Three cheers! Actually, the Philippines' catholicism is very different from that of Europe or that of North America. While the official church doctrines might be similar, the general philosophy of life of the Filipinos is quite unlike any orthodox catholic or other form of christianity.

I have many Filipino and Filipina friends, and their outlook essentially amounts to the following ... "Be happy, do good, keep smiling, and the universe (aka God) will smile on you."

Sounds pretty livable to me.