Linguistic investigations in the recent past (1956-74) seem to point out that the earliest evidence of the beginnings of PCS can be traced to the year 1700 as coming from Ternate, Moluccas. Molony (1973:43) states that 'Linguistic evidence for the transmission of Ternateņo to the Philippines, occurs in the form of a few Indo-Pacific, Malay and Postugese terms used today mostly in the dialect of Chabacano spoken in Ternate, Philippines'. Whinnom, on the other hand, considers Cv as the modern descendant of Tr, its locale being Cavite City, a navy yard since the 17th century.
In general, PCS is categorized into two general classification, Manila Bay Creole (MBC) and Southern Mindanao Creole (SMC). In referring to Tr and Cv, Frake (1971, In Hymes: 228) claims that the two share enough distinctive differences from regular Spanish or regular Philippine usage that they must be considred historically related dialects of the same language. Tr and Cv, as well as the Chabacano formerly spoken in Ermita, Manila are identified as MBC.
On the other hand, Zm and Ct are identified as SMC. Both correspond more closely to the shape of the form in modern Spanish. The incipience of Zm goes back to the year 1718, the reoccupation and refortification of Fort Pilar in Zamboanga. Ct is traced to the late 19th century the year 1872 when the first Christian village community was organized in Tamontaka, Cotabato.
Tr=Ternate Chabacano Cv=Cavite Chabacano Zm=Zamboanga Chabacano Ct=Cotabato Chabacano