The Philippines is a linguistically diverse country with over 130 to 195 languages spoken, depending on the method of classification. The two official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English. Filipino, which is a standardized version of Tagalog, is the national language, while English has official status due to the Philippines history as a U.S. territory. Filipino and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business, with Filipino being the principal medium of instruction in education and the language of trade and law. Additionally, there are major regional languages spoken in the Philippines, such as Cebuano, Chavacano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, and others, which are mostly indigenous languages belonging to the Austronesian language family. The linguistic diversity in the Philippines reflects its rich cultural heritage and history of immigration and cultural exchange, making it a vibrant hub of culture and communication in Southeast Asia.