Many of the different expressions of popular religiosity in the Philippines may be categorized under POPULAR DEVOTIONS.

According to Chupungco, many expressions of POPULAR DEVOTIONS in the Philippines are approved by the Church: e.g., visits to the Blessed Sacrament, holy hour devotions, novenas, the praying of the rosary, pilgrimages to Marian shrines, and the stations of the cross.

By the word DEVOTIONS, the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy refers to various practices which include “prayers, hymns, observances attached to particular times or places, insignia, medals, habits or customs.” (DPPL, 8)

It may be further clarified that DEVOTION really refers to the internal attitude of surrender and dedication of the faithful to God (the Divine Persons); while DEVOTIONS are the concrete acts of devotion or the external ways by which the internal attitude is manifested or expressed. Again, DEVOTION is the faithful’s attitude of love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints in their significant roles in the story of salvation; while DEVOTIONS are the external practices which manifest this love and devotion. In short, the word POPULAR DEVOTIONS implies the internal attitude as well as the external manifestations of this attitude of devotion.

Here are some expressions of POPULAR DEVOTIONS in the Philippines.

1. Devotion to the Santo Nino


2. Devotion to the Black Nazarene in Quiapo


3. Devotion to Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia


4. Pagpupunas, paglalakad ng paluhod et al