Culture
Mindanao is the most culturally diverse island in the Philippines where people of different languages, tribes and races meet. As a melting pot of different cultures, it creates a more distinct culture which is not present in other island groups in the country. Mindanao has been the seat of two sultanates namely the Sultanate of Sulu and the Sultanate of Maguindanao along with the most hispanized city in Asia, a considerable number of Buddhist and Taoist temples and the indigenous tribes known as Lumad people which makes it more diverse.
Cebuano is spoken by the majority of people in Mindanao. Cebuano is generally the native language in most regions, except for the Muslim areas on the west coast and among the hill tribes. Tagalog is also widely spoken among the people. Hiligaynon or Ilonggo is widely spoken in South Cotabato and a large part of Cotabato Province. English is also widely spoken.
The Spanish-based creole, Zamboangueño Chavacano is the main language spoken in Zamboanga City and Basilan, scatteredly spoken around Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, parts of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The dialect Zamboangueño Chavacano is one of the six dialects of Chavacano (whose native speakers are known as the Latino Zamboangueño). other spoken dialects of Chavacano Language are the following: Cotabateñ in Cotabato City and Castellano Abakay in Davao region.
There are still a number of Spanish speakers, most of them elderly members of mestizo families.
Christians form the majority, with 63% of the population; Muslims are 32% of the population; 5% are affiliated with other religions. The native Maguindanaon and other native Muslim or non-Muslim groups of Mindanao have a culture that is different from the main cultures of the Southern Philippines.
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