Although Filipino is the official language, only an estimated 55 percent of Filipinos speak the language. The reason for this is distinct indigenous languages and dialects, numbering perhaps as high as 170, of which only about 12 are important regionally. Filipino is a mixture of Tagalog, Spanish and English.

     English is generally used for educational, governmental and commercial purposes and is widely understood since it is often the preferred medium of instruction in schools. Visayan (Cebuano) is a Central Philippine language and is used widely in Mactan, Cebu, Bohol, eastern Negros, western Leyte, and parts of Mindanao.