Zambalataya: Where are the 21st-century faithful today? A narrative inquiry

Abstract

Zambalataya is a blended phrase referring to the people of Zambales (Zambaleño) and Faith (Pananampalataya). This qualitative study seeks to investigate the evolving experiences of the faithful concerning their religiosity and spirituality. Employing narrative inquiry as the research design, the study engaged novena devotees and laypersons who served as church volunteers as its participants. Data were collected through the focus group discussions (FGD) method. The findings reveal that the 21^st-century faithful in the Filipino society hold faith in high regard as integral to their lives and identity, acknowledge the evolving nature of faith traditions, and demonstrate a strengthened faith amidst societal changes. Religious faith is nurtured even through the evolution of showcasing faith. The material aspects of religion change, but its non-material aspect cultivates more from its origins, as exposed by the rising number of young faithful involved in rituals using different media to display modern religiosity. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of dynamic religiosity as reflected in personal spiritual expressions. Findings also foster ecumenism as they uncover the evolving religious and spiritual practices of the 21^st-century faithful.