General Information

Capital City: Manila

Population: 109.6 million

Ethnic Groups: Tagalog 28.1%, Bisaya/Binisaya 11.4%, Cebuano 9.9%, Ilocano 8.8%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 8.4%, Bikol/Bicol 6.8%, Waray 4%, other local ethnicity 26.1%, other foreign ethnicity 0.1% (2010 est.)

Languages: unspecified Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Religions: Roman Catholic 80.6%, Protestant 8.2% (includes Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches 2.7%, National Council of Churches in the Philippines 1.2%, other Protestant 4.3%), Muslim 5.6%, tribal religions 0.2%, other 1.9%, none 0.1% (2010 est.)

Please Note: All data sourced from the Population Reference Bureau and the CIA World Fact Book

The CRC IN The Philippines

Pr Allan Manzanilla, our previous National Leader of the CRC in the Philippines, first met Pr Barry Silverback at a conference in Legazpi, in the Bicol region of Luzon, at a time when he had been seeking God to know more about World Missions. Pr Barry invited him to Papua New Guinea and in 1991 Pr Allan attended Bethel Bible College. On his return to Legazpi he commenced the Philippines School of Ministry, with Papua New Guinea missionary Jennifer Egimbari as the first Principal. Englishman Gary Maher with his Filipino wife Nora, both graduates of Bethel Bible College, pioneered our work at Malis on the island of Palawan in early 1995. This was 'last frontier' of the Philippines.

In January 2000 the Philippines School of Ministry moved to Danao on the island of Cebu with Pr Peter Hauje from Papua New Guinea and his wife Nelia from the Philippines as Principals. Pr Liza Ignacio from the Philippines graduated from Bethel Bible College in 1996 and traveled to Palawan in 1997 to become the first principal of our Palawan Ministry Training Center located at Ababo. Over the years we have had a number of CRC missionaries serve in various parts of the Philippines and many Filipinos have trained at Bethel Christian Centre in Papua New Guinea.

In addition to the training programs already mentioned, through regular Leadership Schools and Conferences our national workers have been strengthened to lead over 50 CRC churches scattered across all the regions of the Philippines.

The CRC in the Philippines has a thriving children’s ministry. This commenced with Joytime Clubs and feeding programs. Thousands of children have been ministered to throughout the Philippines by our feeding programs. The School Assistance Program has been running for a number of years. The School Assistance Program provides the basic needs for children to attend school. This includes basic school fees, school supplies and a uniform. This Program consists of assistance only rather than a full sponsorship program. Through this Program many homes have been opened for Bible studies.

CRC National Leader

Pr Peter Hauje

Field Supporter

Pr Mike Cronin

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