Religion

Prior to the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipinos believed in a supreme being, Bathala, who had created heaven and earth and the human race, as well as in numerous gods and goddesses. They believed in anitos, a type of animistic religion characterized by a hierarchy of deities. Some of these beliefs still persist in parts of the Philippines, particularly the rural areas.

Spanish colonization of the islands was accompanied by the introduction of Roman Catholicism. It has had a tremendous impact on the social, cultural, and economic life of the people. Today, an estimated 85 percent of Filipinos are adherents of this faith. Protestantism was introduced into the country by the Americans at a much later date. Missionaries from various denominations, such as Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Baptists, and the United Brethren Disciple Mission, came to spread the gospel throughout the country. They also started schools and colleges, the best known of which is Silliman University, founded in 1901 in Dumaguete.

Other religious groups, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Seventh-Day Adventists, the Iglesia ni Kristo, and the Aglipayans, or Philippine Independent Church, have also been active. The Iglesia ni Kristo, which was founded by Felix Manalo in 1914, is a religious sect with a strong sense of solidarity. During elections, leaders even determine how the members cast their votes. Aglipayanism, begun by Gregorio Aglipay in the early years of the American regime, was an attempt to break away from the Roman Catholic Church and reflected the nationalistic feeling prevalent at the time. It did not, however, establish a strong foothold in the country except in northern Luzon. Arab traders introduced the Islamic faith to the Philippines in the fourteenth century. It has remained strong among the Moros of southern Mindanao and in the Sulu Archipelago. Although there have been conflicts between Moslem and Christian Filipinos, they are motivated more by economic and political differences than by religious ones.

As in the homeland, the vast majority of Filipinos in Canada are Roman Catholics. According to the 1991 census, approximately 88 percent indicated that they were adherents of that faith. Eleven percent (much higher than in the homeland) were Protestants of various denominations, of which just over half were Baptists, Disciples of Christ, Adventists, and members of the United Church. Filipinos generally attend local Catholic or Protestant churches wherever they live, but they have established their own congregations in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. In recent years, Filipino clergymen have come to Canada. Some have been assigned to mixed congregations, while others work exclusively among Filipinos.

Parishioners from the Philippines are distinguished from other Catholics in Canada by certain religious practices. One of these, introduced to the islands by the Spaniards, is the fiesta mentioned earlier. Filipinos in Canada continue this traditional practice by celebrating with compatriots from the same town. As in the Philippines, the fiesta in Canada combines sacred and secular elements. It brings members of the community together and contributes to the sense of solidarity, particularly among those from the same home town. Traditionally, Filipino Catholics commemorate Christmas for more than a week prior to the day itself. A mass, the Misa de Gallo, is celebrated at dawn (cock’s crow) from 16 to 24 December. A symbolic object associated with Christmas celebrations in the Philippines is the parol (lantern), which is made in a variety of colours, sizes, and artistic designs. Hung in windows and doorways, parols are almost as symbolic of Christmas as the tree in North America. Filipinos in Canada sometimes decorate halls for Christmas parties with lanterns that are reminiscent of those used in the home country.

Another religious presentation is the sinahulo, a dramatization of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ that is performed throughout Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter. A traditional religious practice (usually among men) at this time of year is flagellation, in which a believer, as a penance for sin, wears a crown of thorns and whips himself until covered with blood. Although it is still common in the home country, the practice is hardly ever observed in Canada. Filipinos are fond of recitations and songs for different occasions. During the Spanish era, they developed the pasyon, an account of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ that is sung to various melodies, depending upon the region. Filipino Canadians have continued this tradition during the Lenten season.

Other religious observations include the Santacruzan, the Flores de Mayo, and Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day). The Santacruzan commemorates the travels of St Elena (St Helen) in her search for the cross on which Jesus was crucified. It is observed each year in May, June, or July. Young people dressed as biblical characters carried lighted candles in a colourful procession through the streets. During the celebration of Flores de Mayo in May, girls dressed in white bring fresh flowers to church every afternoon and place them at the foot of the Blessed Virgin while adults say the rosary. Both ceremonies, reminiscent of those in the home country, are observed in major urban centres in Canada. All Saints’ Day, which falls on 1 November, is set aside in memory of departed loved ones. Surviving family members bring flowers to the burial place, light candles, and pray for the souls of the departed. In the Philippines the celebration is increasingly festive and ostentatious and is usually accompanied by feasting in the cemetery. Filipino Canadians on the whole do not seem to have gone to such lengths. They visit the grave sites of their loved ones on the anniversary of their death, but not necessarily on All Saints’ Day, as is the custom in the home country.

Religious customs to honour the dead demonstrate the Christian belief in life after death. The usual practice among Filipinos consists of the novena, special prayers said on nine successive days after the burial. Relatives, friends, and neighbours gather in the evenings to pray that the departed soul may be accorded a divine welcome. They are usually led by an elderly woman. The novena concludes with a festive celebration, during which the mourners gather to share a sumptuous array of food and drink. Filipino Canadians have carried on this religious custom in the new country.