Thousands Join PATAS following Duterte’s Series of Anti-Catholic Speeches
President Rodrigo Duterte’s series of comments against the Catholic Church and its leaders have inspired thousands of Filipinos to abandon their traditional Catholic belief and joined the Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS), a group of non-religious people who are dedicated to educate society and eliminate myths and misconceptions about atheism and agnosticism.
Since Monday, PATAS office at Imacron Media Center, Kamuning Rd, Quezon City has been flooded with hundreds of new registrants daily.
The group’s official email address has also been flooded by applications especially on weekends according to Marissa Torres Langseth, one of the founders of PATAS.
“Para kasing ang dami naming naging tanong dun sa sinabi ni president na hindi sigurado ang diyos sa kanyang nilikha kaya siya lumikha ulit. Ang dami naming tanong ng husband ko kaya nag-research kami online and surprisingly, mayroon na palang active group ng Atheism sa Pilipinas so we are here”, Leticia Gusman, an accountant from Taguig who says her faith with the Catholic Church was marred by questions since a decade ago.
PATAS encourages harmonious information exchange among its atheist and agnostic members and encourages its members to come out and speak for their lack of religious beliefs. The society was founded in February 2011 by Marissa Torres Langseth and John Paraiso, who served as the first chairperson and president, respectively. Langseth retired in 2014 and Yek Lai Fatt became the new chairman.
Martin, a doctor who works at Makati Med says he grew up in a highly religious and solid INC (Iglesia Ni Cristo) family but at the age of 24, he started to ask questions and finally became humanist after passing the board exam 12 years ago.
“You don’t have to be in any religion to do good to other people. We join here not because we don’t like Catholics but because we like the idea of being open-minded,” Martin said.
“I don’t personally like Duterte but what he said and his openness towards Catholicism struck me. I think that was the only speech he delivered that I totally agree with”, Gina Bronco, an attorney who also teaches at San Beda College of Law said.
“Kaya hindi umaasenso ang Pilipinas dahil sa sobrang pakiki-alam ng simbahang Katoliko. Ang sobrang pagdami ng populasyon ay isa sa mga halimbawa kung bakit hindi umuusad ang ekonomiya. Ayaw ng Katoliko sa RH Bill kaya tayo ganito. Ang pag-ayaw sa death penalty ay isa ring halimbawa sa pakiki-alam kung kaya’t hindi maubos-ubos ang mga criminal sa Pilipinas,” another person who refused to give his name said.
PATAS has been extending their hours of operation since Monday for 2 hours in order to accommodate new registrants. Surprisingly enough, 90% of the people who want to join PATAS are professionals and highly-educated people.
Since Monday, PATAS office at Imacron Media Center, Kamuning Rd, Quezon City has been flooded with hundreds of new registrants daily.
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“Para kasing ang dami naming naging tanong dun sa sinabi ni president na hindi sigurado ang diyos sa kanyang nilikha kaya siya lumikha ulit. Ang dami naming tanong ng husband ko kaya nag-research kami online and surprisingly, mayroon na palang active group ng Atheism sa Pilipinas so we are here”, Leticia Gusman, an accountant from Taguig who says her faith with the Catholic Church was marred by questions since a decade ago.
PATAS encourages harmonious information exchange among its atheist and agnostic members and encourages its members to come out and speak for their lack of religious beliefs. The society was founded in February 2011 by Marissa Torres Langseth and John Paraiso, who served as the first chairperson and president, respectively. Langseth retired in 2014 and Yek Lai Fatt became the new chairman.
Martin, a doctor who works at Makati Med says he grew up in a highly religious and solid INC (Iglesia Ni Cristo) family but at the age of 24, he started to ask questions and finally became humanist after passing the board exam 12 years ago.
“You don’t have to be in any religion to do good to other people. We join here not because we don’t like Catholics but because we like the idea of being open-minded,” Martin said.
“I don’t personally like Duterte but what he said and his openness towards Catholicism struck me. I think that was the only speech he delivered that I totally agree with”, Gina Bronco, an attorney who also teaches at San Beda College of Law said.
“Kaya hindi umaasenso ang Pilipinas dahil sa sobrang pakiki-alam ng simbahang Katoliko. Ang sobrang pagdami ng populasyon ay isa sa mga halimbawa kung bakit hindi umuusad ang ekonomiya. Ayaw ng Katoliko sa RH Bill kaya tayo ganito. Ang pag-ayaw sa death penalty ay isa ring halimbawa sa pakiki-alam kung kaya’t hindi maubos-ubos ang mga criminal sa Pilipinas,” another person who refused to give his name said.
PATAS has been extending their hours of operation since Monday for 2 hours in order to accommodate new registrants. Surprisingly enough, 90% of the people who want to join PATAS are professionals and highly-educated people.
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