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Home > Asian Insider > S2E44: Church and fortune-tellers: Why Filipinos find solace in both


	Podcast:		Asian Insider
	Episode:		S2E44: Church and fortune-tellers: Why Filipinos find solace in both
	Category:		News & Politics
	Duration:		00:21:03
	Publish Date:		2025-10-02 16:00:00
	Description:		Asia’s only Christian nation, the Philippines, is devoutly Catholic. Yet, why do so many turn to peddlers of potions and talismans as well? Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in. One afternoon, Philippines correspondent Mara Cepeda popped into church to whisper a prayer, and then sought her fortunes from a tarot card reader just outside its premises. She did it in the name of research, but for many Filipinos, this is how they seek divine guidance through life. In this episode, Li Xueying speaks to Mara about the balance between the two contradictory belief systems in the Philippines. Highlights (click/tap above): 04:31 Quiapo’s unique blend of religious and mystical practices 06:55 Socioeconomic realities in the Philippines and their influence on religious practices 09:15 The Catholic church's role in social welfare 13:20 Navigating modern challenges in religion 17:08 Intersection of political power and religious institutions Read Mara Cepeda’s article here: https://str.sg/wN4UL Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsider See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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