Visayas

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Visayas

Visayas is one of the three island groupings in the Philippines along with Luzon and Mindanao. It consists of several islands, forming the central part of the country's archipelago.

The major islands are:

Regions and Provinces

Politically, Visayas is divided into 3 regions which are further subdivided into 16 provinces.

Western Visayas (Region VI)

Western Visayas consists of the islands of Palawan and Panay and the western half of Negros. Its provinces are:

Central Visayas (Region VII)

Central Visayas includes the islands of Cebu and Bohol, and the eastern half of Negros. Its provinces are:

Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)

Eastern Visayas consists of the islands of Leyte and Samar. Its provinces are:

History

The Visayas first came to contact with Spain in the early to late 16th century by Portuguese and Spanish explorers, led by Ferdinand Magellan, Ruy López de Villalobos and Miguel López de Legazpi in 1521, 1543 and 1565 who arrived, explored and colonized the region.

Legend

There are legends, which are compiled in the book Maragtas, which tells the story of the ten chiefs (Datus) who escaped from the tyranny of Datu Makatunaw from Borneo to the islands of Panay. The chiefs and followers are believed to be the ancestors of the Visayan people. The arrival is celebrated in the Festival of the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan. While these are stories, they are believed to be based on actual facts and events which were compiled into a book by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro, written in 1907.