HAPI Scholars

06/16/2026

“If your faith requires you to treat another person's identity as a sin, then it is no longer about empathy, it is about control.”

Read more on HAPIsko Shawn latest article on how religion fuels queerphobia.

🔗https://hapihumanist.org/2026/06/16/diyos-ko-ang-judgmental-mo-how-religion-fuels-queerphobia/

A morning of reflection on religion, stigma, and dignity - four speakers offer diverse perspectives to foster understanding and human rights.

06/15/2026

All questions with no definite answers belong to the realm of philosophy. The philosopher is one that finds leisure in understanding the questions more than having any concrete absolutist certainty.

What is philosophy? Russell's classic answer:

“Philosophy, as I shall understand the word, is something intermediate between theology and science. Like theology, it consists of speculations on matters as to which definite knowledge has, so far, been unascertainable; but like science, it appeals to human reason rather than to authority, whether that of tradition or that of revelation. All definite knowledge — so I should contend — belongs to science; all dogma as to what surpasses definite knowledge belongs to theology. But between theology and science there is a No Man's Land, exposed to attack from both sides; this No Man's Land is philosophy.”

— Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy (1945), Introductory, p. xili

Russell continues:

“Philosophy cannot itself determine the ends of life, but it can free us from the tyranny of prejudice and from distortions due to a narrow view. Love, beauty, knowledge, and joy of life: these things retain their lustre however wide our purview. And if philosophy can help us to feel the value of these things, it will have played its part in man’s collective work of bringing light into a world of darkness.“

— Bertrand Russell, An Outline of Philosophy (1927), Part IV. The Universe, Ch. 27: Man's Place in the Universe, p. 381

Image: Bertrand Russell, 1950 by Lotte Meitner-Graf. Graf was a prominent Austrian-born black-and-white portrait photographer known for her striking images of eminent 20th-century figures. She built a reputation for photographing scientists, writers, and artists. Forced to flee from the N***s in 1937, she settled in London. Her work is held in major collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in London.

06/15/2026

Interesting and insightful read..

Political dynasties in the Philippines can trace their origins to the Spanish colonization.

06/11/2026

So proud of this queen 🎓 Another Scholar claims her graduation cap!

Congratulations, Kendoll Charles L. Llaguno!

06/09/2026

Awesome article about our very own HAPI Art/Graphic Director Kelly Kim Fernandez Sepida.
Thank you for all you do for humanity!

From Bacolod to international stages, Kelly Sepida's work demonstrates humanism in practice - kindness, equality, and purposeful creativity that inspire conversation and action.

06/05/2026

Compassion is always free.

Not everyone has the space, time, or resources to adopt a pet. Not everyone is in a position to rescue an animal in need.

And that's okay.
But kindness doesn't always require opening your home.
Sometimes, it simply means choosing not to cause harm.
It means not throwing things at stray animals for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It means not abandoning pets when they become inconvenient. It means teaching children to treat animals with compassion instead of fear or cruelty. It means speaking up when you witness neglect or abuse.

For an animal, the absence of cruelty can be just as meaningful as an act of rescue.
Every day, countless cats and dogs suffer not because nobody saved them, but because someone chose to hurt them, ignore them, or look away.

You may not be able to save every animal you meet.
But you can choose to be one less person they need saving ❤️

05/31/2026

🧠 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: A Historic First for Philippine Philosophy!

‎The Philippines is finally taking its seat at the global table to conduct its very own humanist academic conference dedicated entirely to the discourse of secular ideas!
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‎Around the world, secular humanist organizations and non-sectarian universities consistently hold prestigious academic congresses. This year, the 1st HAPI Secular Philosophical Paper Conference creates an unprecedented dedicated space for secular academics, freethinkers, and intellectuals across disciplines to push the boundaries of philosophical discourse!
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‎📌Co-Organized and Supported By: HAPI, HAPI Secular & Existential Philosophies, and Humanists International
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‎⁉️What happens when we pull back the curtain of dogma?
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‎The theme “Discarding God: Values and Reason in a Worldview Without Religion” is a deliberate shift away from systems built on faith, divine command, and supernatural judgment. By stepping outside these traditional boundaries, we dare to ask the ultimate question:
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‎Without a deity, how do we define morality? Where do we find purpose? What becomes of our view of the physical world and metaphysical reality?
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‎In a deeply conservative society that often paints disbelief as an illness caused by the devil or an anomaly, this conference stands as a vital act of intellectual resistance; a place where evidence, critical inquiry, and unconditional empathy become our only source of truth.
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‎This event is open to philosophy majors (and academics of other disciplines), atheists, agnostics, deists, pantheists, panentheists, non-theists, secular individuals, non-religious believers, and curious, open-minded, friendly believers
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‎📲 See the Details Below!
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‎🎯 The full list of suggested submission topics
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‎📄 Step-by-step formatting and submission guidelines
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‎🍔 Exciting presenter perks
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‎What to expect?
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‎1. Food and beverages are included for the whole conference.
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‎2. Participation and presentation is free. There is no registration fee.
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‎3. An amount of PHP 1,000 will be awarded to the authors of accepted abstracts "after" the presentation.
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‎4. All authors of the accepted abstracts will be given the opportunity to publish a 1,000 word short-article version of their work to be published on HAPI's website.
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‎5. Accepted abstracts will be encouraged (but not required) to submit their full manuscripts on international journals managed by secular humanist organizations namely,
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‎5.1 [1] Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism, [2] Free Inquiry, or [3] Secularism and Nonreligion (Scopus-indexed)
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‎🔗 How to Register: Click the attached Google Form link or Scan the QR code on the final slide to register as either a "Presenter" or a "Participant."
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‎https://forms.gle/qeZ4jG7X5ZQ9x6rTA
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‎https://forms.gle/qeZ4jG7X5ZQ9x6rTA
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‎https://forms.gle/qeZ4jG7X5ZQ9x6rTA
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05/28/2026

"A seat in the Senate is not a private possession, but a temporary stewardship entrusted to those chosen by the people." 🇵🇭

In the midst of political tension and leadership shifts, it’s easy to get trapped in cycles of blame and divided loyalties. But true governance isn’t about individual survival, it’s about public trust.

Read this timely reflection by HAPIsko Kryshia on the current state of Philippine politics.

Read more🔗
https://hapihumanist.org/2026/05/26/beyond-borrowed-honor-on-the-state-of-philippine-politics

For many Filipinos today, uncertainty has become a quiet but constant part of both daily life and the broader systems that surround it. Beyond the everyday burdens of financial strain, academic or professional demands, and the quiet challenge of simply getting by, there is also a growing awareness o...

05/26/2026

Are we prioritizing rigid religious expectations over the actual mental health and well-being of our youth?

“It’s time to choose empathy over shame.”

Read more on HAPIsko Shawn latest piece. 🔗https://hapihumanist.org/2026/05/25/religious-expectations-are-failing-our-youth/

To every Filipino youth who has felt the sting of someone’s judgment while holding a cold beer or the silent condemnation of a relative for skipping Mass, there is a hidden history behind that shame. We are a nation taught to fear our own shadows, conditioned to view everyday habits as moral faili...

05/21/2026

Is God created in the image of man, or is it the other way around? 🤔

In his latest piece, HAPIsko Mark Jaztine Santos explores Ludwig Feuerbach’s projection theory and breaks down how religious doctrines often reflect human ideals, desires, and cultural contexts rather than absolute truth.

Read more 🔗 https://hapihumanist.org/2026/05/20/in-the-image-of-man-religion-as-a-projection

A priest consecrates the sacred host and suddenly, it is no longer just bread. It becomes the literal body of Christ. For believers, this is actually the case. However its truth only relies on the fact that it exists solely as a ‘meaning’ or a belief that is projected by those who believe. The b...