We revisit the complex legacies of Juan Ponce Enrile, Fidel Ramos, and Gregorio Honasan, pivotal figures in the EDSA Revolution, in this episode. Exploring their roles in martial law implementation, their eventual defection from Marcos, and their subsequent political careers, we uncover the intertwined narratives of power, betrayal, and redemption that shaped Philippine history and politics.
In this episode, we take a look into the lives of opposition senators Jovito Salonga and Jose Diokno. Both followed unique paths, from humble beginnings and wartime heroics to their instrumental roles in challenging the Marcos dictatorship and shaping Philippine democracy. Through their stories, we explore the complexity of resistance, the necessity of integrity, and their lasting legacies in Philippine politics and society.
We proceed with our season by transitioning to the EDSA People Power Revolution, examining it through the lives and actions of its key shapers and shakers. In this episode, we dive into the story of Cory Aquino, the central figure around whom the nation coalesced to dismantle the Marcos dictatorship and inaugurate a renewed era of democracy. Furthermore, we scrutinize the Aquinos and their family's complex legacy in reinstating democracy in the Philippines, acknowledging the complexity of their ...
Today, February 25, marks the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, a cornerstone in the Philippines' march towards democracy. In this special episode, "Bakit Inaalala ang EDSA?" we partnered with the Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) and interviewed Congress Rep. Edcel Lagman to tackle the efforts to preserve the significance of EDSA amid efforts to erase it from our memory.
In our final episode, we look at Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s early life during the time of Martial Law. Being the son of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Bongbong was surrounded by a lot of power and some big controversies that have left a lasting mark on the country's politics. We'll try to figure out how much Bongbong was involved in what his family did during Martial Law. Let's dig in.
Our focus in this episode is the life of Lean Alejandro, a symbol of Philippine student activism during the Marcos era. As Secretary-General of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Lean championed democracy against dictatorship, but his life was tragically cut short at 27. His influence and legacy as a beacon for justice and freedom endures to this day.
Maliit pa nga ba si Imee Marcos noong panahon ng Batas Militar? Let's look at the life and controversies of the eldest of the Marcos brood. From her education in prestigious institutions abroad to her early foray into politics, Imee's path was seemingly paved by her family's political legacy. However, like Marcos name, her own journey hasn't been without its dark patches and controversies: fake diplomas and a fake graduation, the death of a student activist, and a whirlwind romance, among others...
In another episode of #ShapersAndShakers, we discuss the life of Gen. Fabian Ver, a trusted confidant and chief enforcer of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Ver, from humble beginnings, rose through the military ranks to become one of the most powerful figures in the country. We unravel the complex relationship between Marcos and Ver, and the pivotal role the general played in consolidating power and suppressing opposition.
In this episode, we explore the Martial Law period in the Philippines, focusing on the brave Lorena Barros. As an activist and co-founder of MAKIBAKA, a women's revolutionary group, Barros fought against tyranny. The undying spirit of resistance that Lorena embodied and the profound impact she left on the struggle for justice and equality remains an inspiration to this day.
In Episode 7 of our #ShapersAndShakers series, we talk about the cronyism during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos through the experience of Lucio Tan, a business tycoon and one of the richest men in the Philippines, who got his biggest business opportunities as a Marcos crony. What is the link between cronyism and the country's economic crisis during and post-martial law? Find out in this episode.
Episode 6 of Shapers and Shakers features the work of Pete Lacaba, a Filipino journalist, poet, and cultural luminary who left an indelible mark on journalism, arts, and culture during the turbulent Martial Law period in the Philippines.
In this episode, we explore the influential role of Cesar Virata during Martial Law in the Philippines. As Prime Minister under Ferdinand Marcos, Virata, a respected economist, steered the nation's economic policies. In this episode, we dissect Virata's challenges, his impact on the economy and infrastructure, and the ethical dilemmas he faced as a technocrat in a time of authoritarian rule.
Our fourth episode spotlights the life and activism of Edgar Jopson or Edjop, a charismatic and passionate advocate for democracy, social justice, and human rights. His story is not only about defiance against dictatorship but also, and more importantly, a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who fought for freedom.
In our third episode, we delve into the life and controversial legacy of Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, and her intimate connection to one of the darkest chapters in the nation's history – Martial Law.
No conversation on the Philippines' Martial Law Era will be complete without a mention of its main man, Ferdinand E. Marcos. In this episode, we take a look back at his life and his rationale for declaring martial law.
We start our season on select martial law personalities with the person that sparked the end of the era: Ninoy Aquino. How did his life and death impact the country's authoritarian period? Find out in this episode.
Season 6 is here! Starting August 19, we will look at the Martial Law period through the lives of twelve individuals, and ask: were they shapers or shakers ?
Today, February 25, we commemorate the 37th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution. We partnered with the Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission for this special episode on the many ways we can look at EDSA: as an event, a memory, a commemoration, and as a space. Join us in this discussion!
We look back at two years of conversations on Philippine history, politics, and society! We'll be on a (well-deserved) break, so for now, listen to our earlier episodes and chill as we prepare for new seasons in 2023!
It's our final #RizalOnAir episode! And there's no better time to end this season as we celebrate Rizal Day. We talked about Rizal's last poem, untitled but more popularly known as Mi Ultimo Adios. There's a lot to talk about this poem, as it is one of the most controversial pieces written by Rizal. Find out in this episode. It was great doing this season, and as we end it, we'd like to thank everyone who tuned in. We also celebrate our SECOND ANNIVERSARY, so join us in the celebration by listen...
After El Filibusterismo, Rizal put pen to paper to produce his third novel. However, due to the many circumstances of having to return to the Philippines and his exile to Dapitan, this third novel never materialized and was left to the depths of oblivion until a draft of its manuscript, several pages written in Lagueño Tagalog, was found. Join us in unraveling the mystery of Rizal's third novel in this episode of #RizalOnAir.
We include La Liga Filipina in the discussion of Rizal's works because even if the association immediately failed, it marks an essential change in Rizal's evolving ideas and objectives. What is the Liga, and what did it hope to achieve? And how is it linked to the Katipunan? Find out in this episode of #RizalOnAir.
After discussing some of the old and new characters of the El Fili, we now focus on the main plot of the novel (Simoun's revenge) and its other story arcs and subplots, such as the story of Kabesang Tales, his quest for justice, and how the system was so rotten he decided to seek justice through other means. The Fili is a more political novel, and the story itself proves this. Listen up to find out more.
Rizal followed up the Noli with a sequel titled El Filibusterismo , an attempt to tie the loose ends he left in his earlier novel. In this episode, we introduce El Fili, its major plot points, and its new characters.
Del Pilar prodded Rizal to write a letter to a select group of women in Malolos, who, after some struggle and resistance, were able to establish a school so they could learn Spanish. Rizal happily obliged. The letter is now known as The Letter to the Women of Malolos, a lengthy reminder on many things, but most importantly, praise for the women's desire for education. Know more about this in this episode of #RizalOnAir.
This is PODKAS's 100th episode! And because of some great mystery, we deal with a Rizal writing that has to do something with 100: Filipinas dentro de cien años , or The Philippines a Century Hence . Rizal did not only write about the Philippine past (Annotations of Sucesos) and present (Sobre la Indolencia), but he also predicted the fate of the Philippines in the next hundred years. What did he get wrong, and more interestingly, what did he get right? And what does this say about Rizal? Listen...
Rizal sought to elevate the Filipinos not only by championing their welfare within the colonial society but, more importantly, by arguing that their conditions were not entirely their fault. One particular accusation by the colonizers that Rizal abhorred was that the Filipinos had an inherent predisposition to laziness. In Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos, he admitted that laziness exists, but this was not inherently Filipino. Listen to this episode to find out more.
Instead of writing a history of the Philippines, Rizal chose to write a novel that exposed Philippine society's ills. But he just couldn't let go of history, so instead of writing a new one, he annotated Antonio de Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. We talk about this work in this episode of #RizalOnAir.
We pick off from where we left off in the last episode when we talked about the context and the characters of Rizal's most important work, the Noli Me Tangere. This time around, we reveal some of the choicest plot points and the impact of the novel on our country's history. Join us!
From Rizal's early works, we proceed straight to one of his major ones: the Noli Me Tangere. We discussed the context of the publication and some of the characters that we liked in Rizal's magnum opus! Listen up.
