Dedications to “Conversations with the Humanist Alliance Philippines, International”
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Personal SubStack
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/08/09
Contents
IDedications ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
i. An (Abridged) Interview with Marissa Torres Langseth, B.S.N., M.S.N.: Founder & Chairperson Emeritus, HAPI; Founder, PATAS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
ii. Chat with Bong Faner — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International …………………………………. 15
iii. Interview with Lucille V. Hoersten …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
iv. An Interview with Alvin John Ballares — Executive Director, HAPI ………………………………………………………. 18
v. An Interview with Andy Uyboco …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
vi. Chat with Christopher Villadelgado Barredo ………………………………………………………………………………………. 21
vii. Chat with Rayd Espeja — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………………………….. 24
viii. Conversation with Michael Madriaga — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ……………… 26
ix. Conversation with Jason Quizon — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International …………………….. 28
x. Chat with Rholdee Dela Mance Lagumbay ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30
xi. Chat with Ralph Alvin Ace Rapadas — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………… 36
xii. Talk with Alain Sayson Presillas — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ……………………… 38
xiii. Conversation with Bryan Valentino — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………… 40
xiv. Chat with Angelique Anne Villa — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ……………………… 41
xv. Interview with Jean Karla M. Tapao — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………… 42
xvi. Conversation with Bede Daniel Garcia — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ……………. 44
xvii. Conversation with Brian Dela Masa — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ……………….. 46
xviii. Interview with McJarwin Cayacap — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………….. 47
xix. Edgardo Reguyal Cayetano — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International …………………………….. 50
xx. Mark Richardson — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………………………………….. 52
xxi. In Conversation with Leonardo “Nards” Go — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………. 54
IIxxii. In Conversation with Rupert Aparri — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………… 57
xxiii. Interview with Dennis Pulido on Humanism ………………………………………………………………………………………. 62
xxiv. Interview with Rizalina Guilatco Carr on Humanism …………………………………………………………………………… 63
xxv. Interview with Michael Sherman, Chairman — Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………….. 65
xxvi. Interview with Joshua Ofiasa Villalobos — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………….. 67
xxvii. Interview with John Miles — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International …………………………….. 70
xxviii. Interview with Reginald Gajete — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ……………………. 72
xxix. Interview with O’Neal de los Trinos — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ……………….. 73
xxx. Interview with Mark Wilson Janeo — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International ………………… 78
xxxi. Interview with Ceejay Deriada Pastrana — Lead Convener, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International (Jr.) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 80xxxii. Interview with Paterson Galupe — Member, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International …………………….. 83
License and Copyright …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 86
Dedications
Our heartfelt gratitude to Scott Jacobsen for painstakingly interviewing the HAPI members and for his indefatigable ebullience for humanism. His effort in propagating humanism is greatly appreciated and, forever, we cherish his contribution to humanity and HAPI.
Marissa Torres Langseth
I have enjoyed getting to know more about the humanist, and associated, communities in the Philippines via the contacts with Marissa Torres Langseth and the interviews with individuals involved with HAPI in some manner. The freedom to organize, believe, and have community as one wishes truly remain cherished values, of which humanists need in order to organize a philosophy, organizations, membership, social activism, and political parties.
In part, this is an honor to meet everyone and to read their stories, to share in community with them; in another component, it remains an ode to the statement, “I am not alone.” Humanist Filipinos and Filipinas have community and retain a great strength in it. As well, or in addition to a dedication to Marissa and the humanist community of the Philippines, it is a dedication to the founders of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from December 10, 1948.
It is a dedication, in context, to the UDHR through Article 1 on the right to equality, Article 2 on freedom from discrimination, Article 3 on the right to life and liberty, Article 7 on right to equality before the law, Article 18 on freedom of belief and freedom of religion, Article 19 on freedom of opinion, Article 20 on the right of association, Article 27 on the right to participate in cultural life in community, and Article 30 on the freedom from state or personal interference in the aforementioned rights.
Also, this reflects the importance in the Philippine Constitution in Article II, Section 6 on the separation of church and state being inviolable and Article III, Section 5 on no law permitted respecting an establishment of religion or restricting its practice.
Thus, your rights as humanists and other freethinkers matter: do not let anybody state otherwise, firmly.
Scott
P.S. I worked to keep the tone and content within the original voice and grammatical style of the individual HAPI member and staff member.
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