Humanist Alliance Philippines International: Sherwin Haro
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/03/18
Sherwin Dane Zauro Haro is the Chief HAPI Scholars and Editor in Chief. Humanism in the Philippines is often linked to traditional Filipino values like respect and hospitality but is typically attributed to Christianity. HAPI works to demonstrate that ethical behavior exists beyond religious doctrine. Digital media plays a key role in spreading humanist values, with HAPI producing high-quality animated videos addressing topics like feminism and atheism. The HAPI website highlights humanism through personal blogs and media works. Scholars undergo rigorous selection and contribute through writing, design, and activism. Despite limited mainstream visibility, HAPI promotes secular values through campaigns, events, and media, advocating critical thinking and social justice in an increasingly polarized world.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is humanism within the cultural and historical landscape of the Philippines?
Sherwin Dane Zauro Haro: Humanism is closely linked to traditional Filipino values like respect and hospitality. We Filipinos are taught early on that treating guests like they’re family is a virtue, and customs like “mano po” are practically mandated among kids. The difference is that Filipinos will usually attribute these particular flavors of humanism to Christianity by default. If you ask a Filipino why one should act compassionate towards their neighbor, most will probably tell you that it is because God encourages it. I have people in my circles who’ve never been able to get why I identify as a secular humanist; to them, humanist thinking was born of Christianity, there’s no way it could be a separate entity. I guess that’s why I find HAPI’s work to be so vital: Filipinos need to know that there are reasons to be good beyond the fact that their religion insists it.
Jacobsen: Digital media dominates many spaces. What strategies ensure humanistic values and are both represented and engaged with online audiences?
Haro: We at HAPI have started to put out more ambitious animated videos that tackle various aspects of humanism these past two years. I produce them myself with the help of the HAPI Scholars, especially Kelly Sepida (who’s our art director) and Kryshia Solon. From the outset, we felt that mixing high-quality animations with deeper humanistic themes would net us more engagement on Facebook—and we were mostly right! Our cartoon shorts helped make feminism, queerphobia, and atheism more “palatable” to Filipino audiences. In my opinion, Kelly’s work already approaches Dreamworks-level so the notably wider reach that these videos achieved made me so proud. HAPI has an active social media team led by Irine Dipano, another HAPI Scholar, who makes sure our videos plus the rest of the regular content developed by HAPI officers get shared punctually.
Jacobsen: What feature on the HAPI Website encapsulates humanist ideals?
Haro: The HAPI blog features intimate accounts of key experiences that our members have had as humanist activists. We’re also working on a gallery of all our media works that highlight various aspects of humanism, which we’re looking to launch soon. Apart from these, I think the hundreds of articles we’ve published over the years (and the sheer variety of their tones, intentions, and styles) encapsulate the reality of being a humanist in the Philippines.
For the Chief of the HAPI Scholars:
Jacobsen: How are humanistic values incorporated into the training and mentorship of emerging scholars?
Haro: It starts as early as their initial interview. Ms. M a/k/a Marissa Langseth, HAPI’s founder and creator of its Scholars department, insists that we push interviewees to think critically about matters of social justice, international and local issues, and religiosity. If we find that an applicant has a nuanced enough view of the world that we can foster, they’d probably have a strong chance of making the cut. The main job of a Scholar is to write compelling articles for the website, so if they’re a gifted writer and freethinker, all the better. Glemir Sordilla, who was among the first batch of Scholars in 2020, got promoted to Associate Editor of the website thanks to her diligence and marked improvement as a writer. On the other hand, Scholars whose skills lean more toward graphic design (like Kelly and Kryshia) and photography are given alternate tasks that allow them to take advantage of their strengths.
Jacobsen: What opportunities for the promotion of humanism exist in the Philippine context?
Haro: Honestly, having been a humanist for five years now, I feel like humanism is still too niche of a concept for local mass media outlets to cover. Atheism, after all, is a core aspect of humanism and Filipinos tend to avoid the topic (or dismiss it outright if it is brought up). Opportunities do exist—in the opinion columns of left-leaning media like Rappler, for instance, or when one of the Scholars’ old pubmats randomly go viral again—but they’re few and far between. I feel proud whenever I see HAPI hold events across the country because they openly promote humanism without being preachy about it. HAPI is made up of people who don’t have a religion but believe you could positively impact your community regardless; things don’t have to be more complicated than that.
Jacobsen: What initiatives led by HAPI Scholars embody the spirit of humanism?
Haro: The HAPI Scholars were one of the groups who joined the online campaign to free Mubarak Bala when he was first detained in 2020. We’re a primarily online-based team—in fact, we’ve only ever been able to partially meet up in person—so to compensate, we’ve made articles and artwork our bread and butter. Since our inception, we’ve made four social media campaigns focusing on our individual opinions regarding issues like superstitious beliefs, critical thinking, and basic empathy. For us, being young Filipino humanists means coming together in any way we can to shine a secular light on the issues that persist in the world. With the way that fascist thinking has been on the rise lately, that light is needed more than ever.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Sherwin.
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