Teka Teka

Coffee is part of everyday life in the Philippines—but behind every cup is a long history shaped by trade, agriculture, labor, and culture. In this episode, we revisit a conversation from WhatsAP? Araling Panlipunan Rebooted, exploring how coffee arrived in the Philippines, why the country sits in the global coffee “bean belt,” and what makes Philippine coffee unique. From Batangas’ rise as a coff...

As Filipinos grow more vigilant about how government money is spent, questions around the national budget go beyond big numbers and official promises. More people are asking harder, more personal questions: sino ang magbabayad, sino ang makikinabang, at para kanino ba talaga ang mga programang ito? In this episode rerun, Roby Alampay talks with economist Cielo Magno about how ordinary citizens can...

UP Tugma brings Philippine music to life. In this live episode from Maki+Fiesta 2.0 , the student musicians from the UP College of Music take us behind the rhythms, stories, and traditions they perform—showing how music can carry culture, connect communities, and spark collaboration. Join us for a lively, short conversation recorded in the heart of the festival, and discover how tradition meets cr...

The start of a new year often comes with plans to improve daily habits, including skincare. But with countless products, routines, and online advice competing for attention, building a skincare routine can quickly become confusing and expensive. In this rerun of a Project Vanity episode, we revisit a timely conversation on skincare habits, evidence-based advice, and the importance of professional...

Japan is facing a growing contradiction. As the country grapples with an aging population and severe labor shortages, it is planning to admit up to 820,000 foreign workers under its Specified Skilled Worker program by the end of the decade. Yet at the same time, anti-immigrant sentiment has been gaining ground in Japanese politics.    In this episode of Teka Teka, Prof. Gracia Liu-Farrer...

As we enter 2026, many Filipinos are setting resolutions to eat healthier and become more mindful of nutrition. But how easy is it really to make informed food choices, especially when grocery shelves are filled with products claiming to be “healthy”? In this rerun episode of Teka Teka, we revisit a conversation on food labels, nutrition claims, and why what we eat matters for public health. Healt...

The New Year often promises fresh starts, but real life rarely resets overnight. In this episode, we revisit a meditation on finding meaning in repetition, quiet progress, and the everyday effort we carry into each year. Drawing from the story of Sisyphus and the gentle wisdom found in Hayao Miyazaki’s films, Jyn Garcia explores how hope, clarity, and purpose can emerge even when life feels non-li...

On Rizal Day, we revisit one of Manila’s most overlooked heritage sites: the Pansiteria Macanista de Buen Gusto, a real Binondo restaurant that José Rizal named in El Filibusterismo. The structure—one of the last surviving 19th-century buildings of its kind—offers a rare glimpse into the Manila Rizal once walked. Though time has nearly claimed it, the pansiteria remains a powerful reminder of the...

Recorded live at MAKI+Fiesta 2.0, this episode of Thought Bubbles brings together content creators DJ Cupcakes and Mathilda Airlines, alongside journalist and producer Lolit Lachica, for a grounded conversation on influence, creative content, and truth-telling in today’s media landscape. From remixing viral rants into music, to using movement and humor as entry points for political and social issu...

Every year, the Filipino Christmas season unofficially begins the moment Jose Mari Chan’s voice returns to malls, radios, and memes. But the history of our holiday soundtrack goes much deeper than Christmas in Our Hearts. In this episode rerun, we trace the evolution of Filipino Christmas music—from the Spanish-era villancicos, to classic OPM hits like Ang Pasko ay Sumapit and Himig ng Pasko, all...

Every Christmas, Filipinos turn to Papemelroti for simple, meaningful, and affordable gifts—from wooden signs and journals to handcrafted décor and inspirational keepsakes. But before it became a go-to shop for holiday gift-giving, it began as a small family-run store under an apartment in Quezon City—built by Benny and Socorro Alejandro, and later powered by their creatively raised children. In t...

Meta's decision to end its third-party fact-checking program threatens to reshape the Philippine information landscape—and not for the better. In this episode, journalist Nica Hanopol sits down with disinformation researcher and political communications professor JM Lanuza to unpack what this means for Filipino audiences who already navigate a sea of misinformation online. With 34% of Filipinos co...

It’s Christmas 2025, and the season of shopping, gift-giving, and holiday travel is in full swing. But with high prices and rising expenses, many Filipinos are asking the same question: How do I make the most of my 13th month pay and Christmas bonus this year? In this special holiday rerun, we revisit a listener favorite on smart spending and financial planning. Learn practical tips on budgeting,...

Vasectomy is still uncommon in the Philippines, but that may be starting to change. Recently, writer Brix Tino won First Prize for Sanaysay at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for his essay “Ari,” where he shares why he chose to get a vasectomy at just 22 years old. And earlier this year, TV host Drew Arellano was praised by the Commission on Population and Development for undergoing a vasectomy...

What does learning Tagalog mean to second- and third-generation Filipino Americans? PumaPodcast reporter Maria Reyes joins New York University students on an immersion trip to Little Manila, Queens, where they practice the language with shop owners and reconnect with their heritage. Their stories reveal how language loss, shame, and identity shape the Fil-Am experience and why learning Tagalog can...

It’s 2025, and the DTI is once again insisting that a ₱500 Noche Buena is possible—sparking déjà vu from the same debate three years ago. So we’re bringing back that earlier episode to revisit the original uproar and explore what the ₱500 Noche Buena tells us about affordability, holiday spending, and the cost of living in the Philippines. This episode rerun was produced by Hannah Tasarra and engi...

Why do so many Filipino children struggle to read and what does that say about the state of education and literacy in the Philippines today? In this National Book Week episode, we revisit our conversation with Gillian Reyes of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) to unpack the country’s growing reading crisis. From lack of access and rising book costs to home environments and reading culture...

The Philippines has become one of the most active frontlines in the growing US–China information war, where digital influence operations, propaganda campaigns, and soft power tactics are shaping public opinion, politics, and national security. In this episode, we speak with Reuters correspondents Poppy McPherson and Karen Lema about their investigation into a Chinese-backed disinformation network...

Sixteen years after the Maguindanao Massacre , one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in history, Teka Teka revisits one of the most haunting stories from Super Evil: A Beautiful Place to Die Season 2. This special feature brings back “The Cellphone,” the powerful minisode about Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon , one of the 58 victims murdered on November 23, 2009. Amid the terror on a remote hill...

Regine Cabato sits down with military historian Jose Custodio to unpack the rise of pro-China propaganda on Filipino social media and how these narratives intersect with the politics of the Marcos administration and the Duterte camp. Custodio explains where fearmongering about military coups comes from, why influencers echo Beijing’s lines on the West Philippine Sea, and how disinformation network...

With the passing of Juan Ponce Enrile at 101, we revisit the story of a man whose influence shaped—and survived—every major turn in modern Philippine politics. In this rerun of the second and final part of our special series on JPE, we trace how he moved from the center of power under Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to the front lines of the 1986 People Power Revolution, and how he remained a force in govern...

Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the most powerful, influential, and controversial figures in modern Philippine history, has died at 101. In this rerun of our special series on JPE, we look back on the extraordinary life of a man whose story spanned dictatorship, revolution, and democracy — and who served across administrations from Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to Benigno Aquino III. This first episode traces En...

How does the media shape the way we think and talk about mental health? Hannah Tasarra sits down with Roy Dahildahil and Richardson Mojica of MentalHealthPH to talk about how news outlets, social media, and content creators can help change the narrative around mental health and suicide in the Philippines. They discuss what responsible reporting looks like, why certain words matter, and how empathy...

In an age of screens and solitude, Filipino adults are rediscovering the joy of gathering around a table: to play, tell stories, and roll some dice. In this episode of Thought Bubbles , we talk to gamer and storyteller Lanz Frago about the growing tabletop games community in the Philippines, why it’s not just for kids (or nerds), and how these games are building friendships, creativity, and even c...

Teacher Grace Osio, Board Member of World Vision Philippines and a longtime advocate for inclusive education, joins host Hannah Tasarra to unpack what ADHD really is — a condition of regulation, attention, and processing, not misbehavior. Together, they discuss how hyperactivity and inattention can be misunderstood, how classroom structures can unintentionally exclude, and why changing mindsets am...