Keeping the Faith: Filipino Catholic Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Since March 2020, Metro Manila and other places in the Philippines has been on lockdown
because of the surge of Covid-19 cases in the country. Even churches and other places of
worship have been off-limits to church goers during strict lockdown measures called “Enhanced
Community Quarantine.” This paper looks at how Filipino Catholics practice their religious
obligations during the pandemic. Since majority (81%) of Filipinos are Roman Catholics, the
focus of this paper is how Filipino Catholics view the Covid-19 pandemic and how they cope
with it. The data for this study comes from two sources: 1) interviews with church leaders and
lay members; and 2) online and offlne ethnographic observation of religious practices during
the pandemic. Through an anthropological description of Filipino Catholic attitudes on and
responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have a better understanding about Filipino resiliency
in times of crises.