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The early Filipino had pagan beliefs. They worshipped
nature, deities and gods. Batala or Bathala is the most
powerful God of the ancient Filipinos. Early Filipinos
believe that Bathala is the creator an savior of the
world. Followers of the Islam religion are called
Muslim. Allah is the God and their bible is called
Koran. Their place of worship is called Mosque and they
called their priest Imam. Five Pillars of the Islam
Religion, which the Muslim have to follow are Shahada,
salat, zakat, Puasa, Hadji.
Filipinos completely embraced the Catholic Religion in
the Spanih Regime. Philippine people learned to pray,
hear mass and read the Bible. Likewise, they learned to
often pray at 12 noon and at 6 in the evening for the
Angelus or "orasyon". Prayer was made as a shield at all
times. The Filipinos showed great respect to the altar,
considered important in the celebration of that mass.
Filipinos also paid homage to the different images of
saints. This practice was strengthened by the fiestas
that were celebrated towns in honor of the venerated
patron saints.
The Filipinos also learned about the different Holy
Sacraments like baptism, confirmation, marriage,
confession, anointing of the sick, holy order and
hearing mass. Although Christianity was widespread,
there were still a number of Filipinos who did not
accept the Spanish religion. The Muslims were among
these people because at that time, the Islam religion
had already been very well developed and strong.
In the American Period, the Protestant religion entered
the country. It brought about other sects like
Seventh-Day Adventist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian,
Methodist, Lutherian and United Bretheren. Religion was
not a huge matter for the Americans. The Philippine
people were free to choose their own religion. The
Americans strictly emphasized the separation of the
Church and the State.
Religion is still the center of life on every Filipino
including Catholics, Muslims, Buddists, Protestants and
animists. Religious associations are part of the system
of kinship ties, patronclient bonds, and other linkages
outside the nuclear family. Today, Filipinos are given
freedom to worship free to choose what religious group
they want to join. Majority of the Filipinos about 85%
are Roman Catholics. The rest are Buddhism, Protestants,
El Shaddai, Jesus is Lord Movement, Jesus Miracle
Crusade, United Methodist Church, United Church of
Christ in the Philippines, Ang Dating Daan, Seventh-day
Adventist Church, Aglipayanism, Iglesia Ni Cristo,
Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism
and Hinduism, Atheism and Agnosticism. |
