The Howie Severino Podcast GMA Integrated News

27-year-old artist Renren Galeno’s parents used to ask her that question. Not anymore, not after her illustrations were part of “Searching for Maura,” a ground-breaking investigative report in the Washington Post that was a finalist for the prestigious Pulitzer Prizes. 



Discovered because of her comics on climate anxiety, the Davao native gave a unique Filipino perspective to a major American journalism project that unearthed a long-buried scandal involving the US government’s Smithsonian Museum. 



The project also blew open a hidden part of Philippine history that saw Filipinos displayed in a human zoo at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. 



Galeno tells Howie Severino how she convinced her parents that art was a viable career choice and what it was like to collaborate with investigative journalists.  

No one sees an end soon to the standoff in the West Philippine Sea. But organizers of the recent civilian missions to Philippine waters claimed by China want to see more of the same by people from various walks of life, helping unite Filipinos around a common assertion of sovereignty. Emman Hizon, co-convenor of the Atin Ito coalition, tells Howie Severino that maybe Filipinos can even finally jet ski there.



Hizon says that the WPS issue has shifted public opinion on China, fueling the rise of a new Filipino nationalism. Where nationalists in a previous era were allied with China, younger generations are seeing China as an adversary and the US as less of a threat.


Producer: Aubrey Delos Reyes
Researcher: Lilian Tiburcio
Editor: Jayr Magtoto

Last May, a flotilla of over 100 Filipino civilian boats traveled to Philippine waters claimed by China. Organized by the Atin Ito coalition, it was a dangerous expedition that sailed past China’s military ships. After delivering supplies to fishermen, placing “Atin Ito” markers, and returning to the Luzon mainland unscathed, the coalition declared the mission a victory.



Emman Hizon, co-convenor of the Atin Ito coalition, describes to Howie Severino the risks and tensions on the high seas, and their meticulous preparation to avoid harassment by China’s maritime forces.



Producer: Aubrey Delos Reyes
Researcher: Lilian Tiburcio
Editor: Jayr Magtoto

The iconic landmark on the Pasig River famously burned in 2023.


Ivan Henares, Secretary General of UNESCO's National Comission of the Philippines, explains its historical and cultural value.


Catch the full episode here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xeeZfoPWN3kPfOVl2LLc7?si=4ZW-INY8TraMHGmBrMuT5w%0A

27-year-old artist Renren Galeno’s parents used to ask her that question. Not anymore, not after her illustrations were part of “Searching for Maura,” a ground-breaking investigative report in the Washington Post that was a finalist for the prestigious Pulitzer Prizes.



Discovered because of her comics on climate anxiety, the Davao native gave a unique Filipino perspective to a major American journalism project that unearthed a long-buried scandal involving the US government’s Smithsonian Museum.



The project also blew open a hidden part of Philippine history that saw Filipinos displayed in a human zoo at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.



Galeno tells Howie Severino how she convinced her parents that art was a viable career choice and what it was like to collaborate with investigative journalists.



Producer: John Eumer Yanga
Researcher: Jenica Villanueva
Editor: Jayr Magtoto



Links:
The 2024 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Illustrated Reporting and Commentary
https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/claire-healy-nicole-dungca-and-ren-galeno-contributor-washington-post

[VIDEO] Searching for Maura - The Washington Post
https://youtu.be/O3aBxOv5txc?si=SNOHPoo8FXCNwNuL

[ILLUSTRATED REPORT] Searching for Maura - The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/interactive/2023/maura-philippines-smithsonian-brain-collection/

I pray you're born with gills
https://www.10yearstosavetheworld.com/comics/ren-galeno?itemId=08s7zppb5cfnn1wugc7i2gfml69s7u

Other works of Ren Galenoy
https://rengaleno.ph.online/

When the war in Israel and Gaza broke out, Palestinian-Filipino beauty queen Zahra Saldua set aside her commercial gigs to speak out about what’s at stake.



Catch the full episode here: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/58PLwAfc00f9NPGkL6hkEG?si=a37b23f6fb514ffc