RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

     In the Philippines, it was divided into six types of religions, and these are the Roman Catholic, Protestants, Other, Muslims, Iglesia ni Cristo, and Buddhists. But the three main religion is the Roman Catholic, Protestants and Islam. The Roman Catholic is the largest religion having 70% and was introduced by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The Catholic practice is unusually material and physical, and they have built rituals and saints for devotions to Mary, the suffering Christ, and the Santo Nino also known as the Holy Child. Catholics base their beliefs on the Bible alone. The most significant event is a feast like the Black Nazarene, as it has drawn millions of people to the street of Manila in January. The Simbang Gabi novena that precedes Christmas and the month-long Flores de Mayo offering Mary illustrate distinctively Filipino forms of devotion as for the Roman Catholic. Protestant Christianity is the second largest religious category with 17%, and the American missionaries introduced it. The main differences between Catholics and Protestants are that they both worship the same God; however, they have different principles of faith. They mostly reject what the other practices of Catholic.

     Another religion is the Islam, it is the third largest religion with 5-10%, and it was started in the island of Simunul in the Philippines and was introduced by the Islamic cleric -Karim ul' Makhdum to the area. Also, he established the first mosque on the island, and it is one of the oldest mosques in the country. Iglesia ni Cristo with 2% was founded by Felix Manalo Ysagun, claiming that this sect was the true religion of Christ and other groups are not. This religion is similar to the different denominations but, reject the doctrine of trinitarianism which is common among other groups. Like the Buddhists which has 2%, they do not believe in a creator God in existence. Buddhism has had influences on Filipino culture as the origin of words used in the Philippines are Buddhists languages. There are so many religious practices in the Philippines, but each distinctive has its way to serves and practices on what do they believe is right. For example, The Roman Catholic and Protestants though they have different methods still they serve and worship the same God. And the other religion practice what do they think and believe is right. Since the Philippines welcomed the diversity of religion, then everyone is free to practice what they believe which is essential.