What is a major language?

Technically, a major language is the same as a majority language. However, in discourse dealing with the Philippine national language policy, a major language is understood to be a language spoken by A (not THE) majority of Filipinos.

Just what constitutes "majority" is not well-defined. If we define majority to be 1 million native speakers, then there are 13 major languages in the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Pangasinan, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kinaray-a, and Tausug.

A map of the top eight Philippine languages (in terms of speakers) can be found at <http://www.csun.edu/~lan56728/Philmap.jpg>