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The term "Filipino" refers to a native or citizen of the Philippines. The national language is Filipino, which is based on the Tagalog language. Tagalog is the most widely spoken language in the Philippines and is the mother tongue of approximately 19.5 million Filipinos. The Tagalog people are the largest cultural-linguistic group and are primarily located in central Luzon and parts of Mindanao.1234

Historically, the inhabitants of the Philippines were diverse, with little contact between groups before the arrival of Western colonizers. Before Spanish colonization, early Filipinos engaged in shifting cultivation, hunting, and fishing, with social organization centered around barangays, or kinship groups led by a chieftain. Islam was introduced to Mindanao in the 15th century, preceding the Spanish arrival. The Philippines' history is marked by 333 years of Spanish rule and 48 years under U.S. influence, leading to significant Western cultural affinities.56

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