LANGUAGE

The Philippines has two official languages, Filipino and English. Filipino or Tagalog, originated as the language of Manila and surrounding areas, but now incorporates elements of other dialects. The vast majority of Filipinos are fluent in Tagalog and many also speak their own local dialect. On the island of Cebu where many of the beach resorts covered on this web site are located, the language is known as Visayan or Cebuano, which is also spoken in Northern Mindanao, Waray, Bicclano, Liocano, Kapampangan, Hiligayon and Pangasinense.

English was taught extensively during the era of American rule from 1898 to 1946 and remains the official language of commerce, government, and law.  Anyone with a high school education can understand and speak English to a degree determined by how much education the individual has. Spanish was once widely spoken as a result of Spanish rule (1529 to 1899), however is largely obsolete. Its use is confined to small areas such as Zamboanga and Cavite.

 

(Click on the images below to see a larger readable/printable version or go to http://www.Ethnologue.com.)