Catholic faithful pray inside a chapel after receiving ash on the observance of Ash Wednesday at a church ground in Paranaque City suburban Manila on Feb. 22, 2023.

AFP / Ted Aljibe

 

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipinos who identified as Roman Catholic in the latest census rose by around five million to over 85 million people, representing 78.8% of the over 108 million people who were counted in 2020.

 

While more Filipinos reported themselves to be adherents of Roman Catholicism, they accounted for less of the population compared to the 2015 census when they represented 79.5% of the over 100 million people then.

 

The 2020 census differed from 2015 as the latter included Catholic Charismatics in counting Roman Catholics, while the former excluded them.

 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/22/2246855/philippines-still-overwhelmingly-catholic

 

-- © Copyright Philstar 2023-02-22

Given the Spanish history its a good thing for the country to identify as Catholic in my opinion. Love the old Spanish cathedral's and forts which represent this history.

The old Spanish churches and architecture do represent an important part of the country's heritage. However, it's also important to recognize that religious identity is a personal choice. While Catholicism remains the dominant religion according to census data, the percentage of Filipinos identifying as such appears to be gradually declining. A diversity of religious beliefs have also grown in the country.

Who would have thought eh ?