Tagalog people

The Tagalogs are the second largest Filipino ethnic group next to the Visayans. The name Tagalog comes from the terms taga-ilog, meaning 'riverine people'.

Area

The Tagalogs are the most widespread in the Philippines. They form a majority in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, Bataan, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, and Rizal. Other provinces with significant Tagalog populations include the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Aurora, Zambales, Oriental Mindoro, and in Metro Manila. The original Tagalog homeland is in Batangas.

Demographics

Tagalogs number about 15,876,000. The origin of the Tagalogs is still disputed, whether their cultivating homeland was in (what is now) Taal, Batangas, or ascending from the south where their closer lingusitic kinsmen (the Visayans) dwelled. Nonetheless, the Tagalogs (like other aboriginal Philippine ethnicities) are likely the descendants of Austronesian-speaking immigrants from prehistoric Taiwan (see Taiwanese aboriginals). Tagalogs speak the Tagalog language, with many dialectal variations, although all Tagalog dialects are considered to be mutually comprehensible to each other. The main religion of Tagalogs is Christianity, mostly Roman Catholicism as well as Protestantism. There are also some Muslims.

Culture

The Tagalog culture of the Pre-Hispanic times was totally different from its forms today. From a former tattooing tribe, the Tagalog culture grew steadily to accept foreign, especially Hispanic, Chinese, and American cultural influences, and their culture today remains the backbone and the representative of all other Filipino cultures. Traditionally, the Tagalogs are for the most part agriculturalists, although there are some who engage in fishing. Today, the Tagalogs are disproportionately represented in the Philippine professional setting.

History

See main articles: Manila (history)

The ancient Tagalogs were primarily a Hindu people who were converted to Muslims by Arab traders just before the arrival of the Spaniards, led by Miguel López de Legazpi. The primary centers of Tagalog civilization were based in riverine deltas, especially those in what are now Manila, Taal, Batangas, Pila, Laguna, and scattered townships along Manila Bay. The Tagalogs also had long commercial relations with the Portuguese and the Chinese before the arrival of Legazpi. After several negotiations, Legazpi brushed off the Manila settlement of Rajah Lakandula and Rajah Sulayman, and built a fortress there (the current Intramuros). The building of the Intramuros saw forced labor or polo among the Tagalogs, and this led to deep resentment by the latter. The Tagalogs staged the most numerous revolts against Spanish colonization, and were also among the earliest. One such revolt was that of Tagalog Apolinario de la Cruz (Hermano Pule), which was religious in orientation. In 1898, most leaders of the Philippine Revolution were also Tagalogs, including the first Philippine president Emilio Aguinaldo. Since Aguinaldo, four other Tagalogs assumed the presidency: Manuel L. Quezon (who was actually a Spanish-mestizo whose native ancestry was Tagalog), Jose P. Laurel, Corazon Aquino (partly of Tagalog descent, from her maternal side) and Joseph Estrada. Perceived Tagalog domination and prominence in many aspects of national character and identity â€" best exemplifed by the long-standing debate on Filipino (the national language) â€" continue to cause deep resentment by other Filipinos, especially the Visayans.