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.

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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.

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Teka Teka reporter Hannah Grace sits down with geoscientist and educator Ricarido Saturay Jr. to unpack the science, policies, and practical realities behind class suspensions in the Philippines.

Why do we still get false alarms — no classes but no rain? What’s the difference between a tropical cyclone signal and an orange or red rainfall warning? How can local governments, teachers, and parents make better decisions to keep students safe without sacrificing precious classroom time?

We break down PAGASA weather forecasts, DepEd suspension rules, and how to understand the rainfall warnings that affect daily life. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, student, or local official, this conversation will help you know when it really makes sense to cancel classes — and when it doesn’t.

Sir Ric also wrote op-ed articles on this topic, which you can read here and here.

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and positions of PSHS and UP Diliman.

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

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Move beyond the traditional "Hero's Journey" as we explore how to find profound meaning in life's continuous efforts. Drawing inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki, this episode reveals how his films offer clarity by animating the world's complexity rather than simplifying it. Discover how creative resistance and moral storytelling can illuminate emotional and ethical truths that lay beneath our everyday struggles, teaching us that peace is not passive, it requires empathy, imagination and effort. We delve into the concept of life as a series of "small changes, a pivot, a turn,” where finding peace and purpose is a continuous, non-linear quest.

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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Roby Alampay continues his conversation with Prof. Joseph Chinyong Liow of Nanyang Technological University. They discuss how the Philippines is recalibrating its ties as China rises and the United States retreats from Southeast Asia. They also unpack why the Philippines remains pro-America in public opinion but increasingly open to China’s economic influence.

Liow wrote about Southeast Asia’s quiet pivot with Yuen Foong Khong of the National University of Singapore, which you can read on Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, you can listen to the first part of the interview here.

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.

Roby Alampay sits down with Prof. Joseph Chinyong Liow of Nanyang Technological University to unpack Southeast Asia’s evolving balancing act between the United States and China. Are ASEAN countries still truly neutral? What does 30 years of data reveal about the region’s quiet shift toward Beijing?

Liow shares insights from the “Anatomy of Choice” index—a detailed study he conducted with Yuen Foong Khong of the National University of Singapore—tracking how trade, security, soft power, and diplomacy signal a subtle pivot to China. From the Philippines’ “friend to all, enemy to none” policy to Thailand’s and Vietnam’s surprising trends, we explore why Southeast Asia’s choices matter now more than ever.

Liow and Khong also wrote an article on Foreign Affairs about their findings, which you can read here.

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 2022, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte rose to power with the help of hyper-partisan influencers — online propagandists and attack dogs who dominated social media feeds. But when cracks appeared in the Marcos-Duterte alliance, those same bloggers turned their claws on the president they once defended.

Now, pro-Marcos lawmakers are cracking down on these once-loyal influencers for spreading disinformation, while opposition figures across party lines are fighting back too.

Regine Cabato sits down with Southeast Asia disinformation expert Ross Tapsell, who unpacks how a regime built on propaganda is now trying to control it, and what this disinformation paradox means for the future of Philippine politics.

This episode is 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.

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When should kids really start kindergarten? Should you worry if your child is “behind” in writing or reading? In this episode, Hannah Grace talks to Dr. Marison Dy, an early childhood care and development expert from UP Los Baños, about the Department of Education’s new cutoff for kinder enrollment, play-based learning, developmental milestones, and how parents can better support their kids at home and in school.

Discover why play is the most powerful tool for learning, what signs to watch out for, and how to lay the groundwork for your child’s well-being and love for lifelong learning.

This episode is 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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Public healthcare in the Philippines is often seen as slow, crowded, and lacking resources. But did you know your local health center offers many essential services for free? 

In this episode, Hannah Grace talks to Dr. Cecille Francisco, a public health physician in Manila, about what Filipinos are missing out on: from free vaccines and HIV screening to family planning, mental health medicines, and more. Why do so many still pay out-of-pocket for services they can get free of charge? What keeps our public health system from working better, and what can we do to fix it?

Listen as we uncover the realities, clear up misconceptions, and highlight the hidden strengths of public healthcare in the Philippines.

This episode is 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.