HAPI – Y2 in Review

Ms. M, HAPI Founding Chairperson

HAPI is now on its second year! A year of growth, fun, discovery, and serious advocacy.
HAPI 2 started off well, blasting off like a rocket, helped by the firm foundations planted in Year One.
The dream was to build a community that a Filipino citizen could only imagine in another place. Our Big Tent policy saw the inclusion of Religious Humanists, the budding atheists, and the seasoned Humanists ready to tackle key issues affecting the country.
There seemed to be no shortage of professional, mature, and energetic leaders ready to carry the flag. Below are some of them:

Jennifer Gutierrez,  Executive Director and Environmental / Climate Reality Leader

Jesus Falcis, Legal Consultant and Human Rights Lawyer

Don  Paez, previous ED, now CFO

Bobby Olarte, Assistant Chairperson

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Cris Rafael Silao, Chief International Liaison Officer

Jahziel Ferrer Tayco, AED

Jho Celino, Executive Secretary

Luigi Aviar and Alvin Ballares- HAPI-Bacolod Convener and Secretary, Respectively Danielle Hill, Head of Youth Affairs and IHEYO representative J-Rik Villa , HAPI-Bacolod Assistant Convener

                                           Rose Musong, Cebu/Bohol Lead Convener with Risa Hontiveros

Eugene Tapalla – Rappler, Director Outdoors/Entertainment

Pecier Decierdo, Science Dept. Chairman

As chapters grew and added their unique spin and creativity we marveled at the ability of our members to take on this growing movement and make it uniquely Filipino. Humanism will never be the same.
We spread our wings as new chapters explored projects we could not have imagined.
New chapters were added overnight due to the HAPI Trees Project, like HAPI-Sorsogon and HAPI-Surigao. 
HAPI-Bacolod also had their Rekindle project, and we had countless projects in Manila and Cebu.

Atty Falcis, Oni and Ms Gutierrez

This collaborative and crowdsourced organization continued to add the positive and confident flavor to Humanism that we believe will be the model for the growth of Secular Humanism around the world.
Atty Jesus Falcis and Jennifer Gutierrez represented HAPI in the Philippine Supreme Court.
Danielle Hill represented HAPI in the Asian Humanist Convention in Singapore, and in Malacanang Palace forums on two separate occasions.

Atty Falcis and Ms Gutierrez with the SC judge

Ms Hill at the Malacanang Palace, August 2015. The forum was about the K-12 educational system.

Ms Hill at the Malacanang Palace, December 2015. This forum was about human rights and the Lumad issue.

Ms. Hill with IHEYO officers Uttam Niraula (far left), Nicola Jackson, and Sven Ryen. September 2015.

Ms Hill and Ms Celino at he APEC SME Summit, Makati. December 2015.

The Philippines is an Asian Tiger in more than economic terms. Since the passage of the Reproductive Health bill (a first year HAPI advocacy) the nation continues to stretch the definition of who is the new Filipino. HAPI is a new platform for the modern citizen to express his independence and self expression. The religious power structure has never had real competition before this. Our hopes to unite members around our common goals despite their particular place in the spectrum of Secularism has helped win us allies and fellow travelers. We are affiliated with  AAI, ISHV,  IHEU, AHA, AAI, FBBN, IHEYO, ATP, Godless Grace Foundation, Lad-Lad in Caraga, which broadened our base and filled in the gaps. From Environmental Humanist projects, charity, childhood education and development, to our LGBT/SSM advocacy, which promotes gays rights from a Human rights perspective, has been made.

Year Two emotionally rewarding as much as building our impressive resume. Each new project and advocacy intertwines, overlaps, and compliments what we do. We can go places no organization has dared to explore- building friendships with partners who share only parts of our agenda while strengthening alliances with International friends who respect our stability and track record.

LGBT Training with International Model Geena Rocero

HAPI-Baguio

Can HAPI continue to balance the wide spectrum of Secular activism while winning new friends in the religious community? We have, and will continue to capitalize on the trends towards our goals. Each year a new generation is finding us. We expect membership to grow, not only in numbers, but in confidence and quality. Year two has made us proud of the members we have attracted. There are millions looking for a new home to satisfy their hopes and dreams. These new members will be impressed by what has happened and they will want to be a part of it in the future.
I hope you are excited by the possibilities of the HAPI new year of 2016. 2015 will be a year to remember. We were happy, active, joyful, infectious, and a good friend to the greater community.
We have something to show for our time.
A HAPI reminder that we can all make a difference.

Written by Alex Mendoza Wisner, HAPI Chairman, Membership Dept.