IndieCo

Faith started gardening in 2017, and she's often asked why she likes tending her plants, which she considers as precious family. Moreso, why did she write about her love for cultivation, why does it give her a sense of fulfillment, and why does she keep at it even when she gets extremely preoccupied with other responsibilities and work? Faith Buenacosa, a self-proclaimed plantita, answers those questions in this week's featured essay, "Halaman woman."

Her essay was published last May 5, 2019, and on this episode, she talks about her how gardening connects her to her mother, what it's like to be newly thirty, and her advice for those who are new to or are still planning to get into gardening.

About the guest: Faith Buenacosa is newly thirty. She teaches communication and writing. She loves gardening, silence, Korean variety shows, and true crime.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

What would you do if you saw a guy in a yellow dress? Would you be silently weirded out or would you shamelessly laugh? Asked the same question, Atria Cutanda, this week's writer says she'd put on her brother’s blue jerseys, go back out, and say hello. She explains why, in her essay, The guy in a yellow dress. Her essay was published on January 04, 2018 and on this episode, she joins us on a call from her hometown, Guimaras, to talk about her current views on feminism and why she thinks we should be wary of stereotyping people based on gender.

About the guest: Atria  started writing essays when she  was in grade school after her teacher saw her crying silently and said that if she couldn't communicate her feelings to people verbally, writing's a good way to do it. As she was growing up, whenever asked what she wanted to be, she'd say, "happy", but now she'd say that she wants to be an inspiration to her fellow youth. She loves yellow because it's a happy color.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

Why do lawyers defend murderers? Why is there such a thing as innocent until proven guilty? And is death penalty something that our country, or any other nation, afford to do? Rejinel Valencia, a 3rd-year UP Law Student, answers those questions in this week's featured essay, "Defending murderers." His essay was published last October 22, 2020 and on this episode, he talks about his advocacies as a law student, what it means to uphold the Philippine constitution, and his advice for young Filipinos who are interested in pursuing law.

About the guest: Rejinel Valencia is a junior Juris Doctor student at the University of the Philippines College of Law.  Alongside his studies, he is working as a knowledge management officer at the Office of the Vice President. He often spends his free time playing with his dogs, Ollie and Olla. 

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

One of the many things that Kevin has done while quarantining in the comfort of his home is connecting to his family's heritage. The medium through which he did this is music, which he beautifully narrates in his personal essay, "The missing vinyl."

His essay was published last November 12, 2020, and on this episode, he joins our host on a call all the way from Laguna to talk about his love for music, his family heritage, and why he thinks it's important for everyone to know one's origins and learn how to love it.

About the guest: Kevin, 26, works at Laguna State Polytechnic University. He is currently taking up Master of Arts in Communication Arts at University of the Philippines Los Banos. He is fond of writing creative nonfiction and essays, reading books, and watching coming-of-age films.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

Abraham Cowley, a prolific personal essayist, once said, "I confess I love littleness in all things. A little convenient estate, a little cheerful house, a little company, and a very little feast; and, if I were to fall in love again, which is a great passion, and therefore, I hope I have done with it, it would be, I think, with prettiness rather than with majestic beauty."

Kristel shares the same sentiments with him, and she explains why living a well-lived life has nothing to do with grandeur, and everything to do with simply appreciating the little things in her essay, simply appreciation.

Kristel's essay was published last November 2, 2014. In this episode, she talks  about mental health, the power of consistency over intensity, and why she continues to live by her personal rule of never, ever smoking.  | About the writer: Kristel graduated from Saint Louis University with a degree in Accountancy. She is currently a full time government employee and a part time student. Her 2021 goals include taking more calculated risks.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

What does it mean to be an advocate of science? Does one have to be a scientist in a lab, an academic or a whiz kid to be considered as one? And is our country, along with our educational system, equipped with the necessary resources to produce world-class men and women in STEM?Anna Tongco answers those questions in this week's featured essay, "A fine day for science," which was published last May 2, 2017.

On this episode, she talks about her passion for her work as a food scientist, her life as a graduate student at Michigan State University, and her advice for young Filipinos who are interested in pursuing a career in STEM.

About the guest: Anna is primarily a food scientist, but she also likes to wear other hats. She's an amateur writer, a very amateur ballroom dancer and an even more amateur musician, theater enthusiast, bookworm and arnisadora.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

Almost everyone has that one answer when asked the question, "What is the secret to success?" To some, it's confidence, to others, it's grit. In the case of Ian, he was told that it's "diskarte."

He writes about his thoughts on this and its effect on our Philippine society in his essay, 'Diskarte.' His essay was published last October 13, 2020, and on EP 28, he joins us on a call to talk about the "Filipino culture of being resilient and "madiskarte," the work he's doing as a content creator and business person, and lastly, his own take on what it really means to be 'successful'.

Ian is a 25 year-old content creator and business person. He is one of the core leaders of Passionate Creators and the founder of The Writing Movement.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

Tish was a student in the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) when she wrote about her experience as a student-activist. In her essay, she narrates the way she's been stereotyped as an upper middle-class rallyista and more importantly, why she thinks it's important for all of us to devote ourselves to a cause that we strongly resonate with--no matter how simple.

Her essay was first published fifteen years ago, in 2006, and in this episode, she talks about how being an activist has molded her into who she is today as a mother, a writer, a philanthropist, and an overall superstar.

About Tish: Tish dreams of a Philippines where every Filipino can live with dignity. She is currently the lead convenor of The Foundation Foundation PH, a volunteer group that assists survivors of sex trafficking; and board member of the Urban Poor Resource Center of the Philippines. She has been working in public relations for over 13 years.

Photo by by Mixi Ignacio for Cosmopolitan Philippines.

Here are some resources on 2016 election funding and the case of Angelo dela Cruz:  https://www.ijurr.org/spotlight-on/political-geographies-of-right-wing-populism/waiting-for-duterte/ https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/how-much-do-candidates-owe-their-rich-backers https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/21/world/hostage-is-freed-after-philippine-troops-are-withdrawn-from-iraq.html

Episode art by Alexandra Ranielle Gallego

Produced by Caitlin Jo and Leah Cioco

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

Juggling work and school is a challenge in itself, and with the ongoing pandemic, it has only become harder. Kevin writes about the hardest moments of his experience as a working student in the time of COVID, and is a perfect example of what it means to be resilient amid tough times, in his essay, "Three letters after my name." Kevin's essay was published last January 12, 2021. 

On this episode, we talk about the lessons he learned  at Graduate School, how he managed to succeed despite the hurdles and his advice for listeners who may be considering to juggle school and work. | Kevin Galvez earned his Master’s degree in Marketing Communications from the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business,  De La Salle University (DLSU). He previously worked for a creative hub/coworking space in Makati as digital channels lead.  He now works as a freelance social media manager for international clients.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.

Like many things, the internet has its own set of pros and cons. For some, the pros outweigh the cons, and for others, it's the complete opposite. The writer of this week's essay is one who identifies with the latter and she tells us why in her essay, Raised by the internet.

Featured in this episode is Lance Juarez, the editor-in-chief of the Spectrum at the University of St. La-Salle Bacolod. The Spectrum is the official student media corps of the University of St. La Salle.  Founded in 1956, the publication seeks to live out the core Lasallian values of Faith, Service, and Communion  to deliver stories for and beyond the Lasallian community. It seeks to initiate educated dialogue and create  meaningful and peaceful solutions to problems in society. And after discussing this week's feature essay, I will be talking about the work we do at The Spectrum and our prospective nationwide LSPC event.

About the featured writer: Joy Therese Gomez is a 21-year-old writer and philosophy graduate.  She usually tackles art, health and self-help in her works. In her free time, she likes to read books, meditate and look out the window.

About our partner: The University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level.