Rock and Rice

What do you do when your climbing gym starts as a warehouse wall, runs on donations, and somehow becomes one of the most important climbing communities in the Philippines? In this episode, Tim and MG sit down with Ben and Tabs of The Pump Factory in Iloilo to talk about building a gym from scratch, growing a climbing community, importing holds to an archipelago (good luck), and why climbing spaces...

Mabuhay Projek Pango! This month, we celebrate our friends Gerry Egbalic and Ivan Cataluña, who just summitted The Nose. Projek Pango was an idea born in 2023 and they summited The Nose May 2026.  To our knowledge, they are the first Filipino team to have done The Nose. But if you happen to know other all-Filipino teams who've summited, or even attempted The Nose, reach out to projek_pango@gm...

In this episode of Rock and Rice, we sit down with Daniel Pugeda — a Filipino-American climber whose first outdoor sport climb in the Philippines… was a 5.13a/7c+. But this conversation goes way beyond that wild first send. After multiple trips back to the Philippines, Daniel reflects on how his perspective has evolved — from being a stoked first-time visitor to someone thinking more critically ab...

Di araw araw pasko… but today we dropped a nice one This week we sit down with Ryan Juguan — USA Paraclimber + disability advocate — to talk about competing at the highest level and making climbing more accessible for everyone. We get into: what comp climbing is actually like building Chicago Climbs from the ground up the gaps in accessibility (and what needs to change) Also yes, CJoy (not Chicken...

Second episode of 2026! 🔥 This week on Rock and Rice, we sit down with Manila-based power couple Dane & Magnet — self-dubbed serial projectors who’ve been quietly stacking some of the biggest sends of 2025. From Magnet’s epic last-go send of Ben & Be (7c+/5.13a) in Igbaras… to Power & Pinesse, White Flower, and the mental chess match of projecting at your limit — this one is all about...

Kumusta, mga ka-akyat 🧗🏽‍♀️🇵🇭 Welcome to the first Rock and Rice episode of 2026 — and we’re starting strong with longtime climber, community builder, and all-around legend, Mecia Serafino ( @small_wonder ) .  Tim and Mecia first met during their SPI course in Mammoth (yes, they’re still preparing for the exam 😅), but this episode goes way deeper than anchors and knots. Mecia shares her journey...

Maligayang Pasko, mga ka-akyat 🧗🏽‍♂️🇵🇭 In this end-of-year kwentuhan , Tim records from his parents’ house in Temecula (yes, still climbing, still dodging rain, still watching Severance late) to reflect on a very Rock and Rice year: Rainy seasons in California and the Philippines A trip back home (Manila ➝ Igbaras ➝ rice terraces ➝ thunderstorms) A sketchy habal-habal ride you never forget A fia...

Onassis, Christine, Vince, and Tim do a fun podcast episode from The Red River Gorge: America's favorite sport climbing area. Yes, it's in Kentucky. Yes, we were the only Filipinos in Kentucky.  Christine invited the guys to her annual Red River Gorge trip. We climbed, made bisteak, and tambayed. Listen to our silly episode where we talk about our trip, what helps us "lock in"...

If you boulder in SoCal and look up to double digit boulderers, chances are you follow Tristin on IG. Tristin is a Madrock Athlete, based in Fullerton, CA. He started climbing in 2018 and now climbs double digits consistently. From Meadowlark Lemon Stand V13- , to MRSA V11 in Tramway, to Bloodline V10 in Temecula.  We recorded this episode in May, when he was working Allegory in the Cave V12 in Bl...

Mika Alfaro is a Filipina climber based in Perth, Australia. We met in Danao when she was having the climbing trip of her life. Her nemesis? Bibinka. She ended up going to Danao again because she loved the crag—much like me.  I was intrigued by her story. Mika was born in the Philippines, moved to Kuwait when she was six, then moved to Perth when she was ten.  Listen to her talk about why she love...

Shaun Marquez is a climber, bolter, and route setter based in Ilo Ilo. He is president of Ilo Ilo Climbing Community and climbs often at Igbaras — Ilo Ilo's premiere sport climbing crag. We talk about his send of Igbarock , a 7B/5.12b in Igbaras, how he balances all of his roles, being an introverted leader, and why he loves climbing.  Links Sterling Blog: Philippine Climbers Building Their O...

It's no secret that climbing in the Philippines is awesome. But isn't easy to learn about. The routes aren't on Mountain Project, getting to the crag takes a jeep, boat, or habal habal, and you need to know the Tita who runs the carinderia nearby.  Climb Philippines is a website that Ina Pahati started in 2007 to help people learn more about outdoor climbing in the Philippines. In t...

Nikki Cuna just got her Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) certification, meaning she's the first Filipina from the Philippines to be a certified climbing guide. This is huge! Nikki is a sport climber, budding trad climber, route developer, and certified climbing guide based in Cebu, Philippines. She's originally from Samar Island before moving to Cebu for school and work.  Her skills in clim...

"Climbers are just big kids playing on compressed dirt. And we want to be better than others at playing on compressed dirt." Sierra Rose Knott is a double digit boulderer and Organic Climbing athlete based in San Diego, CA. Her and her husband Richie are regulars at Black Mountain, a beautiful granite bouldering area in the San Jacinto Mountains surrounded by pine trees.  She had just co...

Pets (Paul Eli T. Suson) is a Philippines comp climber, route setter, and outdoor climber from Cebu. He’s the sixth ascensionist of Jack Sparrow—the Philippines’ most famous 5.14a. Many Cebuano climbers consider him to be a young prodigy. We talk about his mindset toward outdoor climbing, how he processes failure, rest, and why he competes, bolts, sets, and gives back to the community. Links Paul...

Help us balikbayan climbing gear to the Philippines. patreon.com/rockandrice If you like the show, I ask you to consider becoming a Patron.  Getting gear in the Philippines is hard. It’s even harder if you’re outside of Manila. You can donate anything between $1 (50 pesos), $10 (500 pesos), or $25 (1250 pesos).  60% of your patronage goes towards gear balikbayan to Cebu Rock Climbing Community, Il...

Christine Joy is a boulderer, sport climber, budding trad climber, and soon-to-be SPI course certified climber based in Las Vegas. She has roots in the Philippines in Illocos Norte and Isabella, and has climbed in Cantabaco (shoutouts to Bal and Patrick!). When I first came across Christine's Instagram — we found out of each other through the algorithm — my first thought was. Yo! We are liter...

Christian Mercene — aka the Mercene-ary — has sent at least forty-six 5.13s, at least nine 5.14s, and a handful of double digit boulders. He's a born-and-raised Southern Californian. Second generation Filipino American.  Taga Atimonan ang nanay niya (his mom is from Atimonan).  Taga Mindoro ang tatay niya (his dad is from Mindoro).  He. Is. A. Beast.  🔥 Sent Manphibian 🐸, a 9a/5.14d in Vega...

Sam is a former Philippines Climbing Team comp climber now turned alpinist. She’s competed in boulder competitions in the Philippines, sport climbed in Thailand, and now does multi pitch, alpine, and ice climbing with her partner Mickey. Originally from Manila, she’s now in Vancouver, Washington escaping the state income tax and enjoying the PNW. Fun fact: Her dad, Tony Castro, was the first winne...

Ivan Cataluña is a 27-year old trad, bigwall, and alpine climber from Mindanao, the southmost major island in the Philippines. Kind, humble, and hardworking, he works and goes to school in St George, Utah. Zion is where he spends his weekends. Ivan's IG: @ivangino 💪🏽 Some of Ivan’s climbs in 2023 Silmaril, a 10 pitch route with the hardest route being 5.12a. In Zion National Park Tricks of...

Julie is a longtime rock climber. She's been climbing in the West Coast since the 90's. Most of you might know her from the films Rampage or Free Hueco . Bouldering, sport, trad, bigwall — she's done it all. And guess what? She still climbs! She also started a coalition with Al. The name? Rock and Rice. It was a coalition of two until some dude decided to make it a podcast... Anyway...

Episode 3️⃣ of 🪨 and 🍚 We're talking to Gerry Egbalic today. Gerry and I met at United in Yosemite Climbing Festival ! He saw a Filipino flag Lakers sticker on my truck and asked, "Are you Filipino?" Gerry Egbalic is a fifty year old Filipino trad climber who lives out of his van. He's a kind spirit, an experienced climber, and a notable mentor to many BIPOC climbers in the W...

She’s from Manila. He’s from Iloilo.  They both started climbing in 2017/2018. Met in Tonsai, Thailand during the pandemic.  Now? They’re inseparabl……y best friends. Introducing Charm Bartolay and Wilson Adolfo.  Charm is from Manila, and travels around the world to climb. Turkey. Greece. China. And next up, Spain. She's a strong, technical sport climber who started in 2017. She's from M...

🚀🚀 First episode! 🪨🍚 I'm Tim — a passionate climber and a proud Filipino. I've met lots of Filipino climbers who have a lot to share. How dope would it be if there was a podcast that featured us? Rock and Rice is a podcast where Filipino climbers tell their story. Follow us on  Instagram . For this first interview, we're talking to Al Amores.  Al Amores has been a climber for 29...