The Howie Severino Podcast

Every August, the Philippines commemorates 'Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.' In a 2021 conversation, fellow veteran documentarist Kara David  shares how she vlogs to teach Filipino language.Catch the full episode here (Date recorded: July 23, 2021): https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HNbiv1CWBCGgVY2FPYm54?si=d4d377a0579a4880&nd=1

Many can relate to the Yulo family drama. Dr. Anna Tuazon explains some of the cultural values at play such as “balato,” “utang na loob,” parental fealty, and the pressures of being the family breadwinner. She shares what she has advised her own patients — the importance of listening to each other, respecting the choices of your children (“let them dream”), and knowing the boundaries of “utang na loob” (shouldn’t be transactional or demanded). Doc Anna reminds us that Carlos Yulo reached the pinnacle of his sport despite the distractions and disadvantages. To do that required “mental gymnastics” and an inner strength.Producer: Ivy Andrada BautistaResearcher: Jenica VillanuevaEditor: Jayr Magtoto

A useless new wheelchair ramp along EDSA appeared more like a slide at an amusement park, triggering a wave of online ridicule. But it produced at least one benefit: it started a conversation about making cities more accessible. Ken Abante, a leading advocate of inclusive mobility, tells us how.Listen to the full episode here (Date recorded: June 30, 2023):https://open.spotify.com/episode/7b68W0vGG1MOquHZahz07l?si=b13df8f909ec48e1

Prominent flood control engineer Dr. Guillermo Tabios shares a harsh reality — some densely populated areas of Manila may no longer be livable. In a wide-ranging conversation with Howie Severino triggered by recent devastating flooding, the UP professor emeritus of civil engineering explains that the low-lying metropolis could be facing unstoppable flooding. Climate change, clogged waterways, and the lack of major infrastructure spell regular disasters for millions of residents. Unless large floodways are built to carry water to the sea, Tabios says certain residential areas need to be abandoned to avoid the certainty of worsening floods and regular evacuations and fatalities. Current flood control projects are a patchwork that hasn’t solved the problem. He calls for a new cabinet-level Department of Water Resources that will coordinate government efforts and focus on comprehensive solutions. Tabios cites Iloilo City as an urban center that has built effective flood control systems by diverting water away from the city center. In Metro Manila, such an approach may require tunneling from Laguna Lake to the Pacific Ocean. According to Tabios, the reclamation projects in Manila Bay only exacerbate the situation by blocking the flow of water to the sea. Producer: Aubrey Delos ReyesResearcher: Lilian TiburcioEditor: Jayr Magtoto

August 9 is National Book Lovers Day. For acclaimed UK-based Filipina author Candy Gourlay, reading her first book was a magical experience. In a conversation recorded in June 2023, Gourlay says this experience inspired her to write books for children. Her most popular books are about kids who grew up in the Philippines.Catch the full episode here (Date recorded: June 21, 2023):https://open.spotify.com/episode/7j9RQL42yuuT0oNqvJ0P5j?si=4e7af4eaf80148cf

As millions of Mega Manila residents recover from the worst flooding in over a decade, we revisit a conversation from 2023 with disaster scientist Mahar Lagmay. He cites the Quezon City drainage master plan as a long-term solution that other urban areas can emulate.Listen to the full episode here (Date recorded: May 31, 2023) https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YJmomP7JtP0ZtP8bsZiqo?si=f129763f96ca4a42

Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines' first Olympic gold medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, explains how her sport is as much mental as it is physical.FULL EPISODE (Published: August 5, 2023)https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Axh74ghWvW38Q5DSZO5M6?si=ialfNJFmT9a_jnHVM-FxeQ

Born and raised in the US, Bryan explains why he became a Filipino citizen.A Philippine resident for 17 years, he has started multiple ventures with bamboo being a main component, including the popular bambike tours of Intramuros.He tells Howie Severino about the impact of restricting car use in Intramuros in favor of pedestrians and bikers, and why bamboo can help save the planet.Speaking from his seaside base in Batangas, the social entrepreneur shows Howie his latest bamboo creation, sitting on the ocean and ready for action.Producer: Eumer YangaResearcher: Jenica VillanuevaEditor: Jayr Magtoto

The Filipino-American Bryan Benitez McClelland came to the Philippines after college thinking he would stay for six months. 17 years later, he’s settled in the country running bicycle tours, advocating bamboo and trying to protect Batangas’s coastal environment. He’s even become a Filipino citizen who votes in every election.He tells Howie Severino what made him stay and how his bamboo bike company survived the pandemic.He’s taken up an extreme water sport called “wing foiling,” which has taken him far from shore and made him appreciate the sea environment in new ways.Producer: Eumer YangaResearcher: Jenica VillanuevaEditor: Jayr Magtoto