The Christian Faith is not a ‘religion of the Book.

’ Christianity is the religion of the Word of God, ‘not a written word unable to speak, but the
incarnate and living Word.’ So that the Scriptures do not remain a dead letter, it is necessary that Christ, the eternal Word of the living God, by
the Holy Spirit, opens our minds to understand them (CCC 108).

Characteristics of Christian Faith

Total and Absolute 123. Already the Old Testament contrasted faith “in man in whom there is no salvation” with faith in “the Lord who made
heaven and earth . . . who shall reign forever” (cf. Ps 146:3,5-6,10; Jer 17:5-8). Only Faith in God calls for a total and absolute adherence (cf. CCC
150). Christ himself provides, especially in his Passion, Death and Resurrection, the best example of this total and absolute commitment to God.

Trinitarian 124. For us Christians, Faith is our adherence to the Triune God revealed through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is our friendship with Christ
and through Christ with the Father, in their Holy Spirit. Through Christ’s witness to his Father in his teaching, preaching, miracles, and especially
in his Passion, Death and Resurrection, we come to believe in Christ our Savior, in the Father, and in the Holy Spirit sent into our hearts. Our
Faith as Catholics, then, consists in our personal conviction and belief in God our Father, revealed by Jesus Christ, His own divine Son-made-
man, and their presence to us through the Holy Spirit, in the Church (cf. PCP II 64; CCC 151-52)

. Loving, Maturing and Missionary 125. Our Christian Faith is truly life-giving and mature only through love, for “the man without love has
known nothing of God, for God is love” (1 Jn 4:8). And to be Christian, this love must be inseparably love of God and love of neighbor, like
Christ’s. It thus impels us to mission, to evangelize, by bringing others the Good News (cf. 1 Cor 9:16). Such a missionary spirit is the test of
authentic Faith because it is unthinkable that a person should believe in Christ’s Word and Kingdom without bearing witness and proclaiming it
in his turn (cf. EN 24; PCP II 67-71, 402). This means we are all called to share in Christ’s own three-fold mission as priest, prophet and king (cf.
PCP II 116- 21; LG 10-13).

Informed and Communitarian 126. PCP II insists that Catholic Faith must be “informed,” that is “believing Jesus’ words, and accepting his
teachings, trusting that he has “the words of eternal life” (cf. Jn 6:68; NCDP 147). It must be “communitarian” since it is the Church that
transmits to us Christ’s revelation through Sacred Scripture and its living Tradition, and alone makes possible for us an adequate faith-response
(cf. PCP II 65).

Inculturated 127. This Catholic faith in God and in Jesus Christ is never separated from the typical Filipino faith in family and friends. On the one
hand, we live out our faith in God precisely in our daily relationships with family, friends, fellow workers, etc. On the other hand, each of these
is radically affected by our Catholic Faith in God our Father, in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Savior, and in their Holy Spirit dwelling
within us in grace. “This is how all will know you for my disciples: your love for one another” (Jn 13:35; cf

Religion and Spiritual Beliefs in the Philippines

Alisa Pierson

Most Americans are aware that the Philippines is comprised of Catholics, but Catholicism and spirituality in the Philippines extends beyond
just being Catholic. In fact the way religion is practiced in the Philippines is very unique in comparison to the form Christianity takes in the west
or other areas of the globe. Filipino Catholicism is practiced alongside and influenced by precolonial indigenous religions and indigenous Filipino
concepts that are found in other areas of Southeast Asia. To understand how Christianity is practiced in the Philippines it is important to look at
the unique ways Filipinos manifest their spirituality, how gender plays a role, and less common religious nuances that characterize Christianity in
the Philippines. A discussion of religion in the Philippines would not be complete without paying attention to the unique place of Muslims in the
Philippines. Through this discussion it will become clear that religion in the Philippines is indeed very influenced by western religions but still
maintains a distinct Southeast Asian flavor in their spiritual beliefs and practices.

Catholicism

The form that Catholicism takes in the Philippines is in many ways unique to the region in which it is practiced. Across Christian areas of the
Philippines indigenous religions or spiritual practices have entered into and influenced the practice of Catholicism. It is also possible to see the
pre-colonial indigenous spirituality influenced by Catholic notions. Fenella Cannell did an extensive ethnography of Catholicism in a village in
the region of Bicol Philippines. In her book Power and Intimacy she provides an in depth look at some of the ways women attend to the Christ
Ama effigy. Across Southeast Asia, especially insular South East Asia on islands such as Sulawesi and Bali, people traditionally carved
likenesses of their dead loved ones as a way to remember and worship their ancestors. They would keep the effigies, and/or bones of their
ancestors in the family home or a house designated for that purpose so that people could visit the effigy. This indigenous Southeast Asian
tradition has influenced the way Filipinos worship Jesus. The carved Ama (Jesus) of the village in Bicol, Cannell discusses, can be seen as a carry
over of this South east Asian practice. Like other effigies that are carved today in Indonesia, the Christ Ama is carved from wood, painted, and
formed to resemble the person (in this case a westernized image of Jesus). The effigy is kept in a sacred place and is accessible to the public. In
Bicol the Ama is kept in a designated home. One of the most interesting ways that Catholicism is amalgamated with the Ama effigy can be seen
during the procession that celebrates the Passion. Each year the women of the village clean the body of the Ama very carefully as they do with a
real dead body before burial. After this the Ama is carried through the streets in a funeral like procession while women mourn the passing on of
the Ama. The Easter holiday is in fact a more important holiday for Filipinos than Christmas, which is not as "passionately" celebrated. In the
Filipino celebration of Easter and the Passion it is possible to see how Filipino Catholicism diverges very much from Western forms of
Catholicism. For the Filipinos different aspects and notions of Christianity are more important than for Westerners.
The way Filipinos view their relationship with Jesus is also infused by distinctly Filipino and Southeast Asian cultural notions. In the
Philippines debt and dependency are the foundations of most social relationships. Any given person may be in a position of debt or dependency
with any number of individuals with whom they associate, including (but not limited to) family, friends, politicians, etc. The relationship
Filipinos have with Jesus is also characterized by the idea of debt and dependency. For Filipinos Jesus sacrificed his life for them to be saved, and
so they are indebted to him. But Cannell suggests that it is somewhat more complex than that. Cannell notes that the Bicolanos of the Philippines
view the holy father and Jesus as "a God who always credits his own debtors" by which God has made a promise of help to the Filipinos to bring
them to Heaven (195). Therefore, because what God has done lies somewhere between help and creating an indebtedness for Filipinos, the
indebtedness one might have in owing back a loan is not the same as the indebtedness they have to Jesus. Rather, the indebtedness to Jesus is
similar to the kind one may have with a family member who "helps" their relative because of their relatedness and so the action is classified as
assistance or help that doesn't necessarily need to to be paid back in full or equally.

Pre-colonial Spiritual Beliefs

Despite being Catholic, belief in spirits is pervasive (especially in rural areas) in the Filipino notions about the spiritual world. Many Filipinos
in rural communities make use of healers to cure illnesses and these healers are bound up with the indigenous/pre-colonial spiritual beliefs of
Filipinos. Filipino healers serve to fill an important place in the community. Healers are not medical practitioners in the Western sense but instead
are more like shamans that one would find in a loosely organized society. The healers Cannell discusses in her book work to cure illnesses that
are caused by invisible small spirit beings called tawo. These beings are the cause of a wide range ofailments and must be dealt with by a trained
healer who is able to talk with the tawo to mediate and work on behalf of the sick to induce the being take pity on the sick and end its infliction
upon the individual. For example, in Bicol séances are held at certain times when they are needed to heal a person. A séance calls one or
more tawo into a room in order to communicate with them. The tawo may come into the room in its own invisible form or enter the body of the
healer. The Filipinos have undoubtedly seen the world as being inhabited by these beings before Christianity came. So how did they deal with the
idea of a world where there is both Jesus and tawo? The Filipinos Cannell studied suggested that these beings are aware of Jesus and do have a
place in the Christian world (118). Some tawo, they argue, are in fact Christians. Yet ironically the spirits cannot enter into the church and be
blessed while residing in a persons body lest the body forever be inhabited by the spirit. This , the Bicolanos say is because in the beginning of
the world when god blessed all animals and humans the tawohid among the trees and were not blessed which is why they are invisible (118). So
if a tawo is blessed it will enter into the human world. Philippine Catholicism thus includes a unique spiritual world that does not exist in other
areas of the world that practice Catholicism. In combination with saint worship and going to church, there are other forms of ritual and religious
practice that has survived the efforts of colonialism to trample these practices.
It is important to acknowledge that many of the aforementioned notions about spirits were something Spanish priests tried to eradicate. The
Spanish told the indigenous Filipinos that the tawo were demons and that healers were witches in order to persuade them to give up this religion
the Spanish viewed as unacceptable (118). In the end, however, it was the Filipinos who decided what their religion would be like. Saint worship
in the Philippines is also unique. Each family may hold a particular saint who resides on their land or with them. The saint is inherited and passed
down in the family. A given saint will circulate within the sibling group, going from one grown up child to another throughout time. Cannell
suggests that because of these circumstances and others the family's saint is like a patron and this can be seen in the devotion. (186) She states
that "meals given as part of a devotion are remarkable for the way the saint seems to preside over the occasion. This is all the more visually
striking when processions form part of the devotion" (186). In Cannell's discussion of saints it seems that the Bicaloanos have a distinctly
Southeast Asian way of worshipping the saints that almost resembles the way for example Balinese worship a Hindu god/goddess. In Bali there
are also processions and giving meals involved in worshipping a god/goddess. So despite the differences in religion and colonial history here is
another example of the way the Philippines way of being Christian has been influence by their Southeast Asian heritage. In looking at Filipinos
spirituality it is important to understand the unique place women have in healing and thus spirituality.

MINDANAO KNOW AS THE LAND OF PROMISE

Mindanao, island, the second largest (after Luzon) in the Philippines, in the southern part of the archipelago,
surrounded by the Bohol, Celebes, and Sulu seas. Irregularly shaped, it has as area of 36, 537 square miles
(94,630 square km) and measures 293 miles (417 km) North to south and 324 miles( 521 km) east to west. The
island is marked by peninsulas and is heavily indented by the Davao and Moro gulfs in the south and by Iligan Bay
in the north. The long, semicircular Zambaoanga Peninsula (west)extend southwesterly toward the Sulu
Archipelago and Borneo, and north, respectively.

Rugged, faulted mountains and volcanoes occur in many areas. Mount Apo at 9,691 feet 92,954), is an active
volcano in the southern part of the central highlands: it is the highest peak in the Philippines. The island has
narrow coastal plains, and broad, fertile basins and extensive swamps are formed by the Mindanao and Agusan
river systems. Lake Lanao, created by a lava an area of 134 square miles (347 square km.) The island has a marsh
game refuge is unique to Mindanao.

Mindanao is Muslim outpost in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. Although Muslims are no longer a
majority, Islamic culture is evident; there are many mosques, and distinctive brassware, including the kris, or
dagger, is manufactured. Mindanao has the largest concentration of ethnic minorities in the Philippines. They
include the Magindanaw, Maranaw, Ilanum, and Sangil; all are Muslim groups known collectively as the Moro.
Groups usually found in the uplands include the Tagabili, Subanon, Bukidnon, Bagobo, Manday, and Manobo.
Another important group is the Tiruray, whose religion is a mixture of Christian, Muslim, and animist beliefs.

Because of its large expanses of undeveloped fertile land, Mindanao has been considered the nation's *pioneer
frontier*. It did not experience substantial population increase until migration was promoted after 1939. The chief
crops are corn (maize), rice, abaca, bananas, pineapple, mangoes, and coconuts. Cotton, ramie (a fiber plant)
coffee, and cacao are also grown. The timber industry is important, and there include Zamboanga City, Cotabato
City, Danao City, Cagayan de Oro and Butuan.

THE MUSLIMS CULTURE, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE......

When Muslims possess a culture which is different from that of the Christian Filipinos. Their culture has been
greatly influenced by Islam. It will be an interesting venture to know more about their culture.

THE MUSLIM SULTAN

When the Spaniards came to Mindanao, they found that the different groups of muslims had organized
governments with written laws. Each group had its own separate government headed by a ruler called a sultan.
The sultan is similar to a king or an emperor. There is sultan of SuLu, a sultan of Miguindanao and sultan of Lanao.
There is one important sultan and other sultans of less importance for each group. There are other lower officials
who help the sultan run the government. A datu is a chief under a sultan. A datu may govern thousands of people
occupying large tracts of land. The religious instructions are called Panditas. A gadji is a Muslims who has made a
journey to Mecca, the holy city of the Muslims. He is a man of importance among the Muslims.

The Muslims sultans were absolute monarchs so were datus with their own territories. The sultans and other rulers
inherited their powers. The power of a sultan was inherited by the nearest male relatives. His eldest son succeeded
him as a ruler. The power of the sultans has diminished today. Many of the heredity Muslim rulers are now officials
in our local and national governments.

ABOUT THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

The Muslims are believers of Islam. Islam means complete submission to the will of Allah. Complete submission
means all the affairs that happen to man including his daily affairs be according to the will of Allah, be it business,
government, education, social life, arts, and culture. The creed of the Muslims is simple: There is no god but the
God; Mohammed is His messenger. God has revealed Himself to different people and in different languages to
inspire thinkers such as Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. Muslims believe that Mohammed was the last messenger of
God. God's message is written in the holy Al-Qur'an (in English, The Koran).
ABOUT THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

Muslims practice faithfully five religious duties, The first duty is the declaration of the creed that there is no God
but a and Mohammed is His mesenger. Second is the Sa which means prayer. Third is the Sakah, or the giving
during Ramadan of about two and a half percent of one's earning throughout the whole year. Fourth, is Fasting
during the day throughout the month of Ramadan. The Ramadan is the ninth month of the Moslem year, a period
of daily fasting from sunrise to sunset. Muslims are required to fast so that they will be less occupied with worldly
matters and to be strong in resisting temptation. The Muslim's fifth duty is making the pilgrimage to Mecca and to
the temple of Abraham within once life time, if possible.

ABOUT THEIR WORSHIP

Wherever a Muslim is, when it is the time for prayer, he turns towards Mecca and prays. This act symbolizes the
unity of Muslims throughout the world who are offering their prayers at the same time.

A Muslim's worship begins with an opening prayer and a reading from the Koran and ends with a prayer requesting
God to bless film and his people. He bows and touches the earth with his forehead, too.

Muslims may pray alone or in a group except on Friday when the midday prayer is recited in a common gathering
place called the mosque.

The Friday prayers are said by an Imam. Anyone may be chosen to lead the prayers if he is known to be the most
knowledgeable and the oldest among the group.

The man who calls the faithful to prayer is the Muazhzhin (or Muezzin). He possesses a good voice and his duty is
to remind the people that it is the time for prayer. Starting at sunrise, a Muslim prays five times a day.

No images or paintings are allowed inside the mosque. Islam preaches equality, so there are no pews or reserved
places inside the mosque, instead there are rugs Muslims line up behind the Imam. The mosque is open to all;
there are no private chapels for special people. Collections are not required. Mosques are supported by donations
and trust funds.

Women pray at home or in the mosque. While praying they share the same rows with men although many women
prefer to pray in certain part of the mosque.

Muslims face Mecca while praying not because it was where Mohammed was born but because that was the place
where Abraham built the oldest temple for the worship of one God, the Ka'aba.

THE MOHAMMED AND THE MUSLIM RELIGION

Abul Tasim Mohammed lbn Allah was born the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia about A.D. 570. In the lunar month of
Ramadan, in the year A.D. 610, he saw the vision of an angel before him. It was in this event that he was able to
formulate the first sentences of the Koran. He had long been bothered by many social and religious questions and
these sentences had given him a solution to all these problems. These important sentences are: Man through
knowledge will believe that he was created by a great power who is God. Second, his faith will raise him to a
position of equality with all other men. He should believe in his dignity and equality with others and resist slavery.
Mohammed just like Abraham, Moses and Jesus is a servant of God who had been appointed to bring the message
of God to his fellowmen. These men preached the same message of God which was one of obedience to the will of
God and his call for a healthy, peaceful and just community.

ABOUT RELIGIOUS RULES ON DIET

Muslims members are not allowed to drink any beverage which makes one drunk. Eating pork, blood and animal
flesh which died from natural causes are also prohibited.

ABOUT THE KORAN

The Muslims believe the Koran to be the word of God which Mohammed preached to his fellowmen. The Koran sets
down the guidelines of conduct among people as well as the relationship of man with God. It is the basis of Muslim
laws and the final authority in many Islamic problem.

ABOUT THEIR HOUSES

The Muslims and the Christian Filipinos use similar materials in building their houses. Those who live near the
coasts build houses in tong rows over the water. The interior of the house is similar to the houses in the Northern
part of the Philippines. The people use well-woven pandan mats and a thick mattress fitted with kapok for steeping.
They use bright-colored mosquito nets which are large enough to cover two to three mattresses. Displayed in the
houses of the datus, hadjis and well-to-do families are many brass articles such as gongs, trays and dishes.

ABOUT THEIR FOODS

The Muslim religion has many strict rules about the food the people may eat and the way it should be cooked. The
Muslims never eat pork because they believe it is unclean. The Muslims are allowed to eat the meat of other
animals if the animal was killed in a manner following their religious practices. They use a lot of coconut oil in their
cooking. They prepare a lot of rice flour cakes or wheat flour cakes which can be stored for many months in air-
tight jars.

ABOUT THEIR CLOTHING'S

The Muslims have strict rules about their clothing. The women are required to wear long sleeves and have the neck
of their coat-like blouse cut high and closed. They wear a sarong as their skirt, The sarong Is a strip of cloth about
a meter wide and two or three meters long. The two ends are sewed together. It is wrapped around the body and
tucked in at the waist. When the sun is shining brightly, those wearing it may loosen it and cover the head with a
portion of the sarong. The sarong is made of cotton material, plaid or striped, in brown and black or other colors.
The wealth women wear silk sarongs with beautiful colors and designs. The dress is decorated with by many
beautiful pearls.

The men wear tight-fitting jacket with tight sleeves. Their trousers are either tight-fitting or very wide and loose.
The pants are made of cotton. They are either black, pink, green. purple or red. A long, bright colored sash is tied
around the waist. The men wear a turban or fez on their heads. The nobility wears a red fez. Other Muslims wear a
turban. This is made of a Large square piece of cloth folded in such a way that it can be wrapped around the head
like a cap. The turban may be white or colored. The men wear a sarok (a hat similar to the salakot when working
under the sun. Muslim women are seldom seen in the street as they are required by their religion to stay at home
most of the time.

THE CEBUANO LANGUAGE

Cebuano language, also spelled Cebuanos, also called SUGBAHANON, member of the Western, or Indonesian,
branch of the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language family. It was spoken in the late 20th century by as
many as 14,6000,000 persons in the Philippines (speakers are spread over eastern Negros, Cebu, Bohol, western
Leyte, the Camotes Islands, and the norther and western coasts of Mindanao). Cebuano is closely related to the
Hiligaynon (Ilongo) and Waray languages, with which it is sometimes grouped as dialects of a Visayan (Bisayan)
language.

Native Cebuano speakers constitute about one-fourth of the population and as such comprise the largest linguistic
and cultural group in the country. Despite its spoken frequency, Cebuano is little used as a literary language,
although newspapers and films both use the language.

THE CEBUANOS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

The Cebuanos observe certain customs and traditions about birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death and burial.

ABOUT THE BIRTH

The coming of a child is welcomed by a Cebuano family for it is about to give birth, pomelo leaves are placed under
the house so as to drive away all evil spirits which maybe hovering around. While the woman is in labor, the family
burn some dried leaves and roots so that smoke will free the mother from painful labor pains. It is a sign of good
luck when the mothers first baby happens to be a boy. After the child is born, the placenta is buried on he
seashore to insure the baby's good health. During the first haircut of the child some pieces of hair are set aside and
inserted in the prayer book or any book to make the child a wide reader when he grows up.

ABOUT THE BAPTISM

It is the customs among the Cebuanos to baptize child a few days after birth or in a week's time Godparents are
chosen very carefully because they are the second parents of the child. The parents hope the child will emulate the
good examples shown by his godparents.

ABOUT THE COURTSHIP

When a man falls is in love a girls the first step that he does is to visit her at home. Woman are quite shy and it
will take the man a long time before a girl answers his proposal. Sometimes the man asks a third person to act as
his go-between to help him win the favor of the girl he loves. As soon as he engaged, the man's parents request an
important person in the community, preferably the barangay chairman, to ask for the girl's hand in marriage. The
mediator has to go back several times before the girls parents give their consent to the marriage of their daughter.
Every time he goes to the house of the girl's parent he bring with him food and drinks for merrymaking. An
important requirement which the parents of the girl ask for the living of dowry consisting of a certain amount of
money of some valuable pieces of jewelry.

ABOUT THE MARRIAGE

All the preparations for the wedding party is done at the groom's house. Part of it is bought to the bride's house to
be served to her guests and relatives. The expenses for the party are shouldered by the groom.

After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds walk together to the bride's house. Two plates filled with water and
some leaves of the San Francisco plant are placed at the foot of the stairs for the newlyweds to step on. An old
woman who is a member of the bride's family combs the hair of the newlyweds and offers some advice for a happy
life together. It is believed that by stepping on the plates and combing the hair of the married couple, they will
have an orderly, and harmonious life.

ABOUT DEATH

Cebuanos believe that people should not sweep the floor when somebody dies for it might cause the death of other
members of the family.

CEBUANOS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS

Let us read of the superstitious beliefs of the Cebuanos about planting, courtship and curing one's sickness.
ABOUT PLANTING

It is believed that crops planted during low tide bear more fruit so farmers observe the movement of the tides
before planting anything.

When the skies are filled with thousands stars, it is the best time to plant for it will bear plenty of fruits.

ABOUT COURTSHIP

When a star is close to the moon, it is believed that it is the proper time to court a lady. The man's proposal will
readily be accepted.

ABOUT ILLNESS

When someone gets sick in the family, it is believed that the sick person is being punished by the fairies because of
his carelessness or naughtiness. An herbolario is invited to perform the healing ceremony. The family kills or
dresses a pig or two chickens on this occasion.

ILOILO PROVINCE

Iloilo- province , eastern portion of the island of Panay. It includes offshore islands in the Visayas sea (eats) and
Guimaras Island in Guimaras Strait. The province has an area of 2,056 sq. mi. (5,324 sq. km) and is mountainous.
In the west and hilly in the northeast, where the Bulabog- Putian National Park lies between Digle and San Enrique.
Its irregular coastline has productive fisheries based on the port of Estancia in the north. Drained by the Jalaud
River, the central and coastal region, constituting the Iloilo Basin, are level and fertile, and many areas annually
harvest two rice crops. Other products include sugarcane, coconuts, bananas, and corn. Forest products and textile
manufacturing are also important.

Cabatuan and Janluay (on the main north south highway), Pototan and Santa Barbara ( freight depots of the Iloilo
Railroad), and Barotac Nuevo are important trading and rice-milling centers. Other population centers in addition to
Iloilo City, a chartered city and the provincial capital include Mlagao, Lambunao, Dumangas and Calinog.

ILOILO CITY, a chartered city, capital of Iloilo province, on the southern coast of Panay. At the mouth of the Jaro
River on the Iloilo Strait and sheltered by the offshore Guimaras Island. It is commercial center of Panay and
regional center of sugar exports.

Pre- Spanish settlement was extensive, but the seaport remained small until 1855, when it was opened to foreign
trade. The huge sugar exports of the nearby island of Negros were an additional spur to its growth, and for a time
Iloilo city rivalled CEBU CITY as the main port of the Visayan Islands. Although freight traffic dropped with the
construction of artificial ports on Negros, passenger traffic has remained high. Thousands of migrant labourers
annually journey through Iloilo City, which is linked by rail with Roxas City, on the northern coast, to Negros sugar
plantations. Iloilo City is also a major fishing port and it has a large airport.

The city has a compact urban core and several plaza and market centers. It did not include a large rural area upon
chartering and is thus more urbanized than most Philippine cities. Building constructed after afire in 1899 show
marked Spanish influence. Iloilo City is known for its old churches and for jusi (raw silk) and pina (pineapple fiber)
fabrics. It is the seat of Central Philippine University (1905), the University of San Agustine (1904), and West
Visayas State College 91924).

THE ILONGOS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS....

The Ilongos observed certain customs and traditions about birth, baptism, courtship and marriage, death and
burial. Compare these customs and traditions with those of the Ilocanos, Tagalogs, and Bicolanos.

ABOUT THE BIRTH.........

The coming of a child in an Ilongo family is usually an important and welcome event. Certain precautions are
followed to insure the safe delivery of the child. Among these are as follows;

1. The members of the family see to it that all the wishes of an expectant mother are granted. They are careful not
to displace the mother for fear that she might give birth prematurely.

2. The mother is cautioned not to make fun nor look at people with certain physical handicaps because this might
happen to her unborn child.

3. The mother-to-be is not allowed to eat foods with black color to avoid having a child who is dark complexioned.

4. The newly-born child should be rocked to and form so he will grow-up to be brave.

5. The placenta should also be buried together with a book on music arithmetic and readings so that the child will
be well versed in all these subjects.

6. The placenta should be placed inside as earthen jar and buried with it. This will curb the child's adventurous
spirit. He will not go to far away places and will surely return to his hometown in his old age.

7. When a child is being delivered at the height of lightening and thunder, it is believed that the child will grow up
to be brave, courageous and intelligent.

8. A child born at daybreak will be cool-headed patient, hardworking but will posses a weak spirit and cowardice.
9. A child born between seven or eight o'clock in the evening will be brave and domineering.

ABOUT THE BAPTISM

Baptism is a catholic religious ritual observed by the catholic parents of a new born child. The following are some
practices the Ilongos follow in connection with baptism

1. The parents select the godparents very carefully so that child will take after the good character traits of the
godparents.

2. The parents choose the priest or the minister to baptize the child.

3. It is the parental privilege to give the name to their child.

4. The child should be baptized after the first week or not later than the third month after birth. If a child dies
without the benefit of baptism his soul will go to purgatory. This is according to catholic belief.

5. Baptismal parties are held after the baptism to ensure the child's success in any future undertaking.

6. It is common practice by godparents to give a certain amount of money to the child for his financial security.
The money must either be invested in business or spent for the child's welfare.

7. The parents and godparents of the child develop an almost brotherly relationship. They fondly call each other as
compadre and comadre.

ABOUT THE COURTSHIP......

The man court the girl of his choice by visiting her at home and sending love letter. When the girl accepts the man. they became
engaged. Before their marriage, the man has to observe the pabagbati and the paregalo. The pabagti refers to required servitude of
the man is the house of the girl while the paregalo is the formal announcement by the parents of the intention of their son to marry
their daughter. On this occasion, the boy's parents bring food and drinks while both parties are making arrangements for the
coming wedding. If the man is accepted by the girl's parents, a dowry is agreed upon. The man is also required to stay in the girl's
house prior to the wedding day. The behavior of the man is carefully observed while rendering service to the girl's family.

ABOUT THE MARRIAGE......

The marriage is solemnized by a minister of the church or by the justice of the peace court. On the eve of the wedding day, a dance
is held at the house of the bride-to-be. The expenses for the wedding dress, church rites and wedding reception are shouldered by
the groom and his family. After the wedding, the married couple kiss the hands of the elders to receive their blessings. The wedding
ceremony is later followed by the wedding party. The parents and visitors presents such as furniture, utensils, dishes, and beddings
to the newlyweds. During the party, the bride and the bridegroom are asked to dance on the mat. While dancing, the guest throw
money to the bride and groom. The money the couple picks up serves as additional fits. After the wedding, some parents allow the
newlyweds to stay with them until they are able to save and stand on their own.

ABOUT THE DEATH AND BURIAL.......

The death and burial of a person is a community affair. Relatives and friends offer help to the relatives of the dead person in the
form of money and service. Friends and relatives attend the wake and offer prayers for the dead man's soul. During the wake, the
family refrains from bathing and sweeping the floor for fear that another person will die. The family wears lack for one year as a
sign of mourning. The family and friends of the deceases accompany the dead during the funeral. Some carry the coffin while
others stay behind to prepare food. After the burial, the family invites those who joined the funeral partake of foods then prepared.
After the burial the family offers prayers to the dead or a nine-day novena. The host provided a big feast on the third and ninth day
of novena. This is a catholic beliefs.

SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS.......

The Ilongos are also influenced by many superstitious beliefs as follows;

1. Bananas should be planted after eating a full meal so that the fruits will become big and full.

2. They offer prayers to the saint to give them rain after the prayers, the image is brought to the beach and dipped in the water.

3. Before they harvest crops in the farm they offer foods and prayer.

BELIEFS RELATED TO HOUSE BUILDING.

1. It is a bad luck for a house to have 13 post.

2. Stairs of houses should face the east to bring in good luck.

3. Move into a new either on a Wednesday or Saturday.

4. Bring first salt, rice before moving intothe house.

THE ILONGOS............

The Ilongos of Iloilo and some province of West Visayas live in houses made of wood, nipa, cogon or coconut leaves. Sawali or split
bamboos is used for their walls. The floors are made of inch-wide split bamboos nailed to bigger cut bamboos.

Ilongos are very hospitable, they always provide for their guest comfort and ease at their own expenses. They also very gentle in
their ways that their quarrels do not see like ones. Since time is not important to the Ilongos; they take life as it comes.

The art of the Ilongos is depicted in their lovely woven hablon materials and embroidered designs on robes of priest and children's
wear.