People group profile · PG046806
The Bicolano of the Philippines
The Bicolano of the Philippines, numbering about 7,830,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Austronesian ethnolinguistic people indigenous to the Bicol Peninsula and nearby islands of southeastern Luzon, whose regional identity developed through a shared Bikol heritage shaped by maritime connections, agriculture, and volcanic landscapes.
They are an indigenous people in the Filipino Tribal people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Central Bikol.
Fast facts
- Country
- Philippines
- Population
- 7,830,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Filipino Tribal
- Primary language
- Central Bikol (bcl)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- 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 Bicolano 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 Bicolano
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
98% adherents
Primary language
Central Bikol · Austronesian family
50% speak Central Bikol
Gospel resources in Central Bikol
- Bible available, published 1992
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Bikol Popular Version · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bicolano
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Bicolano, Central in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101912) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicolano | United States | 800 | No Longer Unreached |
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