Only 2,000 islands are said to be inhabited in the Philippines, despite the fact that there are more than 7,000 islands. Each inhabited island is part of one of the country’s three main island groups: Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao. These areas aren’t only divided for geographical purposes; you’ll notice distinct features, customs, languages on each island group.
Luzon
Luzon, which comes from the Tagalog term kalusunan (northern part), is the Philippines’ main island. As a result, it is expected to have the highest population of the three island groups. Luzon is divided into four major regions: Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and the National Capital Region, which serves as the country’s economic, social, cultural and financial center.
The island, which is the world’s 15th largest, is home to popular spots such as Palawan, hilly terrains, volcanoes like Mount Pinatubo (which has erupted five times), perfect cone-shaped Mount Mayon, and Taal Volcano, among other things. The most significant ethnolinguistic groups are Ilocano, Kapampangan, Bicolano (also known as Tondo), Tagalog (also known as Manila), and Pangasinanese.
Visayas
The tiny, scattered islands of Visayas are located between the Luzon and Mindanao regions. Ferdinand Magellan landed on one of the island groups while exploring the Philippines during his expedition, which led to its name being derived from Visaya. According to historians, the term Visayas was derived from the wealthy Malayan Srivijaya Empire that ruled over parts of the Visayan islands.
Visayas has a long and illustrious history, but it is also well-known for its rich cultural activities including the Dinagyang, Ati-atihan, and Sinulog festivals, which are in memory of religious beliefs. Visitor attractions in the Visayas region include white-sand beaches on Boracay (Luzon), Chocolate Hills in Bohol, and whale sharks in Cebu City. The three primary languages spoken are Cebuano, Waray, and Hiligaynon.
Mindanao
Mindanao is the Philippines’ second largest island in terms of agriculture, fishing, forestry, and other sectors; it is also the southernmost part of the country. In terms of production, Mindanao is a significant contributor to the Philippine economy, particularly in agriculture and fisheries. The majority of Filipino Muslims live on this island group in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Because it is near Borneo Island, historians claim that Sultanates of Mindanao became acquainted with rulers from Borneo who introduced them to Islam religion.
The islands of Basilan, Lanao del Norte, and Sulu are part of this island group, which contains diverse mountain terrain. Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the country and serves as the Philippine Eagle Conservation Center’s conservation center. The Mindanao region includes a variety of natural features including nearby seas with deep-sea fish and Surigao’s Enchanted River, which has a depth that to date remains a mystery. Davao City, located within Mindanao’s borders, is their seat of government and is considered one of the safest cities on Earth.
Despite differences in culture and tradition, the three main islands contribute to the strengthening and preservation of Filipino traditions and cultural practices, owing to their geographic dispersion.
