For our finale episode, we talk about the journey of the ultimate Filipino staple, tracing how a grain introduced by Austronesian migrants transformed from a prestige food for the elite into the non-negotiable foundation of daily life. Through 3,500 years of agricultural history, we examine the spiritual rituals of the Cordilleras, the impact of colonial encomiendas, and the technological shifts of the Green Revolution that reshaped the landscape. How can rice serve as a lens for understanding F...
Nov 23, 2025•40 min•Season 7Ep. 24
Climb aboard for a journey into the heart the Philippines' most iconic symbol: the jeepney, also known as the "King of the Road." In this episode, we trace the jeepney's incredible story, from its birth out of World War II scrap metal to its reign as a rolling gallery of folk art and chrome. Discover how former horse-carriage drivers became automotive pioneers, creating a unique communal theater on wheels where strangers pass fares with "paki-abot" and stop the driver with a shout of "Para po!" ...
Nov 15, 2025•41 min•Season 7Ep. 23
The banig is more than just a simple mat; it’s an object that literally grounds Filipino life. This episode traces its extraordinary 39,000-year journey, from prehistoric stone tools in the Tabon Caves to the sacred spaces of pre-colonial chieftains. We explore how this craft, passed down almost exclusively by women, survived colonization through its "strategic ordinariness" and later became a national symbol. We also discuss the harsh economic realities facing master weavers today and the count...
Nov 08, 2025•23 min•Season 7Ep. 22
This episode explores the complex story of the bulul , the iconic carved wooden figures of the Ifugao people. We trace its journey from a sacred ancestral guardian, consecrated with ritual to protect the all-important rice harvest, to its modern status as a celebrated and highly-priced art piece in global auction houses. What happens when a living spiritual vessel is transformed into a collector's commodity? And what does this object reveal about indigenous resilience, colonialism, and the very ...
Nov 01, 2025•31 min•Season 7Ep. 21
More than just a pest, the rat is an unacknowledged actor in Philippine history, its story intertwined with our own from prehistoric times to the modern day. This episode uncovers that hidden narrative, from the extinct giant cloud rats that coexisted with ancient humans to the arrival of invasive species that brought centuries of agricultural plagues and colonial-era disease. It examines the rat's evolution into a public health enemy, the target of post-war military campaigns, and a potent cult...
Oct 25, 2025•33 min•Season 7Ep. 20
This episode uncaps the surprising history of the tansan —the humble metal crown that sealed our childhood sodas and our uncles' beers. We trace its journey from an unlikely Japanese brand name to the prized currency of sidewalk games like Tatsing . Learn how this piece of industrial waste was transformed into the sound of Christmas karoling and, tragically, the explosive center of the 1992 Pepsi "Number Fever" scandal. Join us as we explore the rise and fall of this accidental Filipino icon....
Oct 17, 2025•31 min•Season 7Ep. 19
If you're like us, you grew up hearing that familiar ring of your favorite sorbetero's bell, so join us as we scoop into the history of the Philippines' favorite frozen dessert. In this episode, we trace the journey of sorbetes from an elite 19th-century luxury—made possible by ice shipped from around the globe—to the democratic "dirty ice cream" every Filipino knows and loves. Discover the story behind the controversial nickname, the innovations that made it uniquely Filipino, and why this colo...
Oct 10, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 17
For generations of Filipino children, a single peso coin held immense power: the power to choose between a crumbly Choc Nut, a powdery Mik-Mik, a chewy White Rabbit, or a stack of Haw Flakes. This episode unwraps the surprisingly complex history of these iconic sari-sari store treats. We trace their origins from Malabon to Shanghai and explore the unique rituals they inspired: from sacrilegious playground masses with candy 'ostiya' to the shared rite of passage of surviving a powdered milk choki...
Oct 03, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 18
In this episode, we unpack the immense economic and cultural power of the sari-sari store, the humble neighborhood shop that accounts for 70% of all manufactured goods sales in the Philippines. We trace its origins from pre-colonial barangay trade through the Spanish-era tiendas to its modern digital evolution, exploring how this institution has survived and adapted through centuries of change. Why is it that 75% of these 1.3 million stores are owned by women? And how did the unique tingi (retai...
Sep 27, 2025•42 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Locked in a vault 14,000 kilometers from Manila lies a 16th-century manuscript that survived a Nazi bomb: the Boxer Codex. Created in 1590 through an unlikely collaboration between Spanish colonizers, Chinese artists, and Filipino informants, its vibrant illustrations offer the most detailed visual record of our ancestors—from tattooed Visayan warriors to gold-draped Tagalog nobles—before colonialism transformed their world. Join us as we trace the codex's incredible journey across three contine...
Sep 19, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 15
Once a ubiquitous presence in Filipino life, passed around sari-sari stores, stacked on staircases, and even used as panggatong, komiks evolved from cheap newsprint entertainment into a powerful cultural force. This episode charts the journey of the art form, starting with the pioneering work of Rizal and the birth of the iconic Kenkoy, through the golden age pantheon created by visionaries like Francisco Coching and Mars Ravelo. It dives deep into how these illustrated stories taught a nation t...
Sep 13, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 14
How does a 19th-century painting of dying Roman gladiators become the most powerful artistic symbol of the Philippines? This episode uncovers the dramatic life of Juan Luna's Spoliarium : a masterpiece that was sliced into three pieces, survived wars and botched restorations, and inspired everything from revolutionary novels to a famous rock song. Join us as we unravel the story of the painting that refused to die and became the unlikely mirror of a nation's soul.
Sep 05, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Why do so many Filipinos have Spanish surnames? This episode unpacks the story of the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos , a book distributed in 1849 by Spanish Governor-General Narciso Clavería to solve an administrative crisis. We explore how this single decree systematically renamed millions, assigning surnames alphabetically by town and creating regional naming patterns that still exist. We also debunk the persistent myth of widespread Spanish ancestry, i.e., contrasting the 90% of Filipinos w...
Aug 30, 2025•33 min•Season 7Ep. 12
For centuries, tarsilas have done far more than record family trees in Muslim Mindanao; they have defined power, preserved honor, and anchored entire communities to their history. These genealogical records connect local rulers to the Prophet Muhammad, authorize marriages and political alliances, and legitimize claims to land and sovereignty. During colonial invasions, they became instruments of resistance; in today’s Bangsamoro, they remain vital to cultural identity and political legitimacy. T...
Aug 23, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 11
The Okir is a sacred and intricate artistic tradition of Muslim Mindanao, and in this episode, we chart its 1,400-year journey. From its pre-Islamic, animistic roots seen in protective naga serpent carvings to its sophisticated evolution under Islamic aniconism, the Okir transformed its motifs into stylized, flowing patterns that became a symbol of enduring identity. It survived Spanish colonization, wartime destruction, and the 2017 Marawi siege. But its greatest challenge is happening now. We ...
Aug 16, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Long before it became a household name with a catchy jingle, Tiki-Tiki was a life-saving breakthrough. In this episode, we uncover the forgotten story of how a deadly beriberi epidemic, fueled by American colonial "progress," was stopped by a humble Filipino pharmacist. Discover how Dr. Manuel Zamora created a world-first vitamin supplement from rice bran in a small Quiapo lab, chose public health over immense profit, and cemented a cultural icon that has nourished generations of Filipino childr...
Aug 09, 2025•31 min•Season 7Ep. 9
From makeshift courts under bridges to the roaring arenas of the PBA, basketball is more than a game in the Philippines: it's a core part of the national identity. In this episode, we explore how an American import became the Filipino soul. Join us as we trace basketball's surprising history as a women's sport, the legendary rivalries that divided families, and the modern challenges facing the professional league. We uncover why "puso" resonates so deeply in basketball, and how the sport itself ...
Aug 02, 2025•40 min
For millions of Filipinos, it's a core memory of childhood and school days: a dense, fortified bread distributed or sold in schools. But was the famous Nutribun a symbol of genuine care or a masterful tool of political propaganda? In this episode, we unwrap the complex history of this iconic bread, tracing its journey from a US-funded aid program to a potent symbol of the Marcos regime's "New Society." Join us as we explore how a simple food item became intertwined with history, power, and nosta...
Jul 26, 2025•28 min•Season 7Ep. 7
It's the iconic, buff-colored canvas that triggers instant nostalgia for generations of Filipino students. In this episode of PODKAS, we unfold the story behind this humble school supply. We trace its journey from recycled abaca ship ropes in 19th-century America to its central role in post-war Philippine classrooms. We reminisce about the collaborative chaos of group projects, the high-stakes art of writing with a Pentel pen, and the honored role of the tagahawak ng manila paper . Finally, we e...
Jul 19, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 6
From the anxious moments before a life-changing entrance exam to the simple joy of learning to write your name, one object has been a constant companion for generations of Filipinos: the iconic yellow Mongol pencil. In this episode, we sharpen our focus on this seemingly simple tool to tell a surprisingly complex story of international branding, local manufacturing, and deep cultural embedding. How did "Pahiram ng mongol?" become the standard way to ask for a pencil? Why was its specific lead gr...
Jul 12, 2025•28 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Found in virtually every Filipino bathroom from the humblest provincial home to the most luxurious Manila condo, the tabo —that simple plastic water dipper—carries far more cultural weight than its unassuming appearance suggests. In this episode, we trace the tabo's fascinating journey from coconut shell origins in pre-colonial times to its status as a powerful marker of Filipino identity worldwide. Why do overseas Filipinos pack tabos in their luggage? How did this humble dipper spark "hygiene ...
Jul 05, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 4
In this episode, we bridge the gap between myth and reality as we explore the history and infamy of the San Juanico Bridge. Often romanticized as Ferdinand Marcos’s “gift of love” to Imelda, this iconic structure connecting Leyte and Samar is also a concrete symbol of the Marcos regime’s controversial “edifice complex,” cronyism, and international scandal. From its politically charged origins and its dark association with a Martial Law torture method to its crucial role as a lifeline during disa...
Jun 28, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Join us as we peel back the layers on a beloved Filipino condiment staple: banana ketchup. We trace the surprising history of this sweet and tangy red condiment, from its ingenious creation by food scientist and war hero María Orosa during a time of scarcity to its status as a global symbol of Filipino resourcefulness and cultural identity. Discover how a wartime substitute for tomato ketchup became a fixture in Filipino households and a nostalgic taste of home for the diaspora. We also delve in...
Jun 21, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 2
We launch our new series "Bagay-Bagay: Objects of Philippine Life" on Independence Day with the most fitting symbol of all: our national flag. Join us as we trace the flag's storied journey from revolutionary banners to a flag sewn by three women in Hong Kong exile, unfurled at independence, banned for twelve years, and restored as our national symbol. We uncover forgotten stories and secrets behind the sun's eight rays, the meaning of the triangle's symbolism, and why the "correct" shade of blu...
Jun 14, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Our season finale features a discussion on Soledad Duterte, a prominent activist from Davao, exploring her crucial role in local activism and advocacy during and after the EDSA Revolution. Through her life, we examine how Martial Law and the EDSA Revolution impacted regions beyond the capital, particularly Mindanao. Join us!
May 12, 2024•17 min•Season 6Ep. 22
In this new episode, we tackle the life and legacy of Chito Gascon, whose activism began as a student during the EDSA Revolution and culminated in his tenure as the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Join us as we unpack and retell Gascon's journey, an unwavering commitment to justice and democracy that serves as an inspiration for the youth today.
May 05, 2024•21 min•Season 6Ep. 21
We tackle the nexus between politics, media, and elite families in this new episode as we spotlight the powerful Lopez family. We explore their rise to power, the closures of ABS-CBN, their struggles during Martial Law, and their subsequent resurrection in the post-EDSA political environment.
Apr 21, 2024•29 min•Season 6Ep. 20
We reflect on the EDSA People Power and the role of cinema in shaping public sentiment in this episode, where we highlight the legendary Filipino filmmaker, Lino Brocka. How do media, film, and music have historically acted as catalysts for reform and resistance during Martial Law? Through Brocka's classic films, such as Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Insiang , we uncover the intertwined legacy of art, activism, and the enduring spirit of EDSA in today’s society.
Apr 14, 2024•22 min•Season 6Ep. 19
In this new episode of Shakers and Shapers, we tackle the complex figure of Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines. We look back at his journey, from his aristocratic roots and eventual radicalization at the University of the Philippines, the formation of Kabataang Makabayan, the ideological underpinnings of national democracy, and the pivotal role Sison and his movement played during the dictatorship and beyond. Amidst a backdrop of red-tagging and anti-te...
Apr 07, 2024•35 min•Season 6Ep. 18
How intertwined were religion and politics during the tumultuous Martial Law period? We approach the role of the Catholic Church during the Marcos years and the EDSA Revolution through the life and complex legacy of Jaime Cardinal Sin, a key religious leader whose words and actions shaped the Church's involvement in political affairs and left an indelible mark on the nation's struggle for democracy.
Mar 23, 2024•21 min•Season 6Ep. 17
