Who Are the Bisaya or Visayan People?

Who Are the Bisaya or Visayan People?

BISAYA (Bisayans or Visayans) are people who trace their Ethnic roots or bloodline in Bisaya islands (Visayas islands).

This region includes the Bisaya islands of Panay, Romblon, Guimaras, Negros,Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, Biliran and Samar.

Bisaya people speak related languages belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family. 

These Languages of the Bisaya people are: Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Cebuano, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, Bantoanon, Romblomanon, Waray,  Surigaonon, Cuyonon, Butuanon, and Tausug etc.

Languages of the Bisaya people in the 6 Major BISAYA Islands are:
1. 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. Bisaya Island of Negros = Languages of the Bisaya People in Negros are: Cebuano (Negros Oriental) and Hiligaynon (Negros Occidental)
3. Bisaya Island of Cebu = Language of the Bisaya People in Cebu province is Cebuano
4. Bisaya Island of Bohol = Language of the Bisaya People in Bohol is Boholano (local version of Cebuano language)
5. Bisaya Island of Leyte  = Languages of the Bisaya People in Leyte are: Waray (Northern Leyte) and  Cebuano (Southern Leyte)
6. Bisaya Island of Samar = Languages of the Bisaya People in Samar are: Waray (Eastern Samar) and Cebuano (Southern Samar)

Heavy migration to Mindanao of people from Cebu and Dumaguete etc in 1940's, spurred by government-sponsored resettlement programmes is the reason why 90% of Mindanao people speak the Cebuano language. Cebuano is a part of the Visayan language Family. 

Because of migration over time, a large part of Mindanao is now largely populated by Bisaya people from Iloilo, Antique, Cebu, Dumaguete, Samar, Leyte, and Bohol.

Mindanao provinces that speak the 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.

Hiligaynon is also spoken in some parts of Mindanao. Ilonggo or Ilonggos are people who trace their Ethnic roots or bloodline in Iloilo province who speak Hiligaynon migrated in Mindanao and most of them settled in Pigkawayan and Midsayap North Cotabato areas.

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.

Sources: 

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

Some great Ilonggo-Bisaya writers in history