Teka Teka

Pictures that matter: ‘A stray bullet and your child is gone’ 01.07.2026 7min

In “Pictures that matter,” a special mini-series to commemorate the tenth year of the drug war, we talk to media workers who covered one of the bloodiest terms in modern Philippine history and ask them to tell the stories behind the troubling—and powerful—images splashed on our screens and newspapers. What kind of mark did this period leave on these journalists, and how have they made sense of what happened? This episode features Juan Carlo de Vela, a Cebu-based photojournalist who has worked for various publications there and in Manila.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pride and planet: How queer justice intersects with climate justice 29.06.2026 25min

For Filipinos, the month of June offers a dual celebration: Pride Month and the Philippine Environment Month. But how do we live with pride and acceptance in the face of a planetary emergency?In this episode of Teka Teka, climate and environment journalist Jhesset Enano speaks with queer climate activist Jefferson Estela on the intersections of queer justice and climate justice. They unpack the lived experiences of the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community amid the climate crisis, the wins in queer visibility and recognition in the climate space, and the persisting struggle for pride and the planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The promises and pitfalls of the Anti-False Information bill 25.06.2026 23min

The House passed the Anti-False Information Bill by a staggering 286 to 3 vote. On paper, it sounds like exactly what the Philippines needs to combat a massive disinformation crisis. The bill targets deliberate, harmful lies and introduces strict new transparency rules for big tech platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok.In this episode, independent journalist Nica Rhiana Hanopol sits down with Ross Fallorina, Managing Director of the SIGLA Research Center and a member of the bill’s technical working group. They dive deep into the messy political realities behind its rushed passage, what the bill gets right, and what it dangerously leaves open to interpretation. The conversation also breaks down why countering disinformation goes beyond platform accountability and false claims; it’s also about education and labor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pauli Basubas: 'Island girl' from Cebu pursues her astronaut dreams 23.06.2026 28min

In this inspiring episode, we feature Pauli Basubas, a Filipina Gen Z space biologist chasing her dream of becoming the first Filipino astronaut. From her humble beginnings in Cebu, where nights under the island sky sparked her curiosity, to her groundbreaking research in space biology, Pauli’s journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and purpose.Recently featured in the documentary To the Moon and Back at the prestigious Visions du Réel International Film Festival in Switzerland, Pauli shares how she carries her island roots proudly into the global stage of space science. She explains why space exploration matters to our everyday lives, from satellites that help predict typhoons to technologies like water purification and phone cameras that originated from space research.Finally, she reflects on her journey, her mission to inspire Filipino youth, and her vision of creating opportunities so that more island kids can dream beyond survival and reach for the stars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Binaliw landfill ‘trashslide’ and similar tragedies: Why they keep happening 18.06.2026 23min

On January 8, the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City collapsed, burying workers alive under mountains of waste. Locals called it a “trashslide.” The tragedy would not be the last of its kind in 2026. Journalist Maverick Avila traces a devastating chain of waste-related disasters across the Philippines: the Binaliw trashslide, the Rizal landfill collapse, the Navotas landfill fire that burned for a month, and the Davao landfill collapse that followed. He speaks with Jhaylord Antigua, a safety officer who survived the Binaliw trashslide by what he calls “luck,” and who continues to work at the landfill to this day. He also sits down with Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, an environmental scientist and waste expert, to ask: why does this keep happening? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Marcos-Duterte breakup, the Senate standoff, and we the voters 15.06.2026 22min

The Marcos-Duterte alliance delivered a historic landslide victory in 2022, but just a few years later, it has collapsed into one of the biggest political feuds in recent Philippine history. In this episode of Teka Teka, sociologist Athena Charanne Presto unpacks why the Uniteam alliance unraveled, what it reveals about political dynasties, power, and polarization in the Philippines, and how the fallout could shape the road to the 2028 presidential election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

32,000 people displaced by earthquake that killed at least 37 10.06.2026 6min

Search and rescue operations continue in the wake of one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Philippines. At least 37 people have been killed, and more than 32,000 displaced. About 6,000 public school buildings must be assessed before classes, which have just begun, can resume. To read this story, visit The Associated Press website.We thank the Global News Gaps Project of the Google News Institute for providing us access to AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the Filipino who invented toothbrushes that can grow into trees 09.06.2026 19min

From humble beginnings in Sultan Kudarat, Mark Gersava has become a global changemaker through his social enterprise Bambuhay. He introduced the reusable bamboo straw, sparking a movement against single‑use plastics. He also pioneered the world’s first plantable toothbrush, turning a daily necessity into a tool for reforestation.Beyond sustainable products, his vision extends to helping communities and saving the planet. Through regenerative reforestation in the Pantabangan‑Carranglan Watershed, he has transformed former illegal loggers and slash‑and‑burn farmers into tree growers, restoring forests while rebuilding lives. As we celebrate Philippine Environment Month, we explore Mark’s journey, his groundbreaking innovations, and how one Filipino’s grit and creativity are reshaping the fight against climate change and plastic pollution.🎧 Watch the video version on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVE RECORDING: Cielo Magno on how our taxes were designed, where they go, and what we can do about it 03.06.2026 32min

We pay all sorts of taxes, and at the end of the day, we don't even feel them working for us. The data says it's not just our imagination. Our fiscal space is tight, collection is designed to favor a few, and they're allocated in a way that there's barely room to fund development. In the first live Speak Easy event, presented by Philstar Life and PumaPodcast, and hosted by The Opal Bar in Poblacion, Makati, economist and former Finance undersecretary Cielo Magno explains this bundle of taxes, and offers solutions that we can all rally around together.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rotational brownouts, bill shock, and communities powered by renewable energy 01.06.2026 18min

Electricity fuels everyday life. And with extreme heat, Filipinos are relying on it more than ever.We unpack the twin burdens of rotational brownouts and “bill shock” that had households paying more for their consumption. We also examine the Energy Regulatory Commission’s temporary relief measures, petitions to remove mandatory charges, and the broader debate over renewable energy funding. Beyond the Philippines, we look at ASEAN’s collective push for energy security and highlight how solar power is already transforming lives in remote communities.🎧 Watch the video version on Youtube🎧 Listen to the audio version on Spotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Filipinos are debating on who should get aid. Experts, government weigh in 27.05.2026 21min

In recent weeks, middle class Filipinos have been pitted against the poor. What began as an inquiry into a “lifeline rate” inclusion in electricity bills has evolved into a discussion on who deserves to receive aid, like the 4Ps. Is anyone really more deserving of getting ayuda? And why is the 4Ps much misunderstood? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online smear campaigns against media aren’t new. Challenging it has never been more urgent 25.05.2026 30min

The ‘foreign agent’ label against journalists is an old playbook – especially in Asia. But in 2025, it found new reach, spreading across major social media platforms and going virtually unchallenged. In the final part of our series on media funding, foreign aid, and sustainability, independent journalist Nica Hanopol speaks with fellow reporters Azreen Madzlan from Malaysiakini, John Hurt Allauigan from PressOnePH, and Francis Allan Angelo from Daily Guardian about their investigation of an online smear campaign against USAID and the media and civil society organizations it funded. Read the cross-border investigation here.Follow the companion reports here: DailyGuardianPhilstar MalaysiakiniPressOne.PH🎧 Watch the video version on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is community journalism and why should it matter to you? 20.05.2026 34min

Not all stories make it to the news. But when it comes to the marginalized, community journalists make it their job to ensure that they are represented by the media. We celebrate World Press Freedom Day this month, and in this episode, highlight the realities faced by community journalists: red-tagging, harassment, imprisonment, and even violence. Avon Ang of Altermidya talks to us about the cases of RJ Ledesma and Frenchie Mae Cumpio, the dangers of immersion reporting, and community journalists’ role in defending the truth and the public’s right to know. 🎧 Watch the video version on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than money: What USAID's collapse cost the free press 18.05.2026 34min

For decades, the United States was the world’s largest funder of independent media through USAID, supporting investigative journalism, information integrity initiatives, journalist safety programs, and efforts to strengthen the market viability of media operations.Daniel Sabet, a visiting fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, joins independent journalist Nica Hanopol to break down what was actually lost when that funding disappeared almost overnight. He paints a sobering picture of a global press freedom infrastructure that collapsed faster than anyone could respond to - and of what must happen next.Read the full research, “The Impact of Ending U.S. International Media Assistance,” published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, here: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2026/04/united-states-international-media-assistance-ending-usaid-independent-journalismThis episode was produced by Tricia Aquino and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Listen to our episodes on Spotify or YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WHO says no sign of larger hantavirus outbreak; French patient critically ill 13.05.2026 6min

A French woman infected in the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship is critically ill and being treated with an artificial lung. There are now 11 total reported cases, nine of which have been confirmed. The World Health Organization says, however, that confirmed and suspected cases have only been reported among the cruise ship’s passengers or crew.To read this story, visit The Associated Press website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When cuteness is a threat: Squirrels in the city and monkeys in the wild 12.05.2026 36min

We sit down with wildlife biologist Jay Fidelino to discuss the surprising rise of squirrel sightings in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. While these animals may look cute and harmless, Fidelino explains that the Finlayson’s squirrel—an introduced species—is actually an invasive alien species with serious consequences for local biodiversity, agriculture, and even infrastructure.Fidelino highlights the importance of scientific research and government action to manage invasive populations, while also reminding the public not to keep these squirrels as pets. On a brighter note, he shares the Philippines’ native squirrel species which naturally coexist within local ecosystems without causing harm.We also talk about encounters with monkeys in tourist destinations, and how humans can minimize harm.🎧 Watch the video version on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charging on: How independent media survives a funding freeze 07.05.2026 27min

When USAID pulled the plug on media funding overnight, independent newsrooms across Asia and the Pacific were left scrambling. In this episode, independent journalist Nica Hanopol speaks with Nini Cabaero, a media business advisor, who shares what the funding freeze actually felt like from the inside—and what independent newsrooms across Asia and the Pacific are doing to survive it.🎧 Listen on Spotify🎧 Watch on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US-Israel war on Iran puts foreign workers in the Gulf at greater risk and raises the cost of going home 04.05.2026 9min

Tens of millions of foreign workers have helped build the Gulf Arab states’ modern, oil-fueled economies—with many not fully sharing in their prosperity. Now they face an even sharper dilemma: Keep working in the Middle East, where wages are far higher, hoping that a shaky ceasefire endures; or, return to already poor countries where prices have soared because of the conflict.To read this story, visit The Associated Press website.We thank the Global News Gaps Project of the Google News Institute for providing us access to AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After two years of war, Palestinians vote in local elections in West Bank and part of Gaza 29.04.2026 8min

Palestinians voted on Saturday in the first elections held in part of Gaza in more than two decades, while tens of thousands of Palestinians cast ballots in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Though turnout was low, voters said they were driven to the polls amid a near-total absence of public services. To read this story, visit The Associated Press website.We thank the Global News Gaps Project of the Google News Institute for providing us access to AP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young girls keep getting pregnant. A bill, almost a decade stalled, seeks to address it 27.04.2026 20min

More girls aged ten to 14 became mothers in 2024, up by eight percent from 2023. 269 more girls were deprived of a childhood, says the Philippine Statistics Authority, raising the alarm once more on the issue of adolescent pregnancy, as well as questions. What is the government doing? And how can we curb the problem? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.