PODKAS

Arguably the most history-conscious president, Ferdinand Marcos attempted to rein in how he will be remembered as a historical figure. He did this mainly through propaganda and the commissioning of a definitive Philippine history book to be published under his name (very on-brand). He hired the best and the brightest historians, and the result: the Tadhana project. Only three tomes came out of the envisioned book set. But it still begs to be asked: what happens when people in power with vested interests and specific agenda "writes" history? Let's find out.

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The Jabidah Massacre is a historical controversy that ignited the country's most intractable conflict. But what is it, and did it really happen? How did it spark the independence movement in Mindanao, and why does this event remain contested until today? Let's unpack all these and more in another episode of PODKAS. 

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In this episode, we look at three portraits of Filipinos during World War II: Jose P. Laurel, the "puppet" president of the Second Philippine Republic, Capt. Nieves Fernandez, a teacher-turned-guerrilla leader, and Ferdinand E. Marcos, the "most decorated Filipino hero of the war," at least according to him. One of these three is not like the other: which explains how the terrain of heroism during the war isn't as clear-cut as it seems.

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We have been taught that we have colonialism to thank for who we are today. Christianity, a major religion in the country, was a Spanish legacy, while democracy is a government system we inherited from the United States. Many history textbooks speak of these colonial legacies, but somehow gloss over the violence and abuse that colonial systems brought the country and its indigenous populations. In this episode, we assess how colonialism is viewed in society today, and how we should see it in the future.

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A discussion on the quintessential character of Filipino politics would be remiss if it did not start with the true populist original, Manuel Luis Quezon. He was so legendary a politician that he has a city and a province named after him, among others. Who is Quezon, and how do we characterize his politics? Where did he stand in arguably the most critical issue of his time: independence from the United States? Check out this episode to find out.

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We enter the 20th century in this season as we talk about McKinley's Benevolent Assimilation proclamation and the underside of the US "civilizing mission" in the Philippines. What reasons did the United States use to rationalize its continued presence in the islands? Was the new colonial order "benevolent?" Let's find out.

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Happy independence day! What better way to spend this day by interrogating one of the most enduring controversies in our history: Rizal's retraction. An issue that involves scant eyewitness accounts, allegations of forgery, masonic affiliations, the Catholic church, and many other aspects that needs to be unpacked, especially in light of recently found evidence. Did Rizal retract? And if he did, does it matter? Find out in this episode.

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While the Philippine Revolution remains a centerpiece of our national narrative, some aspects are shrouded in mystery. Some factual information, like the exact date and place of the Cry of Rebellion, could easily be dismissed as inconsequential because we all know that it happened anyway; we just can't tell exactly when. But History demands details. In this episode, we look at the multiple and varied eyewitness accounts of the Cry of Rebellion and how historians weighed in on the issue of using these sources.

We look back on the events of May 2021: the Israel-Palestine conflict, Duterte’s debate challenge and the West Philippine Sea, the continuing (mis)management of the pandemic in the country, and flexible learning. We are joined by our friend, Prof. Enrico “Mico” Gloria of the Department of Political Science, U.P. Diliman.

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