Support 'An American Backslider in the Philippines'.
Support this freethought film project.
The Philippines has been one of my favorite destinations over the past four or five years. I first visited in 2016, exploring areas most tourists rarely see. On my third and fourth trips, I ventured to different islands such as Boracay, Leyte, and Cebu. While those trips were filled with beautiful experiences, there were moments of sadness as I witnessed the poverty, and times when I saw the harmful consequences that arise from a mix of superstition and poverty.
One of the most striking events occurred during my 2022 visit. A young girl, who had become pregnant, was misdiagnosed by a witch doctor who believed she had a tumor. As time passed and the "tumor" didn’t disappear, real doctors were finally called in. They discovered she was actually pregnant. The last I heard, this girl was determined to pursue a career in medicine so she could provide her community with proper healthcare, free from the grip of superstitious practices.
There are some signs of hope. As more and more humanists come out, and people realize that 'we don't have fangs' (as a Los Angeles HALA member once explained to me) it becomes a bit easier to start living honestly in society. There is a Filipino celebrity named Bryanboy who works with IKEA who came out as a non believer and his career seems to be untouched. I think stories like this should be the focus of my documentary.
The documentary is tentatively titled 'An American Backslider in the Philippines'. The title is inspired by a think tank which labeled America as a 'backslidden democracy'. It's also a play on the titles of Mark Twain books like 'A Vagabond Abroad' or 'The Innocents Abroad'. It concerns freethought movements in a predominantly Roman Catholic country that has separation of church and state written into their constitution. I would like for it to showcase a variety of humanist and freethought groups, and the few celebrities that have come out as non-believers.
I want to work hand in hand with Filipino freethought groups and need to raise money for this endeavor. Ultimately, I want to see this documentary streaming on mainstream channels, like my current documentary 'Wrestling Then and Now', which is currently on Tubi, Plex, and a variety of channels I haven't even heard of! I actually take a silent pride in that.
This will be a unique documentary and a moment of action. When I was there the last time, I realized I would have to do some island hopping if I wanted to get interviews. That will cost money. I don't just want to be a gawker, so I plan on working with any group that will have me on a variety of projects.
If I were religious, there would be many churches and missionary groups willing to partner with me —people are always ready to fund efforts to spread the gospel. However, providing something the community truly needs, like essential medical care and education without religious strings attached, can be a much harder sell. That’s why I’m launching this GoFundMe.
Please check out the gofundme below, and if this looks like a project and endeavor that you can support, then feel free to donate. I would certainly appreciate your generosity and there will be updates specifying how the monies have been spent.
Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line or ask in the comment sections.
P.S. Here is a video documenting the story of the 11 year old whose pregnancy was misdiagnosed by a local witch doctor.
