Languages: Main Article
Languages: Main Article
Languages: Main Article
Language Speakers
24.44
Tagalog 22,512,089
%
21.35
Cebuano 19,665,453
%
26.09
Other local languages/dialects 24,027,005
%
Other foreign
0.09 % 78,862
languages/dialects
TOTAL 92,097,978
Ethnologue lists 186 individual languages in the Philippines, 182 of which are living languages, while
4 no longer have any known speakers. Most native languages are part of the Philippine branch of
the Malayo-Polynesian languages, which is itself a branch of the Austronesian language family.[257]
[277]
In addition, various Spanish-based creole varieties collectively called Chavacano exist.[278] There
are also many Philippine Negrito languages that have unique vocabularies that survived
Austronesian acculturation.[279]
Filipino and English are the official languages of the country.[280] Filipino is a standardized version
of Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila.[281] Both Filipino and English are used in government,
education, print, broadcast media, and business, with third local languages often being used at the
same time.[282] The Philippine constitution provides for the promotion of Spanish and Arabic on a
voluntary and optional basis.[280] Spanish, which was widely used as a lingua franca in the late
nineteenth century, has since declined greatly in use,[283] although Spanish loanwords are still present
today in Philippine languages,[284][285] while Arabic is mainly taught in Islamic schools in Mindanao.[286]
Nineteen regional languages act as auxiliary official languages used as media of
instruction: Aklanon, Bikol, Cebuano, Chavacano, Hiligaynon, Ibanag, Ilocano, Ivatan, Kapampanga
n, Kinaray-a, Maguindanao, Maranao, Pangasinan, Sambal, Surigaonon, Tagalog, Tausug, Waray,
and Yakan.[2] Other indigenous languages such
as, Cuyonon, Ifugao, Itbayat, Kalinga, Kamayo, Kankanaey, Masbateño, Romblomanon, Manobo,
and several Visayan languages are prevalent in their respective provinces.[287] Article 3 of Republic
Act No. 11106 declared the Filipino Sign Language as the national sign language of the Philippines,
specifying that it shall be recognized, supported and promoted as the medium of official
communication in all transactions involving the deaf, and as the language of instruction of deaf
education.[288][289]
Religion
Main article: Religion in the Philippines
The historical Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte. Declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine
government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of
the Philippines in 1993.
Health
Main article: Health in the Philippines
Education
Main article: Education in the Philippines
Founded in 1611, the University of Santo Tomas is the oldest extant university in Asia.