Ethnicity and languages Currently, the majority of Manado
city residents are from the
Minahasa ethnic group. The indigenous people of Manado are from the Tombulu sub-tribe. The
Tombulu language is considered one of the Minahasa languages and is spoken widely in several urban villages within Manado, for example: Wenang (Wenang / Mahawenang -
kolintang), Tumumpa (down), Mahakeret (yelling), Tikala Ares (Walak Ares Tombulu, where the word 'ares' means punishable), Ranotana (ground water), Winangun (built), Wawonasa (wawoinasa - sharpened above), Pinaesaan (unity place), Pakowa (Tree of Treasure), Teling (fur / bamboo to make equipment), Titiwungen (excavated), Tuminting (from the word Ting-Ting: a bell, the inserted syllable -um- changing the noun to a verb, so Tuminting: ringing bell), Pondol (Edge), Wanea (from the word Wanua: meaning the country), etc. While the Malalayang area has residents mainly from the Bantik people, other indigenous groups in Manado today are from the Sangir, Gorontalo, Mongondow, Babontehu, Talaud, Tionudese, Siau, and Borgo peoples. There are also Arabian
peranakan communities, mainly in the
Kampung Arab area which is near Pasar '45 and has become a destination for religious tourism. Other ethnicities represented include
Javanese,
Chinese,
Batak,
Makassar, and
Moluccans. A small
Jewish community also exists.
Manado Malay is the main language spoken in Manado. It is a Malay-based creole. Some of the loan words in the Minahasan vernacular are derived from
Dutch,
Portuguese, and other foreign languages.
Religion ,
Protestant Christianity is the major religion in Manado, constituting around 62.89 percent of all residents,
Islam comes second forming about 30.93 percent,
Catholicism comes in third forming around 5.32 percent, and the rest follow
Buddhism,
Hinduism, and
Confucianism, each coming in at less than 1 percent each, according to North Sulawesi regional office of
Statistics Indonesia. In addition, about 20
Indonesian Jews live in Manado. The people of Manado identify as tolerant, harmonious, open and dynamic. Therefore, the city of Manado has a relatively conducive social environment, and is known as one of the safest cities in Indonesia. When
Indonesia was vulnerable to political upheaval around 1999, and there were riots in other Indonesian cities, Manado was little affected. This is shown through the slogan of the people of Manado:
Torang samua basudara, which means
We are all family. And also through the words of Dr.
Sam Ratulangi: "Sitou, Timou, Tumou, Tou", which roughly translates to 'Man lives to educate others'. File:Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) Manado - panoramio.jpg|Indonesia Pentecostal Church in Manado File:Cathedral Church Manado - panoramio.jpg|St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Parish Cathedral, Manado File:Masjid Raya Ahmad Yani Manado.jpg|Manado Great Mosque File:Ban Hin Kiong.JPG|
Ban Hin Kiong Temple ==Transportation==