Brief historical background of religious practices in the Philippines

The pre-Hispanic belief system of Filipinos consisted of a pantheon of gods, spirits, creatures, and men that guarded the streams, fi elds, trees, mountains, forests, and houses. Bathala, who created earth and man, was superior to these other gods and spirits. Regular sacrifices and prayers were offered to placate these deities and spirits--some of which were benevolent, some malevolent. Wood and metal images represented ancestral spirits, and no distinction was made between the spirits and their physical symbol. Reward or punishment after death was dependent upon behavior in this life (Miller,1982)

It is ingrained in this belief system that anyone who had reputed power over the supernatural and natural was automatically elevated to a position of prominence. Many gained renown for their ability to develop “anting-anting”, a charm guaranteed to make a person invincible in the face of human enemies. Other sorcerers concocted love potions or produced amulets that made their owners invisible. Upon this indigenous religious base, two foreign religions were introduced -- Islam and Christianity -- and a process of cultural adaptation and synthesis began that is still evolving.

Spain introduced Christianity to the Philippines in 1565 with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Earlier, beginning in 1350, Islam had been spreading northward from Indonesia into the Philippine archipelago.

During the period of armed rebellion against Spain, a nationalized church was organized under Gregorio Aglipay, who was made "Spiritual head of the Nation Under Arms." Spanish bishops were deposed and arrested, and church property was turned over to the Aglipayans, hence they were a religion to contend with. Another dynamic nationalized Christian sect is the lglesia ni Kristo, begun around 1914 and founded by Felix Manolo Ysagun. Along with the Aglipayans and Iglesia ni Kristo, there have been a proliferation of Rizalist sects, claiming the martyred hero of Philippine nationalism, Jose P. Rizal as the second son of God and a reincarnation of Christ. Leaders of these sects themselves often claim to be reincarnations of Rizal, Mary, or leaders of the revolution; claim that the apocalypse is at hand for non-believers; and claim that one can find salvation and heaven by joining the group.

The current challenge to the supremacy of the Catholic church comes from a variety of small sects -- from the fundamentalist Christian groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists, to the lglesia ni Kristo, Rizalists and of late The Dating Daan group led by Eli Soriano. The Roman Catholics suffer from a lack of personnel (the priest to people ratio is exceedingly low), putting them at a disadvantage in gaining and maintaining popular support. The Catholic church is seeking to meet this challenge by establishing an increasingly native clergy and by engaging in programs geared to social action and human rights among the rural and urban poor.

Today Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations. In addition to the Christian majority, there is a vigorous 4 percent Muslim minority, concentrated on the southern islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. Scattered in isolated mountainous regions, the remaining 2 percent follow non-Western, indigenous beliefs and practices. The Chinese minority, although minimal as compared to Christians and Muslims, has been culturally influential in coloring Filipino Catholicism with many of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

Major Religions in the Philippines

The major religion in the Philippines is Roman Catholic Christianity, followed by an Islam and other Christian minority. In the Philippines, all religions are protected by the law, and no one religious belief is given priority over any other. Below is an overview of the largest religions in the country.

Roman Catholics account for 78.8 percent of the household population

It was followed by Islam with 6,981,710 persons (6.4%)

Iglesia ni Cristo with 2,806,524 persons (2.6%)

Seventh Day Adventist (0.8%)

Aglipay (0.8%)

Iglesia Filipina Independiente (0.6%)

Bible Baptist Church (0.5%)

United Church of Christ in the Philippines (0.4%)

Jehovah’s Witness (0.4%)

Church of Christ (0.4%)

The Concept of God Across Different Religions in the Philippines

Religious Institution Concept of God

Islam There is one almighty God, named Allah, who is infinitely superior to and transcendent from humankind.

Hinduism Hindus worship one Being of ultimate oneness (Brahman) through infinite representations of gods and goddesses.

Buddhism Buddhists do not worship any gods or God. People outside of Buddhism often think that Buddhists worship the Buddha.

Christianity Christians believe in a loving God who has revealed himself and can be personally known in this life.

Roman Catholicism Catholics predominantly profess that Jesus is the Christ the only Son of the Living God, the Lord and the eternal Word

Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC)

The church believes that God is omnipotent, and that He created all, including Jesus Christ, the Son. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit is the power sent by God in the name of Jesus.

Protestant Protestants believe in an all-powerful God who is perfectly good, loving, and holy. share the orthodox Christian view of Jesus as fully human and fully divine. Traditionally they believe in angels and the devil.

Jehovah’s Witness Jehovah's Witnesses believe in one God, the Creator of the universe and the God of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. They stress the fact that God has revealed his personal name to humanity, which is Jehovah.

Church of Latter-Day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is often referred to as the LDS Church or Mormon Church. The Church emphasizes its central belief that Jesus is the Christ.

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church affirms a Creator God and supports the scientific study of creation. It recognizes science as a legitimate interpretation of God’s natural world.

Seventh-day Adventist They belief in an imminent, pre-millennial, universally visible second advent, proceeded by a time of trouble when the righteous will be persecuted and a false second coming where Satan impersonates the Messiah.

Traditional Practice Related to Religion Among Filipinos

Religious Beliefs Traditional Practices

Strong devotion to Virgin Mary and Santo Nino

They clothe the statues in rich brocade, treating the Child Jesus as a princely guest in their homes.

Peñafrancia Festival, is held on a tributary of the Bicol River where a barge called "pagoda" parades the image of the Virgin before her devotees lining the banks of six provinces.

Supplications for a good harvest, for rain, for the right spouse, for children.

Veneration of saints. Celebration to please selected saints symbolic to the supplication.

Healing rituals with water/oil.

Performance of sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation

Acting out biblical stories.

Rituals of Lent such as “pabasa” and “way of the cross” including flagellation and reenacted crucifixion.

Asking for divine guidance for interventions

Recitation of novenas and offerings of eggs, harvest and other goods to selected saints. Festive dances and other rituals during important dates.

Celebration of important Christian events such as Christmas and Easter.

Use of “parol”, celebrating long Christmas season, processions for and re-enactment of Easter as well as pageants.

Wedding, burial and house blessing ceremonies.

Wedding traditions incorporate different ceremonies even before the wedding itself. They have what they call the pag-aalay in the patron of the place and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some wedding traditions also include the sabog wherein some couples are pinned with money offerings or given gifts as a help for them to start on their own. After the wedding, custom was to shower the newlyweds with bigas.

Wedding, burial and house blessing ceremonies.

In burial ceremonies, it is a custom to have 3-4 days of wake before burying the dead. It will be followed by 40 days of prayers called the padasal. Commemoration of All Saints Day at the cemetery.

House blessing that is assumed to eliminate evil spirits that resides in the place. House owners light candles and guide the priest that blesses each corner and room in the house. Throwing coins before family formally moves into their new house early in the morning.