Pananalig at Pananampalataya Faith and Belief Systems “Our first
task in approaching another people, another culture, religion is
to take off our shoes, for the place we are approaching is holy,
else we may find ourselves treading on man’s dream. More
seriously still, we may forget that God was there before our
arrival.” From cultural workers from Mindanao (Pambid, 60)
Faith. “Faith can move mountains.” This is a western aphorism.
In Filipino, the word is pananalig at pananampalataya, faith and
belief. “Manalig ka sa Diyos, at lakasan mo ang loob mo, may awa
Siya,” (“Have faith in God and have courage. He is merciful”) is
what elders would usually say in the face of a crisis and
challenging situations such as a life threatening surgery.
Another expression of faith that speaks to the optimism of the
Filipino that things would work out well in the end is “Bahala
na,” (“It is up to God”). In the face of uncertainty, leave it
to God. Western observers may construe this as fatalism and
passivity. “Faith healing” a