How did Christianity in Philippines began?

The year 2021 marks the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines and as most religious Filipino Christians are celebrating this historic milestone in the midst of the pandemic, it's time for a quick dive about how did Christianity in the Philippines began and why we are blessed to be the most Christian nation in all of Asia.

500 years of Christianity in the Philippines logo

To understand the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines, we have to go way back to the early history of the Philippines. As ancient histories and scholars suggest, the first inhabitants of the Philippine archipelago were a diverse agglomeration of migrants emerged across Asia. They began communicating with the Chinese in the late 10th century and adopting Sanskrit-based writing system but both the introductions of Chinese and Indian cultures had little importance to them.

Come 15th century, after early Filipinos exercised their own religions such as a blend of monotheism and polytheism, that changed when one part of the Philippines, the Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago to be precise, began embracing Islam and their ways of lives changed as well as their political and social institutions. The Islam propagation in the Philippines make way for the arrival of the Spanish colonizers.

As the arrival of the Spanish colonists view the Philippines as an opportunity to the riches of the East Indies or Spice Islands, a Portuguese explorer that goes by the name of Ferdinand Magellan spearheaded the Spanish efforts on Philippine soil when he arrived in Cebu on March 1521, shortly before he was killed by Lapu-Lapu in the nearby island of Mactan.

While the arrival of Spanish colonists introduced Christianity on Philippine soil during Magellan's exploration, it wasn't really formal until Spain formally introduced this religion to the Philippines in 1565 with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Thanks to the Spanish colonists, almost all of the Philippines, except Mindanao, are now under the thumb of Christianity with almost all Filipinos in Spanish-controlled territories converted to Catholics.

Five centuries have passed and the Philippines proudly boasts as the only Christian nation in Asia with over 86% of the population are Roman Catholic. It was also part of the National Motto "Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa," reminding of the recognition of the Father and his creation that most Filipinos need to care for.

From most Filipino families having images of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary posted outside their homes to the image of The Last Supper hanging on the walls of their dining rooms, to the annual Holy Week where almost all establishments are closed in observation of the Lenten season, this is what makes Christianity very unique to the Philippine culture. It is truly "only in the Philippines" we do such part for the glory of Thy Kingdom Come.

Five centuries of Christianity in the Philippines have changed the very nation we are familiar with. Some are good, some are bad, and some are questioning about its credibility but more importantly, Christianity is the backbone of Philippine culture and no matter which opinions you are listening to, be it right or wrong, true or false, fact or fiction, there's no denying that you are standing at the very foundation that makes the Philippines a very unique nation, no matter which direction it's facing towards.

"All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,

together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus."

(Acts 1:14)