The
islands of the Philippines are inhabited by a number of different
ethnolinguistic nations. The majority of the population is composed of ethnolinguistic nations whose own languages are
Austronesian also known as
Malayo-Polynesian in origin. Many of these groups converted to
Christianity, particularly the lowland-coastal groups, and adopted many foreign elements of culture. Ethnolinguistic nations include the
Cebuano,
Ilocano,
Pangasinense,
Kapampangan,
Tagalog,
Bicolano,
Waray,
Surigaonon,
Zamboangueño and
Hiligaynon who are also called Ilonggo.