We Filipinos are known to export not just our bodies and labor. We also export our culture, traditions, and language. In fact, overseas Filipino workers practically live in two time zones: one is wherever they happen to work, and two is GMT +8, the Philippine time zone, to keep tabs on what’s happening back home.

Now this column is not about OFW’s penchant for current events, or what is passed off as OFW politics. That’s a topic we could talk about in more than one column. Neither is this about OFW’s love for Filipino food, including humba, which they humbly introduce to the world. I’m talking about Filipino folk Catholicism.

The popes themselves have discovered and praised this, and the bishops are only too happy to welcome them as new parishioners capable of filling up not just pews but entire churches. Catholic OFWs go to mass, and they bring with them everything they have known and learn to be part of Filipino folk Catholicism.

So whether it is our fiestas from Nazareno to the Sinulog, or unique Catholic devotions such as Simbang Gabi, the most fervent Catholic OFWs would find a way to ask the parish priest or the bishop for permission to bring Filipino Catholic practices. The presence of Filipino priests — be they studying, on a mission, immigrant, or naturalized — would make matters easier.

It is perhaps a high point in Filipino Catholic history when Pope Francis presided in 2019 over a Simbang Gabi mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Filipino laity, religious, priests and bishops were there. The liturgy may have been entirely in Italian and Latin, but many of the mass songs were in Filipino and at least one in Cebuano Bisaya.

In his homily, the people’s pope retold the story behind the Simbang Gabi tradition, and praised Filipinos for bringing it with them wherever they went. Consequently, he made it easier for other bishops to better understand why Filipino Catholics may be clamoring for it in their parishes worldwide.

I have also seen on YouTube that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has said several masses in Filipino at St. Peter’s, with readings and prayers almost entirely said, and songs sung, in Filipino.

With over 10 million Filipino Catholics working or living abroad, it is not impossible that masses are said in Filipino, Cebuano, Ilocano and other Philippine national languages in many parishes. Of course, this depends on the availability of Filipino priests. I doubt if those priests would miss a chance to say mass in their own mother tongue.

The plot twist is when OFWs return or make periodic visits to their own country, many masses in the Philippines are said in English! They have travelled thousands of kilometers back to the country, and quite eager to go to mass, and they would see their bishop or priest preside in English.

This is especially true in Metro Manila, where it seems priests, rectors and prelates prefer English over Filipino. Even online masses which possibly seek to attract Filipinos abroad, they are said in English. This language preference is something I don’t fully understand. OFWs who wish to attend an online mass in Filipino can depend on Quiapo Church and Baclaran Church masses for such services in the vernacular. The Kapampangans, Ilocanos, Bicolanos, Bisaya, Hiligaynons, Ilonggos, Warays and others can follow masses straight from their cathedrals or local churches where their mother tongues are used.

I would not mind finding out that masses are periodically or regularly said in other Philippine national languages in major churches and cathedrals in Metro Manila. This is to be expected as Metro Manila is the melting pot of the nation.

The Manila Cathedral, for instance, lays claim to the title of “mother church” of all churches in the Philippines, being the first cathedral. Wouldn’t that claim be more meaningful if Filipino masses take precedence, and perhaps on a monthly basis, a mass is said in other Philippine languages. Maybe Cardinal Jose Advincula, who hails from Capiz and who also once taught in Ilocos, would even look forward to saying mass either in Capisnon and Ilocano.

Perhaps Cardinal Pablo David could also say mass in Kapampangan, and Cubao bishop Elias Ayuban preside in a Bisaya mass.

Many also look forward to rites of episcopal ordinations in Filipino, Bisaya, and other Philippine languages. Many wonder why bishops stick with English at their consecration.

How about you? When you pray silently, do you pray in English?