The Howie Severino Podcast

“Ipapabarangay kita.” The common neighborhood warning highlights the real authority at the most grassroots level of government. Barangays are not just community hubs; it is said their officials serve as vital foot soldiers in the political machinery of higher leaders. In this episode, analyst and professor Edmund Tayao talks to Howie Severino about how the postponement yet again of barangay electi...

“Napatunayan po nila na war, guns, is not the only option of attaining peace and development in our communities.” As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) concludes its historic first parliamentary elections, the region marks a monumental shift from decades of armed conflict to an experiment in democratic self-determination. In this episode, Mindanao State University (Marawi)...

Being a virtual assistant (VA) is now the dream job for most Filipinos, according to a new Remitly study. As one of the growing professions in the remote work sector, VA work has given Filipinos greater access to international job opportunities. Across the Philippines, a growing workforce of remote professionals is serving overseas clients from laid-back hubs like Bohol and El Nido. But behind the...

"Nakagaganda ng buhay ang may alam."  Viral content creator, University of the Philippines Los Baños professor, and forester Ethan Hernandez shares his journey from overcoming poverty, including sleeping in an abandoned train station, to becoming a leading voice for environmental literacy. Ethan tells Howie Severino how he developed his distinct animated style of storytelling, including incor...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sensitive topics that may be harmful or disturbing to some. Audience discretion is advised. Recent school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga — occurring just two months apart — have sparked national soul-searching and heavy speculation over what drives teenagers to commit deadly acts.  While popular video games are often blamed, psycholog...

Erratic oil prices and Middle East conflicts are accelerating the global shift toward solar power, a technology widely celebrated as planet-friendly.    But the surge in electric vehicles and solar panels conceals a critical trade-off: scaling these technologies carries its own heavy environmental footprint.    In an interview with Howie Severino, environmental scientist and ge...

“When I make a film, it's like a mosaic glass window. It's not planned, it's not distilled like those Hollywood scripts are.”    In Part 2 of his conversation with Howie Severino, National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik reflects on his extraordinary transformation from Wharton-educated economist to pioneer of independent Philippine cinema.    Following a decision to leave his o...

When acclaimed filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik recently returned his National Artist medallion, it was a rare and striking act of protest. He was lamenting the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) proposed policy to cut college general education requirements from 36 units to 18–21, which critics fear could weaken the humanities, history, ethics, and arts. CHED said the plan aims to streamline these fi...

"The truth-telling makes the impeachment process worth it.”    UP Law School Associate Dean Paolo Tamase explains to Howie Severino the various ways an impeachment trial is different from a regular courtroom trial.    He warns against "over-judicialization," or getting bogged down in legal procedures, when an impeachment trial is more of a political process meant to ferret out...

AI expert Jaemark Tordecilla returns to GMA Network for a wide-ranging conversation with Howie Severino on the technology reshaping journalism, education, and everyday life. They are joined by several dozen high school and college students in the podcast’s first-ever recording with a live audience. Jaemark is the former head of digital operations for GMA News, who led the creation of The Howi...

With former President Duterte set to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, we look back at his formative years, long before he rose to power.  “He wished his father saw him become a lawyer.”  Journalist and biographer Earl Parreño tells Howie Severino that Duterte idolized his father, Vicente, a former Cabinet secretary and governor of Davao, and deeply loved...

For this special episode of Howie Severino Presents, the team travels to the northernmost province of the archipelago to look for the last traditional stone houses, a distinctive feature of Batanes that is rapidly disappearing.     Some of these houses have been standing for more than a hundred years, a symbol of Batanes’ rugged ingenuity. But recent restrictions on harves...

Has your feed been invaded — by China, America, or any other foreign power? How can you tell? Open-source intelligence analyst Giano Libot explains how foreigners shape and influence public opinion in the Philippines. He discusses how a recent statement by AFP Chief Romeo Brawner was taken out of context and went viral, showing how narratives can be twisted and amplified online. This is the third...

In China's influence operations in the world, the Philippines ranked 7th in 2022, according to the study the China Index. In 2024, the Philippines went down the ranking to number 29. Analyst Janina Santos from Doublethink Lab, a think tank that studies Foreign Information Manipulation Interference or FIMI, unpacks China's online influence in the world and how this has pervaded our everyday lives a...

In today’s information battlefield, outside forces are waging influence campaigns using proxies, propaganda, and falsehoods to sway public opinion. This tactic is known as Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). How does FIMI threaten democracies around the world? What’s happening in the Philippines?  Prof. Rachel Khan of the University of the Philippines breaks it down. Thi...

Ang kauna-unahang Miss Philippines na si Pura Villanueva Kalaw, kinikilalang isa rin sa mga pinakamatatalinong babae ng kaniyang panahon. Kaya nang ipaglaban niya ang karapatang bumoto ng mga babae, nakinig ang lahat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sa matagal na panahon, lalaki lang ang nakaboboto sa Pilipinas — hanggang makibaka at mangampanya ang kababaihan. Alamin kung paano unang nakaboto sa halalan ang mga babae. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nagtipon ang Katipunan sa Cavite noong 1897 para magkasundo muli. Ngunit nagkagulo nang maghalalan. Lalong lumalim ang hidwaan. Kumalas si Bonifacio. Pinaaresto ni Aguinaldo. Paano naging personal ang alitan nila? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tejeros Convention, Part 1 Para mamagitan sa dalawang paksyon ng Katipunan, dumayo si Andres Bonifacio sa isang pulong sa Cavite na naging snap election. Bakit hindi tanggap ni Bonifacio ang pagkatalo niya? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dating gerilya at mekaniko ng bus, si Pangulong Ramon Magsaysay ay malapit sa masa at nakamobilisa ng kabataan. Walang bahid ng katiwalian. Ngunit hindi niya natapos ang kanyang unang termino. Who was Ramon Magsaysay? A former guerrilla leader and bus mechanic, President Magsaysay was close to the masses and mobilized the youth. He was untainted by corruption scandals. But tragically, he wasn’t ab...

The youthful presidential candidate Ramon Magsaysay won by a landslide in 1953, propelled by various campaign gimmicks, including the first viral campaign jingle. That catchy tune was even revived during the 1986 people power revolution.    This is the first episode of the Philippine election history series of the Howie Severino Presents podcast.   Mambo Magsaysay: Ang unang viral c...

The Pinto Art Museum and Arboretum in Antipolo City stands out for bringing art and nature together in one place. Founded by neurologist Dr. Joven Cuanang, he talks to Howie Severino about his love for trees and plants that started when he was a child. He believes that being surrounded by art and nature is good for your health, and Pinto lets you enjoy both at the same time. Recorded on November 2...

In this conversation recorded in August 2022, Jose Mari Chan shares his thoughts on being considered a Christmas icon. Date recorded: August 11, 2022 Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zwp2dFiuI4KfSFDxjuPIQ?si=P13hXN_8S9SQQCv_mP_-RQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If you love, you will grieve.” In a heartfelt conversation recorded last December 2023, writer Lissa Romero de Guia shares how writing helped her navigate the profound loss of her husband, Kidlat de Guia. As we celebrate the holiday season, Lissa offers insights on how to support and greet those who are grieving, reminding us of the importance of compassion and understanding.  Date recorded:...

It’s Christmas carmaggedon season. Inclusive mobility advocate Kenneth Abante calls for a shift in thinking to moving people and not cars.  Date recorded: June 30, 2023 Listen to the full episode here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.