Religion in the Philippines

Religion in the Philippines is marked by a wide range of strongly-held spiritual beliefs.

Religion holds a central place in the life of the majority of Filipinos, including Catholics,
Aglipayans, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists, animists, and Hindus. 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. Religious associations
are part of the system of vital kinship ties, patron-client bonds and other relationships outside the
nuclear family.
Abrahamic
Bah' Faith
The Bah' Faith in the Philippines started in 1921 with the first Bah' first visiting the
Philippines that year, and by 1944 a Bah' Local Spiritual Assembly was established. In the
early 1960s, during a period of accelerated growth, the community grew from 200 in 1960 to
1000 by 1962 and 2000 by 1963. In 1964 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bah's of the
Philippines was elected and by 1980 there were 64,000 Bah's and 45 local assemblies. The
Bah's have been active in multi/inter-faith developments. The 2005 World Christian
Encyclopedia estimates the Bah' population of the Philippines at about 247,500.
Christianity
Dominant religion by province, Christianity (blue) and Islam (green).
Christianity arrived in the Philippines with the landing of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In
the late 16th century, soldiers and missionaries firmly planted the seeds of conversion when they
officially claimed the archipelago for Spain and named it after their king. Missionary activity
during the country's long colonial rule by Spain and the United States transformed the
Philippines into the first and then one of the two predominantly Christian nations in East Asia,
with approximately 90% of the population belonging to the Christian faith, the other Christian
nation being East Timor.
Catholic Church
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. The country has a significant Spanish Catholic
tradition, and Spanish style Catholicism is highly embedded in the culture, which
was acquired from priests or friars (prayle in Filipino). This is shown in traditions
such as Misa de Gallo, Black Nazarene procession, Santo Nio Festivals (Santo
Nio de Cebu, Ati-Atihan and others) and Aguinaldo procession, where large
crowds gather, honoring their patron saint or saints. Processions and fiestas are
conducted during feast days of the patron saints of various barrios or barangays.
Every year on November 1, Filipino families celebrate the Day of the
Dead, on which they spend much of the day and evening visiting their ancestral
graves, showing respect and honor to their departed relatives by feasting and
offering prayers. On November 1 Filipino families celebrate All Saint's Day,
where they honor the saints of the Catholic Church. November 2 is All Soul's
Day.
Christmas in the Philippines is a celebration spanning just more than the
day itself. Christmas season starts in September. Many traditions and customs are
associated with this grand feast, along with New Year. Holy Week is also an
important time for the country's Catholics. To help spread the gospel, the Roman
Catholic Church established the Catholic Media Network with its main TV station
TV Maria as a tool for evangelization. Other large Roman Catholic television
channels like Eternal Word Television Network and Familyland are also available
and watched in the Philippines.
The central temple of Iglesia ni Cristo, a Christian denomination
indigenous to the Philippines
Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)
Iglesia ni Cristo is the Most powerful and Most Influential Religious
Group in the Philippines. The church was founded by Felix Manalo when he
officially registered the church with the Philippine Government with him as
executive minister on July 27, 1914 and because of this, most publications refer to
him as the founder of the church. Felix Manalo claims that he is restoring the
church of Christ that was lost for 2,000 years. The Iglesia ni Cristo is widely
regarded as very influential due to their ability to deliver votes through block
voting during elections. The Church primary purpose is to worship the almighty
God based on his teachings as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ and as recorded in
the bible.
The churchs major activities include worship service, missionary works,
and edification.
Worship service. This solemn gathering of the faithful is usually held on
Thursdays and Sundays by every local congregation inside the house of
worship. It consists of hymn-singing, prayers and study of gods words for
proper applications in daily living.

Missionary works. The members gladly fulfill their duty to share the faith.
They invite all people to attend bible study sessions and worship services. The
church also uses mass media in spreading its message of hope to a broader
audience.
The membership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo comprises at least 102
nationalities. It maintains about 5,400 local congregations grouped into 104
ecclesiastical districts in the Philippines and in 90 more countries and territories in
the six inhabited continents of the world. Their membership is not released in
public but is estimated over 7 million only in the Philippines.
Filipino Catholic Church
Philippine Independent Church more commonly known as the Iglesia
Filipina Independiente, is a Christian denomination of the Catholic tradition in the
form of a national church. Its separation from the Roman Catholic Church was
proclaimed by the members of the first federation of labor unions in the country,
the Union Obrera Democratica in 1902. Isabelo de los Reyes was one of the
initiators of the separation of the church and suggested that Gregorio Aglipay be
the head of the church. It is also known as the Aglipayan Church, after its first
Supreme Bishop, Gregorio Aglipay.
Apostolic Catholic Church
The Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC) is a catholic denomination founded
in the 1980s in Hermosa, Bataan. It formally separated in the Roman Catholic
Church in 1992 when Patriarch Dr. John Florentine Teruel registered it as a
Protestant and Independent Catholic denomination. Today, it has more than 5
million members worldwide. The largest international congregations are in Japan,
USA and Canada.
Orthodox Church
Orthodoxy has been continuously present in the Philippines for more than
200 years. It is represented by two groups, by the Exarchate of the Philippines (a
jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople governed by the
Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia), and by the
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in the Philippines (a jurisdiction of the
Antiochian Orthodox Church governed by the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese
of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania). Today, there are about 560
Orthodox in the Philippines.
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:
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 (Pentecostal)
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
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)
Philippines General Council of the Assemblies of God
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
Victory Christian Fellowship (Evangelical)
Word for the World Christian Fellowship (Evangelical)
Philippine Evangelical Holiness Churches
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.
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. Membership was 630,000 in April 2012.
Other Christians
Jehovah's Witnesses in the Philippines was founded in 1912, when the
then president of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Charles T. Russell,
gave a talk at the Manila Grand Opera House.[18] In 1993, a Supreme
Court case involving the Witnesses resulted in reversing a Supreme Court
decision of 1959 and in upholding "the right of children of Jehovahs
Witnesses to refrain from saluting the flag, reciting the pledge of
allegiance, and singing the national anthem. As of 2011, there were 176,
001 members (known to them as publishers) of Jehovahs Witnesses in the
Philippines that make up 3, 091 congregations throughout the archipelago.
Their annual observance of Memorial of Christ's death, attracted an
attendance of 541, 214 in this country in 2011.
The Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus is a Philippine religious
organization established in May, 1922 by Teofilo D. Ora. This church is
also known in the country through its radio program Ang Kabanalbanalan
which airs on several radio stations nationwide.
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name was founded
by Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy on September 1, 1985. Pastor Quiboloy
claims to be the "Appointed" Son of God, and that salvation is through
him, that he is the residence of the Father and that he restores the
Kingdom of God in the gentile settings.
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. Number of members unknown.
Seventh-day Adventist Church was founded by Ellen G. White, which is
best known for its teaching that Saturday, the seventh day of the week, is
the Sabbath, and that the second advent of Jesus Christ is imminent. As of
2007, there were 88,706 Adventist churches in the Philippines, with a
membership of 571,653 and an annual membership growth rate of 5.6%.
United Pentecostal Church International (Oneness) originated from the
USA as an offshoot of the Pentecostal movements in the 1920s. The
church is a proponent of the belief of modalism to describe God. They
deny the Triune personhood of God.
Jesus Christ To God be the Glory (Friends Again) was founded by Luis
Ruiz Santos in 1988.
Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry was founded by Wilde
Almeda in February 14, 1975 is one of the largest and influential groups in
the Philippines.
Churches of Christ (Churches of Christ 33 AD/ the Stone-Campbellites) a
restorationist movement that distinctly believes in a set of steps/ways to
attain salvation. Among of which is the requisite to be baptized in water.
True Jesus Church a "oneness" movement that started in China.
Jesus is Our Shield Worldwide Ministries (Oras ng Himala) was founded
by Renato D. Carillo, who claims to be the end-time apostle.
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG Help Center) was
founded by Edir Macedo in 1977 in Brazil. They claim that the Kingdom
of God is down here and that it can offer a solution to every possible
problem, depression, unemployment, family and financial problems.
Islam
The Abu Bakar Mosque in Marawi City is the largest mosque in Lanao del
Sur.
Islam reached the Philippines in the 14th century with the arrival of Malay
and Javanese merchants and Muslim merchants from Malaysia and Indonesia,
although the spreading of Islam in the Philippines is due to the commercial
contacts between the Persian Gulf and Southeast Asia. It was the merchants of the
Gulf Arabs, Persians, Sindhis, Azeris and even Pashtuns who brought Islam to
Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. There are about 5 to 10 million
Muslims in the Philippines, approximately 5-10% of the total population.
Muslims make up about 20 percent of the population of the island of Mindanao,
approximately 5 million of the 25 million people on Mindanao.
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.
The country's only synagogue, Beth Yaacov, is located in Makati. There
are, of course, other Jews elsewhere in the country,[30] but these are obviously
fewer and almost all transients, 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.
Dharmic religions
Hindu
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.
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. The Srivijaya Empire and Majapahit Empire on what is now
Malaysia and Indonesia, introduced Hinduism and Buddhism to the islands. Statues of Hindu-
Buddhist gods have been found in the Philippines.
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.