Teka Teka

What does learning Tagalog mean to second- and third-generation Filipino Americans? PumaPodcast reporter Maria Reyes joins New York University students on an immersion trip to Little Manila, Queens, where they practice the language with shop owners and reconnect with their heritage. Their stories reveal how language loss, shame, and identity shape the Fil-Am experience and why learning Tagalog can be an act of healing and pride.This episode was engineered by Jem Bunao. 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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

It’s 2025, and the DTI is once again insisting that a ₱500 Noche Buena is possible—sparking déjà vu from the same debate three years ago. So we’re bringing back that earlier episode to revisit the original uproar and explore what the ₱500 Noche Buena tells us about affordability, holiday spending, and the cost of living in the Philippines.This episode rerun was produced by Hannah Tasarra 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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Why do so many Filipino children struggle to read and what does that say about the state of education and literacy in the Philippines today?In this National Book Week episode, we revisit our conversation with Gillian Reyes of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) to unpack the country’s growing reading crisis. From lack of access and rising book costs to home environments and reading culture, this episode explores the real reasons why fewer Filipinos are reading for pleasure — and how this impacts literacy, learning, and national development.We also dive into how initiatives like Book Nooks, the Philippine Book Festival, and local language translations are working to rebuild a culture of reading in communities across the country.This episode rerun was produced by Anthony Tobias and engineered by Jem Bunao. 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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

The Philippines has become one of the most active frontlines in the growing US–China information war, where digital influence operations, propaganda campaigns, and soft power tactics are shaping public opinion, politics, and national security.In this episode, we speak with Reuters correspondents Poppy McPherson and Karen Lema about their investigation into a Chinese-backed disinformation network operating in the Philippines — and how it mirrors similar tactics used by the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.From troll accounts and fake engagement to “soft diplomacy” influencers and controversial awards for public officials, this conversation unpacks how global powers compete for narrative control in the country. It also explores why the Philippines has become such a strategic target in both information warfare and the broader US–China geopolitical rivalry, especially in the context of the South China Sea, Taiwan tensions, and regional security.This episode was engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.You may read the Reuters articles here and here.Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sixteen years after the Maguindanao Massacre, one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in history, Teka Teka revisits one of the most haunting stories from Super Evil: A Beautiful Place to Die Season 2.This special feature brings back “The Cellphone,” the powerful minisode about Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon, one of the 58 victims murdered on November 23, 2009. Amid the terror on a remote hill in Maguindanao, Cynthia managed to hold on to her phone and send desperate messages as gunfire surrounded her. Those final texts, recovered against all odds, would later help convict members of the Ampatuan clan in a trial that lasted a decade.More than a retelling of violence, this episode is a tribute to courage, press freedom, and the relentless pursuit of truth. It reflects on how one woman’s final act, reaching out for help, became a key piece of evidence in one of the most important justice battles in Philippine history.As we commemorate another year since the massacre, we remember the journalists, lawyers, and civilians whose lives were stolen—and the stories that demand to be told, again and again.Listen to this Teka Teka special feature and revisit the origins of Super Evil’s landmark investigation into the Maguindanao Massacre.This episode was produced by Bubbles Magpayo and engineered by Jem Bunao. 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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Regine Cabato sits down with military historian Jose Custodio to unpack the rise of pro-China propaganda on Filipino social media and how these narratives intersect with the politics of the Marcos administration and the Duterte camp.Custodio explains where fearmongering about military coups comes from, why influencers echo Beijing’s lines on the West Philippine Sea, and how disinformation networks built during the Duterte years continue to shape public opinion today. He also discusses the political stakes leading up to 2028 — from Marcos’ pushback against pro-China narratives to how the Duterte camp’s messaging still resonates with voters despite widespread anti-China sentiment.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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the most powerful, influential, and controversial figures in modern Philippine history, has died at 101.In this rerun of our special series on JPE, we look back on the extraordinary life of a man whose story spanned dictatorship, revolution, and democracy — and who served across administrations from Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to Benigno Aquino III.This first episode traces Enrile’s beginnings: from his childhood in Cagayan and his reunion with his father, to his rise as a brilliant young lawyer and his entry into government under President Marcos Sr.Originally released in 2024 to mark his 100th birthday, this series draws from news archives, public records, and Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir. Interview segments courtesy of Probe Archives.This rerun was produced 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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

With the passing of Juan Ponce Enrile at 101, we revisit the story of a man whose influence shaped—and survived—every major turn in modern Philippine politics.In this rerun of the second and final part of our special series on JPE, we trace how he moved from the center of power under Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to the front lines of the 1986 People Power Revolution, and how he remained a force in government long after.Originally released in 2024 to mark his 100th birthday, this series draws from news archives, public records, and Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir. Interview segments courtesy of Probe Archives.This rerun was produced by Anthony Tobias and engineered by Jem Bunao. 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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

How does the media shape the way we think and talk about mental health? Hannah Tasarra sits down with Roy Dahildahil and Richardson Mojica of MentalHealthPH to talk about how news outlets, social media, and content creators can help change the narrative around mental health and suicide in the Philippines.They discuss what responsible reporting looks like, why certain words matter, and how empathy and ethical storytelling can save lives. Join us as we explore how to use media as a tool for awareness, understanding, and hope.Trigger Warning ⚠️This episode contains sensitive topics related to self-harm and suicide that might be triggering or difficult to listen to. Please only listen if you're comfortable. If you need to reach out to a professional for support, you can reach out to NCMH 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 0917-899-8727 or check mentalhealthph.org/directory for a list of mental health facilities. We're committed to a safe and supportive environment for all. Thank you for joining us.This episode was produced by Hannah Tasarra and engineered by Jem Bunao. 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 us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.