Philippine E-Journals

A Comparative Study on the Theory and Praxis of Religious Inculturation of Anscar Chupungco and Ed Lapiz

Glenn Irwin Cruz Reynon

 

Abstract:

Anscar Chupungco, OSB, and Ed Lapiz are two advocates of inculturation in the world of faith in the Philippines. Chupungco is a Benedictine monk, a well-known expert in liturgy, founder of Paul VI Institute of Liturgy, and the first Filipino rector of the Pontifical Atheneum of S. Anselm in Rome; while Lapiz is the chief pastor and founder of Day By Day Christian staintries and the Filipiniana Dance troupe of Rural High School, in the University of the Philippines-Los Banos. This paper compares the theory and praxis of two Filipino intellectuals based on five points: 1) motivation and approaches, 2) theoretical discourse, 3) liturgical innovation, 4) use of Filipino culture as foundation of inculturation, 5) methods of propagating their theory and praxis, and current state of their contribution. This comparison is based on a principle of George Herbert Mead’s Symbolic Interactionism. Through this lens, it will explain the social organization and behavior of the subject, their motivation and beliefs that give satisfaction to people, and the need of signs and symbols in their day-to-day existence, and to our culture as well. That means, through a sophisticated comparison, we will expand and deepen our knowledge of Chupungco and Lapiz’ contribution on inculturation in the world of faith in the Philippines.