The Hiligaynon, often referred to as Ilonggo, are the indigenous inhabitants of the large coastal plain of East Panay island. Over the years, intermigrations and intramigrations have contributed to the diaspora of the Hiligaynon to different parts of the country. Now, the Hiligaynon form the majority in Iloilo province, Capiz province, Negros Occidental province, Guimaras province, South Cotabato province and Sultan Kudarat province.
Hiligaynon people speak Hiligaynon language and also speak Cebuano in Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Cotabato and Siquijor as second language. Throughout the Philippines, they speak Tagalog and English as second languages.
Hiligaynon culture is part of the culture of the wider Visayan ethnic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnic group. Most Hiligaynons (entirely in Sultan Kudarat Cotabato and South Cotabato) are Christians who are Roman Catholics.
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