Dr. Ligaya Acosta

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BIOGRAPHY

DR. LIGAYA A. ACOSTA, is the Regional Director of Asia and Oceania of Human Life International (HLI), a position she has held since November 2007.

Prior to her present post, Dr. Acosta served as Director of Health Consultants, Inc., a health and management consultancy firm she co-founded with some partners in the early 90’s. At the same time, she worked with the Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines, where she served in different capacities for more than 28 years. Fifteen years of which were concurrently spent as Information-Education and Communications Manager for AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. During all those years, she was a firm believer of population control and an active promoter of contraceptives and sterilization services.

Her life changed however, when she was designated as Program Manager for Natural Family Planning in early 2004, where she first trained with the U.S. based Family of the Americas Foundation. Here, she discovered the deadly deception of contraceptives and sterilization services and the myth of overpopulation.

To make sure she had proofs beyond reasonable doubt, Dr. Acosta spent a year of extensive research on the subject, leading her to discover the global anti-life agenda. Armed with the horrible truth, which until then had been withheld from public knowledge – together with her first-hand knowledge as a DOH insider, as well as countless testimonies of frontline health workers and victims themselves, Dr. Acosta made a 180-degree turn to become a staunch pro-life advocate and activist.

On February 14, 2005, she gave up her job and lucrative consultancies to start the mission of defending life and family. Her first explosive expose entitled “Public Health Implications of Population Control” was published full page in the national newspaper – the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the CBCP Monitor – the official publication of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, as well as in other national and international publications.

In recognition of her commitment to the pro-life cause, her Archdiocese awarded her a Plaque of Recognition on February 24, 2006, “in grateful recognition for invaluable services rendered in defense, protection, and promotion of human life in all its stages from conception to natural death, and in upholding the sanctity of human sexuality even at the expense of one’s career and personal gain.” She also bagged the “Fr. Paul Marx PRO-LIFETIME AWARD” from Human Life International “in recognition of her all-out efforts and unselfish service in the defense of truth and life.” Fr. Marx is the founder of HLI.

Dr. Acosta has made countless mission trips to countries in Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the United States of America, spreading the Gospel of Life, giving talks on a variety of life-changing topics, and conducting pro-life trainings for different groups and organizations, as well as in colleges and universities. She has also been invited to speak at conferences in the Vatican City in Rome, as well as in the Holy Land.

Dr. Acosta organizes international congresses, specifically – the Human Life International Asia-Pacific Congress on Faith, Life, and Family (ASPAC), held in a different country each time. She has also been featured in countless radio and TV programs, as well as newspaper articles in the many countries she has been to.

A multi-awarded individual, Dr. Acosta had been a consistent university scholar and holds degrees in Bachelor of Science in Social Work-MAGNA CUM LAUDE; Bachelor of Laws; Master in Management, and Doctor in Management, both of which she obtained with an over-all grade of 1.1 (with 1.0 as the highest). Her doctoral dissertation entitled, “A Model of an Employee Assistance Program for Women in Government”, merited a grade of “High Passed”, the highest possible grade.

Recently widowed, she was happily married to Eng’r. Sandy Acosta, with whom she had four (4) wonderful children. She is a proud grandparent to six loving grandchildren.