Faith and Identity in Migration: A Comparative Study of Religious Practices among Filipino and Indonesian Migrants in Singapore

Abstract

As a highly diverse immigrant society, Singapore has long attracted substantial numbers of labor migrants and settlers from the Philippines and Indonesia. These migrants constitute not only a vital segment of Singapore’s labor force but also play a significant role in shaping its cultural and religious landscape. In the context of transnational migration, religion functions as more than a source of spiritual solace—it also serves as a key mechanism for sustaining cultural identity and maintaining social networks through rituals, religious organizations, and everyday practices. This study conducts a comparative analysis of Filipino and Indonesian migrants in Singapore, focusing on the intersection between religion and cultural identity. It explores how religious practice becomes a central means through which migrants negotiate belonging, preserve cultural continuity, and forge social connections in a foreign environment. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of transnationalism and cultural identity, this study synthesizes insights from academic literature, data from governmental and international organizations, and existing ethnographic sources. Using comparative and qualitative methods, it examines the everyday religious practices of these groups within churches, mosques, and faith-based communities, identifying both divergences and convergences in organizational participation, ritual engagement, and communal interaction. By illuminating the ways in which migrants confront cultural difference and seek belonging, this paper highlights the crucial role of religion in shaping migrant identity and social cohesion in the host society.