This year, 2021, marks 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines (500YOC). Indeed, this is another milestone in our nation’s history!
When Ferdinand Magellan left Spain with his fleet of 5 ships in 1519, he was not setting out on a missionary journey; he was exploring a western route to reach the Moluccas, then known as the Spice Islands (in present-day Indonesia). However, when Magellan and his crew reached the western side of the Pacific Ocean, they encountered some local tribal leaders and their people who not only welcomed them but also their Christian faith.
The archipelago discovered by Magellan’s expedition was inhabited by people of Indo-Malay origin who were socially and politically organized in settlements called barangays, independent kinship groups led by a datu or rajah. Every small island could have been a barangay and, although there were alliances, they had no evident plans of uniting with one another. At that time, Islam had already been introduced to Sulu in the south of these islands in the late 1300s by traders from the Persian Gulf, Southern India, and their followers from several sultanate governments in the Malay archipelago. The islanders had their own way of life and distinct culture. They also had their own script, a system of laws, and religious beliefs with Hindu and Islamic influences. Furthermore, they were skilled in metalworking, pottery making, and weaving.
Was it necessary for Magellan and his men to disrupt the life of these people? Well, they had practical reasons to make friends with the natives. They needed food, water, a place to rest while their sick were recovering. However, the fact that Magellan and his men professed the Catholic faith practically made them “missionaries,” those who are sent to bring Christ to others. In fact, there was an Augustinian priest with them, their chaplain, to minister to their spiritual needs. Though their primary intention was not evangelization, Magellan’s faith urged him to have Holy Mass celebrated on Easter Sunday, near the shores of Limasawa. The natives who befriended them were present. Little did these unsuspecting spectators realize that this religious rite was going to change their lives and the lives of their people forever. Soon after, there was the planting of the cross on that island. Later, this was also done on the island of Cebu. There, according to Antonio Pigafetta’s account, after expressing his desire to be a Christian, its king, Rajah Humabon, his chief consort Hara Humamay and 800 of his subjects were baptized en masse. Thus, Christianity was embraced by the islanders.
In St. John Paul II’s message to the President and the Filipino people during his first visit to the Philippines in 1981, he affirmed that “in an achievement that remains unparalleled in history, the message of Christ took root in the hearts of the people within a very brief span of time, and the Church was thus strongly implanted in this nation of [more than] seven thousand islands and numerous tribal and ethnic communities.” True enough, there was a unique, overwhelming acceptance of the Gospel by our people compared to those of neighboring nations.
Official efforts at evangelization took place in 1565 with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who came with the Augustinian friars. Later, other religious orders followed: the Franciscans, the Jesuits, and the Dominicans. “The rich geographical and human diversity, the various cultural traditions, and the people’s spirit of joy and sharing, together with the fruits of the missionary efforts, have successfully blended and have shaped… a clear national identity that is unmistakably Filipino and truly Christian,” stated Pope John Paul II. Indeed, the missionaries and the Filipino faithful cooperated and complemented one another in the work of evangelization.
Then followed the long period of colonization and the establishment of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, with its lights and shadows. As there were friars who defended the rights of the native population, there were also those who collaborated with the colonial officials. For a long time, the Catholic hierarchy in our country was reserved for those of Spanish descent. When finally native Filipinos were ordained priests, the best among them (Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora) were accused of conniving with revolutionary forces and executed. However, our two Filipino saints, Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod, who come from that period, were not priests. One was an altar boy and scribe, the other, a catechist. They are evident proof that holiness does not depend on Holy Orders or being part of a religious congregation. In fact, Christianity is a call to holiness for all, wherever God wants us to be.
Because of colonial rule, the barangays established in the different islands of the archipelago were forcibly united into one nation, the Philippines. Despite colonization, the Catholic faith thrived among the people and became a uniting force among them. It has become a fundamental part of our country’s culture and is expressed specially in religious feasts and popular devotions to Jesus as Poong Nazareno or Señor Sto. Niño, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a kaleidoscope of saints. In 1986, this faith had the power to end a dictatorial regime without bloodshed, with the people armed only with concrete works of charity for all, even for their enemies.
Now, 500 years after that first Mass in Limasawa, the Philippines has remained firm in its Catholic faith amid nations of the most diverse cultures and religions in Asia. It is the third most Catholic country in the world (surpassed only by Brazil and Mexico) with a well-established hierarchy led by Filipino prelates who are loved by the faithful. As we look to the future with hope and courage, let us not forget that God is the Lord of history, journeying with our people as a whole, as well as with each Filipino. As we Filipinos strive to walk in God’s ways and struggle to build a society where His love, justice, and peace reign, we believe that God knows how to turn all events – beautiful or painful – into instruments for the realization of his plan of salvation and love.
