THE BIGGEST BISAYA CONFUSION

The Biggest Confusion among most Cebuano-speaking people in Cebu, Mindanao, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, and Southern Samar is that almost all of them think that their language is called Bisaya and that they are the only Bisaya people, which is totally False.

Even Hiligaynon-speaking people from Iloilo, Negros occidental, and part of Cotabato started to believe that Bisaya is an exclusive language for Cebuano-speakers.

This is like hijacking the Bisaya Identity away from other Bisaya people like the Hiligaynon, Waray, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Surigaonon, Butuanon, Tausug, and many others.

The reason for this misunderstanding, in my opinion, is that Cebuano speakers have consistently claimed to speak Bisaya and that other languages like Hiligaynon, Waray, and Aklanon are not Bisaya. Naturally, after hearing it for so long from Cebuano speakers, they eventually start to believe it, especially since they haven’t looked into the history of the Bisaya.

The fact is that the Bisaya language family includes Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Waray, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Surigaonon, Butuanon, Tausug, and many others.

For their census, the Philippine Statistics Authority divided Cebuano and Bisaya into separate languages, which adds to the confusion why there is a difference between the two when they are the same. The people who say their language is called Bisaya are actually speaking the Cebuano language. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

Is Bisaya a language?

No. It is a language family consisting of languages spoken in the Visayas and northern Mindanao. Bisayan languages include Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Karay-a, and Surigaonon, among others.

By: Dr Jecon Dreisbach PhD
PhD in Critical sociolinguistics Politics of Philippine Languages, identity, migration, culture, & media.
PhD in Sociolinguist and interdisciplinary social scientist
De La Salle University

BISAYA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS BISAYA?
Bisaya is a group of related languages belonging to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family.
Spoken in the central and southern Philippines, it is comprised of roughly 25 languages, some of which are near extinction with under 1,000 native speakers and others that are spoken by millions.. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

HOW MANY BISAYA ISLANDS ARE THERE?
Panay, Romblon, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Guimaras, Masbate, Leyte, and Samar

HOW MANY BISAYA LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN?
Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Waray, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Asi, Baybayano, Kinabalian, Bantayanon, Porohanon, Cuyunon, Caluyanon, Surigaonon, Butoanon, Tausug, Ratagnon, Inonhan, and other Bisaya languages.

Bisaya Island of Panay:
Hiligaynon is the spoken Bisaya language in Iloilo and Roxas,
Kinaray-a is the spoken Bisaya language in Antique and parts of Iloilo.
Aklanon is the spoken Bisaya language in Aklan
Capiznon and Hiligaynon are the spoken Bisaya languages in Capiz.
Bisaya Island of Negros:
Cebuano is the spoken Bisaya language in Negros Oriental.
Hiligaynon is the spoken Bisaya language in Negros Occidental.
Bisaya Island of Cebu.
Cebuano is the spoken Bisaya language in Cebu.Cebu.
Bisaya Island of Bohol
Boholano (local version of Cebuano language).
Bisaya Island of Leyte:
Waray is the spoken Bisaya language in Northern Leyte.
Cebuano is the spoken Bisaya language in Southern Leyte.
Bisaya Island of Samar:
Waray is the spoken Bisaya language in Northern and Eastern Samar.
Cebuano is the spoken Bisaya language in Southern Samar.
Bisaya Island of Romblon:
Rombloanon is the spoken Bisaya language in Romblon.
Bisaya Island of Masbate:
People of Masbate speak 4 Bisaya languages:
Masbateño
Hiligaynon
Cebuano
Waray
Mindanao
Cebuano, Hiligaynon , Surigaonon, Butuanon & Tausug

HOW DID THE ILONGGO AND CEBUANO PEOPLE SPREAD IN MINDANAW?
Many Cebuanos moved to Mindanao during President Elpidio Quirino’s proclamation No. 376, or Philippine resettlement program, on March 10, 1953. This is the reason why today 90% of Mindanao people speak the Cebuano language. Other Bisaya people who came to Mindanao were the Ilonggos from Iloilo in Panay; they settled around Cotabato and brought with them the Hiligaynon language. Other Bisaya languages spoken in Mindanao are Surigaonon and Butuanon. The Ilocanos, Tagalogs, and other people of Luzon also settled in Mindanao and learned the Cebuano language. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

HOW DID THE ILONGGO PEOPLE ARRIVED IN NEGROS OCCIDENTAL ?

Landlords from Iloilo brought Ilonggos to Negros starting in 1800’s , this branch have undergone transformations especially those who worked in vast haciendas

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 MOST SPOKEN BISAYA LANGUAGES?
(1.) Cebuano 21 million;
(2.) Hiligaynon 10 million;
(3.) Waray 3 million;

# The First Bisaya – Waray Dictionary “Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya” Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

The first ever Bisaya dictionary is the “Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya” by Mateo Sanchez, which was completed in 1616. A Spanish friar named Mateo Sanchez was stationed to Dulag, Leyte (he also worked in the surrounding territories of Eastern Visayas). The dialect of Binisaya used there was recorded. His “Arte” is a dictionary as a result of the language’s dominance in the text. His book is divided into two halves. A Bisaya-Spanish dictionary is included in the first section, while a Spanish-Bisaya dictionary is included in the second. In the first part, some Cebuano words are mentioned by Sanchez, and he would always say that a certain word is either from Zebu (Cebu) or Bool (Bohol). In the second part, for every Spanish entry, the Visayan equivalents are almost always in pairs. One in Waray, and the one beside it in Cebuano. There could be two or more pairs,” and it’s always the Waray words that come before the Cebuano words.

# The first Bisaya – Hiligaynon grammar book the “Arte de la lengua Bisaya Hiligayna de la Isla de Panay” grammar manual by Alonso De Mentrida was finished in 1617. The “Arte de la lengua Bisaya Hiligayna de la Isla de Panay” dictionary, was released in 1637.

Bocabulario de lengua bisaya, hiligueyna y Haraya de la isla de Panay y Sugus y para las demas islas

The first Bisaya – Hiligaynon & Bisaya – Kinaray-a dictionary, Bocabulario de lengua bisaya, hiligueyna y Haraya de la isla de Panay y Sugus y para las demas islas, was written by the friar Mentrida, Alonso de, 1559-1637

Alonso de Mentrida was one of the first to use baybayin script to write Bisaya Diccionario de la Lengua Bisaya, Hiligueina, and Haraya de la Isla de Panay (Dictionary of the Bisaya, Hiligaynon, and Karay-a Language of the Island of Panay) 1637.

Mentrida, Alonso de, 1559-1637: Diccionario de la Lengua Bisaya, Hiligueina y Haraya de la Isla de Panay (in Spanish; Manila: Imp. de D. Manuel y de D. Felis S. Dayot, 1841)

One of the languages spoken in Panay is named Hiligaynon, and Méntrida created a grammar for a language he termed Visaya-Hiligayna, also called Hiligaynon and one of the languages used in Panay. The Bisayan language family includes Hiligaynon. Historically, the Panay people were referred to as “Visayan”. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

The books that Fr. Alonso wrote on grammar, catechism, and ceremonies are arguably best recognized. Among these are the Ritual for the Administration of the Saints Sacramentos, the Arte de la lengua bisaya hiligayna de la Isla de Panay, the Catecismo de Doctrina Cristiana en lengua bisaya, and others.

In 1590, at the Convent of Our Lady of Grace of Casarrubios del Monte, Fr. Alonso made his vows to the Order. While serving as a missionary in the Philippines, he held a variety of positions, including those of Provincial Definitor (1614), Prior of the Convento de San Pablo de Manila (1618), and Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Philippines (1623). He also worked for other Augustinian institutions and missions in Panay (1607), Passi (1611), Bulacan (1617), and Bacolor (1620).

They call these Islands Bisaya (Visayas) because their languages have very similar Bisaya words.

“But the proper name of these islands is the Bisayas. Many tongues are spoken in them, for there are many islands and many villages, and there is hardly a village that has not its own dialect. But the chief tongues are the Boholan, which is spoken in Sugbú, and the Hiligain, and they are very similar.”(Fray Juan de Medina, 1630).

History of the Augustinian Order in the Filipinas Islands by Fray Juan de Medina a native of Sevilla, prior of the monastery of Santo Nio de Ceb and past minister to the communities of Ibahay, Aclán, Dumangas, Passi, and Panay. In 1630, he wrote the document himself.

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The Bisaya People

REFERENCES: • · G. Nye Steiger, H. Otley Beyer, Conrado Benitez, A History of the Orient, Oxford: 1929, Ginn and Company, pp. 122–123. • · · Zorc, David Paul. The Bisayan Dialects of the Philippines: Subgrouping and Reconstruction. Canberra, Australia: Dept. of Linguistics, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, 1977. • · · Cf. BLAIR, Emma Helen & ROBERTSON, James Alexander, eds. (1911). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 04 of 55 (1493-1803). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord BOURNE. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. ISBN 978-0554259598. OCLC 769945704. “Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.”, pp. 257–260. • · · Jovito S. Abellana, “Bisaya Patronymesis Sri Visjaya” (Ms., Cebuano Studies Center, ca. 1960) • · · Argos, B. M. (26 November 2007). “Binukot: Revisiting Western Visayas’ only indigenous group”. Retrieved 18 April 2015. • · · Paul Morrow (1998). “The Maragtas Legend”. Retrieved 17 April 2014. • · · Maria Christine N. Halili (2004). Philippine History. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore, Inc. pp. 9–10. ISBN 971-233-934-3. • · · Celedonio G. Aguilar (1994). Readings in Philippine Literature. Quezon City: Rex Book Store, Inc. pp. 64–67. ISBN 971-231-564-9. • · · Rasul, Jainal D. (2003). Agonies and Dreams: The Filipino Muslims and Other Minorities. Quezon City: CARE Minorities. p. 77. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

Visayans

The Visayans or Visayan people The Visayans or Visayan people (Visayan languages and Tagalog: mga Bisaya) are a Filipino ethnic group whose members share a great extent of cultural, historical and linguistic affinity stretching across islands within the Visayan Sea. The people are speakers of one or more Visayan languages, the most widely spoken being CEBUANO, HILIGAYNON, AND WARAY-WARAY. They live in the Visayan island group and in many parts of Mindanao.. The Visayans, as one ethnolinguistic umbrella and notwithstanding the population exclusive to that of Visayas, are the largest ethnic group in the country, numbering at around 33 million as of 2010.

KABISAY-AN refers both to the Visayan people collectively and the lands occupied by them. The Anglicized term Visayas (via Hispanized plural form of Bisaya) is commonly used to refer to the latter. Based on loose definitions, the unofficial boundaries of Visayas traditionally comprise the following provinces commonly known where Visayans or people with Visayan culture reside: Aklan, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Biliran, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Romblon and Masbate. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

According to H. Otley Beyer and other anthropologists, the term Visayan was first applied only to the people of PANAY and to their settlements eastward in the island of Negros, and northward in the smaller islands, which now compose the province of Romblon. In fact, at the early part of Spanish colonialization of the Philippines, the Spaniards used the term Visayan only for these areas, while the people of Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte were for a long time known only as Pintados. The name Visayan was later extended to these other islands because, as several of the early writers state, their languages are closely allied to the Visayan “dialect” of Panay. The impression of these similarities was in fact carefully analyzed by David Zorc, who, while able to linguistically classify the Austronesian subfamily termed Visayan languages, noticed their overall connections as one dialect continuum. However, these must not be confused to dialects, since not all Visayan languages contain a unified set of features. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

The term Bisaya (Visaya) as applied in the Philippines, does not only refer to people but also to geography and language. Geographically, the Bisayas cover the islands of Tablas, Romblon, Sibuyan, Panay, Guimaras, Negros, Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol, Bantayan, Camotes, Masbate, Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and numerous smaller islands in the central Philippines. Linguistically, the word Bisaya refers to the language of the people in the region. It should be noted, however, that Bisaya comprises several closely related dialects, principally Aklanon, Kiniray-a, Hiligaynon (Ilongo), Sugbuhanon (Cebuano), and WarayWaray

Source:

1 J o h n C a r r o ll, ” T h e W o rd B is a y a i n t h e P h il ip p in e s a n d B o r n e o ,” S a r a w a k M u s e um J o u r n a l , I X ( J u ly – D e c e m b e r 1 9 6 0 ) , p . 5 3 2 . Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

To m H a r r is o n , “ B is a y a : B o r n e o – P h ilip p in e I m p a c t s o f I s la m ,’’ S a r a w a k M u s e u m J o u r n a l , V II ( J u n e 1 9 5 6 ) , p . 4 3 .

The origin of the Bisaya ethnic tribes in BISAYA islands.

Based on facts compiled in a book Maragtas by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro, written in 1907, there are legends which tells the story of the ten chiefs (Datus) who escaped from the tyranny of Datu Makatunaw from Borneo to the islands of Panay. The chiefs and followers are believed to be the ancestors of the Visayan people. The arrival is celebrated in the Festival of the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan.

The Ilonggo consistently resisted Moro invasions. Every Friday, Muslim pirate Dallan Bakang launched a series of raids on Dumangas from his base in Guimaras. He was resisted in 1763 by the locals, who were headed by a woman by the name of Petra or “Pitay.” In preparation for other attacks, the people of Dumangas town built a tambobo ‘storehouse’, where they kept their food supplies and valuables. It was surrounded by a palisade and thick dalogdog vines. They then sent their ladies and kids to seek safety in Liboo, Barrio Calao. Later, the Spanish erected watchtowers on each corner of the church and reinforced it with stone walls. A church bell, whose sound could be heard as far as Guimaras to the south and Anilao to the north, warned the people of Muslim raids. The folks from Liboo returned to Dumangas feeling more secure. In 1848, however, the warning bell of Dumangas inadvertently brought an attack upon it, when a wandering band of Muslims followed its sound to the town. The last recorded Muslim attack on the Ilonggo was in 1865, on the island of Zapatos in northern Panay. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

Because of their tattooed bodies, the early Spanish invaders called the inhabitants of these islands Pintados, or “Painted Ones.” As a result, the Visayan islands, which comprised Panay and Negros, were first known as Las Islas de los Pintados (Islands of the Painted Ones) and then as Bisayas de los Pintados (Islands of the Painted Ones) during the early years of Spanish colonialism. Cebu served as the capital of the province that included these islands. However, not all pintados, or tattooed individuals, were governed by Cebu. For instance, despite being populated by pintados, Marinduque was not a part of the Bisayas de los Pintados administratively.

External assaults fell victim to Panay. Nine Muslim invasions of Panay occurred between 1569 and 1606. Muslims primarily targeted the cities of Oton, Arevalo, and the island of Pan de Azucar off the coast of Iloilo between 1603 and 1606. There were several Dutch invasions in 1606. The coastal cities of Panay and its tiny islands were attacked in 1616 by a coalition of Dutch and Muslim forces. Therefore, Arevalo’s susceptibility to Muslim and Dutch invasion forced the Spaniards to move the government’s headquarters to La Punta in 1637, where they constructed a stone fort to replace the one constructed in 1602. Additionally, there was a lighthouse, whose location is now known as the Parola. Around the fort, which was subsequently called Estanzuela, a fish market and other shops grew. Around this location, Iloilo City expanded gradually. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

BISAYA PEOPLE IN MALAYSIA

On the island of Borneo, the Bisaya are another indigenous group that originates from the northwest coast of East Malaysia. They are mostly found in the Limbang District of Sarawak, Kuala Penyu, Menumbok, Sipitang, Labuan Federal Territory, and the area surrounding Beaufort. The Dusun Tatana tribe and the Bisaya tribe are quite close, particularly in terms of language. If they converse with one another, it is clear that some of their dialogical language exchanges are nearly identical. Currently, the majority of Bisaya in Sarawak are Christians while the majority of Bisaya in Sabah are Muslims. Although they should not be mistaken with the Dusun people of Sabah, they go by the names Dusun, Jati Dusun, and Bisaya in Brunei. The Bisaya people are also recognized as Dayak kin, despite the fact that they are native to Borneo and were not imported there. Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

Language of Sabah in Bisaya. The Bisaya, Dusun, Kadazan, and Rungus ethnic groups and other peoples in the Malaysian province of Sabah on Borneo speak a set of languages collectively known as dusunic languages.In Sabah, the majority of the Dusun and Kadazan are Roman Catholic Christians. There are also small numbers of Muslims and adherents to other traditional religions.

sakay ( to ride)
manuk ( chicken)
walay ( house)
dula ( saliva)
kudot ( pinch)
putol ( to cut)
panaw ( to walk)
uli ( to go home)
inum ( to drink)d
ila ( tounge)
open ( ukab)
nakasala (did a mistake)
rice crop = (parai) Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

Isai ngaran nu? (What is your name)
Ngaran ku ih (My name is )

Origin and etymology

The origins of the name of the Bisaya people have given rise to a number of theories from various experts. The name may have originated from the Sri Vijaya empire, according to Beyer H.O. in 1926, Hester E.D. in 1954, and Harrison in 1956 (Sonza, 1972). Eugene Vestraelen, a professor of linguistics at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, warned that Vijaya’s linguistic derivation would not be Bisaya but rather Bidaya or Biraya in 1960.

Another theory was suggested by John Carroll: John Carroll (1961:499–541) speculates that the term “Visaya” may be derived from the Sanskrit word “Vaisya,” which refers to the third caste in the Hindu caste system. The phrase “Bisaya” from the Philippines, which appeared in Malay texts, meaning “slave” or “the country of slaves” and referred to a region of the Philippines where slaves were formerly discovered and kidnapped.— The word Bisaya in the Philippines and Borneo by Joh Carroll, 1960, Sarawak Museum Journal
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It’s unknown where the word “Visayan” came from. According to some historians, it alludes to Shri Vijaya, the fabled ancestral homeland of the Visayans and an ancient island empire in Southeast Asia. Others see the phrase as a direct translation of the happiness-descriptive Visayan sadya or Tagalog saya. The latter version appears to stem from the stereotype that Visayans are a generally laid-back, fun loving and happy-go-lucky people. But as Visayans themselves would put it, they are a hardworking people who just know how to enjoy life.

Despite two scholars, Juan Francisco and Lourdes Rausa-Gomez, debunking this myth way back in the 1960-70s in scholarly journals and at least one book. https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/209462/persistence-of-the-sri-vishaya-hoax

” Don Gonzalo Ronquillo founded a Spanish town in the island of Panay, in Oton, which he named Arevalo. During his term, the trade with the Chinese increased, and he built a market-place and Parian for them within the city, where the Chinese could bring and sell their merchandise” Antonio Morga, in his book, SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS described the Visayan men and women as “very clean and elegant in their persons and dresses, and of goodly mien and grace.” Ilongos as what Spanish documented of them 1582 – Book was written in Arevalo by Miguel De Loarca Advertisements https://c0.pubmine.com/sf/0.0.7/html/safeframe.html Report this ad

Language of the Ilonggo

Ilonggo is sometimes referred to as the language, however Hiligaynon is the recognized standard tongue, and Ilonggo has never been a language. Although traditionally Ilonggo has never been referred to be the language, it is acceptable to refer to Hiligaynon as the language or people of Iloilo.

When Spaniard went to Iloilo they had written an account here to describe what the native people call themselves in Panay as Hiligaynon and Their language .“ The people of the coast, who are called the Yligueynes”, (Miguel De Loarca – Relaciones 1582 , Arevalo Yloylo).

Ilonggo is not a language

Ilonggo refers to people who trace their ethnic roots or bloodline to Iloilo Province on Panay’s Bisaya Island. The majority of the Ilonggos in Iloilo speak the Hiligaynon language; in some parts of Iloilo near the Antique border, some Ilonggos speak Kinaray-a. Hiligaynon is also the language spoken in Bacolod and Negros Occidental provinces, Roxas, Guimaras, and parts of Cotabato in Mindanao. For Detail watch https://www.facebook.com/100082952553686/videos/411944054288908

Ilonggo Is NOT a Language

Etymology of Hiligaynon language and Ilonggo People:

The term “Hiligaynon” is derived from the Spanish term “Yligueynes”, which is then derived from the Hiligaynon word “Iligan” or “Iliganon”
Iligan or “Iliganon” refers to a river, or literally “where the water flows down”
“Iligan” or “Iliganon” is derived from “manog-ilig sang kawayan”, a phrase that describes bamboo poles.

The term “Ilonggo” is derived from the Spanish term “irong-irong”, referring to the Filipino word for nose (“ilong”) and an islet in the Batiano River in Iloilo, Panay.

“Ilonggo” is considered to define a specific group of people whose ethnic origins are in the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, and Panay, while “Hiligaynon” defines the language and culture of the Ilonggo people.Thus, both terms are interchangeable in referring to the culture of the people or the people themselves

wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiligaynon_people

Watch Ilonggo is NOT a language https://www.facebook.com/100082952553686/videos/411944054288908

Austronesian languages

In terms of the number of languages they contain and the number of places where they are spoken, the Austronesian languages rank among the largest language families in the world. Most of the Indonesian archipelago, including the Philippines, Madagascar, island groups in the Central and South Pacific, Malaysia, and large portions of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Taiwan, speak an Austronesian language. Among the major Austronesian languages are those spoken in the Philippines, such as Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray-Waray, and Kapampangan; Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Minangkabau, the Batak languages, Acehnese, Balinese, and Buginese; and Malagasy, which is spoken in Madagascar. Over a million people speak each of these languages, totaling over 386 million people worldwide.

Enrique speaks Malay, Spanish and Portuguese, and according to Pigafetta, is from Sumatra. Linguists contend that a Sumatran would not have had the same level of proficiency in the Visayan language spoken in the central Philippines as Enrique did when the expedition initially arrived there in early 1521. Enrique’s fluency in the local language helped Magellan forge an alliance with the authorities at the time and was crucial to the mass baptizations that would take place later.

Some think that Enrique may have grown up in the central Philippines before being sold into slavery in Sumatra. He later traveled to Malacca where Magellan bought him. Another possibility is for Enrique to have been born of Filipino parents in Sumatra or Malacca where he lived in a ‘Filipino Town’ community similar to ‘China Town’ communities around the world, from whence he came to the service of Magellan.
After the Massacre of Cebu, which occurs four days after the Battle of Mactan, Enrique vanishes from the annals of history.

Since Enriquez knows Malay language, he was able to understand some Cebuano words and was able to communicate with locals when they arrived in Limasawa and Cebu. In pre-Spanish time, many Austronesian words were similar in many different Austronesian languages, such as Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kinaray-a, which are spoken in the Bisaya region in the Philippines; Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Minangkabau, the Batak languages; Acehnese, Balinese, and Buginese, which are spoken in western Indonesia; and Malagasy. But some of the old Austronesian words have changed over time due to influence from other languages. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ROgBDGzoqes?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&start=11&wmode=transparent

Here is the list of common Bisaya words in different Bisaya Languages: Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Waray, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Surigaonon, Butuanon

gaan gaba ibabaw kaabtik lab-as tab-ang uban wagtang yabi abog abri abtik abtan adlaw adto agalon agbay agoy agtang Kahimtang lingaw palangga Soholan palatontonan alagad gikan sugba igo apas daog- lumay Agawon Bahandi. Bana Basi Bayaran Bisan Bulawan Buut Dakpon Dalan Danlog Didto Dugang Dumot Eksakto Gagmay Gahom Gakos Gamay Gihapon Gina Ginatuman Ginikanan Gubaon Halokan Himoon Hinay Hinlo Ibobo Imo Istorya Kaayo Kabukiran Kadugay Kamo Kaon Karon Katawhan Katingalahan Katoltol Kawatan Kinahanglan Lagom Lapas Lipong Logos Looy Maayo Mabalik Maguba Magulang Mahatagan Mahimo Makaluto Makatodlo Makigkita Malipayon Mando Mantinir Naa Nabalaka Nag Nakahibalo Natabo Natongdan Padayon Pagkabutang Paglupad Pagpaiuli Pagtoo Pahibalo Palayo Pangibabaw Panimalay SUMBAG Sablagan Sala Sudlan Sugilanon Sugot Tabon Tago Tagsa Takna Tambong Tanom Tarong Tiil Tilawan Tindog Tohog Tomana Utro abe abot agay agdahon agi agwanta akto alang- amiga amigo andam angkon anogon antos aslum, atimanon ato atobang atobangon atop away tan-awon bag -o . bahin balay balibaran baligya balos bangko bangkol basihan baskog baso basol basolon batasan batiis batok bawion baybay baybayon biyaan buang bug-at bugaw buhaton buhi buhian bukal bulag butang butangan dagway dako dakop dakpan , dal-on dala dalhon damgo dasma daug dayon desidido dira diri duaw dugay duha dukol dungag duso dyutay galampos gamiton gasaulog . gihigugma gilauman ginadayonan ginhawa gipahimoslan guba gyud hagad hatagan hibalo hilabtan himakak hinolsol hitabo homay, hubag hubog hulam, hulat humay huway ihabla ihawa ihawon ika ikaayo ilambos ilok init ipa ipakita ipasaka ipatoman isog iya ka kaayohan kabalo kabalos kabataan kada kahoyan kalamay kalibutan kalimtan kalimti kamot kanta kapoy kasayoran kastigo kasuguan katalagman katol katongdanan kaugalingon kaunon kawat kinahanglanon kontra kuhaon kulba kulbaan kunu kurog kusog kusoga kutog kwarta labi labot lain , lambos lantaw later laum labyan lawas libak lomos lubot lugod luib lumba luto ma maanad mabuhat madakpan mahadlok mahibal – maka makahibalo makalingaw makig mandoan manduan mangamoyo mangayo , manghod mangita manguha manunudlo masaligan matahom matoman matumba mga na nabilin nahadlok nahitabo nahulog nahuman nakit nangayo nasiplatan nawong nga niadtong ninyo niwang paagi pabilin padoding padulong – pagdako pagkaon pagsaulog pahalipay pahilabot pahulay pakaon palibog palibot palihog pamahaw pamati pananglitan pang pangitaa pangitaon panulay pasabton pasaylo pasudlon pauli pila pinaagi pinalanggaon pirme piyong pongko pugngan pugong pundo pungko sa sabton sag saka sakop . salawayon salig samad samtang sandig silingan silot simhotan singgit sogilanon suba subo sud-, sugod sulod sulong sungayon suya tabang tabok tag tagaan tahi. talaw – tanan tarongon tawganay tawo testingi tilaw tingala tingoha tinguha tog tognaw togotan tolon toltolan tomanon tomar tonga -, toyo tugutan tuig tungod tyabaw ulanan unahon ungangan unod lantawon unong uyab kabo sologoon -gob Nagkalain- tungud salog Ila poyo Dagko peste yawa Labina pasilongan hawod mahuman hilawas masayop uswag namunit Nakig donlan Daan hunahun agda paon baroto nagisi nabali tin-aw sapa among katilingban tokoron pamaagi Domdom todlo sagol pa Gabok usik panapton pilit hibaloon higot hàlayan anod yawyaw maguuma lupad hawiran lihok paksi lampos Ulihi ulahi kalaparin Ilaga dumala todloan tambok laoman mangità sapà bulan tinir potot mo pusila Nabutang ksgaw labay siplat Baylo limpyo Pinagiyahan imbis gabaan potlon Pahoway Halok Gaksanay ngil-ad laksot maut Saylo Boloyagon yati bukid ílo kanógon Sawayon

SOURCES:
Mentrida, Alonso de, 1559-1637: Diccionario de la Lengua Bisaya, Hiligueina y Haraya de la Isla de Panay (in Spanish; Manila: Imp. de D. Manuel y de D. Felis S. Dayot, 1841)

History of the Philippine Islands Vols 1 and 2 Antonio de Morga

The First Voyage Round the World_Pigafetta’s Account of Magellan’s Voyage – Pigafetta’s Account of Magellan’s Voyage Anthony Pigapheta, Patrician of Vicenza, and Knight of Rhodes, to the very illustrious and very excellent Lord Philip de Villiers Lisleaden, the famous Grand Master of Rhodes, his mostrespected Lord

THE PH I LI PPI N E ISLANDS 1493 – 1898 – Explorations by Early Navigators , D escriptions of the Islands and their Peoples, their History and Records of the Catholic Missions , as related in contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts , showing the Political , Economic, Com m ercial and Religious Conditions of those Islands from their earliest relations with European
Nations to the clos e of the Nineteenth Century

Miguel de Loarca Relacion de las islas filipinas #bisaya #binisaya #ilonggo #hiligaynon #waray #cebuano #aklanon #capiznon

http://vicilongo.weebly.com/language.html?fbclid=IwAR3Iv9X6OazzNWjhkf3sn-2kGhh7zdoGjDvLVsHJIJ_uCIphQJoo1Vc9SB4

https://ourislandsourpeople.wordpress.com/ilonggo/
http://www.hawaii.edu/cps/visayans.html
https://youtu.be/411tjOvL39Y
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayan_languages
https://www.britannica.com/place/Visayan-Islands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karay-a_language
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/209462/persistence-of-the-sri-vishaya-hoax
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-Cebuano-and-Visayan
Ilonggo is not a language https://www.facebook.com/100082952553686/videos/411944054288908
list of languages in the Philipines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_Philippines
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-

Top 3 Most Spoken Bisaya languages:

1. Cebuano 20 million
2. Hiligaynon 10 million
3. Waray 3 million

Who Are the Bisaya (Visayan) People?

Bisaya is a general term use to describe different Bisaya Ethnic groups and different Bisaya languages who live in the different Bisaya islands in the Philippines.

This is the Map of the BISAYA islands (Visayas or Bisayas) showing the Bisaya islands of Panay, Romblon, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, and Samar where different Bisaya people live and speak different Bisaya languages such as Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Cebuano, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Waray, Surigaonon, Cuyonon, etc.

Bisaya is a group of related languages belonging to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family

Spoken in the central and southern Philippines, it is comprised of roughly 25 languages, some near extinction with under 1,000 native speakers and others spoken by millions. Bisaya includes Cebuano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Waray, Surigaonon, Butuanon, Tausog, etc. Spoken by approximately 28 million people, the Bisaya language family has the largest number of native speakers in the Philippines. The next two are the Tagalogs and Ilokanos. (hawaii.edu/cps/visayans.html)

Bisaya Islands and Bisaya Languages

The densely populated Visayan island group constitutes an ethnolinguistic region defined by the dominance of the three major Visayan languages: Cebuano , Hiligaynon, and Waray-Waray.

Cebuano speakers live mainly on Cebu, Bohol, eastern Negros, and western Leyte. The Hiligaynon are concentrated on Panay, western Negros, and Masbate, while the Waray-Waray are found mainly on Samar and eastern Leyte.

The two major Visayan urban centres are Cebu City on Cebu and Iloilo City on Panay. Area 22,289 square miles (57,728 square km). Pop. (2000) 15,872,692; (2010) 18,417,821. Source Britannica https://www.britannica.com/place/Visayan-Islands

GENUINE BISAYA PEOPLE

BISAYA (Bisayans or Visayans) are people who trace their Ethnic roots or bloodline in different Bisaya islands (Visayas islands). Many people who claim they are BISAYA do not even have Bisaya blood at all. Their parents and grandparents are not even from the BISAYA islands originally. They are from Luzon. If you can trace that your ancestors are from the BISAYA Islands then you are a genuine Bisaya blood.

There are different Bisaya Languages

These Languages are: Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Cebuano, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Waray, Surigaonon, Cuyonon, etc.

Many Cebuano-speaking people do not know the Ethnic and Language history of Bisaya Islands they assume that the Cebuano language is the only Bisaya or Binisaya language which is false. Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Cebuano, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Waray, Surigaonon, Cuyonon are also BISAYA languages. Remember Cebu is not the only island in the BISAYA region, the other BISAYA islands that also speak Bisaya languages are Panay, Romblon, Guimaras, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, Biliran and Samar. Panay, Romblon, Guimaras, Negros, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, Biliran and Samar.

Different Bisaya languages are spoken by Bisaya people in the 6 Major BISAYA Islands are:

1. The Bisaya Island of Panay

Languages of the Bisaya People in Panay are: Hiligaynon (Iloilo and Roxas), Karay-a, (Iloilo and Antique) Aklanon (Aklan), and Capiznon (Capiz).

2. The Bisaya Island of Negros

Languages of the Bisaya People in Negros are: Cebuano (Negros Oriental) and Hiligaynon (Negros Occidental)

3. The Bisaya Island of Cebu

Language of the Bisaya People in Cebu province is Cebuano

4. The Bisaya Island of Bohol

Language of the Bisaya People in Bohol is Boholano (local version of Cebuano language)

5. The Bisaya Island of Leyte

Languages of the Bisaya People in Leyte are: Waray (Northern Leyte) and Cebuano (Southern Leyte)

6. The Bisaya Island of Samar

Languages of the Bisaya People in Samar are: Waray (Eastern Samar) and Cebuano (Southern Samar)

According to H. Otley Beyer and other anthropologists, the term Visayan (Spanish: bisayo) was first applied only to the people of Panay and to their settlements eastward in the island of Negros and northward in the smaller islands, which now compose the province of Romblon. In fact, at the early part of Spanish colonialization of the Philippines, the Spaniards used the term Visayan only for these areas, while the people of Cebu, Bohol and Western Leyte were for a long time known only as Pintados.

Left to right: Images from the Boxer Codex illustrating an ancient kadatuan or tumao (noble class) Visayan couple of Panay, the Pintados (“The Tattooed”), another name for Visayans of Cebu and its surrounding islands according to the early Spanish explorers, possibly a tumao (noble class) or timawa (warrior class) couple of the Pintados, and a royal couple of the Visayans of Panay.
The name Visayan was later extended to them around the beginning of 1800s because, as several of the early writers state (especially in the writings of the Jesuit Lorenzo Hervás y Panduro published in 1801), albeit erroneously, their languages are closely allied to the Visayan “dialect” of Panay. The impression of these similarities was in fact carefully analyzed by David Zorc, who, while able to linguistically classify the Austronesian subfamily termed Bisayan languages, noticed their overall connections as one dialect continuum. These should not, however, be confused as dialects, given the lack of mutual intelligibility.

Grabiel Ribera, captain of the Spanish royal infantry in the Philippine Islands, also distinguished Panay from the rest of the Pintados Islands. In his report (dated March 20, 1579) regarding a campaign to pacify the natives living along the rivers of Mindanao (a mission he received from Dr. Francisco de Sande, Governor and Captain-General of the Archipelago), Ribera mentioned that his aim was to make the inhabitants of that island “vassals of King Don Felipe … as are all the natives of the island of Panay, the Pintados Islands, and those of the island of Luzon …”

Similarly, the old Spanish term Hiligueinos (also spelled Yliguenes, Yligueynes, or Hiligueynos; from Visayan Iligan or Iliganon, meaning “people of the coast”) was once used by the Spanish conquistador Miguel de Loarca as a general name for coastal-dwelling Visayans not only in Panay, but also Cebu, Bohol, and Western Negros. Today, the demonym is only used specifically for the Hiligaynon people, a major Visayan subgroup.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayans

Common Bisaya words in different Bisaya Languages: Hiligaynon aka Ilonggo, Cebuano, Waray, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Surigaonon, Butuanon

Adlaw Agawon Bahandi. Bana Basi Bayaran Bisan Bulawan Buut Dakpon Dalan Danlog Didto Dugang Dumot Eksakto Gagmay Gahom Gakos Gamay Gihapon Gina Ginatuman Ginikanan Gubaon Halokan Himoon Hinay Hinlo Ibabaw Ibobo Imo Istorya Kaayo Kabukiran Kadugay Kamo Kaon Karon Katawhan Katingalahan Katoltol Kawatan Kinahanglan Lagom Lapas Lingaw Lipong Logos Looy Maayo Mabalik Maguba Magulang Mahatagan Mahimo Makaluto Makatodlo Makigkita Malipayon Mando Mantinir Naa Nabalaka Nag Nakahibalo Natabo Natongdan Padayon Pagkabutang Paglupad Pagpaiuli Pagtoo Pahibalo Palayo Pangibabaw Panimalay SUMBAG Sablagan Sala Sudlan Sugilanon Sugot Tabon Tago Tagsa Takna Tambong Tanom Tarong Tiil Tilawan Tindog Tohog Tomana Utro abe abot abtan agay agdahon agi agwanta akto alang-alang amiga amigo andam angkon anogon antos aslum, atimanon ato atobang atobangon atop away tan-awon bag -o . bahin balay balibaran baligya balos bangko bangkol basihan baskog baso basol basolon batasan batiis batok bawion baybay baybayon biyaan buang bug-at bugaw buhaton buhi buhian bukal bulag butang butangan dagway dako dakop dakpan , dal-on dala dalhon damgo dasma daug dayon desidido dira diri duaw dugay duha dukol dungag duso dyutay gaba galampos gamiton gasaulog . gihigugma gilauman ginadayonan ginhawa gipahimoslan guba gyud hagad hatagan hibalo hilabtan himakak hinolsol hitabo homay, hubag hubog hulam, hulat humay huway ihabla ihawa ihawon ika ikaayo ilambos ilok init ipa ipakita ipasaka ipatoman isog iya ka kaayohan kabalo kabalos kabataan kada kahoyan kalamay kalibutan kalimtan kalimti kamot kanta kapoy kasayoran kastigo kasuguan katalagman katol katongdanan kaugalingon kaunon kawat kinahanglanon kontra kuhaon kulba kulbaan kunu kurog kusog kusoga kutog kwarta lab labi labot lain , lambos lantaw later laum labyan lawas libak lomos lubot lugod luib lumba luto ma maanad mabuhat madakpan mahadlok mahibal – maka makahibalo makalingaw makig mandoan manduan mangamoyo mangayo , manghod mangita manguha manunudlo masaligan matahom matoman matumba mga na nabilin nahadlok nahitabo nahulog nahuman nakit nangayo nasiplatan nawong nga niadtong ninyo niwang paagi pabilin padoding padulong – pagdako pagkaon pagsaulog pahalipay pahilabot pahulay pakaon palangga palibog palibot palihog pamahaw pamati pananglitan pang pangitaa pangitaon panulay pasabton pasaylo pasudlon pauli pila pinaagi pinalanggaon pirme piyong pongko pugngan pugong pundo pungko sa sabton sag saka sakop . salawayon salig samad samtang sandig silingan silot simhotan singgit sogilanon suba subo sud-, sugod sulod sulong sungayon suya tabang tabok tag tagaan tahi. talaw – tanan tarongon tawganay tawo testingi tilaw tingala tingoha tinguha tog tognaw togotan tolon toltolan tomanon tomar tonga -, toyo tugutan tuig tungod tyabaw ulanan unahon ungangan unod lantawon unong uyab kabo sologoon sa-gob suba Nagkalain-lain tungud agtang kamot salog
Ila basi kontra poyo
Dagko gagmay peste yawa
Labina

Bisaya is an indigenous people from the northwest coast of East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Their population is concentrated around Beaufort, Kuala Penyu, Menumbok, Sipitang, Labuan Federal Territory and in Limbang District, Sarawak. The Bisaya tribe has many similarities with the Dusun Tatana tribe, especially in terms of language. It is evident that some of their dialogical language conversations are almost identical if they have a dialogue with each other. Nowadays the Bisaya living in Sabah are Muslim, while the Bisaya living in Sarawak are mostly Christianity. In Brunei, they are referred as Dusun, Jati Dusun and Bisaya (Though they are not to be confused with the Dusun people of Sabah).^[5] The Bisaya people are also regarded as a relatives of the Dayak people whereas Bisaya was not brought into Borneo instead they are aboriginal of the land.^[6]

Origin and etymology

Several theories have been put forward by various researchers regarding the origins of the name of the Bisaya people. Beyer H.O. in 1926, Hester E.D. in 1954 and Harrison in 1956 suggested that the name may have come from the empire of Sri Vijaya (Sonza, 1972). However, in 1960, Eugene Vestraelen (Professor of Linguistics at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City) cautioned that the linguistic derivation of Vijaya would not be Bisaya but Bidaya, or Biraya.^[7]

Another theory was suggested by John Carroll:^[8]

According to John Carroll (1961:499-541), the term Visaya might be the Sanskrit Vaisya, denoting the 3rd caste of the Hindu caste system. The Philippine term Bisaya as found in Malay writings meant ‘slave’ or ‘the country of slaves’ and referred to a geographical area of the Philippines where slaves are formerly found and captured.— Joh Carroll, The word Bisaya in the Philippines and Borneo, Sarawak Museum Journal, 1960

source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisaya_%28Borneo%29

These are the 6 main Islands of Bisaya. The people who live here are called Bisaya or Visayans.

The Visayans (Visayan: Mga Bisaya; local pronunciation: [bi-sa-ya]) is an umbrella term for the Philippine ethnolinguistic groups native to the whole Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and most parts of Mindanao. Those particularly within the Visayas broadly share a sea-based culture with strong Roman Catholic traditions merged with cultural elements through centuries of interaction and inter-migrations mainly across the seas of Visayan, Sibuyan, Camotes and Bohol, and in some secluded areas merged with ancient animistic-polytheistic influences (i.e. Folk Catholicism). Most Visayans are speakers of one or more Visayan languages, the most widely spoken being Cebuano, closely followed by Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) and Waray-Waray. Many have, at some point in their lives, migrated to Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces out of necessity brought about by the negative effects of economic centralization in their nation. They comprise the largest grouping in the geographical division of the country, numbering at around 33 million as of 2010.

A lot of people are wondering why majority of the people in Mindanaw speak Bisaya Cebuano and a minority speak Bisaya Ilonggo or Hiligaynon.

In 1940’s, Heavy migration from Bisaya islands specially from the province of Cebu, Iloilo, Antique, Dumaguete, Bohol to Mindanao is due to government-sponsored resettlement programs is the reason why 90% of Mindanao people speak the Cebuano language. Other Bisaya language spoken in Mindanao is Hiligaynon.

Mindanao provinces that speak the Bisaya CEBUANO language: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, South Cotabato, North Cotabato,Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat.

Bisaya HILIGAYNON aka ILONGGO language is spoken in South Cotabato and Gensan areas.

Top 3 Most Spoken Bisaya Languages:

Cebuano 20 million
Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) 10 million
Waray 3 million

Language of Iloilo in 1600’s

Mentrida , Alfonso de , 1637

Dictionary of the Bisayan Language Hiligaynon and Haraya of the Panay Island composed of Father Alonso de Mentrida.

http://vicilongo.weebly.com/learn-the-old-ilongo.html?fbclid=IwAR0KTWlqXkj1OaRy7evx0K2ZqJCRJeYBdt20FRnfyONFUuwcM2lfBeSt1rM

The origin of the term “Visayan “ is unclear. Some sources say it refers to Shri Vijaya, the ancient island Southeast Asian empire to which the original Visayans supposedly belonged. Others consider the term a literal rendering of the Visayan sadya or the Tagalog saya, meaning happiness. The latter version appears to stem from the stereotype that Visayans are a generally laid-back, fun loving and happy-go-lucky people. But as Visayans themselves would put it, they are a hardworking people who just know how to enjoy life.

Cebuano
Cebuano, the second largest ethnolinguistic group (after Tagalog) in the Philippines, numbering roughly 16.5 million in the second decade of the 21st century. They speak an Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language and are sometimes grouped with the Hiligaynon and Waray-Waray under the generic name of Visayan (Bisayan)

Ilonggo is NOT a language

Another misunderstood language is Hiligaynon. A lot of uninformed people refer to Ilonggo as a language which is wrong.

Ilonggo is NOT a language. Ilonggo means the people who trace their Ethnic roots or bloodline in Iloilo province.

The Ilonggo people speak the Hiligaynon language. Hiligaynon is also the l language in Bacolod and the Negros Occidental province.

When the people in Bacolod or Negros occidental refer Ilonggo as their language it is just a reference to the Ilonggo people who speak Hiligaynon, is the same as when people in China refer to Chinese as their language but actually Chinese is the people and their specific languages are Cantonese or Mandarin etc.

The term “Ilonggo” is derived from the Spanish term “irong-irong”, referring to the Filipino word for nose (“ilong”) and an islet in the Batiano River in Panay.[4] “Ilonggo” is considered to define a specific group of people whose ethnic origins are in the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, and Panay, while “Hiligaynon” defines the language and culture of the Ilonggo people.[4] Thus, both terms are interchangeable in referring to the culture of the people or the people themselves

wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiligaynon_people

Many Ilonggos and Antiqueno people migrated in Mindanao and most of them settled in Pigkawayan and Midsayap North Cotabato areas.

How to check if you are a genuine Bisaya?

If both or one of your parents or grandparents or great-great grandparents were originally from any of the Bisaya Islands then you are Bisaya. But if both of your parents or grandparents or great-great grandparents then you are not a genuine Bisaya, you just learned the language and knows how to speak it.

If an Ilokano or Tagalog person learns to speak Cebuano or Hiligaynon language it does not make him a Bisaya person because his ethnic bloodline is NOT from the Bisaya islands.

Same like if you are a Bisaya or Ilokano and you learned to speak Mandarin or Cantonese language it does not make him Chinese because his ethnic blood is not Chinese.

Related Topic

Geography
Visayan Islands are a group of islands in central Philippines, lying between Luzon and Mindanao. The six main islands are Samar, Negros, Panay, Leyte, Cebu, and Bohol. The island of Masbate and nearby smaller islands are sometimes classified with the Visayas, and sometimes classified with the Philippines’ northern island group. The island group of Palawan used to belong to the region of Luzon and was transferred to Visayas in 2005. The Visayan Islands group is divided into three geographical areas: Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas. They have a total area of 23,582 square miles (61,077 square km)

People

The Bisaya people or Visayans are a group of Austronesian people who originate from the central and southern regions of the Philippines. Several linguistic groups in the Philippines are primarily of Bisaya descent. The largest of these groups are the speakers of the languages of Cebuano, Illongo, and Waray-Waray, which are sometimes mistakenly considered dialects. More than 40% of Filipinos have Visayan ancestry.

Some well-known leaders of the Philippine Revolution in the late 19th century are Visayans. Also, there have been three Philippine presidents from the Visayas: the Cebuano Sergio Osmeña (1878—1961); the Ilonggo Manuel Roxas and the Boholano Carlos P. Garcia (1896—1961).

Legend

First Malay Settlement? Malandog, Hamtic, Antique Province, Philippines

Based on facts compiled in a book Maragtas by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro, written in 1907, there are legends which tells the story of the ten chiefs (Datus) who escaped from the tyranny of Datu Makatunaw from Borneo to the islands of Panay. The chiefs and followers are believed to be the ancestors of the Visayan people. The arrival is celebrated in the Festival of the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan.

Source: http://filam.si.edu/curriculum/u1-popup-visayas.html

Resources:
Encylopedia Britannica Online

Wikipedia
Visayas
Bisaya

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Visayan

World Book Encylopedia

Ilonggo Is also Bisaya https://dumaguetemetropost.com/ilonggo-is-bisaya-too-p6211-446.htm

University of the Philippines Library Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines http://www.up.edu.ph/

Who Are the Bisaya People http://www.hawaii.edu/cps/visayans.html

The Visayan Languages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayan_languages

The Visayans http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayans

Visayan People http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Visayan_people

Related Links:

Early Ilonggo-Bisaya identity

www.thenewstoday.info/2008/01/04/early.ilonggo.bisaya.identity.html

Some great Ilonggo-Bisaya writers in history

www.thenewstoday.info/2009/03/27/some.great.ilonggo.html

BISAYA FACEBOOK

Samples of Bisaya Songs:

Waray = Waray-Waray

Kinray-a = Mauli ako sa Antique

Hiligaynon (ilonggo) = Kuring – Pirot

View Post

Cebuano = BUWAD SUKA SILI

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Bisaya Languages includes: Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Waray, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Tausug etc..