Cebuano people

The Cebuano people (Cebuano: Mga Sugbuanon) are a subgroup of the Visayan people whose primary language is the Cebuano language. They originated in the province of Cebu in the region of Central Visayas, but then later spread out to other places in the Philippines, such as Siquijor, Negros Oriental of Negros Island Region, western and southern Leyte and large parts of Mindanao. It may also refer to the ethnic group who speak the same language as their native tongue in different parts of the archipelago.

History

Provinces where "Cebuanos" are living are highlighted in dark blue. Bisaya on the other hand is a combination of Cebuano and other Visayan ethnolinguistic groups, shown in royal blue.

Oceanic or Austronesian people called Malayo-Polynesians settled Cebu island and the rest of the Philippines around 30,000 years ago. Most Cebuanos today have Malayo-Polynesian ancestry. The early Cebuanos developed similar seafaring cultures to the Micronesian people; however, being closer to mainland Asia, the Cebuanos also engaged in trade with Japan and Okinawa, India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

The Cebuano language has been spoken since the Proto-Austronesian era (c. 6000 years ago) in the Sugbu (Cebu) heartland.^[2] The language "has spread from its base in Cebu" to nearby islands^[2] and also Bohol, eastern Negros, western and southern parts of Leyte and most parts of Mindanao, especially the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the large island..^[3]

Pintados was the term used by Spanish colonists to describe the tattooed indigenous Cebuano Visayan people.^[4] They were found on the islands of Cebu, Bohol, eastern part of Negros, Samar and Leyte in the Biçayas (Visayas) region of the Philippines.^[5] The word itself means "painted," and was first used during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.^[6]

The ancient Cebuanos developed a culture with significant influence from mainly Japan, China, India and Borneo.^[7] They traded pearls and coral for silk, gold, weapons and spices. The early Cebuanos held animist beliefs and worshiped anitos (spirits) until the introduction of Roman Catholicism.

The famous encounter between explorer Magellan and the local chieftain Lapu-Lapu ended in the death of Magellan at the Battle of Mactan. The Cebuanos held off colonization for a while until a Spanish explorer colonized Cebu and the Cebuanos came under Spanish rule.

Culture and festivities

Along with the rest of the Philippines, Cebu was governed from Spain and Mexico, and as a result received heavy Spanish and Mexican influence. There are thousands of Mexican Spanish loanwords in Cebuano. Mexican and Spanish influence is evident in the cuisine, traditional costumes, dances, music, festivals, traditions and crafts.

Cebuano culture is traditionally characterized as a blend of Malay^[8] and Hispanic traditions with influences from Asia and the United States. The majority of Cebuanos are Roman Catholic.^[9]

Among the island's notable festivities are the Sinulog^[10] festival, which is a mixture of Christian and native cultural elements, celebrated annually every third week of January.

Language

Distribution of the Cebuano language in the Philippines.

The Cebuano language is spoken by about 25,000,000 people in the Philippines and is the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages. Most speakers of Cebuano are found in Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Biliran, Western and Southern Leyte, eastern Negros and most of northern and southeastern Mindanao.

See also

• Demographics of the Philippines
• Ethnic groups in the Philippines
• Cebu
• Cebuano language
• Visayan people
• Rajahnate of Cebu

References