7/29/2019 Filipino folk
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Filipino Folk Christianity
The Spanish missionaries arrived filled with a zealous desire to
save the animist souls of the indigenouspeople.The missionaries
built impressive churches and preached the virtuous path to
salvation.
But the indigenous people found that medieval Castilian
philosophy did not fit into their worldview,so they went on
practicing animism behind the backs of the priests. The Spaniards
may have imposedChristianity, but it would be inaccurate to say
that the indigenous people fully accepted the foreignreligion.
Historians seems to see not the Christianizing of a people, but of
their animistic practices.Christianity in the Philippines is really
a unique folk variety, incorporating animistic beliefs.
One can easily recognize this in the practice of Christianity in
the Philippines. For example,Filipinos have a strong devotion to
the Virgin Mary in many different capacities: as a shield against
foreigninvasion, as a protector during travel, and even as a
fertility goddess. Filipino children often call her MamaMary.
There are also cults devoted solely to the Child Jesus.
Worshipers bathe images of the SantoNio, or Holy Child. They clothe
the statues in rich brocade, treating the Child Jesus as a princely
guest in
their homes. More than 50 icons of the Virgin Mary and the Child
Jesus in the Philippines are said to bemiraculous.
Another example of folk Christianity in the Philippines is the
veneration of saints for prayersanswered: for a good harvest, for
rain, for the right spouse, for children.
Early Filipino converts may have seen features of their own
rituals in Catholic sacraments. Theymay, for example, have
associated the sacrament of baptism with their own healing rituals,
which alsoused the symbolism of water.
The Spanish friar may have simply replaced the indigenous
priestess as spiritual mediator. Whilethe missionaries tried to
completely destroy indigenous symbols and practices such as slavery
andpolygamy, some of the European Catholic practices they
introduced blended with indigenous ritual
practices. For example, they acted out biblical stories to teach
indigenous people about Christianity.Filipinos today act out the
passion of Christ during Holy Week.
A faithful people, Fil ipino look for religion for strength in
times of trouble and attribute their
accomplishments to divine guidance. What is important to them is
that someone or something more
powerful than themselves turns the wheel of live and may be
counted on for help.
