Visayans are counted among the Manila ethnic groups. They make up the majority of the Philippine population. The Visayans of Manila are a mix of various linguistic groups and speak different languages. Waray-Waray, Cebuano and Hiligaynon are the languages spoken by this ethnic group of Manila. These languages together are sorted as Austronesian language. Mindanao and Manila are the two areas primarily inhabited by Visayans. They are identified on the basis of their languages and ancestry. The Visayans of Manila are mostly Roman Catholics and worship Child Jesus, locally known as Santo Nino. They are also famous for their colorful festivals like the MassKara, Sinulog, Ati- atihan and the Sandugo festivals.
About the Visayans
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There have been controversies regarding the origin of the Visayans. It is believed that they came from either Taiwan or Malaysia. This
manila ethnic group is the descendant of the ancient Srivijaya Empire. The Srivuijaya Empire administered the coastal areas of the archipelagic nation between the 5th and 15th centuries. The Visayans came in contact with western civilization in the early part of the 16th century. This led to the Philippine ethnic group to adopt a more western way of life along with embracing the religion of Christianity.
Visayans role in modern Philippine History
The Visayans played a prominent role in the Philippine Revolution and also during the American Colonial period. After gaining independence, the Visayans also played an active role in Filipino politics.
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