THE LIFE OF MAN: TO

KNOW AND LOVE GOD

MAN: A RELIGIOUS BEING IN THE
FILIPINO CONTEXT
TERMS TO PONDER
1. BELIEVER
– REFERS TO SOMEONE WITH
RELIGIOUS FAITH OR AN ADHERENT OF A
PARTICULAR RELIGION.

2. FILIPINO
BELIEVER – REFERS TO FILIPINOS
HAVING RELIGION THAT IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED
AND INTERTWINED WITH FILIPINO CULTURE
PARTICULARLY CHRISTIAN BELIEVER.
MAN AS A RELIGIOUS BEING
MAN IS RELIGIOUS BECAUSE HE IS
CREATED BY GOD.

IN THECOURSE OF HISTORY, MEN HAVE

GIVEN EXPRESSION TO THEIR QUEST FOR
GOD (PRAYERS, RITUALS, SACRIFICES,
MEDITATIONS, ETC)
BACKGROUND OF FILIPINO
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
THE PHILIPPINES IS THE ONLY CHRISTIAN
NATION IN ASIA 6
2
4 2

86

ROMAN CATHOLIC NATIONALIZED CHRISTIAN CULTS 100 PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS

ISLAM OTHER RELIGIONS
 PRE-HISPANIC BELIEF SYSTEM
PANTHEON OF GODS, SPIRITS,
CREATURES AND MEN THAT
GUARDED THE STREAMS,
FIELDS, TREES, MOUNTAINS,
FOREST, HOUSES.

BATHALA – WHO CREATED THE

EARTH AND MAN WAS
SUPERIOR THESE OTHER GODS
AND SPIRITS.
PRESENT CATHOLIC BELIEF SYSTEM

1. MISA DE GALLO
2. VIRGIN OF
PENAFRANCIA
3. BLACK
NAZARENE
4. STO. NINO
BEING A FILIPINO BELIEVER

THERE ARE AT LEAST 5 PRE-

DOMINANT FILIPINO
CHARACTERISTICS ALONG SIDE
WITH 5 ESSENTIAL TRAITS OF JESUS
CHRIST WHICH SOMEHOW HELP
EXPLAIN THE RELIGIOUSITY OF THE
FILIPINOS
FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS
1.FAMILY-ORIENTED
ANAK-MAGULANG RELATIONSHIP IS
VITAL.
FILIAL ATTACHMENT NOT ONLY TO
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS BUT
ALSO TO EXTENDED FAMILY.
THIS SUPPLIES A BASIC SENSE OF
BELONGING, STABILITY, AND SECURITY.

THIS DRAWS OUR SENSE OF IDENTITY.

 TRAITS OF JESUS CHRIST

 JESUS AS SON OF GOD

 JESUS ASSON OF MAN – HE LEADS US
TO HIS MOTHER (MARY) WHOM HE
SHARES WITH US. HE WELCOMES US
IN HIS HOUSEHOLD, OFFERS HIMSELF
AS OUR BROTHER, AND DRAWS US TO
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM TO A
NEW IDENTITY AND INTO THE
FAMILY OF HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.
FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS
2. MEAL-ORIENTED
WE ARE KNOWN FOR BEING GRACIOUS
HOST AND GRATEFUL GUEST.

SERVE OUR GUEST WITH THE BEST WE

HAVE, (RICH OR POOR)

WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE ALL EVENTS

WITH SPECIAL MEAL.

COME AND EAT WITH US!

 TRAITS OF JESUS CHRIST

 JESUS AS
EUCHARIST IS NOT ONLY
THE HOST AND FOOD BUT EVEN THE
GUESTS IN EVERY GATHERING.
 N.T.
25X EATING, EATING IN TABLE
FELLWSHIP WITH RISEN CHRIST.

 HOLY MASS
FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS
3. KUNDIMAN-ORIENTED
KUNDIMAN IS A SAD FILIPINO SONG
ABOUT WOUNDED LOVE
WE ARE NATURALLY ATTRACTED TO
HEREOS SACRIFICING EVERYTHING FOR
LOVE.
WE ARE PATIENT AND FORGIVING TO A
FAULT
THIS ACCEPTANCE OF SUFFERING
MANIFEST A DEEP, POSITIVE SPIRITUAL
 TRAITS OF JESUS CHRIST
 JESUS AS THE SUFFERING SERVANT
NAZARENO
SANTO ENTIERRO
SACRED HEART
 ASSUFFERING SERVANT, HE CAN
REACH TO US AS A HEALING AND
FORGIVING SAVIOR WHO
UNDERSTANDS OUR WEAKNESS,
FAILURES, FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION,
FEAR, AND LONELINESS.
FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS
4. BAYANI-ORIENTED
WE ARE NATURAL HERO-FOLLOWERS.

WE DON’T ACCEPT ULTIMATE FAILURE

AND DEFEAT.

WE ARE READY TO LAY DOWN EVEN

OUR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF VALUING
HUMAN DIGNITY.
 TRAITS OF JESUS CHRIST

 JESUS
CHRIST KING OF THE
UNIVERSE.
FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS
5. SPIRIT-ORIENTED
WE ARE NATURALLY PSYCHIC.

WE HAVE DEEP SEATED BELIEF

IN THE SUPERNATURAL AND ALL
KINDS OF SPIRITS DWELLING IN
INDIVIDUAL PERSONS, LANDS,
AND THINGS.
 TRAITS OF JESUS CHRIST

 JESUS AS
MIRACLE WORKER WHO
PROMISED TO SEND HIS SPIRIT TO HIS
DISCIPLES TO GIVE THEM NEW LIFE.
DIVINE REVELATION AS
UNDERSTOOD BY FILIPINOS

1. THE FIRST ONE TO KNOW US IS GOD WHO

ESTABLISHES A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO US.
2. DIVINE REVELATION FOR US FILIPINOS IS OUR
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
3. ONLY IN RELATION TO GOD WE BECOME OUR FULL
SELVES.
IN SUMMARY

THROUGHOUT HISTORY TO THE

PRESENT DAY, WE, FILIPINOS,
EXPRESSED OUR QUEST FOR GOD
IN OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND
BEHAVIOR.
QUESTIONS?
TODA RABAH!