"Celebrating the faith that binds {them}"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Niño_de_Cebu

Every year during the last week of June, Tacloban City (including the rest of Leyte and most of Samar) celebrates Fiesta. Fiesta is composed of multiple parades (like Pintados and Sangyaw), dancing competitions, mass, and plenty other activities as well. Although it is mostly a fun event, its purpose is not solely entertainment, but rather faith. All over the city banners proudly proclaim fiesta is for "celebrating the faith that binds us"... a phrase that has stuck with me for the past couple of weeks. Tacloban and all its' barangays are bound by the Catholic faith and their devotion to Santo Nino, a saint known for saving the province. The bond between the people is not the stereotypical, Hollywood cult-like, religious bond you may be thinking of, it’s actually a bond that is beautiful and deserves to be admired, perhaps even followed.

Normally strong religious influence over a group of people scares me. The idea of people coming together to worship a similar deity, who follow the same routine practices, who appear to be almost possessed by their "god(s)" and claim to have more or less perfect, ideal morals is what I would call, a certified nightmare. It just creeps me out. All over the US and parts of Europe I've seen people transfixed by their religious routines and so-called faith. They listen dutifully to a higher human power in charge of their church, standing and sitting, singing and praying, and of course donating when told to. These are what I called possessed sacrosanct robots bound not by faith but by practice. This is not to say all church or temple or mosque go-ers in the West are blinded by practice, but many are, and that’s what scares me. It’s almost like summer bible camp 1984 style.

But here, in the Philippines, I have yet to be bothered by my Western religiosity phobia...it’s actually the opposite. It’s been a month since I landed in Tacloban, a month where I've been surrounded by Catholicism, church go-ers who proudly display their faith, and familial practices grounded in religiosity. Yet, I sense not a drop of fear in my body, only comfort. People outwardly reveal their faith without shoving it on you. It’s not the religious practices mandated by the Catholic church that guide these people, it’s their belief in god, family and honesty that exposes their faith. They care more about respecting God and their family more than what the Catholic church says about this rule or that rule. They live their lives how they want, not how the pope wants. Yet they are still some of the most religious people I've seen. A day does not go by without the mention of faith.

"Celebrating the faith that binds us"...Filipinos are unified, on the same level, different yet the same, together as a group and separate as individuals...because of faith, because of their belief in a higher power which translates into how they live their lives, how they treat others and care for each other. It is not until this moment that I have discovered the power of faith and the beauty it can have on a group of people. And Fiesta is a culmination of that beauty. Residents spend all year preparing for the Fiesta activities; learning dances, making costumes, preparing travel plans and of course menus, all for a few days dedicated to Santo Nino and "the faith that binds" them.

Perhaps my experience here will lessen my fear of American churches and the Sunday madness down Washtenaw, but there’s no guarantee. Remember, the above statement is just one opinion out of millions and it by no means should be taken by anything more than a grain of salt, or sugar, whatever floats your boat.