Being a “Binyag”

More than 60% of the people in the Philippines are Roman Catholics. “Binyag” is the term used by the people to describe a Christian event in a child’s life, known in English as Christening. Christening and baptism to most of them are the same, wherein after a ceremony, the head of the infant will be wet (anointed) with Holy Water by the priest. Most of the Catholic churches in the Philippines have a certain schedule for mass Christening. At that time, different infants will be on stage for the ceremony. It is a belief that after the ceremony, the parent, carrying the baby, must run ahead of the others towards the church exit to make his child ‘ahead’ of others in terms of health, intelligence, blessings, etc., as the child grows.