In this episode of Lagim: A Filipino True Crime Podcast, we examine the harrowing case of Ana Abulaban, a Filipina mother whose life was cut short in a brutal double murder in San Diego. Her husband, Ali Abulaban—known online as TikTok personality “JinnKid”—was charged with her killing, along with the murder of a male friend she was with.

We explore Ana’s background, her efforts to escape an increasingly toxic and abusive marriage, and how social media fame often hides the darker realities behind closed doors. This case sheds light on domestic violence, coercive control, and the tragic consequences of untreated emotional instability.

Tune in for a deep dive into a case that gripped both the Filipino-American and true crime communities.

There is help. If you are in the Philippines, please contact:

Women's Care Center, Inc. 0917 825 032 / 0920 9677 852 / landline: 8514 4104/ email: [email protected].

If you are in the US, please contact:

National Domestic Violence Hotline - tel:1.800.799.7233

If you are in Canada, please check this link.
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In this special episode of LAGIM: A Filipino True Crime Podcast, I delve into a case that, at first glance, seems to have no ties to the Philippines. But dig a little deeper, and an unexpected connection begins to surface. 

Lisa Marie Young was a vibrant, young Indigenous woman from Nanaimo, British Columbia. She was on the brink of major life changes when she vanished without a trace just before Canada Day in 2002. More than two decades later, no one has been arrested or held accountable for her disappearance.

The last person seen with Lisa was Christopher William Adair—a man who has never been thoroughly investigated, arrested, or charged in connection with her case. Yet, many believe he may hold the answers to what truly happened on that fateful night in June 2002.

Adair left Canada years ago and has since built a new life abroad. Today, it’s believed that he is living in the Philippines, having fallen in love with a Filipina and integrating into an expat community. Despite the silence he’s maintained over the years, Lisa’s family still hopes he’ll come forward—and finally offer the closure they so desperately deserve. 

To bring more attention to this cold case, I speak with Laura Palmer, former executive producer at CBC Vancouver and the award-winning host of Island Crime, a podcast that has followed Lisa’s story for over five years. Laura shares deep insights into Lisa’s life, the investigation, and the elusive figure of Adair. We end this episode with a united call to action:

If you or someone you know has any information about Christopher William Adair, please share this episode—or reach out to us directly. The answer to a decades-old mystery could lie right here, in our own community in the Philippines.

Laura's email address is [email protected]. 
Lagim's email address is [email protected].

My thanks go to Laura who has been extremely helpful with getting this episode off the ground. Please follow and listen to Island Crime, especially season 1, available right now on all your preferred podcasting platforms. Here is a link to its Spotify feed.

Sources list is here.

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In this episode, I revisit two OFW stories that profoundly shaped how I understand many of the themes we often explore on this podcast. The cases of Flor Contemplacion and Sarah Balabagan — two Filipina domestic workers whose names became symbols of injustice, sacrifice, and national reckoning in the 1990s — shook the Philippines and made global headlines. Their stories exposed the harsh realities faced by many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and the ways systemic failure, diplomacy, and public outcry collide.

Sources are here.

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LagimFam, in this instalment of the Martial Law Series, I have a double feature.

Firstly, I feature the case of the Manili Massacre, one of the many Marcos-era massacres that was perpetrated against the Bangsamoro People. This part of the podcast is heavy with historical context in order to undertand the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination better and trauma left by not only the Manili Massacre but all the atrocities inflicted on Muslim Filipinos.

In the second part of the episode, I talk about the Boyet and Primitivo Mijares case, one of those Martial Law mysteries that we still do not have full answers to. From being in the Marcosian inner circle to becoming a defector, Primitivo Mijares,  dared to expose Marcos and his cronies and paid a very heavy price.

Sources are here.

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As the Philippines is getting ready to vote again, another favourite political hot-button topic is being whipped out to get the masses riled up and divided. The death penalty is a favourite talking point by politicians who wish to project a strong-man position towards their voters who are rightfully tired of crimes happening in the country.

But as studies have shown time and time again, the death penalty does not deter crime as addressing crime is all about looking at its root causes and addressing those instead.

This all reminded me of a case that caught the nation's attention back in 1994. Today, I will be covering the Leo Echegaray case, which highlighted so many things for me as a teenager who was just forming her opinion on big topics like crime and death. This was a rape case that turned into a political circus that exposed Filipino politics at its worst and the lack of understanding of how the death penalty is morally wrong and how it does not do anything to address crime rates in ANY country.

Sources used for this episode can be found here.

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For this International Women's Month, I talk about the case of January Marie Lapuz.

In September 2012, January, a vibrant and beloved Filipina transwoman, was brutally stabbed in her Vancouver home. Her killer fled the scene, sparking a two-month manhunt and exposing the systemic failures that leave marginalized communities vulnerable in Canada.

January’s story is one of resilience, love, and tragedy—a Filipina immigrant who found community and purpose in Canada, only to have her life cut short by violence. This episode explores her life, the investigation into her death, and the ongoing fight for justice and recognition for trans lives. Join us as we remember January, honor her legacy, and reflect on the work still needed to protect those at the intersections of discrimination.

Sources used for this episode can be found here.

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In this episode, I thoroughly examine the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino domestic worker who was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for smuggling heroin—a crime she insists she was duped into committing by human traffickers. Sentenced to death, her case has been a long and painful journey marked by her family’s tireless fight, the support of allies and advocates, and political complexities that spanned three Philippine presidencies.

I highlight how Mary Jane’s case was politicised to her detriment, becoming a symbol during the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs, yet offering little hope of resolution. Only recently, in 2024, has her family seen a glimmer of progress. Join me as I trace her story from 2010 to the present, unpacking the legal, political, and personal battles that have shaped her fight for justice.

This is the last episode of the year. See you in 2025, LagimFam. Thanks for all your support.

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In this episode, I delve into the heartbreaking stories of three young women whose lives were cut short by senseless violence.

First, I explore the case of Mitzi Joy Balunsay, a young and promising college student in the Philippines who was murdered in 2017 under harrowing circumstances that continue to haunt her community. I also examine the 2023 murder of Queen Leanne Daguinsin, another vibrant young student whose brutal death revealed unsettling truths about campus safety. Lastly, I recount the case of Jastine Valdez, a Filipina in Ireland whose life was stolen in an abduction that shook two nations and highlighted the need for systemic changes in protecting women.

Through these stories, I examine the failures and biases in community and institutional responses, and I question how society can better protect young women from such tragic fates.

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In this episode, I feature three cases that all involve the heinous crime of modern slavery and its iterations. This episode is in commemoration of Anti-Slavery Day, which is celebrated yearly on October 18th.

The first case in this episode is from the US and it involves a Filipina who was kept hidden as a slave by her Filipino "employers" for a total of 19 years.

The second case is an Australian case that stunned residents of Sydney in the early 2000s. It involves a young Filipina who was initially hired as a babysitter but was quickly disempowered and enslaved by a Filipino-Australian couple.

The last case is a very recent one that was only concluded at the end of September. It involves a young 22-year-old Filipina who was fraudulently recruited by a Swiss-Filipino couple who promised her a residence permit and an education. Little did she know, she will be made not only a slave but a subject of the Swiss man's sadistic tendencies.

Please listen with care.

Towards the end of this episode, I feature a very informative and eye-opening interview with Marissa Begonia from Voices of Domestic Workers - a UK non-profit that is based in London.

As their website states, VoDW  "is run by and for migrant domestic workers. Our organisation is supported by a Board of Trustees, Volunteers and a small and dedicated staff team.​The Voice of Domestic Workers is an education and support group calling for justice and rights for Britain's sixteen thousand migrant domestic workers."

"We provide support for domestic workers who need to leave abusive employers and in many cases rescue them ourselves.​We find each other emergency accommodations and pool our resources to provide food and clothing. Together we search for ways to overcome our isolation and vulnerability and demand respect as workers, as contributors to the British economy and society, and as human beings.​We provide educational and community activities for domestic workers - including financial and employment advice alongside English language lessons, drama and art classes.​"

My heartfelt thanks goes to Tita Marissa who was very gracious with her time and the rest of the organisation. Please take some time to go through VoDW's website and donate if you can. Please share their link to your socials. More importantly, if you know anyone in the UK or Europe who might be a victim of modern slavery, human trafficking or indentured servitude, make sure to tell them about VoDW. Help is out there.

DONATE to VoDW here.

Sources I used are listed here.

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It has been two years since I last covered the case of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his megachurch, The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name.

I cover a lot in this episode, so make sure you take breaks in between. In this episode, I make sure to highlight how Quiboloy went from confident preacher to a church leader in hiding. There are going to be details about the case in the US and the Philippines and how Quiboloy became the straw that broke the camel's back when it came to the Marcos-Duterte alliance.

Sources I used are listed here.

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