PROLOGUE: Everyone grows up believing in something.
For some, beliefs remain unchanged throughout life. For others, they become the beginning of a lifelong search for truth. For HAPI’s Chief Financial Officer Diosa Marie Aguila-Aguirre, or “Sasa” as she is affectionately known, that search was never about rejecting where she came from. Rather, it was about understanding the world more deeply, becoming someone unafraid to ask difficult questions, and finding the courage to stand by the answers she discovered.
Every Filipino child seems to share a familiar chapter in their story: growing up with Catholic traditions woven into everyday life. Sundays meant Mass, classrooms held Christian Social Living lessons, and faith quietly shaped childhood long before many were old enough to question it. Sasa’s story began much the same way. Raised in a Catholic family and educated in a Catholic elementary school, religion was an inseparable part of her upbringing. Her home was a modest, semi-slum neighborhood where life wasn’t always easy, but where families found comfort in community, resilience, and hope.
ORIGINS: A child who quietly wondered about the world around her.
It all began with what some would jokingly call an elementary school “canon event” – the moment when curious students start asking the questions adults often struggle to answer. Sasa vividly remembers her classmates raising questions about the Holy Trinity and the differing accounts found in the Bible. Instead of receiving thoughtful explanations, their inquiries were often brushed aside or quietly dismissed. At the time, Sasa thought her classmates were simply asking too many questions. Looking back, however, she realizes they were doing something far more important: they were thinking critically and seeking understanding.
Today, she understands that curiosity should never be silenced. Those moments became the first sparks of a mindset that would eventually lead her toward skepticism, critical thinking, and ultimately, humanism.
As she entered high school, those quiet questions became more personal. She found herself reflecting on the role of women within Catholic teachings and why certain beliefs seemed to justify inequality. Rather than accepting or rejecting those ideas outright, she chose a different path.
QUESTIONING: She didn’t settle for silence. She researched.
That simple decision to seek answers instead of assumptions would shape much of her adult life.
Her time in higher education became another turning point. Sasa took up Master of Science in Environmental Engineering at the University of the Philippines-Diliman which exposed her to people from different religions, cultures, and philosophies. Around the same time, social media became a space where ideas could be challenged openly. Instead of limiting herself to one perspective, Sasa listened, read, and reflected. She welcomed conversations from different sides, believing that understanding grows not from staying within one’s comfort zone but from being willing to examine different viewpoints.
FINDING COMMUNITY: No journey of self-discovery is meant to be walked alone. As Sasa found answers, she also found the people who would walk beside her.
What began as simple curiosity eventually turned into something far more personal. As she learned more about the world around her, Sasa found herself confronting difficult realities, particularly when she realized that some of her own rights were being overlooked because of religious beliefs. It was no longer just about understanding doctrine or resolving unanswered questions. It became about understanding herself, her values, and the kind of world she wanted to help build.
[S]he tried to balance her love and respect for those closest to her with the growing conviction that she needed to stay true to herself.
That realization did not come with instant clarity. Like many in the secular humanist community that choose to rethink beliefs they’ve held since childhood, Sasa knew that the journey was full of uncertainty. One of the hardest parts was navigating conversations with family members whose faith remained deeply rooted. There were moments of confusion, conflict, and emotional weight, as she tried to balance her love and respect for those closest to her with the growing conviction that she needed to stay true to herself.
Thankfully, she never had to carry that burden alone. Along the way, she found friends who shared similar values and understood the path she was walking. Their encouragement became a source of comfort and strength, reminding her that growth is often easier when shared with a community that listens, understands, and walks beside you.
LIVING OUT HUMANISM: Sometimes, all it takes is one message to change the course of a story.
For Sasa, that message came after she commented on a secular organization’s Facebook post. A member reached out, introduced her to HAPI, and what started as a simple online interaction soon turned into something much bigger; a community, rather, a family where she felt genuinely welcomed, understood, and free to be herself. More than just finding an organization, she found people who shared her values and a space where those values could be transformed into meaningful action.
One cause that has always been close to her heart is the environment. Whether planting mangroves in Batangas or helping trees take root and thrive in Laguna, Sasa believes that creating a greener future isn’t about grand gestures, but about showing up, getting your hands dirty, and trusting that small acts of care can grow into something much bigger, just like a mangrove tree! After all, the best time to plant a tree may have been years ago, but the second-best time is today.
When she’s not balancing spreadsheets or volunteering in the field, you’ll probably find Sasa planning her next adventure. An enthusiastic traveler, Sasa enjoys exploring different corners of the world, immersing herself in new cultures, trying local experiences, and meeting people with stories as unique as her own. For someone who believes that learning never truly ends, every destination offers another lesson; and every journey is a reminder that, despite our differences, humanity has far more in common than we often realize.
At home, another part of her heart belongs to animals. An avid dog lover, she finds joy in the companionship, loyalty, and unconditional affection that her dog, Lupin brings. It is a simple but meaningful reflection of the compassion that extends beyond her work and into her everyday life.
Being a member of HAPI, activism has never been about collecting titles, applause, or recognition. At its heart, it’s simply about doing what you can for your community; especially when others cannot, or sometimes, choose not to. As HAPI’s Chief Financial Officer, much of her work happens away from the spotlight. While others may see successful events and community projects, few see the countless spreadsheets, budget tracking, liquidation reports, and follow-ups that make those initiatives possible. It may not be the most glamorous side of advocacy, but as every organization knows, passion alone will not keep the lights on.
Of course, leadership hasn’t always been easy. Working in a volunteer-driven organization comes with its own unique challenges. There were times when reports arrived late, responsibilities became blurred, and promising opportunities quietly slipped away simply because no one stepped forward to take the lead. As discouraging as these moments had been, they also became some of her greatest teachers.
Over time, Sasa realized that strong organizations aren’t built by good intentions alone. They thrive when people communicate openly, take ownership of their responsibilities, and hold one another accountable. After all, passion may inspire people to join a cause, but commitment is what keeps that cause alive long after the excitement fades.
Even with the inevitable challenges, she continues to find hope in the people who remain steadfast in their advocacy (like HAPI!). Seeing fellow volunteers dedicate their time and hearts to making their communities better reminds her that meaningful change is rarely the work of one person. It is built by extraordinary individuals who choose to care; and who continue showing up, even when no one is watching, even if it’s little by little.
EPILOGUE: Love yourself harder.
If there is one message Ate Sasa hopes to leave behind, it is those three simple words. They carry the weight of her journey. Having navigated the challenges of redefining her beliefs while staying true to herself, it is undeniable that growth begins not only with asking difficult questions but also with extending compassion to oneself. When asked what advice she would give to those questioning their beliefs, her answer was both simple and profound:
“Search away. Do not get tired of thinking.”
Perhaps that is the essence of Ate Sasa’s story: to never stop asking questions, never stop learning, and above all, never stop believing that both the world, and ourselves, can become better. Sometimes, the most inspiring people are not those who seek the spotlight, but those who simply choose, day after day, to make the world a little kinder, a little fairer, and a little more human.
