“My beloved Philippines is mine, and I am his!”
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Song of Songs 2:16,NIV).
》 Country Profile
Continent | Southeast Asia
Population | 114.6 million
Area | 300,000㎢ (3 times the size of Korea) 700 inhabited islands among 7,250 islands in the Southeast Asian Pacific.
Capital City | Manila (14.4 million people)
People Groups | Total 202 groups Tagalog 28%, Cebuano/Visayan 20.6%, Ilocano 9%, Hiligaynon 7.5%
Unreached People Groups | 30 (5% of the population)
Offical Language(s) | Filipino (Tagalog), English
Total Languages | 181
Bible Translations | Completed 32, New Testament 84, Partial 18
Religion | Christian 91% (Protestant 7.8%, Catholic 74.1%), Muslim 4.9%, Ethnic religion 3.2%, Non-religious 0.7% Evangelical 14% 15 million people
》 About Philippines
Before Spanish colonization, various indigenous tribes lived in the Philippine islands. In 1521, Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan reached the islands, marking the start of Spain’s colonial rule. The country was named after King Philip II of Spain (Felipe II). From 1565, the Philippines remained a Spanish colony for over 330 years. After the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Treaty of Paris transferred control of the Philippines to the United States. During U.S. colonization, education, infrastructure, and public administration brought significant change. However, during World War II in 1942, the Philippines was invaded by Japan. After the war, in 1946, the country declared independence and became the Republic of the Philippines. In the early years of independence, the Philippines faced political instability and economic difficulties. In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos became president, and in 1972, he declared a state of emergency and established a military dictatorship. As a result, political opposition was repressed, and human rights violations and corruption became rampant. Although there was some economic development, it was overshadowed by extreme corruption and inequality. In 1986, the People Power Revolution ended Marcos’ dictatorship and democracy was restored. In the southern Philippines, the government has reached separate agreements with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). However, the New People’s Army, a communist rebel group, continues to show resistance. In 2017, the Philippine military launched an assault to ISIS-affiliated groups within the country. The Philippines, a presidential republic, is now led by Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who became president in 2022.
In 2018, the Philippines’ economy’s GDP comprised 60% from the service sector, 31% from manufacturing, and 9.3% from agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The agricultural sector includes the export of coconuts, bananas, and pineapples. The Philippines is one of the top four countries in the world for overseas labor exports, with 10% of its population working abroad.. Their remittances make up 9.7% of the country’s GDP, significantly impacting the economy. However, more than 20% of the population lives in poverty, and in some southern regions, this figure reaches 75%. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused many overseas workers to return home, and remittances were expected to drop by as much as 40%. Philippines’ GDP per capita is approximately $8,000
》 Scripture Focus
| Song of Songs 2:14-17(NIV) 14. My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. 15. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. 17. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills. |
》 Prayer Points
1. In the Philippines, 74% of the population identifies as Catholic. However, many Catholics practice a nominal faith mixed with traditional beliefs like animism and magic. Evangelical churches are growing and now make up 14% of the population. Despite this growth, false doctrines and cults have also increased within the church. Protestantism in the Philippines is divided into many denominations, making complete union difficult. However, groups like the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) and the Philippines for Jesus movement (PFJ) aim to unite denominations and build strong spiritual foundations. Let us pray that the church may be armed with the gospel of the cross, so that it can escape the lies and chaos that tear down the vineyard like little foxes. Let us pray that the church may not compromise with sin. Let us also pray that church leaders are raised as true disciples of Jesus, united as one body to nurture the Filipino people with the Word of God.
2. Urgent prayer is needed for the next generation in the Philippines. They face serious exposure to teenage pregnancy, incest, and production of pornography. According to the Commission on Population and Development(CPD; formerly known as POPCOM), about 500 teenagers become pregnant every day. Due to issues like pregnancy and early marriage, 57% of female students drop out of school. Furthermore, the International Justice Mission (IJM) reports that two-thirds of the children appearing in Filipino pornography are forced into it by their own biological parents or relatives. Cases of incest are also alarmingly frequent, with the Department of Education reporting 400-500 cases annually, mostly involving victims aged 14-17, and some even younger than five. Let’s pray for God to save the next generation from these hidden sins and raise them as holy and blameless children in His love.
3. There is an ongoing movement in the Philippines to pass anti-discrimination laws and legalize same-sex marriage. By 2015, two provinces and seven local governments had already enacted ordinances banning discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. President Duterte, who openly supported same-sex marriage, even hosted an LGBT event at the presidential palace in December 2019, where he emphasized the right of all individuals to be accepted by society, regardless of sexual orientation or preference. Let us pray for the Philippines, which follows wickedness against the order created by God, to be restored as a holy and pure nation in Jesus Christ. The Philippines also ranks first in the world for its illegal drug market. Many regions rely on the drug trade for their livelihood, and even police and government officials are involved. With the increase in drug trafficking and the ease of obtaining drugs, ordinary citizens, especially professional drivers and construction and dock workers, are being exposed to cheap drugs. Since President Duterte took office in 2016, the Drug Enforcement Agency has apprehended over 164,000 suspects and seized more than 3 tons of drugs over a period of about two years. Pray that the Philippines will return to Jesus Christ, who died for our transgressions and sins, and be restored as the pure bride of Christ, bringing joy to the Lord.
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