What is chabacanos?

Chabacanos (also known as Zamboangueño or Chavacano) is a Spanish-based creole language spoken primarily in Zamboanga City, Philippines and other parts of the southern Philippines. It is a mixture of Spanish, Malay, and various Philippine languages such as Tagalog, Cebuano, and Waray. It is estimated that around 600,000 speakers of Chabacano exist in the Philippines, with the majority of the speakers residing in Zamboanga City. Chabacano has its own unique vocabulary and grammar that has evolved over time. Despite being influenced heavily by Spanish, it is not considered a variety of Spanish, but rather a separate creole language. Chabacano is recognized as an official regional language in the Philippines and has been added to the country's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.