A new docu-drama will explore humanist and freethought activism in the Philippines. The film project combines historical recreations with insightful interviews from both secular and religious activists. It’s an attempt to spotlight an underrepresented movement in a country deeply rooted in religious traditions. When I first visited the country, I was struck by its strong religious presence. There were John 3:16 signs plastered across highways, almost as if they were state-sponsored. In some ways, it was like stepping into a Christian Nationalist’s vision of America. However, there was a key difference—the Philippines religious culture, primarily Roman Catholic tradition, didn’t seem as hostile toward art and education as certain fundamentalist movements in the U.S. The Philippines, like the United States, enshrines separation of church and state in its constitution. This was a revelation, especially since the country’s religious history is largely a story of conquest. When Spain colonized the Philippines, they brought Catholicism with them, and after the U.S. helped oust Spain, Protestantism began to spread. Left forgotten were the cultural roots of the original Filipinos …