Unwavering faith, devotion: 7 of 10 Filipino Catholics pray daily, survey says

The file photo shows devotees lighting candles and praying at Basilica del Sto. Niño’s open-air Pilgrim Center in preparation for the feast of the Child Jesus in Cebu City. (NESTLE SEMILLA / INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines — How often do Filipinos pray?

Even in this day and age, Filipinos remain a deeply spiritual people, with seven of 10 Filipino Catholics praying at least once a day, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The nationwide survey, conducted from December 10 to 14 last year, covered 1,200 adult respondents, 79 percent of whom were Catholics.

It had a sampling error margin of ± 2.8 percent.

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The other 30 percent is comprised of respondents who pray several times a week (10 percent); every week (6 percent); two to three times a week (4 percent); once a month (4 percent); nearly every week (2 percent); several times a year (1 percent); one to two times a year (1 percent); once a year (1 percent); and never (1 percent).

Out of all the respondents, 38 percent attend religious services once or more than once a week; 24 percent attend two or more times a month; 20 percent of the respondents attend a church service once a month; 9 percent, two to 11 times a year; seven percent, once a year; and 3 percent never. 

“Ninety-three percent personally go to places of worship in the past three months; 3 percent watched religious services online or on TV (television); 2 percent attended both in-person and online or on TV; and 1 percent did not attend any religious services,” the survey results added.

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