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Waray people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Waray are part of the wider Bisaya ethnic group, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnic group.
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The Warays form the majority in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, while they form a significant population in Leyte and Sorsogon.
Warays number about 3,702,000. The Warays, technically considered Visayans, are culturally closer to the Bicolanos than to the other Visayans. This similarity has been shown by customs, traditions, and language. Warays speak the Waray-Waray language, which is further subdivided into various dialects. The majority of Warays are Roman Catholics.
The Warays' livelihood are farming and fishing. Many Warays send their children to Manila to work as maids or katulong, since most Waray families live below the poverty line. Also, their islands, Samar and Leyte, remain one of the most underdeveloped areas in the Philippines. The Warays are primarily known for their traditional courtship dance, the balitaw or kuratsa, which features verses in rhyme and dance motions.
One aspect of the Waray culture that makes them widely known is faith-healing. In the island of Samar, especially in the province of Eastern Samar, many still practice animistic traditions alongside with Roman Catholicism.
The Warays are descendants of the Austronesian-speaking immigrants who came to the Philippines during the Iron Age. Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the Warays were likely Hindus or Muslims. In 1521, the Warays were the first Filipinos to be sighted by Europeans under the leadership of Ferdinand Magellan. The Warays were among the first Filipinos converted to Christianity. Paradoxically, they are also among the last Filipino ethnicities to retain traditional pagan practices alongside their practice of Roman Catholicism. From the Spanish Colonization onwards, they have been considered the underdog of Filipino ethnicity. There has never been a Philippine president of Waray heritage.
| The Bisaya | Binisaya |  |
|---|---|
| Aklanon | Boholano/Bol-anon | Butuanon | Caluyanon | Capiznon | Cebuano | Eskaya | Hiligaynon | Karay-a | Masbateño | Porohanon | Romblomanon | Surigaonon | Waray |