Hiligaynon people

Hiligaynon / Ilonggo people

Total population
8,608,191 (2020)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Philippines (Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, southern Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Masbate, Soccsksargen)  United States Worldwide
Languages
Hiligaynon, Filipino, English, Spanish (archaic formal prestige)
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholicism. Minority others, Aglipayan, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism & Islam
Related ethnic groups
other Filipinos (Karay-a, Capiznon, Aklanon, Masbateño, other Visayans) other Austronesian peoples

The Hiligaynon people (Hiligaynon: mga Hiligaynon), often referred to as Ilonggo people (Hiligaynon: mga Ilonggo) or Panayan people (Hiligaynon: mga Panayanon),^[2] are the second largest subgroup of the larger Visayan ethnic group, whose primary language is Hiligaynon, an Austronesian language of the Visayan branch native to Panay, Guimaras, and Negros. They originated in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the region of Western Visayas. Over the years, inter-migrations and intra-migrations have contributed to the diaspora of the Hiligaynon to different parts of the Philippines. Today, the Hiligaynon, apart from the province of Iloilo, also form the majority in the provinces of Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Capiz, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato Province. Hiligaynon is also spoken in some parts of Sarangani Province particulary in the Municipality of Malungon.