Colonizing the First World and more.

Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez III gave a talk in DLS-C last week about abandoned Churches in First World countries and the Filipino diaspora's role in replenishing the host countries' social capital. Think "brown" churchgoers filling the old churches any given day.

Underpinning the Filipinos' behavior, was some sort of a motto that goes like this: "Nasa Dios ang Awa, Nasa Tao ang Gawa" which he roughly translates to Prayers and OFW remittances.

I vaguely sense a validation of the need to preserve Pinoy culture using social software.

Speaking of abandoned churches, I ran into Shivah, a Rabbinical mystery PC game (by Dave Gilbert) about a Rabbi running a failing synagogue on the Lower East Side of New York. Could perhaps also help bridge cultural/generational differences and give flagging religious belief a shot in the arm. Here's the link. Thanks to Boingboing.net.