Religion

Based on Miller, Jack (2015) in his article “Religion in the Philippines”, 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 statistically insignificant, has been culturally influential in coloring

Filipino Catholicism with many of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism, Taoism, and

Confucianism. The pre-Hispanic belief system of Filipinos consisted of a pantheon of

gods, spirits, creatures, and men that guarded the streams, fields, 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, Jack (2015) “Religion in the Philippines”

https://asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines
 According to worldatlas as cited by Anthony Diana (2108), 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 Catholic Christianity - 70%

Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in the Philippines. This religion was first

introduced through the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the early 1500s.

Magellan, whose original destination was Spice Island, arrived on Cebu Island in

Philippines due to a missed route. He then proceeded to make Roman Catholicism a state

religion by first converting the Chief of Cebu, and several hundreds of his followers.

Today, a large majority of the population of the Philippines - around 70% - identifies as

Roman Catholic.

Protestant Christianity - 17%

Protestant Christianity is the second largest religious group in the Philippines. Evangelical

Protestantism was introduced into the Philippines by American missionaries after the

Spanish-American War between the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. Some Protestant

groups which are affiliated with the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC),

however were established locally, without any foreign influence.

Islam - 5 to 10%

Islam is the third largest religion in the Philippines after Catholicism and Christianity. The

religion existed in the region for around a century before the spread of Christianity. Islam
first spread to Simunul Island in the Philippines through foreign trade with countries such

as India. Specifically, it was the Islamic cleric-Karim ul' Makhdum who first introduced the

religion to the area. Subsequently, he established the first mosque on the same Island,

which is today, the oldest mosque in the country.

Iglesia ni Cristo (Philippine Church of Christ) - 2%

Unlike other religions in the Philippines which spread through external influences, the

Philippine Church of Christ originated from within the country itself in the early 19th

Century. The religion was founded by Felix Manalo Ysagun, who claimed that this sect

was the true religion of Christ, and all other Christian groups were not. This Church

believes in the power of scripture and a supreme God in a fashion similar to other

Christian denominations, but rejects the doctrine of Trinitarianism which is common

among other groups.

Buddhists - 2%

The time Buddhism first spread into the Philippines is unknown for the most part, although

archaeological records point towards the 6th or 7th Century. Through sea trade with the

Srivijaya Empire of India which was predominantly Buddhist, Vajrayana, a form of

Buddhism became introduced in the Philippines. The adherents of this religion are

primarily Chinese, Filipino-Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian or Middle-East groups

residing in the country. Buddhists do not believe in a creator God in the same fashion

Christians do. The main beliefs include suffering which is inherent in human existence,

impermanence of everything in the world, and the absence of a permanent soul.

Buddhism has had linguistic influences on Filipino culture as the origin of some words

can be traced to Sanskrit and Pali which are Buddhist languages.

Other - 6.6%

Other minor religions in the country include Hinduism, Judaism, the Baha'i Faith,

Indigenous Beliefs, Other Christians, and Atheists. Indigenous traditions predate the

colonial religions of Islam and Christianity in the Philippines. The most predominant views

are that of animism, which the belief that even non-living entities such trees is, and plants

have spirits. Indigenous religions are characterized by worship of various deities, as

opposed to the monotheistic religions. With regards to influence, other religions, even the

predominant Roman Catholic, have adopted animism in combination with their own

beliefs. This blending is known as religious syncretism.

Other Christian groups in the country include Jehovah's witnesses, Latter Day

Saints, Assemblies of God, Seventh-day Adventists, and numerous others. These groups

were started either locally, or introduced by international Missionaries. Some beliefs are

common to mainstream Christianity, but there are also a host of differences. For instance,

Jehovah's witnesses also reject Trinitarianism, and the Latter day Saints believe in

Salvation for the dead. Influences of these religions are mainly not on the wider society,

but adherents of these religions. For instance, Jehovah's witnesses do not receive blood

transfusions no matter how critical their health is.

Anthony Diana (2108), “Religious Beliefs in the Philippines”

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-in-the-philippines.html