The Howie Severino Podcast

It’s the -ber months again and we know what that means. The Philippines is known for having the longest Christmas season in the world. So expect to hear certain songs on repeat. Balladeer Jose Mari Chan talks about how his iconic “Christmas in our Hearts” was originally composed for a school reunion and became an unexpected classic. Catch the full episode here (date recorded: August 11,...

“Threatened ang wika natin,” ganito inilarawan ng manunulat, makata at Alagad ng Sining para sa Panitikan, Virgilio Amario, ang kasalukuyang estado ng Wikang Filipino. Ayon sa kanya, mababa pa rin ang pagtingin sa ating wika dahil sa kolonyal na mentalidad. Noong 1980, nakita niya ang pangangailangan ng pagsulat ng mga librong pambata kaya’t itinatag niya ang Adarna House na naglalayong makahikaya...

In case you missed it, 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Director Pepe Diokno explains the influence of the three martyred priests: Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora on the Philippine Revolution. Listen to the full episode here (Date recorded: January 9, 2024) :  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0bc32tZdSnZLMaQiIsltrI?si=18e913837c2c4319 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

JP Soriano, GMAIN veteran reporter, had a ringside seat while covering the Paris Olympics and witnessed not just Yulo’s golden moments but the heartbreak of the Philippines’ other athletes. Soriano describes the excitement as Carlos Yulo beat strong rivals, especially the defending champion from Israel who had more fans in the stands. Our reporter also saw how the Philippines’ first gold medalist...

Every August, the Philippines commemorates 'Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.' In a 2021 conversation, fellow veteran documentarist Kara David  shares how she vlogs to teach Filipino language. Catch the full episode here (Date recorded: July 23, 2021): https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HNbiv1CWBCGgVY2FPYm54?si=d4d377a0579a4880&nd=1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many can relate to the Yulo family drama. Dr. Anna Tuazon explains some of the cultural values at play such as “balato,” “utang na loob,” parental fealty, and the pressures of being the family breadwinner. She shares what she has advised her own patients — the importance of listening to each other, respecting the choices of your children (“let them dream”), and knowing the boundaries of “utang na...

A useless new wheelchair ramp along EDSA appeared more like a slide at an amusement park, triggering a wave of online ridicule. But it produced at least one benefit: it started a conversation about making cities more accessible. Ken Abante, a leading advocate of inclusive mobility, tells us how. Listen to the full episode here (Date recorded: June 30, 2023) : https://open.spotify.com/episode/7b68W...

Prominent flood control engineer Dr. Guillermo Tabios shares a harsh reality — some densely populated areas of Manila may no longer be livable. In a wide-ranging conversation with Howie Severino triggered by recent devastating flooding, the UP professor emeritus of civil engineering explains that the low-lying metropolis could be facing unstoppable flooding. Climate change, clogged waterways, and...

August 9 is National Book Lovers Day. For acclaimed UK-based Filipina author Candy Gourlay, reading her first book was a magical experience. In a conversation recorded in June 2023, Gourlay says this experience inspired her to write books for children. Her most popular books are about kids who grew up in the Philippines. Catch the full episode here ( Date recorded: June 21, 2023): https://open.spo...

As millions of Mega Manila residents recover from the worst flooding in over a decade, we revisit a conversation from 2023 with disaster scientist Mahar Lagmay. He cites the Quezon City drainage master plan as a long-term solution that other urban areas can emulate. Listen to the full episode here (Date recorded: May 31, 2023)  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YJmomP7JtP0ZtP8bsZiqo?si=f12976...

Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines' first Olympic gold medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, explains how her sport is as much mental as it is physical. FULL EPISODE (Published: August 5, 2023) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Axh74ghWvW38Q5DSZO5M6?si=ialfNJFmT9a_jnHVM-FxeQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born and raised in the US, Bryan explains why he became a Filipino citizen. A Philippine resident for 17 years, he has started multiple ventures with bamboo being a main component, including the popular bambike tours of Intramuros. He tells Howie Severino about the impact of restricting car use in Intramuros in favor of pedestrians and bikers, and why bamboo can help save the planet. Speaking from...

The Filipino-American Bryan Benitez McClelland came to the Philippines after college thinking he would stay for six months. 17 years later, he’s settled in the country running bicycle tours, advocating bamboo and trying to protect Batangas’s coastal environment. He’s even become a Filipino citizen who votes in every election. He tells Howie Severino what made him stay and how his bamboo bike compa...

Joanna Sustento Bacsa lost five members of her family due to super typhoon Yolanda. She’s now at the forefront of fighting for climate justice. Catch the full episode here:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZnFd0CeBFtPAaodYLSkvw?si=IWZKfJlhTReWPPFbsb2OgQ&nd=1&dlsi=8b750ac33f8e4d43 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surprisingly, the pandemic did not worsen student performance, according to data cited by Dr. Karol Mark Yee, executive director of the Education Commission II, a government body that recommends legislation. “But we’re still at the bottom” among many countries, Yee is quick to add. After years of research on learning poverty, Yee says the government’s priorities should be nutrition and education i...

At the height of typhoon season, we revisit advice from Dr. Mahar Lagmay of the UP Resilience Institute, who explains how ordinary people can help build stronger defenses against disasters. Catch the full episode here:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YJmomP7JtP0ZtP8bsZiqo?si=GzXO6kUpTQC_WJ3iKkl-6A&nd=1&dlsi=b8b241cc71154e47 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

In the wake of an unruly Wattah-Wattah Festival in San Juan City, its mayor Francis Zamora vows changes for better crowd control, including limiting the annual basaan to an area around City Hall and improved law enforcement.  The 6’5” former La Salle player also talks about the surprising transfer of Ateneo star Mason Amos to his alma mater. Producer: Ivy Andrada-Bautista Researcher: Jenica V...

“Kumain ng kalabasa pampalinaw ng mata.” Squash or kalabasa is a popular vegetable. Chef JR Royol shares the fun and value of eating squash blossoms or bulaklak ng kalabasa. He also talks about the fascinating sex life, or way of reproducing, of this hardy plant. Catch the full episode here:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/5i9JGl5yhEZ4KkQpyy9TTV?si=_FLdhLR-Qz-wJowQyFgBKw&nd=1&dlsi=d...

Social entrepreneur Mark Gersava became a TOYM awardee on the strength of his out-of-the-box ideas, including bamboo straws and toothbrushes. A vocal advocate of bamboo, he credits eating bamboo shoots as a child with developing his brain and enabling him to rise from poverty. Producer: Aubrey Delos Reyes Researcher: Lilian Tiburcio Editor: Jayr Magtoto Links: https://bambuhay.ph/ https://www.face...

In the boonies of Sultan Kudarat province in Mindanao, where conflict would force his community to evacuate, Mark Gersava found a way to finish college. He eventually ended up in an office in Makati where he is thriving as a “social entrepreneur.” He explains to Howie Severino how an innovative, conscience-driven businessman can compete against hard-core capitalists. His main product? Plantable ba...

It was the rare victory of a small nation over a major power. Using legal and historical arguments, the Philippines convinced an international tribunal that Chinese claims in the West Philippine Sea were unlawful. In time for the 8th anniversary of the historic ruling, we revisit journalist and author Marites Vitug’s take on the epic David-and-Goliath face-off. Catch the full episode here:  https:...

Darrell Blatchley is a Bisaya-speaking American missionary’s son with an unusual passion: he collects the bones of animals that humans have killed through pollution and displays them for education. The founder of the D’Bone Collector’s Museum in Davao, Blatchley talks to Howie about bearing the stench of dead animals, cleaning the bones of whales and crocodiles, and how our plastic waste is causin...

“Objects are beautiful. Objects are worth obsessing about.”It was a shock to the arts community when theater luminary Floy Quintos passed away last April 27, 2024. He was less well known for his expertise on pre-colonial art. He spent part of his conversation with Howie Severino talking about his extensive collection of rice gods called bulol and traditional Philippine fabrics. Catch the full epis...

As we celebrate "Pride Month" this June, the national convenor of Pantay, a youth-led gender equality advocacy group and Pride Ph, Vince Liban, talks to Howie Severino about the state of LGBT rights in the Philippines. He explains why, in a society with wide acceptance of LGBTs, the SOGIE equality bill has languished in Congress for 24 years. The recent pronouncement of Pope Francis that...

The national convenor of Pantay, a youth-led gender equality advocacy group and Pride PH, Vince Liban, talks to Howie Severino about the state of LGBT rights in the Philippines. He explains why, in a society with wide acceptance of LGBTs, the SOGIE equality bill has languished in Congress for 24 years. The recent pronouncement of Pope Francis that priests can now bless same-sex couples was a win,...