Visayans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Visayans |
|---|
 |
| Pedro Calungsod, Pilita Corrales, Manny Pacquiao |
| Total population |
|
Official population numbers are unknown. |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Philippines |
| Languages |
| Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Waray, other Visayan languages, Tagalog, English, and Spanish |
| Religion |
| predominantly Roman Catholic; Protestantism; Shamanism;[1] Ancestor Worship[2] and others |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Austronesian people, and Filipino people |
The Visayans are an ethnolinguistic group in the Philippine Islands. They primarily 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 as indigenous dialects, are all classified as Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian).
Contents |
[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 (multiracial 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
The most popular legend on the origins of the Visayan people is the migration of the Ten Bornean Datus to Panay. This legend corroborates the theory that the Visayan migrated from the lands which are now called Malaysia, and Indonesia. The legend of the Ten Bornean Datus, has been doubted by recent studies by scholars due to the migration theory placing the origins of Austronesian (Malayo Polynesian) people originating in southern Taiwan.
Some scholars have proposed that the identity of the Visayan has roots in an ancient political unity—that of the ancient Srivijaya empire,[3] a thalassocracy which came to power in the coastal areas of Southeast Asia between the fifth and fifteenth centuries AD.
Muslim traders brought Islam to Southeast Asia in the twelfth century. By the fourteenth century, Islam made inroads in the Visayas, although most Visayan tribes were still animists when the Spaniards arrived. There have also been economic ties between the Visayans, and the Chinese since the ninth 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 common low-land Christian 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 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.
[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 is Graciano Lopez-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 in Cebu.
[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 is 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 is comprised of the following islands: Panay, Romblon, Guimaras, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, Biliran, and Samar.
The Visayan all refer to their respective languages as Binisaya (Visayan). Binisaya literally means "the way of the Visaya" and is used to refer to Visaya-style cooking, and indigenous herbal medicine, aside from the languages. There is some confusion to the usage and meaning of the indigenous word "Bisaya" or "Binisaya". The word "Bisaya", and "Binisaya" 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.[4] Others engage in various practices in shamanism such as putting hexes on foes, and wearing talismans to protect the person from bad spirits.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Philippines By Chris Rowthorn, Monique Choy, Michael Grosberg, pg 444
- ^ The Progressing Philippines By Charles Whitman Briggs, pg. 29
- ^ Rasul, Justice Jainal D. "Agonies and Dreams: The Filipino Muslims and Other Minorities". Quezon City: CARE Minorities, 2003
- ^ The Progressing Philippines By Charles Whitman Briggs, pg. 29
- ^ Philippines By Chris Rowthorn, Monique Choy, Michael Grosberg, pg. 444
[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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