People group profile · PG007660
The Central Tagbanwa of the Philippines
The Central Tagbanwa of the Philippines, numbering about 4,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are one of the Philippines' oldest indigenous peoples of Palawan, possibly descended from Tabon Man, whose own Central Tagbanwa language has given way among many speakers to Cuyonon, the trade tongue Cuyo Island settlers spread across the province.
They are an indigenous people in the Filipino Tribal people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Cuyonon.
Fast facts
- Country
- Philippines
- Population
- 4,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Filipino Tribal
- Primary language
- Cuyonon (cyo)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Central Tagbanwa are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Central Tagbanwa
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Animism · Ethnoreligion
95% adherents
Primary language
Cuyonon · Austronesian family
100% speak Cuyonon
Gospel resources in Cuyonon
- Bible available, published 1982
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Cuyonon)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Central Tagbanwa
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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