The
Hiligaynon people, often referred to as
Ilonggo, are a subgroup of the
Visayan people whose primary language is the
Hiligaynon language, an
Austronesian language native to the large eastern coastal plain of
Panay. Over the years, intermigrations and intramigrations have contributed to the
diaspora of the Hiligaynon to different parts of the
Philippines. Now, the Hiligaynon form the majority in the provinces of
Iloilo,
Negros Occidental,
Guimaras,
Capiz,
South Cotabato, and
Sultan Kudarat.