Cuyunon people is an ethnic group living in Cuyo Islands, along with northern and southern Palawan. They are considered an elite class among the heirarchy of native Palawenos. It is also member of the Philippine branch of Malayo-Polynesian Languanges.
There are ten Punong Datus ( cheif datus ) of Cuyonon Tribe and two Datu Plenipotentiaries compromising the Council of Datus of the Cuyonon Tribe, namely Datu Higinio Clark Mendoza, II, Datu Freddie Ponce de Leon, II, Datu Ferdinand Blanco, Datu Andrei Ustares Acosta, Datu Prospero Castro, Datu Wilfredo Magdayao, Datu Jim Gerald Pe, Datu Felipe Acosta, II, Datu Rogelio Alili, and Datu Robert Rover, and Plenipotentiaries Datu Franklin Solita and Datu Fernando Macolor Cruz (Cabaylo II).
SUB- GROUPS
The Cuyono Tribe can be best understood by sub-grouping them into four categories:
1.) Paraguanen = the Cuyono people who settled mostly in the mainland Palawan ( Paragua )
2.) Poroanen = the Cuyono people who settled mostly in the islands and islets of Palawan
3.) Mestiso = the Cuyono who usually are half breed Chinese or Spanish
4.) Lakto = and the Cuyonon who did not accept Catholism and lived as Animists
Cuyonon language was used as a lingua franca in Palawan province until the late 1980s, although the number of speakers there has decreased more recently due to migratation, and to pressure from Tagalog, which is the main language used in schools. Cuyonon is a regional Bisayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.
Here are some examples of Cuyonon language:
1.) Aga doa doa ako– I am hesitating
2.) Sarabyen– sinasabi
3.) Paranlingaw-lingawan– hobby
4.) Patererek– gaze
5.) Lanot– fiber (hibla)
6.) Pigora– face
7.) Padake– lamp / ilawan
8.) Oririg– lay / humiga
9.) Mailem– black / maitim
10.) Yemyem– smile / ngiti
Video:
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Cuyunon Dialects 