Old Filipinos are animists. Before pre-colonial era, Filipinos believes that everything has a spirit. They believed that ancestors who passed away can help them in their journey in this earthly life. Thus, they ask for their interference and guidance. These ancestral beliefs are manifested in wooden carvings called anitos.
Maybe this can be a reason why Filipinos easily embraced Christianity due to the connection with Catholic images brought here before the Spanish Occupation.
Despite the propagation of Catholicism in the country, there are still tribes who stick to their animist beliefs. They still worship their ancestors and asks for interference.
Honestly, I can somehow correlate this to some modern Filipino beliefs. Some Filipinos believes that their dead family members intercedes for them to the Mighty Creator. That is why when you go inside Catholic houses you will see portraits of their passed away relatives close or placed in the house altars.
