The Philippines has two official languages: Filipino — based on Tagalog — and English. Filipino is the national lingua franca, while English is co-official and widely used in government, education, and business. The country is home to over 180 living languages, all belonging to the Austronesian family. Tagalog, native to the Luzon region, was elevated to the basis of the national language after independence in 1946. Spanish colonial rule (1565–1898) left a lasting imprint on Filipino vocabulary; English dominance followed under American administration (1898–1946), creating today's bilingual educated population. Approximately 55% of Filipinos are proficient in English, making the Philippines one of the largest English-speaking populations in the world. Cebuano, spoken in the Visayas and Mindanao, is the second most widely spoken native language.
