PODKAS

We reflect on the EDSA People Power and the role of cinema in shaping public sentiment in this episode, where we highlight the legendary Filipino filmmaker, Lino Brocka. How do media, film, and music have historically acted as catalysts for reform and resistance during Martial Law? Through Brocka's classic films, such as Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Insiang, we uncover the intertwined legacy of art, activism, and the enduring spirit of EDSA in today’s society.

In this new episode of Shakers and Shapers, we tackle the complex figure of Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines. We look back at his journey, from his aristocratic roots and eventual radicalization at the University of the Philippines, the formation of Kabataang Makabayan, the ideological underpinnings of national democracy, and the pivotal role Sison and his movement played during the dictatorship and beyond. Amidst a backdrop of red-tagging and anti-terror laws, join us as we seek to understand the complexities of the communist movement in the Philippines.

How intertwined were religion and politics during the tumultuous Martial Law period? We approach the role of the Catholic Church during the Marcos years and the EDSA Revolution through the life and complex legacy of Jaime Cardinal Sin, a key religious leader whose words and actions shaped the Church's involvement in political affairs and left an indelible mark on the nation's struggle for democracy.

We revisit the complex legacies of Juan Ponce Enrile, Fidel Ramos, and Gregorio Honasan, pivotal figures in the EDSA Revolution, in this episode. Exploring their roles in martial law implementation, their eventual defection from Marcos, and their subsequent political careers, we uncover the intertwined narratives of power, betrayal, and redemption that shaped Philippine history and politics.

In this episode, we take a look into the lives of opposition senators Jovito Salonga and Jose Diokno. Both followed unique paths, from humble beginnings and wartime heroics to their instrumental roles in challenging the Marcos dictatorship and shaping Philippine democracy. Through their stories, we explore the complexity of resistance, the necessity of integrity, and their lasting legacies in Philippine politics and society.

We proceed with our season by transitioning to the EDSA People Power Revolution, examining it through the lives and actions of its key shapers and shakers. In this episode, we dive into the story of Cory Aquino, the central figure around whom the nation coalesced to dismantle the Marcos dictatorship and inaugurate a renewed era of democracy. Furthermore, we scrutinize the Aquinos and their family's complex legacy in reinstating democracy in the Philippines, acknowledging the complexity of their history.

Today, February 25, marks the 38th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, a cornerstone in the Philippines' march towards democracy. In this special episode, "Bakit Inaalala ang EDSA?" we partnered with the Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) and interviewed Congress Rep. Edcel Lagman to tackle the efforts to preserve the significance of EDSA amid efforts to erase it from our memory.

In our final episode, we look at Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s early life during the time of Martial Law. Being the son of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Bongbong was surrounded by a lot of power and some big controversies that have left a lasting mark on the country's politics. We'll try to figure out how much Bongbong was involved in what his family did during Martial Law. Let's dig in.

Our focus in this episode is the life of Lean Alejandro, a symbol of Philippine student activism during the Marcos era. As Secretary-General of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Lean championed democracy against dictatorship, but his life was tragically cut short at 27. His influence and legacy as a beacon for justice and freedom endures to this day.

Maliit pa nga ba si Imee Marcos noong panahon ng Batas Militar? Let's look at the life and controversies of the eldest of the Marcos brood. From her education in prestigious institutions abroad to her early foray into politics, Imee's path was seemingly paved by her family's political legacy. However, like Marcos name, her own journey hasn't been without its dark patches and controversies: fake diplomas and a fake graduation, the death of a student activist, and a whirlwind romance, among others. Join us as we revisit these issues in this episode.

In another episode of #ShapersAndShakers, we discuss the life of Gen. Fabian Ver, a trusted confidant and chief enforcer of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Ver, from humble beginnings, rose through the military ranks to become one of the most powerful figures in the country. We unravel the complex relationship between Marcos and Ver, and the pivotal role the general played in consolidating power and suppressing opposition.

In Episode 7 of our #ShapersAndShakers series, we talk about the cronyism during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos through the experience of Lucio Tan, a business tycoon and one of the richest men in the Philippines, who got his biggest business opportunities as a Marcos crony. What is the link between cronyism and the country's economic crisis during and post-martial law? Find out in this episode.

Episode 6 of Shapers and Shakers features the work of Pete Lacaba, a Filipino journalist, poet, and cultural luminary who left an indelible mark on journalism, arts, and culture during the turbulent Martial Law period in the Philippines.

In this episode, we explore the influential role of Cesar Virata during Martial Law in the Philippines. As Prime Minister under Ferdinand Marcos, Virata, a respected economist, steered the nation's economic policies. In this episode, we dissect Virata's challenges, his impact on the economy and infrastructure, and the ethical dilemmas he faced as a technocrat in a time of authoritarian rule.

Our fourth episode spotlights the life and activism of Edgar Jopson or Edjop, a charismatic and passionate advocate for democracy, social justice, and human rights. His story is not only about defiance against dictatorship but also, and more importantly, a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who fought for freedom.

In our third episode, we delve into the life and controversial legacy of Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, and her intimate connection to one of the darkest chapters in the nation's history – Martial Law.

No conversation on the Philippines' Martial Law Era will be complete without a mention of its main man, Ferdinand E. Marcos. In this episode, we take a look back at his life and his rationale for declaring martial law.

We start our season on select martial law personalities with the person that sparked the end of the era: Ninoy Aquino. How did his life and death impact the country's authoritarian period? Find out in this episode.

Season 6 is here! Starting August 19, we will look at the Martial Law period through the lives of twelve individuals, and ask: were they shapers or shakers?

We look back at two years of conversations on Philippine history, politics, and society! We'll be on a (well-deserved) break, so for now, listen to our earlier episodes and chill as we prepare for new seasons in 2023!

It's our final #RizalOnAir episode! And there's no better time to end this season as we celebrate Rizal Day. We talked about Rizal's last poem, untitled but more popularly known as Mi Ultimo Adios. There's a lot to talk about this poem, as it is one of the most controversial pieces written by Rizal. Find out in this episode.

It was great doing this season, and as we end it, we'd like to thank everyone who tuned in. We also celebrate our SECOND ANNIVERSARY, so join us in the celebration by listening to our anniversary episode.

Until next time! For now, have a happy new year!

After El Filibusterismo, Rizal put pen to paper to produce his third novel. However, due to the many circumstances of having to return to the Philippines and his exile to Dapitan, this third novel never materialized and was left to the depths of oblivion until a draft of its manuscript, several pages written in Lagueño Tagalog, was found. Join us in unraveling the mystery of Rizal's third novel in this episode of #RizalOnAir. 

We include La Liga Filipina in the discussion of Rizal's works because even if the association immediately failed, it marks an essential change in Rizal's evolving ideas and objectives. What is the Liga, and what did it hope to achieve? And how is it linked to the Katipunan? Find out in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

After discussing some of the old and new characters of the El Fili, we now focus on the main plot of the novel (Simoun's revenge) and its other story arcs and subplots, such as the story of Kabesang Tales, his quest for justice, and how the system was so rotten he decided to seek justice through other means. The Fili is a more political novel, and the story itself proves this. Listen up to find out more.

Rizal followed up the Noli with a sequel titled El Filibusterismo, an attempt to tie the loose ends he left in his earlier novel. In this episode, we introduce El Fili, its major plot points, and its new characters.

Del Pilar prodded Rizal to write a letter to a select group of women in Malolos, who, after some struggle and resistance, were able to establish a school so they could learn Spanish. Rizal happily obliged. The letter is now known as The Letter to the Women of Malolos, a lengthy reminder on many things, but most importantly, praise for the women's desire for education. Know more about this in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

This is PODKAS's 100th episode! And because of some great mystery, we deal with a Rizal writing that has to do something with 100: Filipinas dentro de cien años, or The Philippines a Century Hence. Rizal did not only write about the Philippine past (Annotations of Sucesos) and present (Sobre la Indolencia), but he also predicted the fate of the Philippines in the next hundred years. What did he get wrong, and more interestingly, what did he get right? And what does this say about Rizal? Listen to this episode to find out.

Rizal sought to elevate the Filipinos not only by championing their welfare within the colonial society but, more importantly, by arguing that their conditions were not entirely their fault. One particular accusation by the colonizers that Rizal abhorred was that the Filipinos had an inherent predisposition to laziness. In Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos, he admitted that laziness exists, but this was not inherently Filipino. Listen to this episode to find out more.

Instead of writing a history of the Philippines, Rizal chose to write a novel that exposed Philippine society's ills. But he just couldn't let go of history, so instead of writing a new one, he annotated Antonio de Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. We talk about this work in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

We pick off from where we left off in the last episode when we talked about the context and the characters of Rizal's most important work, the Noli Me Tangere. This time around, we reveal some of the choicest plot points and the impact of the novel on our country's history. Join us!

From Rizal's early works, we proceed straight to one of his major ones: the Noli Me Tangere. We discussed the context of the publication and some of the characters that we liked in Rizal's magnum opus! Listen up.

#RizalOnAir comes back with a new episode! We mark the beginning of this season's third phase, focusing on Rizal's writings, by talking about his early writings from his Ateneo days until he left for Europe. It's an exciting mix of historical and nationalistic poems (most notably, A La Juventud Filipina), religious plays (El Consejo De Los Dioses and Junto Al Pasig), and some love writing too! We also talked about Rizal writing for kids, as he translated some of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales.

Cover Art Photo Credits: José Honorato Lozano, Quinta de los Generales en Malacañan a la rivera del Río Pasig, 1867

The memorialization of Rizal has spanned multiple media: movies, money, holidays, and other forms. But one form seems most enduring: the monument. In this episode, we talk about the different monuments of Rizal. From Luneta to the rest of the world, find out how Rizal has been depicted in stone in this new episode of #RizalOnAir. We’ll be away for a bit, and next month, we’ll return with a new episode, so watch out!

Rizal's impact was so enormous that he became a popular cultural product himself. In this episode, we talk about one particular media where Rizal has become the usual focus: movies. The centenary of the Philippine Revolution in 1996 led to some of the most popular Rizal movies in recent memory: Jose Rizal: Ang Buhay ng Isang Bayani (1996), Rizal sa Dapitan (1997), Jose Rizal (1998), and Bayaning Third World (1999). We talk about these and more in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

At the heart of the debate about whether Rizal is a radical or a reformist is how he perceived revolution as a concept and the revolution led by the Katipunan. We unpack some prominent points of this debate by referring to the works of Agoncillo, Constantino, and Quibuyen in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

We continue our discussion on Rizal by focusing on his relevance and how he remained "present" even after his death. In this episode, we look at the Rizalistas or those who view Rizal as a divine being and part of their faith and religious belief. How do we make sense of this reverence for Rizal, beyond seeing him as a hero but also as a god? Listen up to know more.

Rizal's death sounded the death knell of Spain's more than three centuries of colonization of the Philippines. What were the circumstances surrounding his execution, and how did he prepare for his imminent death? Learn more in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

Rizal realized that if he were to realize his vision for Filipinos, he must fight this fight in the Philippines. Upon his return, he established the Liga Filipina, but just a few days later, he was arrested and exiled to a remote town in Mindanao called Dapitan. Here, he stayed for four years, putting into practice all the professions we know him for: engineer, teacher, artist, physician, among others. We talk about all these and more in this episode.

Rizal’s life abroad was productively spent not only on writing but also in fraternizing with like-minded ilustrados that launched the propaganda movement in Spain. Know more about them and more in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

In this episode, we argue that the stereotype of Rizal as a womanizer is rather unfair. We deem him more a romantic than a playboy. Let's us take a quick look at Rizal's long list of ex-lovers in this episode of #RizalOnAir.

In 1882, Rizal left for Europe to pursue further studies. During these years of Rizal abroad, he spent time not only studying but also fraternizing with fellow Filipinos and being involved in the propaganda movement. What difficulties did he face during these years? Find out in this episode of Rizal On Air.

Chances are, the stuff you know about the boy Jose Rizal is mostly invented. He isn’t exactly a boy genius of immeasurable talent and a kind heart. He’s just… normal. But many events of his young life set the stage for who he became later on. Find out about it and more in this episode.

To know Rizal, we must first understand the context of his life and heroism. We do that by looking at the developments of the Philippines as Spain’s colony in the nineteenth century, and the conditions that brought about the ideas and experiences of Jose Rizal.

Why legislate a mandatory subject on the life and works of Jose Rizal? To answer this, we look back at the 1950s, when the Rizal Bill was proposed in the Philippine Congress, and the trials it went through before it became a law.

We look back at the second quarter of 2022 in this new Catch Up episode. We talked about the elections, the results, and the troubles of legitimate media organizations, and ruminate about how we could move forward under a new administration. 

We also talked about the series of changes in the lives of the PODKAS team, and the upcoming series, #RizalOnAir. 

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