This blog is a continuation of my previous blog about the early people in my country.
Before, there were no churches in the Philippines. Our forefathers prayed in many places such as under trees or outside in the fields, but they did it frequently in their own homes. Also, they celebrated religious feasts. They did that in the house of the chief (dato). The feast lasted for several days and was attended by every resident of the village. They placed a large lamp in the middle of the house and small lamps on the posts. During the feast, they played drums as well.
Our forefathers believed in one supreme God called Bathala. He is the creator of the universe, the earth, and all living things. Bathala is believed to be the ruler of the gods and goddesses. They also believed in these gods and goddesses, like Dian Masalanta, the god of love. Lalahon and Sidapa were goddesses of harvests and god of death, respectively. In times of danger or difficulty, they prayed to the spirits of anitos (their departed ancestors) for help. They made images of wood or metal to represent them.
In conclusion, religious practices already existed in the past before the Spanish era in the Philippines. Now, the majority of Filipinos are Roman Catholic, which was introduced by the Spaniards. In my next blog, I might share with you how the Philippines was during the Spanish colonization.
Thank you for reading!
Reference:
The Story of Our Country by Leandro Hernandez
