The Lapuyan Subanun of Philippines

The Lapuyan Subanun of Philippines, numbering approximately 120,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Subanen people of the Lapuyan and Margosatubig area of Zamboanga del Sur, maintaining a distinct Southern Subanen language and a local tradition of governance under timuay leaders. They mostly adhere to Animism and Southern Subanen is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Lapuyan Subanun

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Malay Peoples
Country: Philippines
People Cluster: Filipino Tribal
Primary Language(s): Southern Subanen (laa)
Primary Religion(s): Animism
Population: 120,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 10% or Greater Evangelical
People Group ID: PG007715
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Lapuyan Subanun of Philippines

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

91%
%
Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Southern Subanen
Language Family: Austronesian

100%
%
Subanen, Southern Speakers

Media Resources in Southern Subanen:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Southern Subanen:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Southern Subanen bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Lapuyan Subanun are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Next steps for the Lapuyan Subanun:
Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Lapuyan Subanun of Philippines

I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.
readIsaiah 45:5-6

Pray that the lost among them will be delivered from the confusion of false beliefs and come to know the one true God who alone brings light and purpose to their lives.

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.
readMatthew 13:23

Pray that their hearts will have good soil that receives the Word, understands it, and bears fruit for God's kingdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
readJames 1:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will ask God for wisdom when they lack it, trusting that He will generously give it to them.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
readEphesians 1:13-14

Pray that God will work through believers near and far in bringing the lost to Himself, giving them what they need to do the task He has set before them, and helping them rest in Him because He has given them His Spirit.

Subanon, Lapuyan Across Countries (ROP3 - 105646) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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