Teka Teka

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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. 

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

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?