President Duterte Delivers his final State of the Nation Address, he boasts of his accomplishments as the chief executive despite the setbacks due to the Pandemic.  Hidilyn Diaz wins the first Olympicgold medal for the country in the 55kg womens weight lifting. The Covid 19 and the Delta variant threat has stopped the nation on its tracks imposing another lockdown of the capital and its surrounding areas. 

Hosted and Produced by: Jab Buhay & Chinggay Andrada
Written by: Jab Buhay, Chinggay Andrada & Danielle Gonzalez
Intern: Danielle Gonzalez (UPLB)

Taal Volcano - the Philippines' most active volcano is threatening its surrounding areas once again. Reports of recent unrest has made locals and residents uneasy. Senator Antonio Trillanes accuses Senator Bong Go and President Duterte of Plunder. The senator alleges that families and business of the senator from Mindanao has amassed projects and millions of pesos of government projects in their local region. 

A Philippine Air Force C130 cargo plane crashes and half the passengers lived to tell the tale. The Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus has been locally transmitted in the Philippines - will the vaccination  effort be quick enough to avoid a new surge? When will the country reach her immunity? 

Hosted and Produced by: Jab Buhay & Chinggay Andrada
Written by: Jab Buhay, Chinggay Andrada & Danielle Gonzalez
Intern: Danielle Gonzalez (UPLB)

WARNING: Audio of violence including gunshots will be heard on this episode

Incidents of brutal murders, some involving members of the Philippine National Police call into question the safety of the citizens they are supposed to protect. Someone dropped the ball in procuring the early doses of the Covid-19 Vaccine. A December weather system affects the season for many in Central Philippines. A lantern maker finds kindness after a client left him out in the cold. And we celebrate the Philippine National Hero - Doctor Jose Rizal. 

The Philippines receives more than 20 typhoons every year during its wet season. The once in a lifetime flooding that some provinces and cities experience become more frequent and it's taking its toll on the residents. 

California, Oregon and Washington face a record breaking wildfire season. The smoke and ash have blanketed and covered major cities and town along the West Coast making for the most dangerous levels of air pollution anywhere on the planet. 

President Duterte issues absolute pardon on US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. He was found guilty of murdering Jennifer Laude - a transgender filipina, who the marine met at a local bar in Olongapo city while on leave from US Philippines joint military exercises. 

Manila Bay and its picturesque sunset gets some white sand treatment as the DENR attempts to beautify a stretch of the Bay Walk area. Critics find it insensitive and are warning of waste and possible environmental consequences for introducing sand not local to the area. 

Several Filipinos were reported dead and injured in the blast the rocked Beirut in Lebanon. The Philippines is losing its battle against Covid 19 with Healthcare workers asking for more help. Duterte suggesting that frontliners who are airing grievances are itching for a revolution. We talk to Mang Freddie, a taxi driver in Manila as The Philippines falls in its deepest recession in recorded history. A Filipino business owner in Melbourne shares how they are coping in the mandated statewide stay at home orders by Australian authorities. 

In this episode we report on the death of a Filipino American Soldier from Fort Hood that was found dead outside of the base, and he was not the first this year. 
Thousands of Filipinos who want to go home to their provinces find themselves stranded in a stadium crammed with other people as bad weather and the threat of covid looms. The government scrambling to get them all home safely. 
The State Of the Nation Address, the most anticipated presidential speech of the year. A furious Duterte attacks his opponents and lauds his supporters with the backdrop of a global pandemic and a free falling economy. How did he do? 
Dr. Gene Navera, a speech and rhetoric expert breaks down PRRD's style of speaking. 

In this episode we talk about the Philippine government shutting down the largest media company in the Philippines. We also hear the comments of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the South China Sea. We report on the deadly encounter between members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

We interviewd Joan Habana, a writer for ABS CBN. Catharine Aquino, a Filipino researcher based in Zurich who's team leads in fighting Covid 19, and Second Officer Kenneth Cutamora, a pilot for Philippine Airlines as he shares his experience of helping Filipinos get from from the Middle East. 

We interviewed Atty Barry Gutierrez, the spokesperson for Vice President Leni Robredo. Atty Barry is a Legislator and human rights lawyer. On this episode, he spoke to us about the projects the office of the VP has undertaken to help first responders during the covid 19 crisis. He talks about the inspiring response they got when they asked for donations, volunteers and help. 

He also talks about the future plans for the VP, his personal plans and how he knows President Duterte's spokesperson Atty Harry Roque. 

Cebu is becoming the epicenter of the Covid 19 pandemic in the Philippines. The island is facing stricter quarantine measures and the military has been called in to help. Vice President Leni Robredos interview comments about the national governments response to Covid. 

Chinggay and Jab sits down after recording the news to go over their thoughts and plans for the podcast.