Filipino Popular Devotions

Written to mark the quincentennial of Christianity in the Philippines, this paper surveys the growth of Filipino Catholicism worldwide and examines popular devotions as a distinctive expression of Filipino faith. Situating devotions such as the Black Nazarene, Sto. Niño, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help within a theology 'from below' rooted in the Incarnation and inculturation, the authors argue that these practices, when guided by sound doctrine and Scripture, serve as potent instruments of the New Evangelization rather than being reduced to superstition. The paper also considers how popular piety relates to the sacred liturgy and to Filipino culture, closing with a call for devotions to become 'mission-oriented' and 'socially conscious'—captured in the neologism 'debo(mi)syon'—so that they contribute to a holistic and dynamic Christian faith rather than remaining merely sentimental practices.