foreign is a group of islands located in the central part of the Philippines it is composed of three administrative regions Western visayas Central visayas and Eastern visayas it covers a total land area of approximately 71 500 square kilometers making it the second largest island group in the Philippines after Luzon the name visayas is believed to have come from the word srivijaya which was a powerful ancient Kingdom in Southeast Asia some historians also suggest that the name was derived from the word by Saya which means people of the water or people of the sea the visayas region is home to various ethnic groups including the hiliganan cebuano wari and others each with their own unique language culture and traditions the visayas region has a rich and complex history prior to the arrival of the Spanish the visayas was home to several independent kingdoms including the rajinative Cebu the kadachuan of majas and the rajinative butuan these kingdoms had a sophisticated society and economy with trade and commerce thriving between different islands in the region the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century marked a significant turning point in visayan history the Spanish established several settlements and built churches schools and other structures that still stand today they also introduced Christianity and the Spanish language which had a significant impact on the culture and identity of the visayan people the visayas played a crucial role in the Philippine Revolution against Spain in the late 19th century and the philippine-american war in the early 20th century the island was the site of several important battles including the Battle of mittan where the visayan warrior La pulapu defeated Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 today the visayas is a vibrant and diverse region with a unique identity and culture it is known for its beautiful beaches stunning natural landscapes and delicious food some of the most popular tourist destinations in the visayas include Boracay Island Bohol Cebu City and the Chocolate Hills the visayas region is also home to many talented artists and musicians such as the world-renowned singer and songwriter Ryan kayabyab and the visayan singer and actress Nora honor the region is also known for its colorful festivals such as the sinulog festival in Cebu and the adiadian festival in Acklin in conclusion the visayas region is a fascinating and important part of Philippine history and culture from its ancient kingdoms to its Colonial past and modern day vibrancy the visayas continues to shape the identity of the Filipino people and Inspire visitors from all over the world foreign