2. Religion in the Philippines is marked by a
majority of people being of the Christian faith
(~90%), which include Catholics, Iglesia ni
Cristo, Aglipayans, Protestants. There are also a
significant minority of Muslims (5%), as well as
Buddhists, Hindus, Agnostics and Animists. It is
central not as an abstract belief system, but
rather as a host of experiences —rituals and
adjurations that provide continuity in life,
communal cohesion and moral purpose for
existence.
3. ANCIENT INDIGENOUS BELIEFS
During pre-colonial times, a form of animism
was widely practiced in the Philippines. Today,
the Philippines is mostly Catholic and Christian,
and only a handful of the indigenous tribes
continue to practice the old traditions. These
are a collection of beliefs and cultural mores
anchored more or less in the idea that the
world is inhabited by spirits and supernatural
entities, both good and bad, and that respect
be accorded to them through nature worship.
These spirits all around nature are known as
"diwatas", showing cultural relationship with
Hinduism (Devatas).
4. Some worship specific deities, such as the Tagalog
supreme deity, Bathala, and his children Adlaw, Mayari,
and Tala, or the Visayan deity Kan-Laon; while others
practice Ancestor worship (anitos). Variations of
animistic practices occur in different ethnic groups.
Magic, chants and prayers are often key features. Its
practitioners were highly respected (and some feared)
in the community, as they were healers, midwives (hilot),
shamans, witches and warlocks (mangkukulam),
priests/priestesses (babaylan/katalonan), tribal historians
and wizened elders that provided the spiritual and
traditional life of the community. In the Visayan regions,
shamanistic and animistic beliefs in witchcraft (barang)
and mythical creatures like aswang (vampires),
duwende (dwarves), and bakonawa (a gigantic sea
serpent), may exist in some indigenous peoples
alongside more mainstream Christian and Islamic faiths.
5. CHRISTIANITY
Christianity arrived in the Philippines with the
landing of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In the
late 16th century, the archipelago was
claimed for Spain and named it after its king.
Missionary activity during the country's colonial
rule by Spain and the United States led the
transformation of the Philippines into the first
and then, along with East Timor, one of two
predominantly Christian nations in East Asia,
with approximately 92.5% of the population
belonging to the Christian faith.[8][9]
6. CATHOLICISM
Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion and
the largest Christian denomination, with estimates
of approximately 80% of the population belonging
to this faith in the Philippines.[8] The country has a
significant Spanish Catholic tradition, and Spanish
style Catholicism is embedded in the culture, which
was acquired from priests or friars. This is shown in
traditions such as Misa de Gallo, Black Nazarene
procession, Santo Niño Festivals (Santo Niño de
Cebu, Ati-Atihan and others) and Aguinaldo
procession, where large crowds gather, honouring
their patron saint or saints. Processions and fiestas
are conducted during feast days of the patron
saints of various barrios or barangays.
7. IGLESIA NI CRISTO
Iglesia ni Cristo (English: Church of Christ;
Spanish: Iglesia de Cristo) is the largest entirely
indigenous-initiated religious organisation in the
Philippines.[Felix Y. Manalo officially registered
the church with the Philippine Government on
July 27, 1914[16] and because of this, most
publications refer to him as the founder of the
church. Felix Manalo claimed that he was
restoring the church of Christ that was lost for
2,000 years. He died on April 12, 1963, aged 76.
8. The Iglesia ni Cristo is widely regarded as very
influential due to their ability to deliver votes
through block voting during elections which is
unique to the church due to their doctrine on
unity and a practice that cannot be found
outside INC. The primary purpose of the Church
is to worship the almighty God based on his
teachings as taught by Jesus Christ and as
recorded in the bible. The church’s major
activities include worship service, missionary
works, and edification.
9. According to the March 2012 issue of PASUGO
Magazine (p. 24), the Demographics of the
Iglesia ni Cristo then was composed of 112
countries and 7 territories comprising 120 races.
The majority of INC members are Filipino ex-
Catholics, while most non-Filipino members
converted prior to marrying Iglesia ni Cristo
people.[21] The earliest non-Filipino converts
were American soldiers stationed in the
Philippines.
10. JESUS MIRACLE CRUSADE INTERNATIONAL
MINISTRY
The Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry
(acronym as JMCIM) is an Apostolic
Pentecostal religious group from the Philippines
which believes particularly in the promotion of
miracles and faith in God for healing. JMCIM is
founded by Evangelist Wilde E. Almeda in
February 14, 1975.
11. The JMCIM Apostolic doctrine believes in three
manifestations in one GOD: as God the Father
in creation, as Son of God in redemption, and
as Spirit of God in regeneration. They also
adhere to the Pentecostal formulation of
baptism, whereby believers are baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ, commonly referred to as
Jesus-name baptism, rather than using the
Trinitarian formula, and promote Pentecostal
standards of Holiness in conversation,
appearance, and way of thinking.[1] The
church also follows the Pentecostal worship
practices of spending many hours in worship
and singing praises to God.
12. MEMBERS CHURCH OF GOD INTERNATIONAL
Members Church of God International is a
nontrinitarian religious organization colloquially
known through its television program, Ang Dating
Daan (English for the "The Old Path"). This group is
an offshoot of Nicholas Perez's Iglesia ng Diyos kay
Kristo Hesus Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan
(Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Support of
the Truth). The church does not claim to be part of
the restorationist movement but shows
characteristics of such. They accept the divinity of
Christ but reject the doctrine of Trinity. They also
reject various doctrines fundamental for
mainstream Christianity and more notably, the
Roman Catholic Church. Thousands of local
chapters are scattered throughout the Philippines
and abroad because of increasing number of
membership through mass baptisms.[17]
13. The church is known for their "Bible Expositions",
where guests and members are given a
chance to ask any biblical question to the
Presiding Minister of the church, Eliseo Soriano
directly from the Bible. Since 2005, Eliseo
Soriano went outside the Philippines to host
Bible Expositions around the world.[18]
The Church has growing congregations in
South America, particularly Brazil. Ang Dating
Daan now airs in 73 countries worldwide
including United States, Latin America, Papua
New Guinea, Portugal (as "O Caminho
Antigo"), Spain (as "El Camino Antiguo"), India,
South Africa, Saipan and Canada.
14. PROTESTANTISM
Protestantism arrived in the Philippines with the
coming of the Americans at the turn of the
20th century. In 1898, Spain lost the Philippines
to the United States. After a bitter fight for
independence against its new occupiers,
Filipinos surrendered and were again
colonized. The arrival of Protestant American
missionaries soon followed. Protestant church
organizations established in the Philippines
during the 20th century include the following:
15. Association of Fundamental Baptist Churches in the
Philippines
Baptist Bible Fellowship in the Philippines (Baptist)
Bread of Life Ministries International (Evangelical)
Cathedral of Praise (Pentecostal)
Christ's Commission Fellowship (Evangelical)
Christ Living Epistle Ministries Inc. (Full
Gospel/Pentecostal).
Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the
Philippines
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines
(Full Gospel/Pentecostal)
16. Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry Full Gospel
Church of the Nazarene (Holiness movement)
Citichurch Cebu (Pentecostal)
Conservative Baptist Association of the Philippines
(Baptist)
Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (Baptist)
Day by Day Christian Ministries (Evangelical)
Episcopal Church in the Philippines (Anglican)
Every Nation Churches and Ministries (Pentecostal)
Greenhills Christian Fellowship (Conservative Baptist)
Heartland Covenant Church (formerly Jesus Cares
Ministries)
Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas
Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo
17. Jesus Is Lord Church (Pentecostal)
Jesus the Anointed One Church (Pentecostal)
Lutheran Church in the Philippines (Lutheran)
Luzon Convention of Southern Baptists (Baptist)
Mindanao and Visayas Convention of Southern
Baptists (Baptist)
New Life Christian Center (Pentecostal)
Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch)
Philippine Evangelical Holiness Churches
Philippines General Council of the Assemblies of
God
Presbyterian Church of the Philippines
18. Redeeming Grace Christian Centre
Tabernacle of Faith International Church
TEAM Ministries international
The Blessed Word International Church
(Evangelical)
The United Methodist Church (Methodist)
Union Church Manila
Union Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
(Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Disciples,
United Brethren, Methodist).
United Evangelical Church of the Philippines
19. Victory Christian Fellowship (Evangelical)
Word for the World Christian Fellowship
(Evangelical)
Word of Life World Mission Church
(Pentecostal)
His Life City Church (Pentecostal)
20. LATTER DAY SAINTS
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS
Church) in the Philippines was founded during the
Spanish-American War in 1898. Two men from Utah who
were members of the United States artillery battery, and
who were also set apart as missionaries by the Church
before they left the United States, preached while
stationed in the Philippines. Missionary work picked up
after World War II, and in 1961 the Church was officially
registered in the Philippines.[24] In 1969, the Church had
spread to eight major islands and had the highest
number of baptisms of any area in the Church. A temple
was built in 1984 which located in Quezon City and
another in Cebu City, completed in 2010. The Manila
Missionary Training Center was established in 1983.
Membership in 1984 was 76,000 and 237,000 in
1990.[citation needed] Membership was 675,000 in 2013.[25]
21. ISLAM
The Muslim population of the Philippines is estimated at
between 5% to 9%,according to 2010 year report by
International Religious Freedom Report,2010 . Islam is the
oldest recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines.
Islam reached the Philippines in the 14th century with the
arrival of Muslim traders from the Persian Gulf, Southern
India, and their followers from several sultanate
governments in Maritime Southeast Asia. Islam's
predominance reached all the way to the shores of
Manila Bay, home to several Muslim kingdoms. During
the Spanish conquest, Islam reached a rapid decline as
the predominant monotheistic faith in the Philippines as
a result of the introducing of Roman Catholicism by
Spanish missionaries. Only the southern Filipino tribes
resisted Spanish rule and conversions to Roman
Catholicism.
22. JUDAISM
Even since the 1590s some Jews fleeing from The
Inquisition were recorded to have come to the
Philippines. As of 2005, Filipino Jews number at the
very most 500 people. As of 2011, Metro Manila
boasts the largest Jewish community in the
Philippines, which consists of roughly 100 families.[37]
The country's only synagogue, Beth Yaacov, is
located in Makati.[37] There are, of course, other
Jews elsewhere in the country,[37] but these are
obviously fewer and almost all transients,[38] either
diplomats or business envoys, and their existence is
almost totally unknown in mainstream society. There
are a few Israelis in Manila recruiting caregivers for
Israel, some work in call centers, businessmen and a
few other executives. A number are converts to
Judaism.
23. HINDUISM
Today Hinduism is largely confined to the
Indian Filipinos and the expatriate Indian
community. Theravada and Vajrayana
Buddhism, which are very close to Hinduism,
are practiced by Tibetans, Sri Lankan, Burmese
and Thai nationals. There are Hindu temples in
Manila, as well as in the provinces. There are
temples also for Sikhism, sometimes located
near Hindu temples. The two Paco temples are
well known, comprising a Hindu temple and a
Sikh temple.
24. Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism has existed
in the Philippines for centuries. A great deal of
Philippine mythology is derived from Hindu
mythology. Hinduism arrived when the Hindu
religion and culture arrived from India by
southern Indians to Southeast Asia from the 4th
centuries to the 14th century.[39] The Srivijaya
Empire and Majapahit Empire on what is now
Malaysia and Indonesia, introduced Hinduism
and Buddhism to the islands.[40] Statues of
Hindu-Buddhist gods have been found in the
Philippines.[41]
25. BUDDHISM
Many Filipino customs have strong Buddhist
influences. Buddhism in the Philippines is
growing fast, mainly because of increasing
immigration to the country. Buddhism is largely
confined to the Filipino Chinese, Chinese,
Japanese, Indian, Korean, Thai, and
Vietnamese communities though local
adherents are on the rise. There are temples in
Manila, Davao, and Cebu, and other places.
Several schools of Buddhism are present in the
Philippines – Mahayana, Vajrayana,
Theravada, as well as groups such as Soka
Gakkai International.[42]