Teka Teka

In this episode of Thought Bubbles, we dive deep into the vibrant and evolving world of drag culture in the Philippines. With special guest Jon Galvez—a drag enthusiast, filmmaker, and director of ‘Lip Sync Assassin’—we explore how drag has grown from comedy bars and barangay pageants into a powerful platform for Filipino queer storytelling, political expression, and mainstream entertainment.

From the impact of shows like Drag Race Philippines and Drag Den, to iconic films that paved the way for local drag visibility, this episode breaks down the rich history, rising acceptance, and cultural influence of Filipino drag artists. We also talk about the challenges drag queens still face in a predominantly Christian country, including the controversial case of Pura Luka Vega.

This episode rerun is produced by Bubbles Magpayo 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 PumaPodcast on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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

In this episode rerun, we dive deep into the reality of the Philippines' informal economy. This vast workforce faces significant pre-existing vulnerabilities, including long hours, physical strain, and even abuse. For a country as disaster-prone as the Philippines, climate change layers on more existential threats, exposing informal workers to heightened risks from floods, heatwaves, disease outbreaks, and more.

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

The original episode was done by Taitana Maligro, and produced by Jil Caro.

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 HIV cases rise sharply in the Philippines, we revisit how former Health Secretary Juan Flavier fought stigma and pushed for prevention at a time when few dared. 

This episode originally ran in June 2024 and was written by Tatiana Maligro, produced by Jil Caro, engineered by Pidoy Blanco, and edited by Carl Javier. 

This version was put together by Bella Perez-Rubio, Jyn Garcia, and Anthoby 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 this episode, journalist Regine Cabato sits down with cultural critic and VERA Files contributor Katrina Stuart Santiago to unpack the Duterte dynasty's growing influence on TikTok. They dive deep into how disinformation, political propaganda, and entertainment tactics are shaping public perception ahead of the 2028 Philippine elections.

Tune in as we explore:

·         The evolution of TikTok from Marcos revisionism to Duterte fandom

·         How disinformation spreads and festers on algorithm-driven platforms

·         Why comedy and content creation may be democracy’s best weapon

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.

The Philippine claim on Sabah isn’t just history. It fuels a dispute that impacts our ties with Malaysia, Filipino migrants, and maritime boundaries.

This episode was written and produced by Bella Perez-Rubio and engineered by Anthony Tobias/Jyn Garcia. 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 2025 midterm elections redrew political battle lines between the Marcos and Duterte camps. In this episode of Teka Teka, political science professors Dr. Julio Teehankee and Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, political strategist Alan German, and PumaPodcast CEO Roby Alampay unpack how the results will determine Vice President Sara Duterte's upcoming impeachment trial, the presidential race in 2028, and the trajectory of Philippine politics. 

This episode was written and produced by Bella Perez-Rubio and engineered by Anthony Tobias/Jyn Garcia. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

For a broader analysis of the 2025 elections, check out this episode featuring Michael Yusingco of the Ateneo Policy Center. 

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 this episode, Jaemark Tordecilla explores the surprising visibility—and invisibility—of the Filipino community in Spain’s capital. From Jollibee near Puerta del Sol to José Rizal’s old haunts, discover how Filipino culture, history, and even controversy live on in modern-day Madrid. Plus, hear about the curious case of a popular Spanish biscuit named "Filipinos," and what it reveals about colonial legacies, cultural memory, and representation. Perfect for listeners interested in Philippine history, diaspora communities, and travel with a conscience.

This episode is engineered by Anthony Tobias.

Listen to more of 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 this episode of Teka Teka, we explore the real impact of Millennials and Gen Z—who now make up over 60% of the voting population—on the 2025 midterm elections. Political experts, campaign strategists, and youth organizers unpack the growing political power of young voters, their grassroots involvement, and why the so-called "youth vote" remains complex and misunderstood.

Featuring insights from Dr. Julio Teehankee, Bianca Lacaba, Alan German, and Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, this post-election deep dive reveals how the youth are transforming campaign strategies and challenging traditional political dynamics in the Philippines.

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

For another post-election analysis, check out our conversation with Michael Yusingco, Senior Research Fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center. We also have an episode on the opinion of Filipinos on democracy and how that shapes their voting decisions.

Listen to more of 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.

Palawan’s provincial government just passed a landmark 50-year moratorium on endorsing new mining projects. In this episode, environmental lawyer Grizelda Mayo Anda shares how decades of activism, legal advocacy, and grassroots organizing led to this rare environmental win. She also explains what the ordinance covers and what’s still at stake.

This episode was produced by Bella Perez-Rubio and engineered by Anthony Tobias/Jyn Garcia. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

If you’re interested to hear more on mining in the Philippines, we also have an episode featuring the life and legacy of the late anti-mining advocate Doc Gerry Ortega.

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.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses euthanasia that may cause distress to some listeners. Please tune in with caution.

Cartoons and films portray squirrels as cute, furry, and playful creatures. In real life, certain species of squirrels are serious threats to the country’s biodiversity. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been trying to fight the unregulated proliferation of invasive squirrels in the country for over a decade, but their efforts remain unsuccessful. Anna Cabrera of PAWS, Jana Sevilla of PETA Asia, and Prof. Emilia Lastica-Ternura of the UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine discuss the ways to deal with the invasive squirrel problem.

Here’s a link to a related episode about animal cruelty in the Philippines: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Hf2CQtnSfHCziD1IrOEHV?si=ab0107c735944b24

And another episode about the pet overpopulation problem in the country: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1e0rU51ekeGYzG3ub9gDh8?si=bc99852572b54e7b

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

Listen to more of 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.