How many people speak Spanish in the Philippines?

While there is no official census data on the number of Spanish speakers in the Philippines, it's estimated that only a very small percentage of the population can speak the language fluently.

Here's why:

* Spanish colonization: The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years (1565-1898). However, Spanish was primarily spoken by the elite and in official settings.

* American influence: After the Spanish-American War, English became the official language of the Philippines. It became the dominant language in education, government, and media.

* Regional languages: The Philippines has over 170 indigenous languages. These languages are spoken by the majority of the population, and are more commonly used in everyday life.

However, there are still some remnants of Spanish influence in the Philippines:

* Loan words: Many Filipino words are derived from Spanish.

* Place names: Many towns and cities in the Philippines have Spanish names.

* Religious terms: Some religious terms, especially in Catholicism, are still in Spanish.

While it's difficult to pinpoint an exact number, it's safe to say that the number of fluent Spanish speakers in the Philippines is significantly lower than the number of people who speak English or Filipino.