhanon,

the second largest ethnolinguistic group
(after Tagalog) in the Philippines, numbering
roughly 16.5 million in the second decade of the
21st century. They speak an Austronesian (Malayo-
Polynesian) language and are sometimes grouped
with the Hiligaynon and Waray-Waray under the
generic name of Visayan (Bisayan) peoples. The
Cebuano inhabit the islands of Cebu, Siquijor,
and Bohol, as well as eastern Negros, western Leyte, southern Masbate, and
northern Mindanao.

Most Cebuano subsist through farming or fishing. The typical Cebuano village
consists of bamboo and wooden dwellings of two or three rooms, built on pilings
and thatched with palm. The diet is mainly rice and fish, with some vegetables and
fruits. In Cebu and eastern Negros, however, ground cornmeal replaces rice as the
staple cereal. Social life centres on baptisms, marriages, funerals, school programs,
annual fiestas, and the Roman Catholic religious calendar. The major Cebuano
urban centre is Cebu City, situated on the most densely populated island of the
Philippines, Cebu.

Hiligaynon, also called Ilongo, or Panayan, fourth largest ethnolinguistic

group of the Philippines, living on Panay, western Negros, southern Mindoro,
Tablas, Romblon, Sibuyan, Guimaras, and northwestern Masbate. Numbering about
6,540,000 in the late 20th century, they speak a Visayan (Bisayan) language of the
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family.

Geographically and culturally, the heartland of the Hiligaynon area lies along
both sides of the broken straits separating Panay and Negros. The coastal cities of
Iloilo, on the former, and Bacolod, on the latter, serve as economic and
administrative centres for the region. Most Hiligaynon, however, live in small rural
barrios where the main economic activity is farming or, occasionally, fishing. The
major crops are rice, corn (maize), sugarcane, and coconuts.

1
 Waray-Waray, also called Waray or Samaran or Samareño, any member of a
large ethnolinguistic group of the Philippines, living on Samar, eastern Leyte, and
Biliran islands. Numbering roughly 4.2 million in the early 21st century, they speak
a Visayan (Bisayan) language of the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family. Most
Waray-Waray are farmers and live in small villages. Although the kinship system
and family structure are almost identical to those of other Christian Filipino groups,
the Waray-Waray are considered to have retained more of the beliefs and folklore
of pre-Christian times.