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How Religion

Influences our History

Brief Background of Pre-Hispanic


Period
Belief system: Nature Worshipping
Gods, spirits, creatures guarding the nature

Anito and other religious symbols


Sacrifices and rituals
Shamans and Priests
Anting-anting, potions, amulets
Islam was already established on Mindanao, and some
part of Cebu and Luzon
No centralize government

Evangelization
Ferdinand Magellan 1521
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi 1565

Problems
Scattered community
High terrains
Filipinos didnt want to leave their farmlands
Islam and Paganism were already present
Language barrier

Imposition of Christianity
According to Merlinda Bobis (a Filipino-Australian
contemporary writer), the Spaniards methods of
eradication of the polytheistic and pagan beliefs of
Filipinos occurred through language and action.

Christianization Strategies
according to Professor Susan Russell

1. Mass Baptism
-Initial conversion of native Filipinos to Christianity
-Many Filipinos associated baptism with their own
indigenous healing rituals
-The Spaniards befriended with the leaders of every
chieftain
*Raja Humabon and Magellan
-Water baptism important to Filipinos

Christianization Strategies
according to Professor Susan Russell

2. Reduccion Policies
-Resettlement Policy (designed for a convenient
administration of the colonies)
-Force relocation of small, scattered settlements into
larger one
ItwasalsodesignedtoenableSpaintocollecttaxesfrom
their Christianizedconverts.
-Throughout
Spanishrule,ChristianizedFilipinoswereforcedto

Christianization Strategies
according to Professor Susan Russell

2. Reduccion Policies
-Center Church (calendar set the pace and rhythm of
everyday routines)
-Preserved the natives political structure
(intermediaries between Church and Filipino people

Christianization Strategies
according to Professor Susan Russell

3. Spanish friars were forced to learn the native


language
Learningthelanguageofthepeoplewasespeciallyimportanttoth
emissionaries.Sincethenativesfar
outnumberedthemissionaries,itwasmorepracticalforonemissio
narytolearnseveralnativelanguages,thanto
teachthenativestheCastillantongue.Itwasalsothoughtthatthe
FilipinosmightrespondmoretoChristianityif
itwaspreachedintheirowntongueandnotinaforeignlanguage.
-Divide and Conquer
Franciscans(1578),theJesuits(Visayas)(1581),theDominicans(1

Christianization Strategies
according to Professor Susan Russell

4. Syncretism Adaptation of Christianity to the local context


systematicallydestroyedindigenousholyplacesand'idols',orstatuesa
nd representationsofindigenousspirits,godsorgoddesses and
replaced it with crucifix and images of Sto. Nino and other Saints.
stampedoutallexamplesofnative scriptsandliterature and replaced
it with holy scripture

Christianization Strategies
according to Professor Susan Russell

4. Syncretism Adaptation of Christianity to the local


context
-the rosary as anting-anting (Spain vs Dutch)
-used Filipinos giftedness in singing, dancing and acting to
introduce theatrical plays for Pasion and Moro-Moro plays (Moro
Wars)
-blended some rituals to Catholic faith (All Saints Day, Fiesta de
Mayo)
-Fiestas

Christianization Strategies
according to Professor Susan Russell

4. Syncretism Adaptation of Christianity to the


local context
-penitential practices seem appealing to native
Filipinos (ways of showing love to the higher being
-replaced the spirits with saints

Christianity in our country today


Filipinization of Roman Catholicism
Formation of other Christian Groups
Aglipayan
Nationalized Church under Gregorio Aglipay

Iglesia Ni Kristo
Felix Manalo in 1914

Seventh Day Adventist


Jehovahs Witness
El Shaddai Movement
Rizalists
Second son of God and incarnation of Christ
They claim that they are also incarnation of God

Theydividedthearchipelagointodistinct
territories,learnedthevernacularsappropriatetoeachreg
ion,andputdownrootsinthe
ruralPhilippineswheretheyquicklybecamefountsofwisd
omforuneducatedand
unsophisticatedlocalinhabitants.Becausemostsecularc
olonialofficialshadnointention
oflivingsofarfromhomeanylongerthanittooktoturna
handsomeprofit,friarstookon
therolesofthecrown'srepresentativesandinterpretersof
governmentpoliciesinthe countryside.
Hispanicruleleftalegacyofsyncretic,ratherthantotally
destructive,elements

Thecloserelationshipbetweenchurchandstateprovedtobealiabilit
ywhenthe
Philippineswassweptbynationalisticrevoltinthelatenineteenthcen
turyandFilipino
priestsseizedchurchesandproclaimedtheIndependentPhilippineCh
urch(IglesiaFilipina
Independiente).AftertheAmericanoccupation,Protestantmissionarie
scameand
establishedchurchesandhelpedtospreadAmericanculture.

hardships, trials, and obstacles that


needed to be overcome. But
eventually, Filipinos took to the
religion and made it uniquely their
own.
Religion then was one of the agents of
Hispanization through which Spanish
ideas and language slowly influenced
the Filipino culture, shaping it into
what it is today.

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