FEATURE/PHOTO: Muslims In The Philippines

Muslims from Jolo, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. (Zamboanga Journal)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 11 Jul) Filipino Muslims is the largest non-Christian group in the country. It comprise about 5% of the Philippine population and most live in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago in the southern region and also in Palawan island. Muslims also live in major cities like Zamboanga, Cebu, Manila and as far as Baguio in the north.

There are at least ten cultural Muslim groups based on the language they use; those who live in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, the Maranaos of Lanao, Tausugs of Jolo island, the Samals and Bajaus or Badjao, from the Sulu Archipelago, the Yakans of Basilan and Zamboanga del Sur, the Ilanon or Iranun and Sangirs or Sangil of southern Mindanao, Melabugnan or Molbog of southern Palawan, the Jama Mapuns of the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi island in far south. There are also the smaller Kaagan in Davao provinces and Kolibugan in Zamboanga Peninsula. (Read more)