Teka Teka

Is it time to start worrying about Monkeypox?

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is monkeypox, how does it spread, and what is the government doing about it? Health authorities answer all our questions.https://pldthome.info/PP...

Incoming Justice Secretary Boying Remulla shares his thoughts on the free press

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a series of interviews following his appointment as incoming justice secretary, Cavite Rep. Boying Remulla shares his thoughts on media and the fre...

Forgery of drug war autopsy reports–why are they still happening?

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why has it been so hard to trust police autopsies, especially when it comes to victims of the so-called war on drugs? Dr. Raquel Fortun, one of only t...

An explainer on that one final petition to cancel Marcos Jr’s candidacy

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Petitioner Atty. Ted Te breaks down the legal battle which they brought to the Supreme Court to void the candidacy of president-elect Ferdinand Marcos...

What the next administration can do for Filipino fishermen

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, the Philippines is struck by an average of 20 typhoons, leaving thousands of casualties behind. You can't fight nature, but the next presi...

Is it time to rethink our rules on colorum vehicles?

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Friday rush hour na naman. Have you ever been so desperate to get home you were forced to take a habal-habal or been fetched by a volunteer rider? Acc...

Filipinos in New York grapple with election results

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some Filipinos abroad are still struggling to come to terms with Marcos Jr.'s win. We talk to someone in the Big Apple about how this election played ...

Why was Sara Duterte chosen as Education Secretary?

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte–what kind of surprises will that bring? Experts and advocates weigh in on the incoming VP's imminent tenure at the ...

When your favorite influencer is actually a paid troll

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Online influencers played a much bigger role in this year's elections. But do you know that some of them were paid big bucks to endorse candidates? Di...

300,000 more could die of hunger by 2050 if we don’t fight climate change

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mahilig ka bang mag-extra rice? Well, scientists project that this may be a thing of the past if we continue with business-as-usual despite the climat...

The art of dubbing Netflix films in Filipino

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More and more films are streaming on Netflix in Filipino. Dubbing director and producer Rudolf Baldonado Jr. talks about the important work that goes ...

Marcos Jr, in his own words

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator, is the presumptive next president of the Philippines. How is he going to fix t...

Ang tunog ng araw matapos ang halalan 2022

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ang pagod mula sa botanteng hatinggabi nang lumabas sa presinto, ang pagpoprotesta sa harap ng Comelec, ang talumpati ng nangungunang kandidato... Pak...

Ang tunog ng Election Day 2022

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ang pag-alok ng sample ballots sa labas ng presinto, ang "beep" ng temperature check papasok nito, ang paghingi ng paliwanag sa poll workers para sa s...

Are the special polling places for seniors and PWDs up to scratch?

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Comelec has observed more senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women registering to vote. Are we finally ready for a more incl...

Two witnesses retracted their testimonies against De Lima. What does it mean?

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the Duterte administration winds down, at least two key witnesses of the Department of Justice have recanted their testimonies against jailed Senat...

Was the press ever truly free in the reign of Duterte?

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After six years–six years of continued killings and harassment of journalists, of trolling and self-censorship, of being denied access to source...

Can we trust automated election systems?

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to guarantee the voting public a free and honest election? SharePhil organized a forum with Comelec and poll watchdogs to discuss ex...

The anatomy of Bongbong Marcos’ campaign sorties

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There's singing, dancing, prize money and free food. There's also not much talk about their platform, or how they will achieve unity. Camille Elemia t...

Doobiedoo Asks: Why is autism inclusion important?

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, writer Bambi Eloriaga-Amago talks about her comic book Doobiedoo Asks, which tells the story of how her family ad...

“Now or never”: Scientists urge mass shift to renewable energy

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Philippines is vulnerable not just to the effects of climate change—think stronger typhoons, and in the unlikeliest of places—but also...

Holy Week commuting horror: how volunteers saved the day

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Community pantry, but in public transport? Here's how social media users mobilized to bring stranded commuters home during Holy Week's commuter hell.S...

Online trolls are not who you imagine them to be

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Disinformation researcher Professor Jonathan Ong of Harvard University unmasks the typical online troll in a new podcast called “Catch Me If You...

A walking tour of 40 Wall Street, a gift from Ferdinand to Imelda

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

40 Wall Street is just one of the four opulent New York buildings Ferdinand Marcos bought for his wife Imelda–using Filipino taxpayers' money. W...

Space internet is coming to the Philippines. No, for real.

23 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They're called LEOSATs, and they can deliver data faster and at higher bandwidths. Here's how soon we can expect Elon Musk's satellite broadband compa...

“Pwedeng email lang”: Was that the worst pre-election presscon ever?

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

People are still scratching their heads over that last-minute Easter Sunday press conference called by three of the lagging presidential candidates.Se...

Oh my gulay, smuggled na naman?

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carrots from China coated with chemicals to make it last a month. Onions and cabbages declared as pastries. Vegetable smuggling in the Philippines has...

Call them “bicycle road crashes” or “traffic violence”--not accidents

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Advocates have long said that road collisions involving cyclists aren't just accidents–they're a result of poor infrastructure and policies. We ...

#PumaPangalawangPangulo: Lito Atienza

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

He's been in government more than 50 years, and was supposed to retire from public life. But then came a call from good friend Manny Pacquiao. What wi...

#PumaPangalawangPangulo: Walden Bello

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

He's an activist, scholar and former lawmaker. And in his words, he's running to prevent a “Marcos-Duterte axis of evil”. What will a Bell...

#PumaPangalawangPangulo: Willie Ong

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

He's a cardiologist turned social media influencer running alongside Manila mayor Isko Moreno. And he seems obsessed about nuclear war. What will an O...

#PumaPangalawangPangulo: Kiko Pangilinan

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a farmer, Senator Kiko Pangilinan has put agriculture front and center in the campaign. But what has he done for the industry in his more than 2 de...

#PumaPangalawangPangulo: Tito Sotto

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Solving the country's drug problem has always been Senator Tito Sotto's advocacy, and he will lead the fight against it, if elected. But he also comes...

#PumaPangalawangPangulo: Sara Duterte

10 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Aside from wanting to enforce mandatory military service and carrying on with the war on drugs, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has no clear and concret...

Beyond the Frame: Ezra Acayan’s photos of Balikatan 2022

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning photojournalist Ezra Acayan talks about shooting Balikatan 2022, which transported him (almost) to the set of a war film.See omnystudio....

Why do Filipinos still fall for authoritarian rulers?

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inequality and corruption remain huge challenges, even after six years of the Duterte administration–and yet surveys show many Filipinos would s...

COVID Corner: Omicron XE

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sinasabing ang Omicron XE ay ‘recombinant of the variants BA.1 and BA.2'. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng recombinant?If you have questions about COV...

After a pandemic delay, Singapore has resumed death-row executions

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A 68-year-old man was recently hanged in Singapore. And there are reports execution notices for death-row inmates are surging. In fact, a mentally dis...

Why the Moros fear a Marcos presidency

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Top Moro leader Mujiv Hataman worries a Marcos presidency could derail peace efforts in Mindanao. But the Bangsamoro Organic Law has been enacted, and...

Asian aunties star in new Netflix film based on Jesse Sutanto’s award-winning novel

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Indonesian-Chinese writer Jesse Sutanto talks about her inspiration for the nosey aunties in her sought-after debut novel ‘Dial A for Aunties'--...

Who’s carrying out DDoS attacks on media websites?

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The recent spate of distributed denial of service attacks on the websites of news outlets across the country has alarmed the industry. It's never been...

Should BPOs be allowed to WFH forever?

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

BPO workers are up in arms about the government's order to have them return to the office beginning April 1. The industry, after all, grew even in loc...

Which candidate can win the investors over?

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As far as foreign investors are concerned, not all presidential candidates are created equal. Here's what analysts say they're hoping for.See omnystud...

Gender equality in the Philippines: how far have we really come?

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've come a long way, but there's still miles to go. From being called “sweetheart” in Congress to being labeled in school for speaking u...

Beyond the Frame: Ezra Acayan’s shot of #PasigLaban

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Veteran photojournalist Ezra Acayan shares the story behind his now-iconic shot of the Pasig mega-rally of Vice President Leni Robredo.See omnystudio....

Teka Teka, Ted: Duterte’s new Comelec appointees

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

By some stroke of fate, we have a situation where all the incumbent commissioners who will manage the 2022 election are appointees of the current pres...

COVID Corner: Alert Level Zero

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ano ang ibig sabihin pag lumipat na tayo sa pinakamababang alert level? If you have questions about COVID-19, send us a voicemail at askdocbandoy...

Was there really a “very serious” security breach in Smartmatic’s system?

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Both Comelec and Smartmatic were summoned to the Senate for a closed-door session over allegations of a security breach. Was there really a hack?See o...

It’s true–the Philippines has qualified for the 2023 World Cup

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

History was made after the Philippines qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time ever.  We speak to Cam Rodriguez and Inna Pala...

Balik opisina, pero ang taas ng gasolina! Is a 4-day work week the solution?

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The government is studying the idea of shifting the country to a 4-day work week, to help workers save on gas. Payag ka ba?See omnystudio.com/listener...

Why Korean entertainment is captivating the world

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Squid Game actors made history at the Screen Actors Guild Awards this year when they swept the best actor categories. They follow a growing list o...

A walking tour of the Marcos mansion in New Jersey

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whatever happened to that lavish mansion Imee Marcos lived in when she was studying at Princeton University in the US? You know, the one her father bo...

How Big Tech influences electoral processes

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What you see on your feed is only what the algorithm wants you to see. In short, Big Tech companies have a big say in how you view the world–eve...

Who is going to decide the 2022 presidential election?

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Experts at the SharePhil “Boto Mo, Kinabukasan Natin” forum–Dindo Manhit, Gang Badoy Capati, Bo Sanchez–discuss who the Filipi...

These books by Eliza Victoria are set to be released worldwide

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“Whatever, just send it. Wala namang mangyayari,” is what Filipino author Eliza Victoria told her agent sometime during the pandemic. Well...

Kabataan, tagahubog ng kasaysayan

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From the Philippine Revolution in 1896 to the EDSA Revolution in 1986, the youth have always been at the forefront of change. In this day and age, is ...

The PH economy is walking a tightrope because of the oil crisis

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More subsidies! Cut excise taxes! Amend the oil deregulation law! These are the usual refrains during oil price shocks, as what we are experiencing no...

COVID Corner: 4th Dose

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Countries like South Korea and Israel have started rolling out 4th doses of the Covid-19 Vaccine. Kailangan pa ba ito? If you have questions abou...

The case of the missing sabungeros

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many ‘sabungeros' and cockfighting aficionados have been mysteriously disappearing since last year. Police say it's all linked to e-sabong, wher...

Why PWDs and senior citizens are still being denied discounts online

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two full years since the pandemic forced us all to go digital, the elderly and the disabled are still having trouble getting their legally-mandated di...

This binge-worthy podcast will take you right back to the Philippine-American War

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you make history come alive? American podcast network Wondery produced a fascinating series on the Philippine-American War that is so immersive...

Can Ukraine happen in Asia?

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just as Vladimir Putin can't accept the sovereignty of Ukraine, so can't Beijing tolerate Taiwan's independence. Is Taiwan next? And should the Philip...

In Hong Kong’s covid crackdown, OFWs bear the brunt

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As Hong Kong battles its fifth COVID-19 surge, domestic workers in the city have found themselves homeless, jobless, and denied treatment at hospitals...

Suisse Secrets: How Credit Suisse enabled dictators and criminals

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After the Pandora Papers of 2021, comes another massive leak, this time involving Credit Suisse. And among the names was the lady who helped Ferdinand...

A conversation with someone who covers both Russia and Ukraine

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

 A Serbian journalist who lived through his country being bombed 23 years ago says there's no “best-case scenario” for Ukraine in thi...

Sino nga ba si Pepe Diokno?

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jose ‘Ka Pepe' Diokno was no ordinary human rights defender. He helped thousands of political detainees and victims of human rights abuses durin...

“Respect my opinion?” Sure, but it doesn’t stop there

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is our right to an opinion truly absolute? Here's what an election commissioner, an activist, and a sociologist think. Listen to our #PumaPangulo seri...

COVID Corner: Safety Protocols for Election Rallies

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mass gatherings are likely to drive superspreader events. But with the onset of the campaign period for presidential elections, how can this be avoide...

Usapang Econ: Marami nga bang nagtatrabaho ng 18 oras kada araw?

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#AkoSiLenlen went viral on social media after opponents of presidential candidate Leni Robredo criticized her for claiming to work 18 hours a day. But...

No, ASEAN can’t help us claim the West Philippine Sea

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Four presidential bets said the answer to China is to seek the help of ASEAN–and take on Beijing as a bloc. Guess what–it's been done befo...

A large asteroid was just named after a Filipino doctor

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's not the first time an asteroid was named after a Filipino, but it's the first time a Pinoy doctor lent his name to one! This is why Dr. Jett Agui...

How a college thesis designed Quezon City’s protected bike lanes

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The protected bike lanes that QC rolled out were born from the undergraduate thesis of a civil engineering student. Now an operations officer with the...

Lahat ba talaga kasali? Making space for PWDs in the 2022 polls

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Comelec has observed more senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women registering to vote. But just how far away are we from an...

The politicians are using big data to get to you

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“They know which content was read by whom and when, and they know when somebody reacted a certain way,” says Gemma Mendoza, head of resear...

#PumaPangulo: Ka Leody de Guzman

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ka Leody de Guzman wants to bring radical change to the Philippines by establishing a socialist government. What would that look like?See omnystudio.c...

What we learned from the candidates on Day 1 of campaigning

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Day one of the election campaign period is always about the symbols and narratives. What were the presidential candidates trying to project this time ...

EJ Obiena’s family has had enough

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We take a closer look at the huge toll the EJ Obiena-PATAFA row has exacted on the families of those involved. And what gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz has...

COVID Corner: Road to endemicity

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When does a pandemic become an endemic? And where is covid headed? Genomic data scientist Dr. DJ Bandoy talks about the endemic covid scenario. If you...

Why is Ukraine downplaying Russian aggression?

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. keeps warning of an invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and has pulled out some of its diplomatic families. Yet instead of cheering its so-called ...

Ospital sa kanayunan, paano matutugunan ng kumakandidato bilang pangulo?

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The decades-old health care problem in poor provinces and far-flung areas remains unaddressed. Healthcare units are still under-equipped, under-staffe...

Beyond the Frame with Ezra Acayan

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Photojournalist Ezra Acayan shares the story behind his picture of a vaccination center in San Juan City back in June 2021. The photo of journalists b...

How many COVID-19 apps do we need, really

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

VaxCert, StaySafe, S-Pass, etc. As we enter the third year of this pandemic, why is there still no unified system for contact tracing and checking vac...

COVID Corner: New travel protocols

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do fully vaxxed travelers still need to be isolated in a quarantine facility? And how many negative RT-PCR tests do travelers need to take? Genomic da...

Why is Rowena Guanzon so angry?

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Retiring Comelec Commissioner Rowena “Bing” Guanzon is going out all guns blazing, spending her last few days in office in a very public s...

How did Manny Villar get his hands on the ABS-CBN frequencies?

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The National Telecommunications Commission has farmed out the frequencies ABS-CBN once held to allies of President Duterte. How did that happen? Where...

How a century-old Igorot axe ended up in Australia

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, Australia intercepted and turned over an authentic Igorot steel-and-wood axe dating back to the early- to mid-20th century.This weapon was ...

The new ways politicians are trying to get to you

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you think you are only subject to political ads on Facebook and YouTube, look again. As in, look closely at your e-commerce and mobile game homepag...

Covid Corner: Bakuna para sa mga batang edad 5 to 11

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“Dok DJ, babakunahan na daw ang mga 5 to 11 year olds, safe po ba ito?” Genomic data scientist Dr. DJ Bandoy walks you through the process...

Are politicians allowed to keep excess campaign donations?

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When a candidate runs for office and receives much more money than he spends, what happens to the rest of the donations? And why is it the candidate w...

Utang dito, utang doon: Sinong makapagsasalba ng ekonomiya ng Pilipinas?

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Economists aren't known to exaggerate, yet they say the 2022 elections is a make-or-break moment for us. Why? What's at stake? And who can get us out ...

How can we fight disinformation? #KailanganTotoo

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When fake news is so easily created and shared, telling the truth isn't optional. PumaPodcast together with VERA Files, and the help of some artists, ...

Here’s why so many flights are being cancelled

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The new year was met with global travel chaos, as thousands of flights around the world, including in the Philippines, got cancelled–leaving cou...

COVID Corner: Booster for the infected

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“I recently tested positive for covid, how long after I'm fully recovered should I get my booster shot?” Genomic data scientist Dr. DJ Ban...

Usapang Econ Muna: Bakit ubod nang mahal ang COVID tests?

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

JC Punongbayan of Usapang Econ talks about the cost of RT-PCR tests and the missed opportunities for mass testing.For more Usapang Econ episodes, list...

“Naglu-loot na mga tao”: Volunteers plead for more help for Odette-hit areas

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A month after the disaster ripped through the regions, many volunteers working on the ground say help is still sorely lacking. In some places, the pro...

The sounds of 2021

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From “You're on mute”, to sirens signaling another ambulance rushing to the hospital, to triumphant grunts at the Tokyo Olympics, to Typho...

The kind of drug war that Filipinos want

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A new mobile survey reveals what Filipinos think of the war on drugs, and how they would want it carried out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

COVID Corner: Home Quarantine

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who are considered close contacts? And when should I get tested for covid? Dr. DJ Bandoy walks us through the different stages from the time of exposu...

Rally nang rally? Here’s how young Filipinos want to get involved in change

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An SWS survey on the Filipino youth reveals what's important to them, their aspirations, and how they strive to become agents of change. See omny...

Make 2022 the year you buy your first condo

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you've made owning your first condo a New Year's resolution this year, listen to these tips from Joey Roi Bondoc of Colliers Philippines and Tek Sa...