Chavacano language

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Chavacano is the common name for several varieties of Spanish-based creole used in the southern Philippines, predominately around the areas of Zamboanga and Cavite. It is the main language of Zamboanga City, which is the largest Spanish creole speaking region in Asia with an estimated 700,000 speakers.

There are many words and phrases used in the Chavacano vocabulary that are no longer used, or considered archaic, in the Spanish language.

The symbolic date for the establishment of Chavacano is June 23, 1635 when the Spanish government built San José Fort, establishing a permanent foothold in the southern Philippines to defend against Moro Pirate attacks and as part of a strategy to possess the entire Mindanao peninsula.