Prayer Alert (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Philippines-update 06

Description: FYI#60, 2006-10-27, Pray for SEA

Philippines

(Republic of the Philippines)

Updated 27 October 2006

 

Capital: Manila

Government type: Republic

Independence: 12 June 1898 (from Spain), 4 July 1946 (from US)

 

Chief of State: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (since 20 January 2001)

Head of Government: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (since 20 January 2001)

Cabinet: appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments

 

State Religion: None

 

Statistics

Population: 90,025,397 (Wikipedia, 2006 est.) Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Religions (estimated): Roman Catholic 80-85%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5-9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Unemployment: 8.7% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line: 40% (2001 est.)

 

The Philippines, along with the nation of Malta, is one of the two nations in the world where all civil marriages are for life, because civil divorce is banned. The country is the world's 12th most populous country, and one of the most diverse countries in terms of ethnicity. It is also said to be the 5th largest Christian nation, after the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.

 

Political Development & Human Right

The May 2004 national elections continue to be a source of contention for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and both houses of congress. The political opposition has persistently called for the president's impeachment alleging election fraud and corruption.

 

In July 2005, amid calls for mass public protests, 10 Cabinet members resigned. Responding to the crisis, Arroyo called for constitutional reforms including a change from a presidential to a federal parliamentary system. In September an opposition motion to impeach Arroyo was defeated in Congress.

 

As of June 2006, Arroyo hoped to get agreement to amend the constitution to a unicameral parliament under a federal setting similar to the German constitution. Plans have been announced to decentralize government by moving departments from Manila to the provinces. However, the president is now facing a major blow when the Philippines Supreme Court rules against allowing a referendum on whether the country should change to a parliamentary system of government (25 October).

 

  • According to the 2006 Annual Report by Reporters without Borders (RSF), the country is the most dangerous place for journalists after Iraq. Many are murdered for investigating corruption and forthright criticism of local authorities. The Philippines is ranked 146th out of 168 countries in RSF Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006. 
  • Public confidence in the authorities to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations of human rights violations and crimes, and to deliver justice, remains fragile.
  • Income inequality remains persistent; about 30 million people lived on less than $2 per day in 2005
  • Political killing; police, prosecutorial, and judicial corruption
  • Violence against women and abuse of children, as well as child prostitution, and trafficking in persons; child labour, including under aged domestic servants

 

The government continues to face threats from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the south. Its campaign against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has led some human rights NGOs to accuse the police and military of unfairly targeting Muslims for arrest and detention. However, most observers believe that discrimination against Muslims is grounded in cultural differences, not religious beliefs or practices. The ASG claims to seek immediate establishment of an independent Islamic state in the south western region. It is primarily a loose collection of criminal-terrorist and kidnap-for-ransom gangs. Mainstream Muslim leaders have strongly criticizing its actions as "un-Islamic."

 

Religious Freedom

The law provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. Although Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, is the predominant religion, there is no state religion. Church and state are legally separate.

·         Many Muslims claim that they are underrepresented in senior civilian and military positions.

·         Predominantly Muslim provinces in Mindanao lag far behind the rest of the country in most aspects of socioeconomic development. The Muslims complain that the Government has not made sufficient efforts to promote their economic development.

·         The teaching of religious classes in public schools is permitted with the written consent of parents. The Department of Education requires schools to ensure the protection of the religious rights of students.

·         Christian missionaries work actively throughout the country, including within Muslim communities in most parts of western Mindanao.

·         On 2 February 2006, gunmen attacked Christian families on the southern island of Jolo, leaving six dead. One of the wounded reported that men had knocked on their door in the early morning hours to inquire if the family was Christian or Muslim. Shortly thereafter, the men returned and opened fire on three homes. No arrests were made.

·         On 13 February, Muslim residents of Isabela City, Basilan, staged a rally protesting a government order to demolish a mosque in the city and replace it with a commercial center. The mayor who ordered the demolition was shot and killed less than a month later.

Amicable ties among religious communities are common, and many participate in interdenominational efforts to alleviate poverty. The Interfaith Group (Roman Catholic, Islamic, and Protestant representatives) was formed in an effort to support the Mindanao peace process.

 

The Church

The Protestant share of Christianity now constitutes about 33%. Of this, independent groups form the most significant and fastest-growing portion. One major factor is that these churches have been able to depict themselves as churches of the people, closely in tune with their everyday lives and needs.

 

The Church in general plays an important role in social welfare, education, medical aid and disaster relief. Many Protestant churches receive aids from international affiliation for their social endeavors.

 

One of the key challenges is nominalism. The high incidence of expatriate Filipinos has led to the creation of churches overseas with predominantly Filipino congregations. Nevertheless the symbolic significance of being the only predominantly Christian country in SEA makes the Philippines one of the hubs of Christianity.

 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance (Psalm 33:12).

 

Continue to pray:

  1. Just and transparent government which prioritises public interests.
  2. Efficient and corrupt-free judiciary; honesty and integrity among the ruling officials.
  3. Godly and courageous Christians to be in positions of influence in making decisions on moral, social and economic issues.
  4. God to intervene in all matters relating to the conflicts between the government and the insurgent groups.
  5. Respect for human rights and freedom of expression; against political killing and culture of corruption.
  6. Against the spirit of extremism.
  7. Effective measures to be taken against those involve in human-trafficking
  8. Practical protection for women and children from sexual exploitation
  9. The Church
    1. Spiritual renewal & awakening from complacency & nominalism
    2. be grounded in biblical values with adequate discipleship and accountability while seeking an identity of her own
    3. outstanding leadership who after God’s heart & in tune to His voice & obey
    4. unity across denominations
    5. willing and able to respond to gross inequalities, corruption and moral failures in society
    6. young people will rise up and make a difference in the society in holiness & purity

 

Reference:

  1. CIA Factbook, Oct 5, 2006.
  2. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2005, released March 2006
  3. International Religious Freedom Report September 2006
  4. Amnesty International 2006
  5. Human Rights Watch World Report 2006
  6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
  7. Robbie B. H. Goh, Christianity in Southeast Asia. Singapore: ISEAS Pub., 2005.
  8. The 4th Southeast Asia Prayer Consultation (SEAPC), 10-14 October 2006. Batam, Indonesia. 

 

 

  



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