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How is the Philippine national budget being spent? Veteran journalist and technologist Jaemark Tordecilla talks to Roby Alampay to introduce Budget Bot, an AI-powered tool that makes budget data accessible to everyone. In this episode, we explore how AI can uncover spending patterns, outliers, and potential red flags—just in time for the elections. Find out how you can use Budget Bot to track public funds and make informed decisions.

🔗 Try Budget Bot: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-JbtdqTBNp-budget-bot

📖 User Guide: https://github.com/tordecilla/budget-bot

📖 Article: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/i-created-ai-chatbot-speak-my-countrys-budget-heres-how-i-did-it

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the voice-acting industry, from automated narration to synthetic voices in ads, films, and apps. While many fear AI could replace human voice actors, others see it as an opportunity.

In this episode, we speak with Pocholo de Leon Gonzales, the "VoiceMaster of the Philippines," who has embraced AI throughout his three-decade-long career. We talk about the evolution of voice tech, the ethics of voice cloning, and how voice actors can adapt, upskill, and thrive alongside AI.

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

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

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

What if the system designed to support our most vulnerable is being exploited? Who truly pays the price? In this episode, we explore the complexities of Republic Act No. 10754, which mandates a 20% discount and VAT exemption for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Journalist Justine Dizon shares his firsthand experience of defending his right to these benefits, while tax expert Mon Abrea unpacks the challenges businesses face in verifying PWD IDs. We also discuss the broader implications for both PWDs and establishments, shedding light on the urgent need for a clearer, more reliable system.

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Trigger Warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you need support, resources and helplines are listed below.

For years, violence against women has persisted in various forms: physical, sexual, psychological, and economic. Despite existing laws, many survivors struggle to seek justice.

Recent high-profile cases, such as those of socialite Tessa Prieto and vlogger and DJ Jellie Aw, have reignited public discussions on the barriers victims face, the gaps in legal protections, and what must change to ensure their safety and empowerment.

In this episode, Atty. Alex Castro, a lawyer, women’s rights advocate, and founder of Youth Against Sexual Harassment (YASH), explains how the law addresses violence against women and where it still falls short.

Where to Seek Help:

Barangay VAW Desk (Barangay Hall)

Social Welfare & Development Office (LGUs)

DSWD CBSS – Tel. 733-0014 to 18 local 116 / 488-2861

PNP Women and Children Protection Center (Camp Crame) – Tel. 410-3213 / 532-6690

Aleng Pulis Hotline – Tel. 0919-777-7377 | Emergency: 911

Women & Children Protection Desk (Nearest Police Precinct)

NBI Anti-VAWCD – Tel. (02) 8523-8231 to 38 / (02) 8525-6028

PNP WCPC – Tel. (02) 8532-6690 / 7410-3213 / 7723-0401 local 5260, 5360, 5361

Visayas: 0917-708-5157 / (032) 410-8483

Mindanao: 0917-180-6037

DOJ-PAO Legal Aid – Tel. (02) 8929-9436 local 106, 107, 159

UP-PGH Women’s Desk – Tel. (02) 8353-0667 / 8542-1512 / 8554-8400 local 2536

DOH Hospitals, Women and Children Protection Unit

Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) – Tel. (02) 8514-4104 | Mobile: 0920-967-7852 / 0917-825-0320

For more information, visit pcw.gov.ph.

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of violence, extrajudicial killings, and detailed accounts of brutality that may be distressing to some listeners.

Acting on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, Philippine authorities swiftly arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte on the morning of March 11, 2025. It was a long-awaited answer to calls for drug war accountability. 

Duterte denies committing any crime. But before these dizzying developments, one man had already stepped forward with a chilling confession.

In this episode, we dive into the testimony of Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad. Matobato's revelations provide a firsthand account of the extrajudicial killings that defined Duterte's anti-drug campaign. 

Investigative journalist Sheila Coronel and an advocate for whistleblowers, Father Alabert Alejo, join us to discuss the challenges of verifying Matobato's account, the clandestine networks that offered him protection, and the broader implications for justice and accountability in the Philippines.

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of violence, extrajudicial killings, and detailed accounts of brutality that may be distressing to some listeners.

The Making of Edgar Matobato is an investigative piece by award-winning journalist Sheila Coronel, published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) on January 17, 2025.

This gripping article uncovers the story of Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin for the Davao Death Squad, who became the first insider to expose the extrajudicial killings allegedly ordered by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Now adapted into audio by Jaemark Tordecilla, with the help of AI, this episode brings Matobato’s journey to life—from his time as a hitman to his shocking testimony before the Senate and the dangerous life he led as a fugitive.

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