Language
More than 170 languages are spoken in the Philippines, almost all of them belonging to the Western Malayo-Polynesian language group of the Austronesian language family. According to the 1987 Constitution, Filipino, heavily based on Tagalog, and English are both the official languages. The twelve major regional languages are the auxiliary official languages of their respective regions, each with over one million speakers:
- Bikol (3,700,000 speakers: Bikol region)
- Cebuano (20,000,000 speakers: Central Visayas and most of Mindanao)
- Hiligaynon (7,000,000 speakers: Visayas)
- Ilocano (7,700,000 speakers: Northern Luzon)
- Kapampangan (2,400,000 speakers: Central Luzon)
- Kinaray-a (1,051,000 speakers: Iloilo and Antique provinces, western Panay)
- Maguindanao (1,100,000 speakers: Southwest Mindanao)
- Maranao (1,150,000 speakers: Central Mindanao)
- Pangasinan (1,540,000 speakers: Central Luzon)
- Tagalog (22,000,000 speakers: Central and south Luzon)
- Tausug (1,022,000 speakers: Jolo, Sulu Archipelago, Palawan Island, Basilan Island, Zamboanga City)
- Waray-Waray (3,100,000 speakers: Eastern Visayas)
English is used by some Filipinos as their first language, particularly those belonging to the upper echelons of society.
The use of Spanish in the Philippines was the original official language of the country for more than three centuries, but was used mainly by the educated illustrados (including José Rizal) or self taught natives and the Spanish authorities. Spanish was the language of Philippine Revolution, and the 1899 Malolos Constitution proclaimed it as the official language. Following the American occupation of the Philippines, its use declined, especially after 1940. Currently, only a few Spanish Mestizo families speak it as their first language, though many others use it together with Tagalog and English.
Both Spanish and Arabic are used as auxiliary languages in the Philippines. The use of Arabic is prevalent among the Filipino Muslims. It is taught in madrasah (Muslim) schools. The Lan-nang-oe variant of Min Nan Chinese dialect is widely spoken by the country's Chinese minority.