What's the Tsismis?

Pinoys on Parliament is the coolest and largest youth conference for Filipinos across Canada. Here are some snippets from workshop participants and the community symposium!

Chef Earl Briones wrote "I used to think I wasn't Filipino enough" in an Instagram reel (@chefebriones), and Ryan spontaneously invited him into the studio to chat about it! Listen in as they dig into who Filipinos were before they were forced to be something they're not. They talk about imposter syndrome, why explorers like Christopher Columbus were pieces of ****, why the US isn't benevolent, an...

In this episode of What’s the Tsismis , Rajah and Jocelyn dive into the perplexing world of Filipino names and nicknames. Why does every family seem to have a Baby, a Bong, or a Boy? What’s the story behind blending parents’ names to create something uniquely Filipino?  From funny nicknames to cultural traditions, we explore how our names are a reflection of identity, family, and connection. Don’t...

Listen in as Ryan gets a batok tattoo, hand-tapped by by Mayo of Birthmark Tattoos. Mayo recalls how he journeyed into the mountains to meet legendary Apo Whang-Od, the last mambabatok of Kalinga and oldest living tattoo artist at 107 years old. He got her blessing to continue the tradition, and even tattooed her...twice! For Ryan, the process is what makes the tattoo so meaningful. He told Kuya M...

Listen in while Ryan and Domi overshare for this juicy advice episode! They talk about why they left their careers (and don’t regret it), their journeys to WTT (it's a long story!) the best opening line to meet people (it involves worms), and how to find and connect with your Filipino community (karaoke walk, anyone?) What do you do when your student era is coming to an end and you want to step in...

Our childhood and teenage years are incredibly formative parts of our lives. As we age, we move to new places, make new friends, expand our horizons and confront hard life lessons. At the same time, we put up boundaries and shed parts of ourselves that no longer serve us.  In this episode, “Magmahal at mahalin / To love and to be loved”, Micah explores the question: what parts of your childhood ha...

What do you do when your job is in one place and your friends & family are in another? Do you start a new era in a place away from home? Or do you go back to where your social networks are already established? In this episode, Arianne Barroma joins Ryan Lacanilao to answer a question from a listener. Zophia Brobio moved around a lot as a kid and has a complicated relationship with place. But s...

What do you do when you’re deep into your ‘working woman’ era and realize it’s not fulfilling you creatively? In this episode, Rajah Maggay joins Ryan Lacanilao to answer a question from a listener. Romilie Calotes achieved the expected trajectory in her education and career, but work doesn’t feel as inspiring as she’d hoped. She’s exploring creative outlets outside the 9-to-5 and is wondering how...

Arianne, Julia, Ryan and Micah have a conversation about their experiences as facilitators at the Pinoys on Parliament 2022 Conference. They share their thoughts on family expectations and Filipino representation in the media. This episode also features the reflections and messages from Pinoys on Parliament delegates!

Tune in to hear Micah relive her cringe years, including movie theatre makeouts and a day care centre flooding! In this episode, Ryan Lacanilao asks Micah Leonida to throw way back to her junior high years. What did she look like and dress like, and what was her crush situation? What shenanigens did she get up to? Which friends did she lose touch with, and who was her favourite teacher? Ryan then...

In this episode, Nikki Mendiola chats with “I’ll Call You Tomorrow”s very own- Raeland Mendoza, one of ICYT’s iconic co-founders! Rae has broken into the art scene and cultivated a creative collective here in Edmonton, a place where not a lot of Filipinos have the chance to dream or the stomach to dare. Rae and Nikki dive into the feats, barriers, and nuances with being a creative- let alone being...

In this episode, Nikki chats with two fellow Filipinx pals from her diaspora community here in Treaty 6 territory. Together, they unpack and explore their almost-too-similar experiences with fatphobia, beauty standards, and colourism.  Stepping foot into a Filipinx space can be just as daunting to those that are familiar with it, even as much as the next stranger. Titas, Lolos, and even your own m...

In this episode, Micah interviews her close friends DJ Lubuguin and Michael Earl Golveo about their experiences with familial inheritance. Together, they navigate the interpersonal intricacies that arise between family members as a result of discussions about livelihood, wealth, and familial duty.  Central questions woven throughout the episode include:  What is the importance of lupa (land)?  Why...

Exploring the blog “I Would Rather Go Hungry Than Eat Filipino Street Food Again!” In this episode Arianne Barroma and Micah Leonida dive head first into the thoughts of North American travellers as they share their negative experiences with Filipino (Street) Food.  A blog describes Filipino food as “disappointing” and “fatty”. The authors even go as far as to state they would “starve before eatin...

In this episode, the WTT team channels the teenage angst and heartbreak from Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR album. When SOUR came out, Arianne Baroma says, "My windows were down, sunroof open, music on full blast, drinking my strawberry milk—I'm angry!" Ryan Lacanilao meets his fellow WTT producers Arianne Barroma, Nikki Mendiola, and Rajah Maggay for the first time in person! As they walk through a path i...

Psst, did you hear What's the Tsismis is launching season 4 this summer? In season 4, we're going unhinged—it's our sour season. Listen in as we air our grievances, from stories about exes and heartbreak to our reactions to a Filipino food hater. From experiencing fatphobia to family drama around land inheritance. Follow us on Instagram at @whatsthetsismis for more news about the upcoming season!

We're super excited to share this bonus episode with you! This is for all the Pilipinx youth out there. If you're a student, figuring out your career, or a young professional working on your skills, this is for you! Pinoys on Parliament provides mentorship, workshops, and a community of amazing people to support you through your journey. Ryan Lacanilao sat down with Simon Bondoc and Axella Apostol...

Did you hear that the Christmas season begins in September? . . . . Well, at least for Filipinos it does! In today’s holiday special, Ryan Lacanilao and Nikki Mendiola look back at their favourite Filipino traditions during the holiday season—from decoration, mass, and food! A Filipino Christmas is like no other! Feasts, music, festivals, karaoke, games, and house parties are just the tip of the i...

Thank you for joining us and playing along! The What’s the Tsismis team is super grateful to CJSR for sharing their platform with us and for bringing all of us together. Right now we are asking for your support to keep the station up and running. Fundrive ensures that we can continue to stay on the air for another year. Our program’s goal is $700. That’s basically 70 people with $10 donations! Fun...

In this bonus episode, a couple of Season 3 producers share their reflections on what it means to be resilient, and how their definitions of resilience have changed in the last year. One thing that ties all of these reflections together is gratitude. Thank you to all our listeners and to all our interviewees for listening and sharing with us. We are so fortunate to have been part of your story

Psst...Did you hear? They want more Filipinos on the big screen!  In this week’s episode Arianne Barroma sits down with Ida Beltran-Lucila & Erica Cawagas to discuss the challenges and revelations of representation in the performing arts. With special commentary by Jem Golveo Toribio & Katelyn Cabalo, we take a dive into what’s happening in our arts community, and exactly why representatio...

Psssst... Did you hear that she visited a witch doctor? Did you hear she got sick after playing in the fields? Did you hear that she got “nabati”? Resilience is often attributed to experiences of adversity and pain. It is commonly described as bouncing back from your hardships, and the tremendous strength one demonstrates, allowing them to continue trekking forward. The Philippines is said to be a...

Pssst… did you hear they quit their 9 to 5s? In this week’s episode Julia Juco chats with Mara Sy, co-owner of @little.canggu, and Anjo Silvoza, co-owner of @sabongfc to learn more about their transition from a hectic Manila corporate grind to the chill vibes of La Union- a small surf town in the Philippines.  If you’ve been on social media lately, there’s been an influx of people teaching you how...

Psst...Did you hear she grew up without her mom? In this week’s episode, Ryan Lacanilao chats with Francesca Doniego, Ericka Sisgundo, David John Lubuguin, and Marielle Diaz. They all grew up in the Philippines with one of their parents working abroad, and now they all live in Edmonton. It’s quite common for children in the Philippines to grow up with one or both of their parents working in anothe...

Did you hear? She’s breaking the binary! In this episode of What’s the Tsismis, Rajah sits down with fellow producers Micah and Arianne to discuss the impact that Filipino femininity and gender roles within the Filipino culture has had on their lives. Through their discussions they go through survey responses from viewers asking about their own experiences. Get ready for a tsismis filled episode f...