Cataduaño

Cataduaño is a Spanish and Malay creole spoken in Cataduanes, it is the national language of the Republic and the first language of 83% of nation (the reminder is made up of speakers of Mahabeño, a language closely related to Cataduaño yet less influenced by Spanish and retaining a large degree of influence from the extinct Merdicas tongue and a small spanish speaking minority largely based in the capital and the provinces of El Nido and Romblon).Historically the language developed as a lingua franca during the colonial times and grew to eliminate the indigenous Merdicas language from which it is descended in part.

Since independence it has taken center stage as Spanish was abolished as the language of goverment and more importantly education. In addition to this the post colonial administration has been funding the works of academics to revive the dead Merdicas language, the use of this neo-Merdicas has been limited to the national flag and national anthem and has yet to be completed as a viable alternative to Cataduaño.