WHERE ARE THE CHURCHES THAT ARE LEAST LIKELY TO BE CROWDED
FOR VISITA IGLESIA?
(Posted 04 April 2012)

Visita Iglesia is one tradition religiously practised by Roman Catholics in the Philippines during Holy Week. But where are the places to visit to pray the Stations of the Cross?

Most Catholics live in Region IV-A with a share of 15.0 percent (or 9.5 million) of the total Catholic population in the country, followed by NCR (14.8%), Region III (9.1%), Region VII (8.4%), and Region VI (7.9%). On the other hand, ARMM has the least number of Catholics at 66 thousand or 0.1%, followed by CAR (0.9%), Caraga (1.3%), Region IX (3.5%) and Region VIII (4.0%). (Table 1 )

In 2010-2011, Region III had the most number of Catholic churches with 368 followed by Regions VI and IV-A with 326 and 322 churches, respectively. Surprisingly, NCR had only 259 churches. On the other hand, ARMM has the least number of churches with only 11. Other regions with few churches are: CAR, Regions XII, XI and Caraga. (Table 2 and Figure1)

And if you want to have solemn moments for reflection tomorrow, Maundy Thursday, you may want to try going to churches in the regions where it is not very crowded, i.e., if there is still time for you to make travel arrangements. On the average, a church in ARMM will have a maximum of only 59 Catholic devotees per 15-minute interval on Maundy Thursday; this is followed by Caraga, Region VIII, Region V, and CAR with an average of 81, 128, 129, and 137 devotees, respectively. On the other hand, churches in the following regions will be quite crowded with devotees: Region XII (423), Region XI (375), NCR (356), Region IVA (290) and Region X (257). (Table 2 and Figure 2)

In practice, of course, the distribution of visits to churches is not evenly spread over 7:00 am to 12:00 midnight, so if you want to avoid big crowds, you will need to choose wisely the hours of your visit.

Have a Meaningful Holy Week!

 

Table 1. Catholic Population by Region

Region	Catholic Population
	2000 population based on 2000 CPH 1/		2010-2011 population based on CBCP data 2/
	Number	Percent Distribution	Number	Percent Distribution
Philippines	61,845,936	100.0	63,197,730	100.0
NCR	8,803,072	14.2	9,360,268	14.8
CAR	894,612	1.4	571,347	0.9
Region I	3,422,651	5.5	3,181,103	5.0
Region II	2,139,473	3.5	2,576,334	4.1
Region III	6,905,724	11.2	5,746,124	9.1
Region IV-A	10,293,716	16.6	9,471,263	15.0
Region IV-B			2,906,869	4.6
Region V	4,412,677	7.1	3,363,911	5.3
Region VI	5,367,032	8.7	4,986,170	7.9
Region VII	5,218,531	8.4	5,327,526	8.4
Region VIII	3,363,483	5.4	2,509,873	4.0
Region IX	2,011,789	3.3	2,230,776	3.5
Region X	2,140,649	3.5	3,494,557	5.5
Region XI	3,768,241	6.1	3,539,152	5.6
Region XII	1,429,101	2.3	3,047,197	4.8
Caraga	1,550,793	2.5	819,285	1.3
ARMM	124,392	0.2	65,975	0.1

Sources of basic data:
1/ - 2000 Census of Population and Housing, conducted by the NSO
2/ - The 2010-2011 Catholic Directory of the Philippines prepared by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The latest 2010-2011 publication will be released in July 2012.

Note:
To date, 2010 CPH results are not yet available on the NSO website. Further, while 2000 Census-based population projections for 2011 are available, this is not disaggregated by religious affiliation.

 

Table 2. Catholic Population Aged 15-79 Years
and Number of Parish Churches, by Region: 2010/2011

Region	2010/2011 Catholic population aged 15-79 years 1/	Number of parish churches 2/	Catholic Population aged 15-79 years who will visit a church
			Maximum number in one day	Average  number in  15-minute intervals 3/
Philippines	42,342,479	2,940	14,402	212
NCR	6,271,380	259	24,214	356
CAR	382,802	41	9,337	137
Region I	2,131,339	140	15,224	224
Region II	1,726,144	107	16,132	237
Region III	3,849,903	368	10,462	154
Region IV-A	6,345,746	322	19,707	290
Region IV-B	1,947,602	131	14,867	219
Region V	2,253,820	256	8,804	129
Region VI	3,340,734	326	10,248	151
Region VII	3,569,442	276	12,933	190
Region VIII	1,681,615	193	8,713	128
Region IX	1,494,620	112	13,345	196
Region X	2,341,353	134	17,473	257
Region XI	2,371,232	93	25,497	375
Region XII	2,041,622	71	28,755	423
Caraga	548,921	100	5,489	81
ARMM	44,203	11	4,018	59

Source of basic data:
The 2010-2011 Catholic Directory of the Philippines, published by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
The latest 2010-2011 publication will be released in July 2012.

1/ - To estimate the Catholic population aged 15-79 years, the share of population aged 15-79 years to the total population for 2011 based on the 2000 Census-based population projections (i.e., 67%) was used.

2/ - The following are not included: 1) vicariates/districts; 2) quasi-parishes; 3) chaplaincies; 4) mission areas; 5) Chinese community; and 6) chapels.

3/ - Assumed the following: 1) Visita Iglesia will be done between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight; and 2) on the average, an individual will spend 15 minutes per church visit during the Visita Iglesia. The population to church density on Maundy Thursday is divided by 68 (i.e., the total number of 15-minute intervals between 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight).

 

Figure 1. Number of Parish Churches, by Region: 2010/2011

Source of basic data:

The 2010-2011 Catholic Directory of the Philippines, published by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The latest 2010-2011 publication will be released in July 2012.

 

 

Figure 2. Average Number of Catholic Population Aged
15-79 Years Who Will Visit a Church
(In 15 Minute Intervals)

Source of basic data:

The 2010-2011 Catholic Directory of the Philippines, published by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The latest 2010-2011 publication will be released in July 2012.

 

 

 

Prepared by:                                                          Under the Guidance of:

JESSAMYN O. ENCARNACION                            ROMULO A. VIROLA
Director                                                                 Secretary General 
Email: jo.encarnacion@nscb.gov.ph
Tel No.: (+632)896-1730

NOEL S. NEPOMUCENO                                       
Information Technology Officer                              
Email: ns.nepomuceno@nscb.gov.ph  
Tel No.: (+632)895-2395               

ANNA JEAN G. CASAÑAS
Statistical Coordination Officer         
Social Sectors B Division
Email: ajg.casanas@nscb.gov.ph
Tel No.: (+632)896-7981

The authors also acknowledge the assistance provided by Mr. Gerald Junne L. Clariño, Ms. Andrea Baylon, Ms. Virginia Bathan, Mr. Albert Garcia and Mr. Edgard Enrado.

Assisted by:

MA. LIBERTIE V. MASCULINO
Statistical Coordination Officer

SIMONETTE A. NISPEROS
Information Systems Researcher

DENNIS E. SAN DIEGO
Artist/Illustrator

Related pages

Sexy Statistics Main Page