VisayasThe Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Visayan: Kabisay-an, Cebuano pronunciation:; Filipino: Kabisayaan), are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, it consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are also considered the northeast extremity of the entire Sulu Sea. Its inhabitants are predominantly the Visayan peoples.
Ethnic groups in the PhilippinesThe Philippines is inhabited by more than 185 ethnolinguistic groups, many of which are classified as "Indigenous Peoples" under the country's Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997. Traditionally Muslim minorities from the southernmost island group of Mindanao are usually categorized together as Moro peoples, whether they are classified as Indigenous peoples or not. About 142 are classified as non-Muslim Indigenous people groups.
Cebuano languageCebuano ( se-BWAH-noh) is an Austronesian language spoken in the southern Philippines by the Bisaya people and other ethnic groups as a secondary language.
MindanaoIsland in the PhilippinesMindanao ( , ) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of the same name that also includes its adjacent islands, notably the Sulu Archipelago. According to the 2020 census, Mindanao had a population of 26,252,442, while the entire island group had an estimated population of 27,384,138 as of 2024.
LuzonIsland in the PhilippinesLuzon ( , Tagalog:) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation. The country's capital city, Manila, as well as Quezon City, the country's most populous city, are located on the island of Luzon. Luzon has a population of 64.3 million as of 2024; this constitutes more than half of the total population of the Philippines.
Spanish EmpireThe Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery. It achieved a global scale, controlling vast portions of the Americas, Africa, various islands in Asia and Oceania, as well as territory in other parts of Europe.
Catholic Church in the PhilippinesThe Catholic Church in the Philippines (Filipino: Simbahang Katolika sa Pilipinas) is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual leadership of the pope in Rome. The Philippines is one of the two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia, along with Timor-Leste, and has the third-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil and Mexico. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) serves as the country's episcopal conference.
Philippine mythologyPhilippine mythology is rooted in the many indigenous Philippine folk religions. Philippine mythology exhibits influence from Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian traditions. Philippine mythology includes concepts akin to those in other belief systems, such as the notions of heaven (kaluwalhatian, kalangitan, kamurawayan), hell (kasamaan, sulad), and the human soul (kaluluwa, kaulolan, makatu, ginoand kud,...).
CultureSocial behavior and norms of a societySymbolic expression developed as prehistoric humans reached behavioral modernityReligion and expressive art are important aspects of human culture.Germans marching during a folk culture celebrationThe Acropolis of AthensWritings often create a sense of cultural identity, Ernest Hemingway writing.Culture ( or ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, attitudes, and habits of the individuals in these groups.
Folk CatholicismFolk Catholicism can be broadly described as various ethnic expressions and practices of Catholicism intermingled with aspects of folk religion. Practices have varied from place to place and may at times contradict the official doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church.
Dogma in the Catholic ChurchA dogma of the Catholic Church is defined as "a truth revealed by God, which the magisterium of the Church declared as binding".Meta-ethnicityMeta-ethnicity is a level of commonality that is wider ("meta-") and more general (i.e., might differ on specifics) than ethnicity, but does not necessarily correspond to (and may actually transcend) nation or nationality. It is a relatively recent term (or neologism) occasionally used in academic literature or public discourse on ethnic studies.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.