{{Infobox organization | name = Filipino Freethinkers | image = Filipino Freethinkers logo.png | image_size = 280px | founded = February 2009 | founder = Ryan "Red" Tani | location = Metro Manila, Philippines | key_people = Ryan "Red" Tani (President)<br> Kristine Chan (Reproductive Health Advocacy Director)<br> Garrick Bercero (Affiliations Director)<br> Dustin Celestino (Freedom of Expression Advocacy Director)<br> Pepe Bawagan (Secularism Advocacy Director)<br> Kevin Enriquez (LGBT Advocacy Director)<br> Pecier Decierdo (Science Advocacy Director) | purpose = Reason, Science, Secularism | website = {{URL|https://filipinofreethinkers.org}} }}
'''Filipino Freethinkers''' (also known as '''FF''') is the largest and most active organization for freethought in the Philippines. It aims to promote reason, science, and secularism as a means of improving every Filipino's quality of life.<ref name=aboutFF>{{cite web|url=https://filipinofreethinkers.org|work=Filipino Freethinkers website|title=Filipino Freethinkers website}}</ref>
FF is active in the secularism movement, working to promote the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill. They also fight for equal rights for women and the LGBT community, and have been regular participants in Metro Manila Pride March events since 2010.<ref name=pridemarch1>{{cite news|url=http://www.spot.ph/peopleparties/47153/one-love-lgbt-pride-march-2010-and-world-aids-day-celebration-/|work=SPOT.ph|title=One Love: LGBT Pride March 2010 and World AIDS Day Celebration}}</ref><ref name=pridemarch2>{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/208004/lifestyle/people/one-love-lgbt-pride-march-against-aids|work=GMA News Online|title=One Love: LGBT Pride March against AIDS}}</ref><ref name=pridemarch3>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/01/21/life/The-pride-of-The-Philippines-30146874.html|work=The Nation|title=The 'pride' of The Philippines|access-date=2012-02-29|archive-date=2011-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011033902/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/01/21/life/The-pride-of-The-Philippines-30146874.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=pridemarch4>{{cite news|url=http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/49915/pride-of-the-orient-the-2011-manila-pride-march|work=SPOT.ph|title=The 2011 Manila Pride March}}</ref>
They work with other organizations doing mobilization activities and were part of the Occupy for RH movement in 2011. They also advocate freedom of expression and science education.
The organization and its different chapters hold informal meet-ups, usually in coffee shops and restaurants. In between general meet-ups every other week, some chapters opt to hold local meet-ups.
==History==
Filipino Freethinkers was founded by Ryan "Red" Tani. It was officially established on February 1, 2009, when members of the Filipino Freethinkers Yahoo! Group had their first meetup. The organization then began meeting-up regularly in coffee shops to discuss current events, politics, theology, science, and other topics related to secularism and freethought.
===Excommunication Party===
On November 26, 2010, the organization hosted an "Excommunication Party" (full title “If Supporting the RH Bill Means Excommunication, Excommunicate Me!”), as a protest against the Catholic Church's opposition<ref>{{cite news|title=Bishops versus majority|url=https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/catholic-church-opposes-reproductive-health-bill-philippines|work=Development and Cooperation|date=22 November 2012}}</ref> to the Reproductive Health Bill.<ref name=excommunicationparty>{{cite news|title=PHILIPPINES: Catholics Risk Excommunication Over Reproductive Rights|url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54045|work=Inter Press Service news agency|date=6 January 2011}}</ref>
===Bantay Bishop===
<!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|left|Members of the Filipino Freethinkers dressed as Roman Catholic bishops in miniature SUVs -->
In July 2011, certain Roman Catholic bishops admitted to receiving SUVs from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).<ref name=bishopsuv>{{cite news|url=https://ph.news.yahoo.com/butuan-bishop-admits-receiving-suv-pcso-033608961.html|work=Yahoo! News Philippines|title=Butuan Bishop admits receiving SUV from PCSO}}</ref> This allegedly violated certain Philippine laws that prohibit and/or limit transactions between religious and state institutions under the principle of secularism. In reaction, FF founded the "Bantay Bishop Movement" and spearheaded a protest demonstration on July 13, 2011, in front of the Philippine Senate alongside other activist groups that denounced the bishops' behavior.<ref name=bantaybishop>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=200&articleId=705740|work=Philippine Star|title=Bantay Bishop movement launched}}</ref><ref name=bantaybishopinterview>{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/84592/ntg-panayam-kay-red-tani-bantay-bishop-spokesperson|work=GMA News Online|title=NTG: Panayam kay Red Tani, Bantay Bishop spokesperson}}</ref>
===March against art censorship===
On August 21, 2011, FF and other organizations gathered at the Cultural Center of the Philippines to protest censorship and show their support for freedom of expression following the controversy generated by the exhibition there of Mideo Cruz's installation art piece titled ''Poleteismo''. Catholic groups labeled ''Poleteismo'' as blasphemous for juxtaposing religious images and representations of genitalia, among many other objects.<ref name=censorshipmarch>{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/230086/news/nation/artists-march-vs-art-censorship|work=GMA News Online|title=Artists march vs art censorship}}</ref> FF also emphasized the legal argument against censorship by referring to [https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/GC34.pdf General Comment 34], a document released by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which affirms blasphemy as a human right.<ref name=blasphemygma>{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/229410/news/nation/blasphemy-a-un-guaranteed-human-right-phl-group-says|work=GMA News Online|title=Blasphemy a UN-guaranteed human right, PHL group says}}</ref><ref name=blasphemyspot>{{cite news|url=http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/49075/un-blasphemy-is-a-human-right-says-advocacy-group|work=SPOT.ph|title=UN says blasphemy is a human right according to Filipino Freethinkers}}</ref>
===Globe Tatt Awards===
On August 26, 2011, FF was awarded "The One" award in the Globe Tatt Awards, "for leading the pack in terms of online popularity and shaping opinion in the local online community".<ref name=globetatt>{{cite news|url=https://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/08/27/filipino-freethinkers-win-social-media-award/|work=Friendly Atheist|title=Filipino Freethinkers Win Social Media Award}}</ref><ref name=tattawardsinq>{{cite news|title=Globe Tattoo holds Tatt Awards for social media netizens|url=http://technology.inquirer.net/3719/globe-tattoo-holds-tatt-awards-for-social-media-netizens|date=27 August 2011|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref>
===Reason, Science, Secularism (R.S.S.) Forum and Awards===
On April 1, 2012, FF held their own "Reason, Science, and Secularism Forum"<ref name=rssforum>{{cite news|title=Sen. Sotto named 'Bigot of the Year' by pro-RH group|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/253618/news/nation/sen-sotto-named-bigot-of-the-year-by-pro-rh-group|accessdate=17 August 2012|newspaper=GMA News Online|date=April 2, 2012}}</ref> at U.P.–Ayala Land TechnoHub, cosponsored by the University of the Philippines Center for Women's Studies. The forum was held to discuss issues such as the reproductive health bill, freedom of expression, science, freedom of religion, and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
The R.S.S Awards were presented during the forum, with each winner receiving a trophy and 10,000 pesos awarded to their cause. The winners were former law dean Raul Pangalangan for the Reason Award, astrophysicist Reina Reyes for the Science Award, and RH-bill author Senator Pia Cayetano for the Secularism Award.
Additionally, a Bigot of the Year award was given to Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as “a Filipino who best exemplifies irrational prejudice against a group of people, and who has used considerable power and influence to offend and oppress this group.”. The 10,000 pesos prize for the award was donated to an organization that works for the betterment of the offended group or supports a cause opposed by the winner.<ref name=rssforum />
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
Category:Freethought organizations Category:Skeptic organizations in the Philippines Category:Secularism in the Philippines