Coffee is part of everyday life in the Philippines—but behind every cup is a long history shaped by trade, agriculture, labor, and culture. In this episode, we revisit a conversation from WhatsApp, Araling Panlipunan Rebooted, exploring how coffee arrived in the Philippines, why the country sits in the global coffee “bean belt,” and what makes Philippine coffee unique.

From Batangas’ rise as a coffee powerhouse to the impact of plant disease, climate change, and shifting consumer habits, the episode breaks down the past, present, and possible future of the local coffee industry. You’ll also hear from Filipino coffee professionals—roasters, processors, and educators—who explain specialty coffee, coffee varietals like Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa, and why quality and fair pricing matter.

This conversation also asks an important question: what role do consumers play in supporting Filipino coffee farmers and small businesses? As specialty coffee grows in the Philippines, understanding where your coffee comes from can make every cup more meaningful.

This episode rerun is produced and edited by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Filipinos grow more vigilant about how government money is spent, questions around the national budget go beyond big numbers and official promises. More people are asking harder, more personal questions: sino ang magbabayad, sino ang makikinabang, at para kanino ba talaga ang mga programang ito?

In this episode rerun, Roby Alampay talks with economist Cielo Magno about how ordinary citizens can evaluate government spending and policy announcements—without needing an economics background. The discussion avoids technical jargon and instead offers practical ways to assess priorities, feasibility, and fairness, using everyday analogies that make the budget process easier to understand.

This rerun is produced and edited by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UP Tugma brings Philippine music to life. In this live episode from Maki+Fiesta 2.0, the student musicians from the UP College of Music take us behind the rhythms, stories, and traditions they perform—showing how music can carry culture, connect communities, and spark collaboration.

Join us for a lively, short conversation recorded in the heart of the festival, and discover how tradition meets creativity in the hands of the next generation of Filipino musicians.

This episode was produced by Hannah Tasarra and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The start of a new year often comes with plans to improve daily habits, including skincare. But with countless products, routines, and online advice competing for attention, building a skincare routine can quickly become confusing and expensive.

In this rerun of a Project Vanity episode, we revisit a timely conversation on skincare habits, evidence-based advice, and the importance of professional guidance. The discussion focuses on understanding your own skin, avoiding misinformation, and knowing when skincare products are not enough without consulting a dermatologist.

This conversation offers a practical perspective for anyone starting the year with skincare goals—whether you are simplifying your routine, addressing persistent skin concerns, or looking to make informed decisions rather than follow trends.

This episode rerun is produced by Hannah Grace and edited by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Japan is facing a growing contradiction. As the country grapples with an aging population and severe labor shortages, it is planning to admit up to 820,000 foreign workers under its Specified Skilled Worker program by the end of the decade. Yet at the same time, anti-immigrant sentiment has been gaining ground in Japanese politics. 

In this episode of Teka Teka, Prof. Gracia Liu-Farrer, co-author of a recent Foreign Affairs article on Japan’s immigration paradox, joins us to unpack the country’s demographic crisis and what Japan’s labor policies mean for migrant workers on the ground. We also look at what these shifts mean for Filipino migrants, the fourth-largest foreign community in Japan.

You can read the Foreign Affairs article here.

This episode is produced by Lyn Olavario and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we enter 2026, many Filipinos are setting resolutions to eat healthier and become more mindful of nutrition. But how easy is it really to make informed food choices, especially when grocery shelves are filled with products claiming to be “healthy”?

In this rerun episode of Teka Teka, we revisit a conversation on food labels, nutrition claims, and why what we eat matters for public health. Health experts and advocates explain how excessive sugar, salt, and fat intake are linked to non-communicable diseases, which are now among the leading causes of death in the Philippines.

The episode also looks at the push for clearer food warning labels, how other countries have implemented them, and why these labels could help Filipino consumers make better, healthier choices without needing to decode complicated nutrition facts.

If improving your eating habits is part of your New Year’s resolutions, this episode offers important context on nutrition, food environments, and the policies shaping what ends up on our plates.

This episode rerun is produced and edited by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Year often promises fresh starts, but real life rarely resets overnight. In this episode, we revisit a meditation on finding meaning in repetition, quiet progress, and the everyday effort we carry into each year.

Drawing from the story of Sisyphus and the gentle wisdom found in Hayao Miyazaki’s films, Jyn Garcia explores how hope, clarity, and purpose can emerge even when life feels non-linear or overwhelming.

If you’re easing into 2026, this episode offers a grounded reflection on work, growth, and the small choices that shape our days.

This episode rerun is produced and edited by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Rizal Day, we revisit one of Manila’s most overlooked heritage sites: the Pansiteria Macanista de Buen Gusto, a real Binondo restaurant that José Rizal named in El Filibusterismo.

The structure—one of the last surviving 19th-century buildings of its kind—offers a rare glimpse into the Manila Rizal once walked. Though time has nearly claimed it, the pansiteria remains a powerful reminder of the everyday spaces that shaped his world and his writing.

In this episode rerun, we explore the building’s history, its connection to Rizal’s novel, and why heritage advocates are racing to save it from collapse or demolition. On this day when we honor Rizal’s legacy, we ask what it means to let a piece of his Manila fade away.

This episode was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at MAKI+Fiesta 2.0, this episode of Thought Bubbles brings together content creators DJ Cupcakes and Mathilda Airlines, alongside journalist and producer Lolit Lachica, for a grounded conversation on influence, creative content, and truth-telling in today’s media landscape.

From remixing viral rants into music, to using movement and humor as entry points for political and social issues, the discussion explores how creators navigate algorithms, advocacy, and responsibility. The episode also looks at the growing overlap between content creation and journalism—where personality, research, and context intersect in shaping public conversation.

This live recording offers insight into how creators stay authentic while reaching wide audiences, why collaboration with journalists matters, and what truth-telling looks like in an age of virality.

This episode was produced Bubbles Magpayo and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Every year, the Filipino Christmas season unofficially begins the moment Jose Mari Chan’s voice returns to malls, radios, and memes. But the history of our holiday soundtrack goes much deeper than Christmas in Our Hearts.

In this episode rerun, we trace the evolution of Filipino Christmas music—from the Spanish-era villancicos, to classic OPM hits like Ang Pasko ay Sumapit and Himig ng Pasko, all the way to the rise of Jose Mari Chan, whose songs have come to define the modern Filipino Christmas playlist.

Music educators and culture experts walk us through the traditions, cultural influences, and generations of Filipino composers who shaped the way we celebrate the holidays through song.

This episode was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.