What religion do 85 people in the Philippines practice? Philippines, religion: features of development. Ancient indigenous beliefs or Dayawism
Where are the Philippines, how and when were they discovered, why did they give it such a name, what language do they speak there and what religion do they profess? What influenced the development of the Philippines? There are a lot of questions and knowing the answers to them will broaden your horizons and help you navigate geography and more.
Where is the Philippines?
The Republic of the Philippines is located in the Philippine Islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. From north to south from Taiwan to the island of Borneo they stretch for 1,170 kilometers, from west to east for 1,100 kilometers.
The Philippine archipelago consists of more than 7,107 islands with a total area of 311.6 thousand square kilometers. However, most of the islands are small, and the 11 largest of them occupy 96% of the total land surface area.
How did Europeans discover the Philippines?
The Philippine archipelago was discovered by Europeans in 1521 by the Spanish navigator Ferdinand Magellan during his voyage around the world. From that moment on, the Spaniards began trying to seize the islands and turn them into their colony.
How did the Philippines get its name?
In 1565, conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi landed on the island of Cebu. He managed to gain a foothold there and proclaimed the islands the possession of the Spanish King Philip II. In his honor, the archipelago was named the Philippines.
What language is spoken in the Philippines?
More than a hundred nationalities live in the Philippines, among which are the Tagalogs (a quarter of the islands' population), Cebuanos, Ilocans (Ilocans), Haligaynons (Ilongos), Bicols, Bisayas (Visayas), Pampangans, Pangasinans... All of them are Christians. Some nationalities profess Islam: Maguindanao, Sulu (Tausog), Maranao and Samal. There are several dozen small mountain peoples in the Philippines, about 1.5% Chinese.
The Philippines population speaks more than 80 local languages and dialects, with 85 percent of Filipinos speaking the eight most widely spoken languages, with Tagalog, Cebuano and Ilocano languages being the major languages. Since 1939, the use of a single state language, Pilipino, based on Tagalog, has been encouraged at the state level. Nowadays, more than half of Filipinos speak it.
English is widely spoken. It is used for teaching in universities, and is used by the media and authorities. Half of Filipino citizens speak English. Surprisingly, Spanish is not spoken in the Philippines, although these islands were once a Spanish colony.
What religion do they practice in the Philippines?
The Philippines is the only Asian country where Christianity predominates. It is professed by 94 percent of the country's population. Of these, 84 percent are Catholics, 6 percent are Protestants, and 4 percent belong to the Philippine Independent Church, also called Aglipayan, and the Philippine Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo). Approximately 5 percent are Muslim, less than 2 percent adhere to local traditional beliefs.
What influenced the development of the Philippines?
The Philippines is different from other Southeast Asian countries. The culture and customs of the country were strongly influenced by the long reign of the Spaniards. It is reflected in music, architecture, culinary traditions, and fashion. Even the names in the Philippines are also Spanish.
Some Filipinos are Protestants or members of other Christian denominations. Others belong to religious organizations such as the Iglesia ni Cristo (literally translated as “Church of Christ”). Some practice Islam and many other beliefs. However, the predominant religion in the Philippines is Catholicism. Also intertwined with many of these religions are pre-colonial beliefs and traditions.
Many religions are generally able to coexist in harmony in the Philippines, even when there are several outbreaks of conflict that are subsequently reflected in the international press. The southern island of Mindanao provides a promising example of how interfaith relations can work. Although Mindanao was once rocked by Christian-Muslim wars, especially in the 1970s, Christians and Muslims now generally get along with each other and try to resolve conflicts peacefully.
No matter what faith they belong to, religiosity is second nature to most Filipinos. In almost every Catholic home you will find a copy of the Bible and images of the Last Supper, a cross and saints, or other religious images.
Most Filipinos believe in God and feel something akin to a kinship with the Divine person, but they may express this in different ways. For Catholics, this manifests itself in attending Sunday mass or participating in various Catholic rituals and festivals. There is also a tendency, especially in the provinces, to practice folk beliefs in addition to Catholicism.
Let us give one typical example, which is a constant source of interest for foreigners. Every year there is an event that takes place in the provinces during Holy Week, the week before Easter, which includes Catholic religious holidays such as Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. So, at these holidays there are real crosses and nails! The Catholic Church does not encourage these extreme practices, but they still exist as part of Filipino folk beliefs. The crucifixion is usually made as a promise, to earn a blessing from the Almighty, or as an expression of gratitude for the grace bestowed.
More traditional Catholic ceremonies such as baptism and weddings are also important to many Filipinos. The significance of these rites here helps to explain why the local people usually take great pains to celebrate them.
As in other countries, these rituals sometimes stray from the traditional mainstream and become less focused on spiritual significance rather than ostentatious displays designed to maintain status. For example, parents may postpone the baptism of a child for the simple reason that they do not have enough money to hold a christening celebration, an event that necessarily involves preparing many dishes for relatives, friends and guests.
Weddings are celebrated in the style of history books and can also be quite expensive. Since a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, money (or the lack of it) is not a major concern for most couples. There is also a superstition among the older generation that each family can only have one wedding a year. This superstition probably stems from very practical reasons, since holding a wedding can be very expensive on the wallet. So if your fiancée's brother or sister already had a wedding this year, then you will have to wait until next year to get married. Engagements are sometimes postponed to maintain this sequence.
In the Philippines, there is no law on divorce or abortion. The state would have difficulty in trying to pass such laws, since the Philippines is a country of dominant Catholicism, where such things are considered not so much primarily political matters, but also moral ones. There is an organization known as the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. She usually gives explanations or advice on moral issues that affect the country, and many faithful Filipino Catholics take this advice seriously.
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Philippines (Philippines) is the third largest English-speaking country in the world. The state has a rich history, the course of which was influenced by Asian countries, Europe and America. Long before Spanish colonization, the Philippines had rich cultural traditions and traded with Japan And . In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, who arrived in the Philippines, declared dependence on behalf of King Philip of Spain, thereby the Spaniards introduced Catholicism and later European architecture to the Philippines. The Spanish colonialists built here in 1571 Intramuros - the “Stone City” with churches and European-style houses. Centuries of colonial rule have had a powerful and contradictory impact on the country's culture. In 1989, after surviving 350 years and going through 300 uprisings and rebellions, the Filipinos, led by leaders such as Jose Rizal and Emilio Aguinaldo, managed to win their independence from the Spaniards. Three centuries after Magellan, in 1898 the United States bought the Philippines from Spain for $20 million. The Philippines borrowed from the States its constitution, city building, passion for basketball, theatrical performances and pizza. During World War II, Filipinos fought alongside the American army. They took a particularly active part in the legendary battles in the provinces Batan (Batan) and on the island Corregidor (Korregidor), which contributed to weakening the pressure of Japanese troops and saving Australia. From 1941 to 1945, the Filipinos fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese, and in 1946 the Philippines regained its status as an independent state. In the 1980s, the Philippines attracted global political attention. In 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. When Marcos' lifelong political rival, Ninoy Aquino, was assassinated at Manila airport in 1983, patience with the dictator ran out. After the scandalous event, a revolution followed that liberated the country from the rule of President Marcos. In February 1986, the former president and his wife Imelda were forced to leave the Philippines.
Geography
The Republic of the Philippines is a large island state in Southeast Asia. It occupies more than 7 thousand islands, of which 9/10 are uninhabited. The two largest inhabited islands are Luzon (Luson) And Mindanao (Mindanao). The total area of the country is 300 thousand km2. Population - 64.9 million people; 80% are Filipinos (Tagalogs, Visayas, Ilocos, etc.). The majority of believers are Catholics. The capital is Manila. The Philippines occupies an advantageous geographical position in the western part of the Pacific Ocean: sea routes from Japan and to Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia. Between the numerous islands of the archipelago there are 5 internal small and shallow seas. At the same time, rocks and reefs greatly complicate inland navigation. A tour to the Philippines is an ideal option for those who love relaxing in quiet, heavenly bays. In the western part of the archipelago, where the coast has many closed bays, there are narrow coastal plains (10 - 15 km wide), where the country's largest seaports are located.
Population
The Philippines has a population of over 84 million and is growing at an annual rate of approximately 2.36% (the highest population growth rate in the world). Common name " Filipinos" unites more than a hundred nationalities: the majority of the country's inhabitants are descendants of Indonesians and Malays who moved to the archipelago over thousands of years, as well as Chinese traders who first appeared in the Philippines in the 19th century, and the Spaniards who arrived in the 16th century. In addition, the Philippines is inhabited by numerous indigenous tribes.
Language
The official language is called Filipino or Tagalog. English is used almost everywhere, especially in business and official areas. Spanish is also widely spoken.
Religion
About 83% of Filipinos are Catholics, 5% are Muslim, 5.4% are Protestant, 2.6% are the Independent Church of the Philippines, and 2.3% are the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ). Historically, Filipinos have adopted two religions - Islam and Christianity. Islam appeared in the country in the 14th century after the expansion of trade relations with Arab states. Nowadays, this religion is practiced mainly in the southern regions of the country. Christianity arrived in the Philippines in the 16th century, with the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Protestantism was brought to the Philippines by the first Presbyterian missionaries, who arrived in the country with American soldiers in 1899. Two independent churches in the Philippines emerged at the beginning of the last century, the Aglipayan Church (Independent Church of the Philippines) and the Iglesia Ni Kristo (Church of Christ). Recently, the Aglipayan Church signed an agreement with the Anglican Church. In turn, the Church of Christ significantly expanded its influence. Its temples are the main attractions of many cities.
Connection
In large cities, many street phones equipped for direct access to intercity and international lines. To call from such a device, you need to press the IDD button or number 9 on the phone, and then enter the calling country code, city code and subscriber number. cellular The GSM 900/1800 standard is being intensively developed throughout the country. Roaming is available to subscribers of major Russian operators. Coverage is limited to Manila and other major urban areas, but is expanding rapidly and is fairly inexpensive. Access to Internet can be obtained from numerous Internet cafes throughout the country. Access is provided by three major providers
Time
It is ahead of Moscow by 5 hours, and from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in September - by 4 hours.
The Philippines is a beautiful island country washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Most tourists who visit this state note how unique the religion, culture and traditions are - all of this bears the imprint of a special, unique Filipino soul.
A little about the Philippines
Few states in the world can boast that they consist of more than seven thousand islands. Almost all of them are of volcanic origin and are entirely covered with emerald forests of amazing beauty. Hidden in the depths of the islands are historical monuments and ruins of ancient pagan temples.
The Philippines attracts tourists with its stunning beaches and clear turquoise waters. Many islands remain almost untouched, and the local population tries to fit hotels into the landscape in such a way as not to damage the unique nature of these places.
Most of the year in the Philippines the weather is dry and hot, only from May to September the wet season lasts with numerous tropical downpours. Tourists come to the islands all year round and enjoy a beach holiday, combining it with visiting historical and religious monuments.
Religious issues in the Philippines
For all tourists who visit the Philippines, the religion of the local population raises many questions. From the outside, it seems that all world religions are mixed in the state, managing to coexist peacefully for many years. In the entire history of the country there has not been a single serious conflict based on faith. Therefore, very often travelers are interested in what the official religion of the Philippines is. The answer to this question may surprise many - representatives of the three main faiths successfully coexist in the country.
Philippines: main religion
I would like to note that the Philippines is still a very unusual country. The vast majority of its population professes Christianity. According to the latest estimates, Christians make up ninety percent of the country's total local population. Moreover, they belong to different religious movements. About eighty percent are Catholics, four percent are staunch Protestants, and another four percent prefer two local branches of the Christian church.
Tourists coming to the Philippines have a hard time believing that they can profess Christianity rather than Buddhism. But we should not forget that the very unusual state of the Philippines, whose religion surprises and amazes many, does not immediately reveal all its rituals and sacraments. After all, it is absolutely unclear why this particular religion began to have such a strong influence on the local population. Let's try to understand this issue.
Philippines: religion, temples
The first Christian churches appeared in the Philippines around the sixteenth century. They were originally built high in the mountains to protect them from destructive raids by the local population. The Spaniards, who came to the Philippines as conquerors, had an important influence on the formation of the religious beliefs of the islanders. At the time of their arrival, the entire local population was divided and adhered to pagan beliefs. Each tribe had its own gods and traditions. This led to armed conflicts and clashes. The missionaries, who began to preach Catholicism, quickly captured the imagination of the naive natives. Literally in a short time, most of the islanders believed in Christianity and were baptized. This made it possible to unite all the tribes and avoid a bloody war between the leaders.
Protestants appeared in the Philippines much later. The first missionaries landed on the islands at the end of the nineteenth century and managed to convert only a few percent of the local population. Since this period, the islanders have never had a question about what religion is in the Philippines. The natives definitely gave their hearts to Christianity.
Other religions in the Philippines
Don't forget how unique the Philippines is. Religion in this country is also represented by other faiths. about five percent of the islanders. Most Muslims settled in the south of the state. It is the historical center of Islam in the Philippines. At the beginning of the thirteenth century, it was brought to one of the islands and became widespread there. For a long time, Muslims had their own autonomy and a government headed by the Sultan.
Buddhism also has its admirers in the Philippines, but it entered the territory of the state very late and could not take a strong place in the minds and hearts of the islanders.
One or two percent of the local population preach Taoism and ancient pagan cults.
Features of Christianity in the Philippines
It is worth noting that Christians living in the Philippines are very ardent adherents of their religion. Many Catholic leaders even apply the term “religious fanatics” to them. The islanders reverently honor all church holidays, some of them are accompanied by massive street processions. A particularly important holiday that brings together almost the entire local population on the streets. Believers walk through the streets, stripped to the waist and whipping themselves with rope whips. This self-flagellation symbolizes the mockery of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. Believers prepare for such a procession of self-flagellation for several months: they fast and cleanse themselves of sins with long prayers.
The Philippines can amaze tourists with its beauty and subtle, quivering soul, hidden in the depths of the island state. For many, traveling to the Philippines will be a real discovery. And first of all, it is worth visiting this country in order to rediscover yourself in it.