Ethnic groups in the Philippines

The Philippine islands are inhabited by a number of different ethnic groups. The
majority of the population is composed of ethno-linguistic groups whose languages are Austronesian
(Malayo-Polynesian) in origin, that converted to Christianity, and adopted European, and American
culture. These ethnic groups include the Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, and
Visayan. In Mindanao, there are people who practice Islam. The Spanish called them Moros after the
Moors. In the province of Bukidnon there is an ethnic group of mountain dwelling people called Binukid
who speak the Binukid language. However these individuals do not practice Islam. The Negrito are a pre-
Mongoloid people that migrated from mainland Asia, were the first human beings to settle the Philippines
around 30,000 years ago. The Negrito population are estimated to be numbering around 30,000 in the
Philippine population. The tribal groups of the Philippines include the Ati, Igorot, and the T'boli. Their
ways of life remains free from Western, and Islamic influence. They are said to be the best basis for the
study of pre-Hispanic culture. Filipinos are an Asian ethnic group, a Mongoloid people part of the
Austronesian group, a group of Malay/Malayo-Polynesian speaking people. Non-Malay/Malayo Polynesian
ethnic groups also form a part of the Philippine population. These include Europeans (Spanish, and other
European people), Chinese, American, and other ethnic groups. There are also mixed blood individuals
known as mestizo. Mestizo refer to those of mixed Spanish/Latin American, and Malay/Malayo-Polynesian
descent, but may also refer to those of other European ancestry. Mestizos may also refer to other foreign
descent. Most Filipinos of Spanish descent speak their respective regional languages. They also use English
in the public sphere, and may also speak Filipino and other Philippine languages. Spanish was an official
language of the Philippines since the early days of Spanish colonization in the 16th century, until the
change of Constitution in 1973. After the country became independent in 1946, Spanish remained an
official language along with English and Tagalog-based Filipino. However, the language lost its official
status in 1973 during the Ferdinand Marcos administration. Under the Corazon Aquino administration
which took office in 1986, the mandatory teaching of Spanish in colleges and universities was also stopped,
and thus, younger generations of Filipinos have little or no knowledge of Spanish as compared to the older
generations. However, the Spanish language retains a large influence in local languages, with many words
coming from or being derived from Spanish.[1]

But if it varies, Spanish is not anymore the Official language of the Philippines. Minority of
Spanish descended Austronesian/Malay speak Spanish; Some Filipinos of Spanish descent, particularly
those of older generations and recent immigrants, have preserved Spanish as a spoken language. In
addition, Chavacano (a criollo language based largely on Spanish vocabulary) is spoken in the southern
Philippines, and forms one of the majority languages of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan and is mostly concentrated in Zamboanga City. It may also be spoken in
some parts of the northern Philippines. The Philippine Statistics Department does not account for the
racial background or ancestry of an individual. The official population of all types of Filipino mestizos that
reside inside and outside of the Philippines remains unknown.