Shrek or Buddha? Filipina’s worship story makes headlines online

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A story about a Filipina who reportedly mistook a figure of

Shrek

for a

Buddha

statue has sparked amusement on social media.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP)’s

report

on Monday, January 12, the woman, said to be from Manila, allegedly spent four years worshipping the figure, believing it was a depiction of Buddha.

She placed the figure on an altar and worshipped it daily, offering incense and prayers.

The mix-up was discovered when a visiting friend noticed that the figure’s color and facial features did not match those of a typical Buddha statue.

The woman eventually realized that she had been worshipping a 3D-printed model of Shrek, the iconic DreamWorks Animation character known for his bad temper yet good heart.

According to reports, the woman was both amused and speechless upon discovering the truth. She emphasized that what truly mattered was the sincerity of her prayers and that faith mattered more than appearances.

She also added that she would continue to worship the figure, despite knowing it was Shrek..

The story gained traction on social media after and made its way to the “r/Philippines” community on Reddit, where online users expressed both surprise and amusement at mix-up.

“Thought it was Buddha too,” a

“If every day you look at Shrek and it reminds [you] to do the right things and find peace in yourself. Whatever works,” another

wrote

Others, however, were more skeptical, noting that the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country.

“Saw the same post about this several months ago, it was Thailand? Or probably other countries in Asia, but definitely not the Philippines,” a

wrote.

“We don’t have Buddha in the Philippines. Meron ba?” another

“Santo Niño, pwede pa, pero Buddha? Parang hindi kapani-paniwala,” a different

Pinoy

wrote.

A “fat Buddha” statue typically depicts

Budai

, a jolly, bald Chinese monk from the 10th century known for his large belly, broad smile, and loose robes. Budai is considered an incarnation of

Maitreya

, the future Buddha, and remains a beloved figure in East Asian cultures.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is a predominantly

Catholic country