Posted on 01/17/2015 7:45:19 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
On a recent busy evening in one of the Philippines’ top malls, shoppers wandered through luxury brand shops while prostitutes sat expectantly at a bar and a priest gave a sermon at a chapel.
The scene may appear an unlikely combination but in the Philippines the Catholic Church has successfully set up shop where millions increasingly spend their leisure time.
As a visit by Pope Francis to the Philippines this week shines a spotlight on the nation’s vibrant brand of Catholicism, local Church leaders said he would endorse the mixing of faith with consumerism.
“It was Jesus who went to market places to preach the good news of salvation. We must go where our people are,” Father Rufino Sescon, a member of the local organising committee for Francis’s visit, told AFP.
“Gone are the days we just have to wait for our people to go to our parish churches.”
‘God is everywhere’
The 30-year-old Santo Nino de Paz chapel in the financial district of Makati’s upmarket Greenbelt mall helped to pioneer mall worshipping in the Philippines.
In the 1980s, when the retail complex was much smaller, the chapel was surrounded only by greenery and a serene lagoon.
But gradually the mall encircled the chapel as it developed and expanded....
(Excerpt) Read more at lifestyle.inquirer.net ...
Used to live in Greenbelt Mansion of Paseo de Roxas Makati. San Mig Pub. Great place to live . Mabuhay!
I could point out one to 3 malls off the freeways, but I don’t know their names.
Go there twice a year. Live/work close by to the The Fort. Greenbelt is excellent party town. Well, Makati is a party city after hours LOL. It truly is a “mall” mentality in the RP. Hands down, the most damgerous drivers in the world. We drive within effing’ inches of each other and there are NO rules on the road.
How convenient for one stop moose terror shopping.
IIRC, the Muslims in the Philippines are mostly limited to certain southern islands. If they were a huge problem otherwise, you’d be reading about it on a regular basis.
Probably Shu Mart or Robinson's, but Mall of Asia (Shu Mart) is the biggest. I was ice skating there 3 months ago. The Muzzies are mostly in Western Mindanao. I see a few of them in Davao City, but they don't act up much. The mayor does not tolerate any foolishness, and there is no political correctness to keep people from talking smack about them.
Had two war wagons in th PI (1975-83), ‘73 Chevy Vega and ‘64 Dodge Dart. The roads were chaotic but not as crowded as today. Many fabulous trips all over the isle of LUZON. Favorite distination Bolinao, Pangasinan. There are many wonderful places there. Filipinos are wonderful people!
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