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Filipinos of Arab descent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Filipinos of Arab descent |
|---|
| Total population |
|
Unknown |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Mindanao, Metro Manila |
| Languages |
| Tagalog, Cebuano, English |
| Religions |
| Islam and Roman Catholicism |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Jews, Austronesians |
Filipinos of Arab descent constitute of Philippine citizens of Arab descent, including, but not limited to, mestizos.
The Philippines, a country with many vast communities of immigrants and foreigners (especially Americans and Chinese), has a notable Arab community. According to a recent survey, Arabs in the Philippines number about 22,000. Most Filipinos or Arab descent live in Mindanao, while more recent immigrants are mostly entrepreneurs and settle in the city of Manila.
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They speak Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilonggo, Mindanao languages, English, while some speak Arabic.
In 1380, Karim ul’ Makhdum, the first Islamic missionary to reach the Sulu Archipelago, brought Islam to what is now the Philippines, first arriving in Jolo. Subsequent visits of Arab Muslim missionaries helped strengthen the Islamic faith in the Philippines, mostly in the south but as far north as Manila. Vast sultanates were established, these were the Sultanate of Maguindanao and the Sultanate of Sulu. Since the first people who established themselves as sultans in various parts of Maritime Southeast Asia—Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines—were usually of Arab descent, most people of royal lineage claim Arab descent, some going as far as claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad himself. In any event, any descent from Arabs or Muhammad among those of royal lineage would be extremely diluted, and the majority of Filipino, Indonesian, and Malaysian Muslims who are not of royal lineage could not make either claim.
Present-day Filipino families of Arab descent include the Bediri (Tawi-Tawi), Abubakar (Sulu), Bajunaid (Maguindanao) and Samanoden (Lanao). (Samanudi, and not Samanoden, descended from Sudan. The Samanudis are in Cotabato and Lanao.)
Former ARMM Speaker Ismael "Pochong" Abubakar is descended from the Bediri from his mother side and Abubakar from his father side.
Former MSU Gensan Chancellor Moner Bajunaid is of Arab descent. (Bajunaid of Yemen from his father side and Masmudi of Tunisia from his mother side.)
Also of Arab descent in Mindanao are the following families:
- Cozbari (Syrian) of Lanao
- Shurafa (Palestinian) of Cotabato
- Bagis (Yemen) of Zamboanga
- Macmod (Yemen) of Cotabato and General Santos
- Palestinian wives of noted Islamic scholars from the Pasigan family of Maguindanao and Davao.
In the Visayas, the Caram family of Iloilo are of Arab descent. The Osmeña (from Osmania of Turkey) family of Cebu are also middle eastern descent.[verification needed]
Some movie and TV celebrities are also of Arab descent. Among them are Dawn Zulueta (real name: Rachel Marie Salman Taleon; Palestinian)[1], Ana Roces (real name: Marinella Adad; Lebanese),[2] and Yasmien Kurdi (Lebanese).
| Filipino minorities | List |  |
|---|---|
| American | Arab | Ibanag | Indian | Ivatan | Japanese | Jewish | Korean | Sambal |