Visayans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Total population |
|---|
| Official population numbers are unknown. |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Philippines |
| Languages |
|
Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Waray, |
| Religion |
|
Christianity (predominantly Roman Catholic and Protestantism), Islam, Shamanism,[1] Ancestor Worship, Paganism,[2] Atheism, and other religions. |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Visayans are an ethnolinguistic group in the Philippine Islands. They live in the Visayas, and some part of Mindanao but others have migrated elsewhere in the Philippines, including Luzon; conversely, permanent migrants to the Visayas are also referred to as Visayans. Several sub-ethnolinguistic groupings in the Philippines comprise the Visayans: The largest of these groups are the speakers of Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Waray-Waray. These languages, commonly referred to locally as indigenous dialects, are all classified as Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian).
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[edit] Background
Visayans identify their ethnic group based on their language, ancestry, or geography location. For instance, a Visayan of pure indigenous ancestry; and a Visayan mestizo (mixed blood individual) of Spanish, Chinese, or other foreign descent, and among others, may identify their ethnic background based on their native language, or others. Cebuano, and among other Visayan dialects; are the most common native languages spoken in Central Philippines, and some parts of Mindanao.
[edit] History
[edit] Prehistory
Taiwanese aborigines from Taiwan, and Negritos that came from mainland Asia, settled the Philippines about 6,000 to 30,000 years ago. Their descendants migrated into different parts of the islands, and they evolved into an ethnic group known as the Austronesian, and Negrito people. Each tribe had its own native identity, culture, religion, and language. By the 9th century the Visayan people traded with other Asian people. Muslim, Chinese, and Hindu traders brought Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism to Southeast Asia in the 12th century. By the 14th century, Islam made inroads in the Visayas. Most Visayan tribes practised a mixture of Animism, and Islamic religion when the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century.
[edit] Spanish period
The Visayans first encountered Western Civilization when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached the island of Cebu on March 16, 1521. The Visayas eventually became part of the Spanish colony of the Philippines, and from then onwards, the history of the Visayans is intertwined with the history the Philippines. With the four centuries of contact with Spain, Mexico and the United States, a Filipino culture emerged. The Visayans share this culture with the Ilocanos, Kapampangans, Tagalogs, and Bicolanos. These ethnolinguistic groups form the bulk of the Filipino nation, and have embraced Democracy, Christianity, western ways of dressing and education, and Spanish, and English as secondary languages.
The 16th century marks the beginning of the Christianization of the Visayan people, with the baptism of Rajah Humabon, and about 800 native Cebuanos. The Christianization of the Visayans, and Filipinos in general, is commemorated by the Sinulog festival, and the feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child), the brown-skinned infant, depiction of the Child Jesus given by Magellan to Rajah Humabon’s wife, Hara Amihan, baptized as Queen Juana. By the 17th century, Visayan took part in religious missions; in 1672, Pedro Calungsod, a teenage indigenous Visayan catechist, and Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Spanish friar were both martyred in Guam during their mission to preach Christianity to the Chamorro people people.
[edit] Philippine Revolution and American period
Some prominent leaders of the Philippine Revolution in the late 19th century were Visayan people. Among leaders of the Propaganda movement were Graciano López Jaena, the Ilonggo who established La Solidaridad (The Solidarity). A Cebuano soldier from Negros Oriental; Pantaleon Villegas, under the army of General León Kilat, led the Cebuano revolution in the battle of Tres de Abril (3rd of April). One of Leon Kilat’s successors, Arcadio Maxilom, is a prominent general in the Philippine-American War.
[edit] Contemporary period
There have been three Philippine Presidents from the Visayan region: the Cebuano Sergio Osmeña (1878—1961); the Ilonggo Manuel Roxas, and the Boholano Carlos P. García (1896—1971).
Throughout the centuries, Spaniards, Chinese, and other foreign ethnic groups have settled to major Visayan cities like Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Iloilo, Ormoc and Mindanao cities like Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Some of them have intermarried with Visayans, and their descendants have taken on Visayan or other languages, as their primary language.
Many high-land Negritos have also been assimilated into mainstream Visayan society.
There has also been migrations of Visayans to other parts of the Philippine Islands, and abroad. Some parts of Mindanao are populated by Visayans. In Manila, there are a community of Visayan population. The Visayans have also followed the pattern of migration of Filipinos abroad; some have migrated to other parts of the world starting from the Spanish, and American colonial period; and after World War II. Most are migrants, or working as overseas contract workers such as seamen, and among other activities.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Language
Kabisay-an refers both to the Visayan people collectively and the lands occupied by them. The English translation, Visayas, is used only to refer to the latter. From a geopolitical standpoint, the Philippine region of the Visayas comprises the following islands: Panay, Romblon, Guimaras, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, Biliran, and Samar.
The Visayan all refer to their respective languages as Bisaya (Visayan). There is some confusion to the usage and meaning of the indigenous word "Bisaya". The word "Bisaya" are both translated as "Visayan" in English; and "Visaya" in Spanish.
The table below lists the Philippine languages classified as Visayan by the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Although all of them belong to the same language family of Visayan, not all speakers identify themselves as Visayan. The Tausug ethnic group, for instance, only use Visaya to refer to Christian Visayans.
| Language | Speakers | Date/source |
|---|---|---|
| Aklanon | 394,545 | 1990 census |
| Ati | 1,500 | 1980 SIL |
| Bantoanon | 200,000 | 2002 SIL |
| Butuanon | 34,547 | 1990 census |
| Caluyanon | 30,000 | 1994 SIL |
| Capiznon | 638,653 | 2000 |
| Cebuano | 20,043,5021 | 1995 census |
| Cuyonon | 123,384 | 1990 census |
| Hiligaynon | 7,000,0001 | 1995 |
| Inonhan | 85,829 | 2000 WCD |
| Kinaray-A | 377,529 | 1994 SIL |
| Malaynon | 8,500 | 1973 SIL |
| Masbatenyo | 350,000 | 2002 SIL |
| Porohanon | 23,000 | |
| Ratagnon | 2 | 2000 Wurm |
| Romblomanon (Asi) | 200,000 | 1987 SIL |
| Sorsogon, Masbate | 85,000 | 1975 census |
| Sorsogon, Waray | 185,000 | 1975 census |
| Surigaonon | 344,974 | 1990 census |
| Tausug | 900,0002 | 2000 SIL |
| Waray-Waray | 2,437,688 | 1990 census |
| Total | 33,463,654 |
1 Philippines only.
2 Philippines only; 1,022,000 worldwide.
[edit] Festival
Visayans are known for their festivities, such as the Ati-atihan, Sinulog, Sandugo, and the MassKara festivals.
[edit] Religion
Most Visayans are Roman Catholic. The people are also known to have a devotion to the Santo Niño or the Child Jesus. However, a sizeable number of Visayans practice ancestor worship exemplified by the practice of providing "souls" for dead relatives so as to accompany him or her to the next life.[3] Others engage in various practices in shamanism such as putting hexes on foes, and wearing talismans to protect the person from bad spirits.[4]
[edit] Notes
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- B!SDAK CENTRAL - local online social community dedicated to all bisdaks around the world.
- Volunteer for the Visayans is a non-profit organization seeking to uplift the condition of the Bisaya or Visayans
- bisayaOnline.net - bisaya forums, destinations and more.
- BisayaExpats.com - Bisaya Expat Forum
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