The Philippines: Faith Amidst Corruption

The Philippines is known as the only Christian nation in Asia, yet corruption and crime flourishes in this former U.S. colony.

Political corruption is a part of Philippines history going back to Ferdinand Marcos.

Many Filipinos hoped the People Power Movement that forced President Joseph Estrada from office meant the political crisis in the country had ended.

But now the legitimacy of Gloria Arroyo's presidency is in question. Calls for impeachment are traced to alleged involvement in fraudulent vote counting in the 2004 election and a controversial $329 million telecommunications contract between China's ZTE Corporation and the Philippine Election Commission chairman.

Societal ills are rampant. Although the country boasts good economic growth, 68 million Filipinos live on a daily income of only $2 a day. Street crimes such as armed robbery and muggings are common and some Filipinos have fallen into prostitution just to make ends meet.

Filipino Christians

Bishop Efraim Tendero, national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches explains that while 81 percent of Filipinos claim to be Christian, most are actually non-practicing.

Nevertheless, he is calling on the true Christians to effect change in their communities and the churches to reach even further.

"We have identified top corrupt agencies in government: The Department of Education, The Bureau of Internal Revenue, Land Transportation, The Armed Forces. In these agencies, we are now conducting values transformation programs and a Purpose Driven Life seminar in order that we can effect changes in those respective offices," Tendero said.

Filipino Christian churches grew from 5,000 in 1975 to 45,000 in 2000.

"If the Church is not present, we could be worse," Tendero said. "We could have more problems. We could have anarchy. We could have civil war.

"The hope that we have is that as the church continues to grow and the church will be empowered will be strengthened," he said. "It will have that great impact to the transformation of our society for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."