* The definition of "dialect" is subjective: Some consider a dialect to be a distinct language, while others see it as a variation within a language.
* Mutual intelligibility: Some dialects are very similar and speakers can understand each other, while others are significantly different. This makes it hard to draw clear lines.
* Continuous variation: Dialects often blend into each other, making it hard to define distinct boundaries.
However, we can say:
* The Philippines has over 100 languages, which are often referred to as "dialects."
* These languages belong to 18 language families, with the Austronesian family being the most dominant.
* Tagalog is the official language, but it is spoken by only around a third of the population.
In summary, there's no single, definitive number of dialects in the Philippines. The country's linguistic diversity is incredibly rich and complex.