Visayans

The Visayans (Visayan: mga Bisaya; local pronunciation: [mɐˈŋa bisɐˈjaʔ]) are a Philippine ethnic group native to the Visayan islands, to the southernmost islands of Luzon and to the northern and eastern parts of Mindanao. They are speakers of one or more Visayan languages, the most widely spoken being Cebuano, distantly followed by Hiligaynon and Waray-Waray. They live primarily in the Visayan island group and in many parts of Mindanao. Many have, at some point in their lives, migrated to Luzon out of economic necessity brought about by centralisation around Manila. They comprise the largest ethnic group in the country, numbering at around 33 million as of 2010.

Terminology

Kabisay-an refers both to the Visayan people collectively and the lands they have inhabited since prehistory. The Anglicized term Visayas (adapted from the, in turn, Hispanized Bisayas) is commonly used to refer to the latter. The Visayan homeland—or the unofficial, precolonial Visayas—spans the following present-day Philippine provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Capiz, Dávao Oriental, Dinagat, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Romblon, Samar, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.