Patricia Matias, a graduate of MIT Sloan and Harvard Kennedy School, joins PumaPodcast editor-at-large Jaemark Tordecilla to discuss "endo" or end-of-contract labor practices in the Philippines, where workers are dismissed before gaining full benefits and job security. Matias highlights that despite presidential promises, endo persists due to business interests and a lack of worker solidarity.

She proposes a three-pronged approach to address endo. First, a "narrative shift" to convince businesses that providing "good jobs" with security and benefits can improve operational excellence and profitability, drawing on research from MIT's Good Jobs Institute. Second, government support, including tax incentives for compliant companies and onboarding toolkits for businesses transitioning away from endo. Third, sector-specific pilot programs to develop successful "playbooks" for ending endo, which can then be scaled nationally. She argues that ending endo is vital for the country's health, building social safety nets and ensuring all citizens have deserved security and benefits.

This episode is engineered by Anthony Tobias.

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In this episode of Generations from Philstar Life and PumaPodcast, award-winning filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone sits down with Philstar Life columnist Angel Martinez and PumaPodcast editor-at-large Jaemark Tordecilla to talk about her latest film, “Sunshine”, which won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The film confronts the stigma surrounding sex education and women’s reproductive rights in a conservative society.

Though sex education and awareness are more accessible today, they remain taboo across generations, with plenty of misinformation still finding its way into young people’s hands. This conversation underscores the importance of open dialogue and honest education in shaping healthier, more empowered futures.

If you’re interested in organizing a screening of Sunshine for your school, institution or company, get in touch with Project 8 Projects at https://www.instagram.com/project8projects/ or Direk Tonet at https://www.instagram.com/tonetjadaone/

This episode was produced by Hannah Grace and engineered by Anthony Tobias. The Generations Podcast is executive produced by Sheila Paras of Philstar Life and Roby Alampay of PumaPodcast.

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.

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Director Baby Ruth Villarama joins Regine Cabato to delve into her documentary, "Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea." They discuss the film's challenging journey, from its international premiere and award recognition at Doc Edge in New Zealand and a series of full house screenings in Manila despite significant censorship attempt, to the ongoing struggles faced by Filipino fishermen and military personnel in the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea.

The conversation expands to cover the far-reaching implications of China's soft power and expanding influence, as well as the crucial role of documentaries in reflecting pressing societal issues, fostering public awareness, and serving as a mirror for a nation to confront its realities and shape its future.

This episode was 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 Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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

We’re rewinding to the very first Thought Bubbles episode to talk about the phenomenon that is Taylor Swift—now with an update for her brand-new era.

From her country beginnings and pop reinventions, to The Tortured Poets Department, the record-breaking Eras Tour, and her fight to reclaim her masters, Taylor has shown time and again she’s a master of reinvention.

And now, she’s announced her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl—revealed in a playful moment on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce. With bold, theatrical aesthetics, the album marks a return to a pop-driven sound under producers Max Martin and Shellback. Vinyl pre-orders promise a release before October 13, 2025, but the tracklist remains a mystery.

Whether you’ve been with her since Tim McGraw or joined during the Eras Tour hype, this re-run dives into Taylor’s past, present, and the showgirl future she’s stepping into.

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

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Fyt's Atom Araullo and Voltaire Tupaz join PumaPodcast editor-at-large Jaemark Tordecilla to discuss the evolving media landscape and the unique approach of their media startup, driven by changing media consumption habits and a desire to create space for impactful, independent journalism.

They discuss the LyfSaver app, a crowdsourcing platform for climate action and disaster response and highlight a successful collaboration where community-sourced, verified information from the app directly led to life-saving agency response.

The conversation also explores Fyt's innovative storytelling on TikTok and Instagram, including their "Game of Thrones" style investigation into political dynasties, and ponders on the future of journalism, citizen media, and civic engagement in our online spaces.

This episode was engineered by Anthony Tobias.

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.

In the pilot episode of Generations from Philstar Life and PumaPodcast, PhilStar Life columnist Angel Martinez, a Gen Zer, and Pumapodcast editor-at-large Jaemark Tordecilla, an Xennial, unpack the seeming Gen Z shift away from career ambition and toward "lazy girl jobs," "quiet quitting," and "coffee badging."

Is it a crisis of ambition or self-preservation? This conversation explores how different generations approach work, the cultural touchstones that shaped their views, and whether finding a fulfilling career is still a worthy goal in today's world.

This episode was produced by Jyn Garcia and engineered by Anthony Tobias. The Generations Podcast is executive produced by Sheila Paras of Philstar Life and Roby Alampay of PumaPodcast.

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.

Former Teka Teka reporter Bella Perez-Rubio reflects on her journey from traditional newsrooms to audio journalism, sharing why she left legacy media at the height of the 2022 elections and found a new voice through podcasting. In this candid conversation, Bella talks about covering the Duterte and Marcos administrations, the ethical compromises journalists face, and how platforms like PumaPodcast helped her reclaim purpose in a shifting media landscape.

Now headed to New York University for a master’s in journalism, Bella opens up about burnout, growth, and why staying true to your values matters more than ever in today's chaotic media environment.

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

What does it mean to leave at the right time — and for the right reasons? In this episode, journalist Bella Perez-Rubio reflects on her journey from traditional newsrooms to PumaPodcast, and now, to New York University. Along the way, she shares stories that shaped her — from immigrant families to displaced voices — and the quiet, radical act of finding her own. We explore carding, a writing technique that becomes a metaphor for reshaping your career, your voice, and your sense of care.

This episode is produced by Jyn Garcia 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 Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Renowned investigative journalist Sheila Coronel, the director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University, joins Roby Alampay and Jaemark Tordecilla in breaking down the threats facing media, academia, and free speech today.

Sheila talks about the hidden power of archives to shape history, the lessons from martial law, and why journalists must keep recording the truth, even when red lines are unclear. From disinformation and trolling to censorship and the rise of so-called “woke culture” wars, this conversation unpacks how democracy is tested and how it can fight back.

Listen to this deep dive on press freedom, accountability, and why telling small local stories can still have a big impact.

This episode is produced by Jyn Garcia 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 Teka Teka on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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

In a landmark decision that stunned many legal experts, the Philippine Supreme Court dismissed the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing the constitutional "one-year bar" rule. Oscar Franklin Tan, constitutional law expert and former law professor, joins PumaPodcast editor-at-large Jaemark Tordecilla to unpack how the Court’s ruling diverged from the 2003 Francisco v. House of Representatives precedent, an earlier case that had set precedents in impeachment proceedings in the country.

They discuss how the 97-page decision quietly rewrote established impeachment rules without clearly stating it was overturning precedent. The implications could be far-reaching: this ruling may not only tie the hands of the House in holding top officials accountable, but also complicate future impeachment efforts through new procedural hurdles.

This episode is engineered by Anthony Tobias.

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.