Roman Catholic 81.0% Growth Rate +0.4%

Spanish colonizers introduce Catholicism to the Philippines in the year 1565. From 1565 – 1898, Spain brought the Philippines a Catholic majority. Early church dogma dictates that Scripture was open to the clergy only. Practice of the official doctrine blends with folk observances. However, many Filipino Roman Catholics desire revival / renewal. The study of Scripture has opened the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of Catholics to the need for a personal experience of the grace of God. Because of this, many are joining the Protestant / Evangelical churches. Because of the impact of the Scriptures on the lives of Roman Catholics, the Church leadership now encourages every Catholic to have a Bible and to read it daily.

The 2000 Census count reported that this 81% is lower by 1.9% from the previous census report. Many are joining the evangelicals or are won to Islam. [Back to Top]

Muslim 5.0 Annual Growth Rate: 3.0

Arab missionaries, traders and teachers introduced Islam to the Philippines in the middle of the 14th century. They arrived came to the Philippine via Sulu and promptly converted some of the natives to Islam. Early Muslim converts brought it to the mainland Mindanao. People groups won to Islam were the Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kalagan, Iranun, Yakan, Sangil, Badjaos, Molbog and the Samal people. Islam also spread to other islands of the Philippines such as Iloilo, Palawan, Batangas, Pampanga, Mindoro, Panay, Catanduanes, Cebu, Bohol, and Manila until the early 15th century. However, Magellan arrived in Cebu in March 1521 and the subsequent Spanish conquest hindered them to continue spreading Islam.

The coming of Magellan marks the beginning of 333 years colonization of the Philippine by Spain. Spanish friars introduced Roman Catholic Christianity with a sword. They also used “Christian” converts to fight their colonials wars against those who resisted. This has left a lasting legacy of Muslim hatred for their “Christian” Filipino brothers. Muslims fought years of colonial wars with Spain and retreated / concentrated themselves in Mindanao and Zulu where they maintained a separate identity. After the Philippines gained independence from Spain in the 1898, the American and the Japanese followed which Filipino Muslims also refused to be conquered.

After the colonial powers were gone, the Filipino Muslims continued to hold a separate identity in which Islam religion and way of life set them apart. Islamic separatist movement still continued, now against the predominantly Christian Filipinos of today's independent Philippine Republic.

Filipino Muslim struggle covered a 500-year period. Others call it the longest war in world history. In 1996, they resolved that the only just, viable and lasting solution to this problem is the establishment of an Independent Islamic State. Therefore, now we see an active Balik Islam Campaign. Thousands are trained to spread Islam. Muslim people groups have scattered or positioned themselves to different parts of the Philippines. The have purchased lands, create / organize their own trade centers, build many new mosques and established Islamic schools throughout the nation. News reports states that interests abroad finance Islamization. Significantly, they are winning many to Islam and are growing at a rate of 3.0 percent. [Back to Top]

Buddhist 2.0%

The Buddhist community in the Philippines today makes up about two percent of the population. All the major schools are represented, but they are predominantly of the Mahayana sect and Humanistic Budddhism, as it is practised mainly by the Chinese and Filipino-Chinese community, and by Vietnamese refugees that settled in the country. Buddhism, however, is growing in other sectors, with the arrival of other schools from Japan, Thailand and Sri Lanka and Tibet.

Buddhist Centers or Temple are found in Bacolod City; Cebu City and Lahug, Cebu; Malate, Escolta and Binondo, Manila; Iloilo City, Iloilo; New Manila, Sto. Domingo and Timog Avenue, Quezon City; Silang, Cavite;Tagaytay; Cagayan; Palawan and Davao.

Evangelicals 9.0 Ann. Growth Rate: 5.6%

[Back to Top]