Rock and Rice

By Tim Casasola

Where Filipino climbers share their story.

Logo: Pat Palacio
Music: Bruiser by Winchip

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· Sports

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FAQs about Rock and Rice:

How many episodes does Rock and Rice have?

The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.

Rock and Rice episodes:

November 22, 2025EP 17: Onassis, Christine, Vince, Tim live from The Red River Gorge 🍁
Onassis, Christine, Vince, and Tim do a fun podcast episode from The Red River Gorge: America's favorite sport climbing area. Yes, it's in Kentucky. Yes, we were the only Filipinos in Kentucky.
Christine invited the guys to her annual Red River Gorge trip. We climbed, made bisteak, and tambayed. Listen to our silly episode where we talk about our trip, what helps us "lock in" as climbers, and how we hope to grow.
"Growth without increasing grades is giving back to your community."
@cjoy_climb
@vinceclimbs
@onassisclimbs
@timcasasola
Maraming salamat Onassis Rabanes for editing this episode!
He'll be helping with editing future episodes. Aside from being a V10 boulderer and budding sport climber, Onassis is a filmmaker, giving a voice to underrepresented climbers. You can check out Onassis' work here at @onassisfilms on Instagram.
Onassis Films
And maraming salamat to Christine for editing our socials for this episode. Christine is our three-time veteran on the podcast.
Pasensya, the audio is pangit. That's because Tim did the audio production. He didn't do that great of an audio production here. It'll be better in the future. Promise, ha.
Love the show? Become a Patron!
patreon.com/rockandrice
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1h 42min
September 14, 2025EP 16: Tristin Rubia — bouldering double digits, Filipinup, and relying on community to grow
If you boulder in SoCal and look up to double digit boulderers, chances are you follow Tristin on IG. Tristin is a Madrock Athlete, based in Fullerton, CA. He started climbing in 2018 and now climbs double digits consistently. From Meadowlark Lemon Stand V13-, to MRSA V11 in Tramway, to Bloodline V10 in Temecula.
We recorded this episode in May, when he was working Allegory in the Cave V12 in Black Mountain.
He also talks about what inspired him to support FilipinUp SoCal: a Filipinx climbing community. Check out FilipinUp here. They have the best stickers and meetups around SoCal.
Links
@tristin.outside — Tristin's Instagram
Tristin on TikTok
You can get 15% off MadRock using his promo code: SOFT (I don't get anything from promoting this, this is purely his promo code!)
Love the show? Become a Patron!
patreon.com/rockandrice
All proceeds will go towards funding gear balikbayan for the climbing communities in the Philippines.
It's tough to get gear out there. There ain't no REIs there and shipping is mahal (expensive). Your subscription will help us donate and ship gear to climbing communities in the Philippines!
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59min
August 05, 2025 EP 15: Mika Alfaro — climbing in the Philippines for the first time, Australia climbing, and taking breaks
Mika Alfaro is a Filipina climber based in Perth, Australia. We met in Danao when she was having the climbing trip of her life. Her nemesis? Bibinka. She ended up going to Danao again because she loved the crag—much like me.
I was intrigued by her story. Mika was born in the Philippines, moved to Kuwait when she was six, then moved to Perth when she was ten.
Listen to her talk about why she loves climbing, her experience climbing in the Philippines twice now, and the scene in Australia.
Mika's Instagram
Love the show? Become a Patron!
It’s not easy to gear good gear in the Philippines. Shipping takes a while, it’s expensive, and you often have to have hookups.
Support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rockandrice.
60% of your donation goes toward gear balikbayan to the Philippines. 40% goes back to the show.
...more
1h 14min
June 09, 2025EP 14: Shaun Marquez — dropping out of college to pursue climbing, being an introverted president, and the future of Ilo Ilo climbing
Shaun Marquez is a climber, bolter, and route setter based in Ilo Ilo. He is president of Ilo Ilo Climbing Community and climbs often at Igbaras — Ilo Ilo's premiere sport climbing crag. We talk about his send of Igbarock, a 7B/5.12b in Igbaras, how he balances all of his roles, being an introverted leader, and why he loves climbing.
Links
Sterling Blog: Philippine Climbers Building Their Own Future
Shaun's Instagram
Ilo Ilo Climbing Community
Support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rockandrice.
60% of your donation goes towards gear balikbayan for the Philippines; 40% goes back to the show.
...more
50min
April 18, 2025EP 13: Ina & Miel Pahati (Teaser) — How they decided to share Philippines climbing with the world
It's no secret that climbing in the Philippines is awesome. But isn't easy to learn about. The routes aren't on Mountain Project, getting to the crag takes a jeep, boat, or habal habal, and you need to know the Tita who runs the carinderia nearby.
Climb Philippines is a website that Ina Pahati started in 2007 to help people learn more about outdoor climbing in the Philippines. In this episode, we chat with both Ina and Miel Pahati — long-time climbers based in Quezon City, Manila. They couldn't be more proud of the crags in the Philippines: they've bouldered near Bagio and sport climbed in Igbaras. They also met in college, when they both started climbing, and entered a lot of climbing competitions.
They're now parents who still love climbing. For Ina and Miel, it's all about supporting the next generation. They want Climb Philippines to serve the next generation of Philippines-based climbers who are determined to get better.
My podcast software wasn't able to capture the Ina's mic after 47 minutes. So we'll release the 47 minutes of our 1 hour 15 minute interview. I'll see if they want to do a part 2. :)
Links
Climb Philippines
@glogrowglow — Ina Pahati's Instagram
@slowhand_mp — Miel Pahati's Instagram
Editor Credits
Shoutouts to Chung Winchip for doing the bulk editing of this episode. Winchip also produced the music used on this podcast, Bruiser. His music is on Spotify.
Love the show? Become a Patron!
It’s not easy to gear good gear in the Philippines. Shipping takes a while, it’s expensive, and you often have to have hookups.
Support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rockandrice.
60% of your donation goes toward gear balikbayan to the Philippines. 40% goes back to the show.
...more
46min
February 11, 2025EP 12: Nikki Cuna — the First Woman from the Philippines to Become a Certified Climbing Guide
Nikki Cuna just got her Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) certification, meaning she's the first Filipina from the Philippines to be a certified climbing guide. This is huge!
Nikki is a sport climber, budding trad climber, route developer, and certified climbing guide based in Cebu, Philippines. She's originally from Samar Island before moving to Cebu for school and work.
Her skills in climbing are diverse, and it shows. She can:
Send 7b+/5.12c on sport (Thor's Garden in Danao)
Lead a 5.7 Yosemite layback pitch (Nutcracker, pitch 3),
Create safe trad anchors
And can even bolt sport routes (she's done this in Danao)
Listen to her talk about why she chose to become a guide and why she prefers to grow in more than just one way.
Love the show? Become a Patron!
It’s not easy to gear good gear in the Philippines. Shipping takes a while, it’s expensive, and you often have to have hookups.
Support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rockandrice.
60% of your donation goes toward gear balikbayan to the Philippines. 40% goes back to the show.
...more
1h 26min
November 04, 2024 EP 11: Sierra Rose Knott — climbing double digits in Rocklands despite injuries, being Filipina, and not taking yourself too seriously
"Climbers are just big kids playing on compressed dirt. And we want to be better than others at playing on compressed dirt."

Sierra Rose Knott is a double digit boulderer and Organic Climbing athlete based in San Diego, CA. Her and her husband Richie are regulars at Black Mountain, a beautiful granite bouldering area in the San Jacinto Mountains surrounded by pine trees.
She had just come back from Rocklands, a destination bouldering area in South Africa. She was able to climb at her limit, despite having three injuires leading up to the trip.
Sierra is a quarter Filipina! She shares her family history. And why she’s proud to be Filipina, while acknowleding that it’s just a part of her identity.
Sierra’s also a rock climbing coach, who helps boulderers level up. If you’d like to work with her, DM her on Instagram.
Sierra’s LinkTree.
Love the show? Become a Patron!
It’s not easy to gear good gear in the Philippines. Shipping takes a while, it’s expensive, and you often have to have hookups.
Support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rockandrice.
60% of your donation goes toward gear balikbayan to the Philippines. 40% goes back to the show.
...more
1h 43min
September 22, 2024EP 10: PETS (Paul Suson) — sending hard routes in Cebu, comp climbing, and being one of three brothers who climb
Pets (Paul Eli T. Suson) is a Philippines comp climber, route setter, and outdoor climber from Cebu. He’s the sixth ascensionist of Jack Sparrow—the Philippines’ most famous 5.14a. Many Cebuano climbers consider him to be a young prodigy.
We talk about his mindset toward outdoor climbing, how he processes failure, rest, and why he competes, bolts, sets, and gives back to the community.
Links
Paul on Jack Sparrow 5.14a
Paul on Constrictor Evictor 8b/5.13d
Beta Routesetting
Pauls brothers: JJ and Josh
“The Rocks Show No Age” — Paul at 12
Love the show? Become a Patron!
It’s not easy to gear good gear in the Philippines. Shipping takes a while, it’s expensive, and you often have to have hookups.
Support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rockandrice.
60% of your donation goes toward gear balikbayan to the Philippines. 40% goes back to the show.
...more
59min
August 10, 2024EP 09: Jo Ala — founding Vertex Bouldering, splitting time between Iloilo and Manila, and smelling the roses
Help us balikbayan climbing gear to the Philippines.

patreon.com/rockandrice

If you like the show, I ask you to consider becoming a Patron.

Getting gear in the Philippines is hard. It’s even harder if you’re outside of Manila.
You can donate anything between $1 (50 pesos), $10 (500 pesos), or $25 (1250 pesos).
60% of your patronage goes towards gear balikbayan to Cebu Rock Climbing Community, Iloilo Climbing Community, and Cagayan De Oro Climbing Community.

40% of your patronage goes back to the show.
Become a patron at patreon.com/rockandrice

Jo
Jo is an overall badass.

An environmental lawyer who practices in Australia and Philippines. A former Philippines comp climber. Has put down outdoor 7c's/5.12d's. And just started a state-of-the-art bouldering gym in Iloilo.

When I visited Iloilo in February, she was projecting Engagement — Igbaras’s 8b/5.13d that’s a long, beautiful endurance line. She recently sent Ben & Be, a 7c/5.12d.
Her and her partner, JJ, opened up Vertex Bouldering — Iloilo’s state of the art climbing gym. Her goal is to bring that state of the art climbing gym to Iloilo.
In this episode, she talks about
what she’s learned after starting Vertex
shifting her perspective on training for projects
how she deals with failure
how she’s learned to separate her sense of self from her accomplishments.
These days, she’s stopping to smell the roses. 🌹

Links
Jo R Ala on Instagram.
Vertex Bouldering.
Shoutouts to Power Up Tandangsora for being her home gym!
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1h 5min
July 21, 2024EP 08: Christine Joy — being a multi-disciplinary climber, taking her mom climbing, and kapwa
Christine Joy is a boulderer, sport climber, budding trad climber, and soon-to-be SPI course certified climber based in Las Vegas. She has roots in the Philippines in Illocos Norte and Isabella, and has climbed in Cantabaco (shoutouts to Bal and Patrick!).

When I first came across Christine's Instagram — we found out of each other through the algorithm — my first thought was. Yo! We are literally so similar. She achieved a goal in 2022 to send her first outdoor V8 and 5.12a; I achieved the same exact goal in 2023. But as I got to know Christine, I realized that she's much more than just a strong climber. She's a caring friend, a super thoughtful and conscientious community shaper, and a proud Pilipina.

This is a two part interview! Two-in-one, baby. Almost three-in-one cape.

🤎 Love the show? Support 🇵🇭 Philippines climbing and the show. Become a Patron.
60% of your donation will go toward gear distribution to Cebu, Iloilo, and Cagayan De Oro Climbing Communities.
40% will go towards offsetting the $1100 startup cost of this show.
https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice
To support:
Walang Pera? Give $1/month.
Working full-time or have a savings? Give $10/month. You'll be able to ask guests questions ahead of time.
A generous donor? Offer $25/month. You'll be able to ask guests questions ahead of time.
https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice

Next episode is with Jo R Ala!
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2h 10min

FAQs about Rock and Rice:

How many episodes does Rock and Rice have?

The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.