Religion in the Philippines

The majority religion is Catholic, introduced by Spanish missionaries, still conserving the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, typical of the first inhabitants of the archipelago. There is also Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Protestantism, animism and among others.

Currently under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Philippines is a non-denominational state, meaning that it grants privileges to all religious beliefs.

Article 5. The State recognizes the freedom and equality of all cults as well as the separation of the Church and the State.

Christianity

Apostolic Churches

Roman Catholic Church

Christianity is one of the most professed religions in the country. Specifically, Catholicism is professed by approximately 80.6% of the Filipino population. In colonial times it was introduced by Spanish missionaries, just as it happened in the former colonies that were part of the Spanish Empire, such as in various countries of Latin America, Equatorial Guinea and part of Western Sahara and Morocco. In 1981 Pope John Paul II visited the country and also in the Philippines, like other mostly Catholic countries, other festivals such as Holy Week are celebrated, this festival is where the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is promoted as a representation that has become an attraction for tourists, Corpus Christi, Christmas and New Years. In addition, the festival of the Virgen de la Soledad is also celebrated.

Orthodox Church

A small minority of Christians in the country adhere to Orthodox Christianity, for the most part under the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople.

Philippine Independent Church

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente is the second religion after Catholicism, one of the most professed, with approximately 2,000,000 followers. It was founded in 1902 under the guidance of Filipino priest, lawyer, and guerrilla fighter Gregorio Aglipay y Labayán as a national Catholic church for the Philippines. The church was born together with the independence of the nation from the Spanish Empire and was created precisely because of the ecclesiastical problems caused by the fact that the Catholic Church (in communion with the pope) was entirely dominated by Spanish elements. Gregorio Aglipay had been excommunicated by the Holy See in 1899, due to his militant commitment to the independence of his country.

Protestants

8.2% of the Philippine population declares itself a Protestant or Evangelical Christian, during the Spanish-American War in 1898 after Spain ceded to the United States until the country's independence in 1946, under that rule there was an introduction by the Americans in which the different churches are promoted, although this flow has been smaller. The most widespread Protestant religion is the Seventh-day Adventist Church with more than 1,084,390 believers.

Islamic

Islam is professed by 5.6% of the population mainly by the Moors and the Samales, who between the 15th and 16th centuries converted to Islam after the introduction of Arab immigration. This religion is professed mainly in the islands of southwestern Mindanao, Joló and Sulu, whose representative or head is a sultan, who have preserved it for those centuries of an ancestral, cultural and hereditary character under a title of honorific and noble mode.

Buddhism

Many Filipino customs have strong Buddhist influences. Buddhism in the Philippines is growing rapidly, mainly due to increased immigration into the country. Buddhism is largely confined to the Filipino Chinese, Chinese, Japanese, Hindustani, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese communities, though local followers continue to grow. There are temples in Manila, Davao, Cebu and other places. Several schools of Buddhism are present in the Philippines - Mahayana, Vajrayana, Theravada, as well as groups such as Soka Gakkai International.

Others

In addition to the religious beliefs already mentioned, it is worth mentioning others in the country that also arrived through immigration: Confucianism, Taoism, also introduced by Chinese missionaries and that there are also temples of these religions built in some regions From philippines. Hinduism, through Hindu immigration, Shinto, through Japanese immigration, animism, and other beliefs practiced by indigenous peoples. All these beliefs are minority. There are also minorities of atheists and agnostics in the country.