The Filipinos can be segregated into three distinct groups: Christians, Muslims and the tribal groups. As we have mentioned, the Spanish introduced Catholicism to the islands, which accounts for nearly 90 percent of the population being Christian. This group of Christians lives primarily in the lowlands of the islands. The Muslim groups live in the lowlands a well as parts of the south. The tribal groups live in the higher elevations (mountains). The tribal groups remain segregated from the other groups in the Philippines.

There are more than 80 native languages and dialects spoken in the Philippines. It is interesting to note that "no two of these languages are mutually understood." Cebuano is spoken in Visayas while Tagalog is spoken both in Manila, Central Luzon and in the north.

In 1939, the national language of Pilipino (based on Tagalog) was promoted as the country’s primary language. In the Philippines today, over half of the population speaks Pilipino with English being the language for government commerce and education.

Educated Filipinos are usually trilingual with the ability to speak their own regional language, Pilipino and English.

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