Expats’ Guide: Ethnic Groups in the Philippines
Part of the rich culture which the Philippines is known for are the ethnic groups found in the different provinces of the country. These ethnic groups are a group of people who “identify with each other through commonalities.” With having the common ancestral and cultural experiences, language, beliefs, system, and physical appearance, ethnic groups have long been subjects of many researches that tell much of the Philippine history. To let you have an idea of the groups you’d see in the Philippines, here are some of the more well-known ethnic groups and their description.
(Photo by Jasper Espejo)
1. Ilocano
The Ilocano is the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. Ilocanos are usually found at the Ilocos region, spreading throughout the Cordillera Administrative region, Cagayan valley, and parts of Central Luzon. Ilocanos speak the “Ilokano” language that has a variety of 40 dialects. When it comes to culture, the Ilocanos are known to being hardworking and thrifty, moreover stereotyped as stingy by other people. The Ilocanos also have a strong sense of family ties.
(Photo grabbed from gingpineda.blogspot.com)
2. Kapampangan
The Kapampangans are the sixth largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. They are also known as Pampangueños, who are found at the province of Pampanga. The Kapampangan language is one of the most well-known language in the Philippines. Kapampangans are known for their delectable cuisine and handcrafted lanterns. It is where Filipino dishes such as sisig and morcon come from.
(Photo grabbed from byaheroph.blogspot.com)
3. Bicolano
Bicolanos are the fifth largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. They are found mostly at the Bicol region and in provinces such as Albay, Camarines Camarines Norte, Masbate, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon. Bicolanos are very much known in the culinary scene, with food such as Bicol express being a well-known Filipino dish, and with their use of chili peppers and coconut milk in their delicacies. When it comes to their culture, Bicolanos are known to be religious and hardworking.
(Photo grabbed from morefunpangasinan.blogspot.com)
4. Pangasinense
As the 9th largest ethnic group in the Philippines, the Pangasinenses are found at the province of Pangasinan, Lingayen gulf, and in the central part of the Luzon island. With Pangasinan being the largest province in the Ilocos region, they have 44 municipalities at hand. Pangasinenses are known for salt production, farming, and fishing.
(Photo grabbed from pinterest.com)
5. Tagalog
Tagalog is known to be the “most widely-spread ethnic group in the Philippines.” Tagalog people are found mostly in Manila, Southern Luzon, Marinduque, and some parts such as islands in Palawan, Romblon, and Mindoro. They are the second largest ethnic groups in the Philippines, next to Visayans. Its language, the Tagalog language, is spoken as the second language of the majority. The standardized form called Filipino was officially declared the national language, aside from English.
Source: http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/
