Spanish Influence on Filipino's Christianity

Santos, Gabrielle M. BSOT-1A

My Reaction and Summary about “the Spanish Influence On Filipino Catholic Spirituality”

In the OFM archive that we have read, I have learned a lot of things. Mainly, about the influences of the colonization of the Spaniards and the effect that it has had on our religion before and today. Our Filipino ancestors were Pagans; they worshipped the earth and nature and believed strongly in the power that lie within the forces all around us. That was until the colonization actually happened. The first attempt led by Magellan may have ended with him losing his life, but Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s success proved to be an important milestone not just because it meant it was a win for Spain, but also because we have found our true religion.

They Filipinos were described as syncretic in nature, meaning to say they were able to adapt to something and incorporate themselves in it, making it diverse and bicultural. When the Spaniards introduced Christianity to them, they were able to adapt to it so smoothly that it seemed as though they were practicing it all their lives. Things like Misa de gallo, Angelus prayers, fasting having a prayer altar and cross in their houses were all appealing practices to them because they were thekind of people who wanted their faith to be the center of everything they do, everyday of their lives. And they were so devoted to the religion they’ve learned to love that they’ve started their own traditions, for example the recreating of the cruxifixion during Holy week. They were very musically inclined, and they had great talents such as in the realm of dance and art, that they were even able to incorporate Catholicism into these Humanities.

The Filipinos were deeply rooted to Religion and culture, and Christianity was dispersed throughout the country like wildfire, they...