What is the reason for the diversity of languages spoken in the Philippines, given that they all have their origins in the Malay/Indonesian language?

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There are a couple of things wrong with this question.

“ given that they all have their origins in the Malay/Indonesian language? “

This is false. Tagalog, Bisaya, Ilocano, and many of the local languages, as well as the many local languages of Malaysia and Indonesia, are all part of the Austronesian language family. Which all come from Taiwan.

[Paper] Is Malayo-Polynesian a primary branch of Austronesian? : A view from morphosyntax

via Diachronica, 16 May 2022: This paper by Chen et al. takes a look at the linguistic evidence for the Austronesian expansion and hones a likely origin to the east coast of Taiwan. 

https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/08/19/paper-is-malayo-polynesian-a-primary-branch-of-austronesian-a-view-from-morphosyntax/

The Out-of-Taiwan Theory shows how Austronesians spread from Taiwan to the rest of Maritime Southeast Asia.

As for the diversity of languages spoken in the Philippines, it's the same reason why there is a diversity of languages spoken in Malaysia, Indonesia, and even in most neighboring countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand. In Maritime Southeast Asia, many different island groups allow for different groups of people, or tribes, to develop their own distinct cultures, and thus their own languages.

• Ethnic Groups of Indonesia

Not to mention the other form of geographic barriers and features such as mountains and valleys or even open seas that create distinct cultural groups. This is true throughout Southeast Asia and throughout many parts of the world. Monocultures are quite rare in general.

• Ifugao people of the mountains in the Cordilleras.

• Maranao, people of the lake in Lake Lanao.

• Sama-Bajau people are known for living on the open seas.

• Panay-Bukidnon, known for living in the Visayan highlands.

What other countries have adopted Filipino celebrations and customs?

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Due to trade with other former Spanish colonies and with Spain itself, local Filipino culture has made its way across oceans.

Mexico has adopted some customs and cultural imports from the Philippines.

• In Mexico, the growing of palm wine came from the Philippines.

• Mangoes, native to Asia, are now part of Mexican cuisine.

• Coconuts, native to Southeast Asia and Melanesia have also been introduced to Mexico as a result of trade with the Philippines.

• Distillation techniques to make coconut palm liquor called lambanog have been used to make tequila.

• Chamoy might have been influenced by Filipino kiamoy, or dried sour fruits.

• The Manton de Manila, derived from the Filipino panuelo is part of folk costumes.

Spain even got some influence from the Philippines, as the pith helmet was inspired by the salakot. This helmet has since spread throughout European military wear.

Guam, while a territory, also has some Filipino influence.

• The carabao is the unofficial national animal of Guam. It was brought over by Filipino settlers.

• Cuisine such as pancit, lumpia, dinuguan, and puto have also been brought over and part of local Guamanian dishes.

• The Mestiza dress of Guam is highly inspired by the Traje de Mestiza of the Philippines with a blouse made of pina fiber.

• Tschongka, a wooden board game played with shells into holes is inspired by sungka.

What is the history of Mindanao?

 

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Was it an independent state before it was colonized by Spain like Visayas and Luzon? If so, what was its name or kingdom name if ever existed at all?

Mindanao is known for being one of the places that successfully resisted Spanish colonization. But the whole island was never under a single kingdom, but rather multiple kingdoms.

The oldest of these kingdoms was the precolonial kingdom of Butuan. Many gold artifacts from the former realm have been uncovered here, including the Golden Tara. Envoys from Butuan have been sent to China since 1001. Butuan enjoyed relations with other local kingdoms as well as with larger empires like the Majapahit.

• Golden Tara shows Hindu-Buddhist influence in the area.

• Elaborate gold pieces like this kinnari vessel have been discovered here.

• Ancient Ivory Seal suggests Indianized influence and international trade.

The Sultanate of Maguindanao was another sultanate that ruled over present-day Maguindanao Province. This was a centralized sultanate that was founded in 1520, but before that, there was a predecessor state called Wenduling in 1304.

• Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan of Johor was credited with bringing Islam to the region.
• The sultans successfully resisted Spanish forces. Sultan Kudarat in particular was known for his resistance against the Spanish in the 17th century.

• The Sultanate ended during the American period when the entire island was occupied by Americans.

• Yellow was a color of royalty for the sultanate, showing Chinese influence.

The Lanao Confederacy was a decentralized confederation of many royal houses and sultans in the Lanao area. They seceded from the Sultanate of Maguindanao in 1616 and stayed a decentralized group of sultans.

• There were 16 royal houses in this territory.

• During the Spanish period, Maranao and Iranun forces conducted regular raids on the Visayas. They took on many slaves during these attacks.

• While they resisted Spanish colonization, they eventually fell to American invaders.

The Sultanate of Sulu was founded in the 1400s by a Johor-born religious scholar. At its peak, it spanned the Sulu Archipelago, Mindanao, and present-day Sabah in Malaysia.

• The Sultanate used to have the largest royal palace built in the Philippines.

• The archipelago had connections to Majapahit as evidenced by the Kakawin Nagarakretagama, and was under the name Solot.

• Sulu freely traded with Champa, with merchant Chams settling in Sulu.
• A sultan named Paduka Pahala moved to China, and his descendants currently live in Dezhou where they maintain his royal tomb.

• Karim ul-Makhdam arrived in 1380 and brought Islam to the islands. The first mosque in the Philippines is currently in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi.

• The sultanate broke free of Brunei in 1538.
• Raids from Sulu were common in the 17th and 18th centuries, with many slaves in Sulu coming from the Visayas.

• The sultanate eventually ceased power to the Americans in 1915, bringing the entire archipelago under American rule. The Bud Dajo Massacre in 1906 was one of the many war crimes Americans committed against the people in the Philippines, this one, in particular, happened in Sulu.

What makes Zamboanga City unique?

 Zamboanga, a city that encapsulates the blend of Malay, Spanish, and Islamic traditions.

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Zamboanga City is unique in that it encapsulates what the Philippines really is all about, and that is the blending of Eastern and Western cultures.

This manifests itself in many unique ways.

• City Hall decorated with traditional vinta boat designs.

The locals speak a unique language called Chavacano, the only Spanish creole language in Asia. The grammar is very Austronesian while the vocabulary is mostly Spanish-derived. Other languages in the country have a lot less Spanish influence.

• Fort Pilar was built in the Spanish colonial era in the 17th century. A Marian shrine was erected on the wall in 1960 showing Catholic influence.

Islam is also represented in the city as well. Today, 35% of Zamboanga residents are Muslim.

• Taluksangay Mosque, built in 1885. 

• Construction of Sadik Grand Mosque, once finished, will be considered the largest mosque in the Philippines.

The vinta boat is the traditional boat of the Sulu Archipelago and Zamboanga, and is one of the most famous symbols of the city.

• The vinta are locally known as lepa-lepa or sakayan, and are used by the Yakan, Sama-Bajau, and Tausug people.

• The Regatta de Zamboanga is an annual vinta boat race.

Indigenous cultures in Zamboanga retain many Islamic, Malay, and native values. The Yakan people are one of the Moro people groups that have settled in Zamboanga.

• The Yakan village is a place to get traditional Yakan weaves. The Yakan are known for their colorful and geometric patterns.

• Many of the Yakan people fled Basilan in the 1970s and 1980s to escape the armed conflict. Today they have established their own communities in Zamboanga.  

• Traditional Yakan wedding in Zamboanga. The wedding ritual is known for its tanyak-tanyak, or facial paintings with geometric shapes made of talcum powder and water.

Zamboanga has always been a mixture of these cultures. 

• Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray visiting Zamboanga and indulging in the local culture and food scene. 

• Zamboanga was known as a city of mixed cultures even back in 1966. 

• Zamboanga in 1940, starts at 14:10

Zamboanga, much like Mindanao, has a unique culinary scene.

• Satti is the local version of satay, eaten with sticky rice, and is a popular breakfast item. It is served with a sauce or gravy.

• Spanner crab is another local specialty. This crab is local to the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago. The dish is called curacha in Chavacano and kagang pamah in Tausug. It is cooked with coconut milk, ginger, chili, and other spices. 
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