Draft:Relihiyoso

Relihiyoso

Relihiyoso, a Tagalog word that captures one of the most important aspects of Philippine culture, means being “religious” or “pious”. There is no doubt that Filipinos have been known for their strong faith. This tells us that religious beliefs and practices are deeply entrenched in their daily lives. According to the International Social Survey Program in 2018, 78% of Filipino adults claimed that they believe in a God’s presence without having any hesitations about it.

“Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa” This is a popular Filipino saying and it means that God provides mercy to those who work and act to help themselves. This quality goes beyond just being part of a religious group–it also extends to social norms, family values and one’s national identity. It is shown in the Philippine culture in many ways including engaging in religious celebrations, seeking guidance from priests or pastors, invoking God in everyday activities, and incorporating prayer in the things they do. Consequently, this strengthens social unity, provides a moral guide for behavior, and influences the ways Filipinos approach life’s challenges.

History

Religious influence in the Philippines has a long history. Let us first consider how animistic beliefs, which emphasized Filipinos' connections to nature, existed even before we were colonized. Gods, spirits, animals, fields, trees, mountains, forests and houses were what constituted the pre-Hispanic belief system of the Filipino people.

Islam had already begun to move northwards from Indonesia into the Philippine Islands by 1350. When Spain arrived in the sixteenth century, Islam was already established in Mindanao and Sulu. In line with this, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in the Philippines in 1565, bringing Catholicism from Spain. Although the Muslim regions of the Philippines were politically integrated cultures when Spaniards arrived.

The arrival of Spanish colonizers in the 16th century paved the way for Catholicism to remain as the dominant religion today in the Philippines, where a process of cultural adaptation and synthesis, which is still evolving up to this day.

Nonetheless, Protestant denominations were introduced during American colonization in the early 20th century that further diversified religions. Thus, Filipinos have also adopted and combined these influences, giving birth to a unique kind of religiosity which coexists with indigenous traditions.

Significance in Philippine Culture

Our belief system is firmly anchored on the idea that if a person has ties with or devoted to a God, he or she is bound to be successful. Relihiyoso is apparent in many Filipino ways of living. One example can be seen through how many people flock to religious occasions such as the grand Santo Niño celebration in Cebu City. That said, the church attendance is still high, and religious leaders are respected individuals within their communities.

Most Filipinos consult religious leaders for advice and include their faith-based activities in everyday lives like praying before meals or having family prayers together. The meaning of being Relihiyoso in Philippine culture demonstrates how modernity can manifest through complex cultural traits and social structures.

In the process of evolving, it has remained deeply rooted in the lives of Filipino people. It does not remain stagnant–it evolves and changes with time, as a society becomes influenced by different religious beliefs. Filipinos’ integration of daily life with religious beliefs and practices shows how behavioral modernity is not characterized by a singular trait but rather by a complex cultural package. As mentioned, aside from praying, Filipinos show their religiosity by attending religious festivals and consulting their spiritual leaders among others which indicate the emergence of symbolic behaviors and societal norms shaped by one’s faith.

References

Capucao, D., & Ponce, R. (2019). Individualism and Salvation: An Empirical-Theological Exploration of Attitudes Among the Filipino Youth and its Challenges to Filipino Families. Scientia - The International Journal on the Liberal Arts, 8(1), 19–52. https://doi.org/10.57106/scientia.v8i1.102

Catholicism in the Philippines. Harvard Divinity School. https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/faq/catholicism-philippines

Enriquez, Virgilio (2013). From colonial to liberation psychology: The Philippine experience. Philosophy East and West, 63 (2).

Jia, L. (2021). Religions in Philippines : History, Culture and Faith. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 2(7), 338-344.https://www.ijrpr.com/uploads/V2ISSUE7/IJRPR607.pdf

Knauft, B. (2002). Critically modern: An introduction. In B. Knauft (Ed.), Critically Modern, Alternatives, Alterities, Anthropologies (pp. 1-54). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Macaranas, J. (2021). Understanding Folk Religiosity in the Philippines. Religions, 12, 800. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12100800

Mangahas, M. (2023, February 25). Religious, because Filipino. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://opinion.inquirer.net/161301/religious-because-filipino

Miller, J. (n.d.). Religion in the Philippines. Asia Society. https://asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines