Quincentenary of Christianity Growing Faith to the Present
JAYVEE FORTUNO AND SAMANTHA NICOLE IMPERIAL BANNERING THE THEME: “Gifted to Give”, this year marks a watershed moment in the lives of Filipino Catholics all around the world. This year marks the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines. The Portuguese adventurer Ferdinand Magellan, representing the Spanish Empire, arrived in the Visayan region of the Philippines 500 years ago, in 1521. The process of European colonization, which eventually led to the founding of Christianity, began at this point, where in the present, the Philippines continues to be Asia’s only major primarily Catholic country. It is important to remember the circumstances that led up to this historic occurrence. When news of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Americas reached Europe in 1492, fever and greed for gold, renown, and prospective Christian converts gripped those powers capable of expanding beyond their borders. Due to the rivalry between the Spanish and Portuguese empires, the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas effectively divided the world into two halves: the Americas and Asia. The exploration rights to the Americas were granted to the Spanish Empire, and the exploration rights to Asia were granted to the Portuguese Empire. Enter Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, and explorer (1480-1521). He sailed to the eastern coastlines of India and the western coasts of Africa for his Portuguese Empire from 1505 to 1513. He moved to Seville, Spain, and switched allegiance to King Charles I after problems with his own King Manuel over incentives for his services. Magellan persuaded the Spanish king that the exploration rights to the Spice Islands or Moluccas were arguable based on his interpretation of the Tordesillas Treaty. There was only one way to find out: the king had to send someone out straight away to claim it for the Spanish Empire before the Portuguese did. As a result, on Sept. 20, 1519, the most ambitious exploration began, with the objective of not only seizing the Spice Islands, but also circumnavigating the globe for the glory, fame, and wealth of the Spanish Empire. On Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, Magellan and his crew celebrated Mass on a little island off the coast of Leyte, just northeast of Cebu in the Philippines’ southern area. There was reason to rejoice, as his fleet had arrived on the coasts of these islands two weeks before this Mass, during the week of March 20. Also, the Santo Niño, an image of the Holy Child, was given as a baptismal gift to Queen Juana, formerly Humamay, the wife of Rajah Humabon, by Spanish explorers led by Magellan.
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At the same time, their discovery began the process of converting the indigenous people to Christianity. Their aim was simple: if they could persuade the leaders of each island to convert, the rest of the population would follow suit. So Magellan focused his eyes on Chief Humabonreigning on the island of Cebu. Both leaders first exchanged gifts, with Magellan presenting 13 pieces of Spanish iron and Humabon presenting 10 pieces of island gold. There were debates regarding which God was more powerful, but it was the performance of a miracle that persuaded the chief to consider baptism. Humabon was convinced and begged to be baptized after his grandson had been ill for two years and had been cured when the accompanying chaplain baptized him. After that, as expected, approximately 2,200 of his people were baptized. After establishing a working connection with the islanders of Cebu, Magellan quickly set his sights on more ambitious and expansive aims, considering the colonization of the entire archipelago, which consists of over 4,400 islands and islets. Given the impact and influence that Catholicism has had and continues to have in the everyday lives of Filipinos, the quincentenary of the establishment of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines cannot be overlooked. Talking about Santo Niño, the gift given to Queen Juana is just as old as the country’s Catholic faith. The statue of Santo Niño de Cebu, made by Flemish craftspeople, is now consecrated into the chapel of the Basilica of Santo Niño. The statue may be a little figure, but with its left hand clutching a cross-border orb, it stands royal and its other hand in a sacerdotal benediction. It features a crimson cape with complex designs and a crown on top of it. The original Santo Niño brought by Magellan may still be found in Cebu, as stated by Valerie Caulin, a writer in Culture Trip. Devotees can see through the bullet-proof glass that is encased. His popularity has resulted in the construction of many forms of a Holy Child to which people may relate. Santo Niño is widely venerated in Cebu and around the country. The country’s continued commitment to the Holy image demonstrates that the faith introduced 500 years ago has now grown as a Filipino-brand of Christianity. The discovery of the image, also known as Kaplag, 44 years later set the tone for the start of a systematic process of Christianization. The devotion to the Santo Niño as a significant icon of Filipino Christianity is intertwined with our archipelago’s eventual ascension on the global scene. The discovery of “torna viaje’’ by Fray Andres de Urdaneta paved the door for the advancement of evangelism in the country. The Filipino Augustinians have worked to
carry on the heritage of the early missionaries. As the picture of Santo Niño at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño continuously worships, these missionary custodians are calling for the conversion of the peoples of this magnificent emblem of Filipino Christianity. The study and understanding of the half-millennia path of faith offers missionary reason rather than a triumphant commemoration by humble recognition of past failures. An unpleasant incident may have followed the arrival of the picture of Santo Niño in 1521 and his Kaplag or the discovery in 1565. However, both these occurrences gave our nation a legacy: the grace of God in Santo Niño we may now know. We continue to pave the way for the future as a land and a people of God through the same grace. We constantly trust with the Santo Niño in the grace that the Father remains in this path of faith.
Today, Catholicism is the faith of 8 out of 10 Filipinos. The Philippines, after Brazil and Mexico, has the third-highest number of Catholics, followed by the United States. Beyond the numbers, it is simple to see and appreciate how the Catholic religion has been woven into the various social and spiritual traditions that define Filipinos’ daily lives. These include, but are not limited to: apostolic practices that are fostered within family systems; numerous devotions to the saints, especially Mary, as expressed through daily rosary recitations, novenas, and pilgrimages; the Simbang Gabi (“Night Masses”) series of Advent masses that continue to grow in popularity, and active participation of sacramental practices. Filipino Catholics should celebrate this important anniversary of Christianity since this made us all united when it comes to our faith in God, the Almighty. It also assists us in adhering to His teachings as outlined in the New Testament and placing our faith in God’s promise of eternal life with Him. Catholics not only give thanks for the gift of their Catholic religion, but also look forward to the next 500 years, worshiping, glorifying, and continuously upholding faith in Christianity.
