Ethnic groups

Lowland peoples: The idea of a Filipino identity first arose among the Christian lowland inhabitants, who were under Spanish colonial rule and developed a national consciousness as Filipinos in conflict with this power. At first, the Muslims and highlanders were not included. Even today, there are still tensions between the predominantly Christian lowlanders on the one hand and the predominantly Muslim highlanders on the other, which sometimes erupt into armed conflict.

Among the Christian lowland inhabitants, the Tagals, who live on the island of Luzon, are the largest group in terms of numbers. They make up 28.1% of the population and their language, Tagalog, forms the basis for Filipino, the official language of the Philippines.

Other groups are the Cebuano and Sugboanon (13.1 %), the Ilokano (9 %), the Bisaya/Binisaya (7.6 %), Hiligaynon or Ilonggo (7.5 %), the Bikolano (6 %), the Waray (3.4 %), the Pangasinán, the Kapampangan, the Waraynon, the Masbatenyo, the Ibanag and the Butuanon.

The Maranao, Maguindanao, Samal, Yakan, Badjo, Tausūg and the Jama Mapun are among the Muslim lowland inhabitants who mainly live in the south and west of Mindanao and on the Sulu archipelago.

Traditional ethnic groups

Ifugao ensemble with several flat gongs (gangsa) on Luzon. These indigenous communities live in inaccessible highlands, but also in remote lowland areas and on remote islands. They have had little or no influence from the Spanish or Muslims. The following groups can be distinguished - there are more than 100 tribes in total:

• The Apayao, Tingguian, Kalinga, Bontok, Kankanai, Ifugao, Ibaloy and the I-wak, also known collectively as the Igorot, live on Luzon. They live in northern Luzon on the slopes of the 2,022 to 2,702 meter high mountains and built the legendary rice terraces.
• The Ilongot also live on Luzon.
• On Mindoro, the Mangyan live in seven tribes, Iraya, Alangan, Batangan, Tadyawan, Buhid, Hanunoo and Ratagnon, mainly in the interior of the island.
• Palawan is home to the Palawan tribes: the Kagayans in the municipality of Cagayancillo, the Molbog on Balabak and other islands off Palawan, the Tagbanuwa, the Batak and the Tau't Batu. The term “the Palawan” is also used to refer to all these tribes collectively. Their settlement areas are threatened by road construction and a large number of mining projects.
• The Mamanwa, Manobo, Manobo Bilit, Manobo Tasaday, Mandaya, Mansaka, Kalagan, T'boli and the Subanu live in Mindanao. Together they are also called Lumad.
• The Badjao on the Sulu archipelago, many of whom have migrated to Malaysia in the last 50 years. They are often confused with the Indonesian Badjo, as both groups live as sea nomads.
• The Tumandok on Panay.

Except for the hill tribes in Luzon, who were Christianized by the Americans, these tribes retained their ethnic religions. Due to the influence of civilization and the majority society, their cultural identity is acutely threatened.

The Aeta (on Luzon), Mamanwa (on Leyte and Mindanao in Surigao del Norte), Ati (on Panay) and other Negritic natives of the Philippines are genetically related to the inhabitants of the Andaman Islands. There are only around 30,000 of them left and they live in larger communities on various islands, including Luzon, Panay and Negros.

Chinese

In addition, 1.5% of the people are Chinese, who have played an economic role in the Philippines since the 9th century. Today, around 10-12% of all Filipinos have some form of Chinese ancestry. In contrast to the Chinese in Indonesia and Malaysia, they are more strongly integrated into Philippine society and call themselves Tsinoys.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Source Text: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippinen#Volksgruppen

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