The Filipino church in Britain and Ireland
Since hospitals in Britain and Ireland began recruiting nurses from the Philippines, Filipino families have become part of parish life in towns and cities everywhere. Many are devout Catholics; others belong to evangelical and charismatic churches, Catholic renewal communities or Filipino fellowships. They sing in the choir, read at Mass, run the rotas and bring friends.
Why Filipino, if they speak English?
Most Filipinos speak excellent English; it is a language of school and work in the Philippines. So translation can seem unnecessary, and for many Sunday regulars it is. But three situations come up again and again. Parents and grandparents visiting from the Philippines for a few months speak much less English. Newer arrivals, such as domestic workers, carers and seafarers, may still be finding their feet. And many Filipinos simply pray in Tagalog or their regional language. A homily in Filipino reaches them where their faith was formed.
Filipino, Tagalog and the other languages of the Philippines
Filipino is the national language, based on Tagalog, and it is what ChurchTranslate translates into. Filipinos from the Visayas or Mindanao often speak Cebuano, Hiligaynon or another language at home; those are not available, but most of them understand Filipino well. The translation is in standard Filipino, which may sound more formal than the mix of Tagalog and English many people speak every day.
Moments to switch it on
- Christmas. Where a parish holds Simbang Gabi or a Christmas Mass with many Filipino families, Filipino lets visiting lolos and lolas follow the homily.
- Baptisms, weddings and confirmations with relatives flown in from the Philippines. See weddings, baptisms and funerals.
- Funerals and memorial Masses, when a family wants everyone, including those watching from home, to understand what is said.
- Ordinary Sundays for newer arrivals who are still getting used to English spoken quickly from the pulpit.
How listeners use it
- 01Scan
The QR code is on the screen, the newsletter or the parish Facebook or Viber group. It opens in the browser.
- 02Choose Filipino
No app and no account. iPhone users can use the App Store app if they prefer.
- 03Listen or read
The Filipino voice follows the priest a few seconds behind, with captions on screen. Those who prefer can show the original English alongside.
What to expect
The translation follows a homily well. Catholic and evangelical vocabulary, and Bible names, are the hardest part, and ChurchTranslate keeps a terminology list per language to correct known terms in the captions. Ask a few Filipino parishioners to read along in the first weeks and tell you what sounds off. More in Bible names and terms.
Cost
A one-hour Mass into Filipino uses 60 credits, however many people listen. Four Sunday Masses a month come to 240 credits, well within the Lite plan (€65 per month, 480 credits). See the pricing.