PODKAS

Podkas Team
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Philippine history that is accessible and approachable. PODKAS envisions the mainstreaming of critical discussions on Philippine history, politics, and society to broader audiences using new media, accessible language, and relatable content.

  1. Rice: The Filipino Staple

    11/23/2025

    Rice: The Filipino Staple

    For our finale episode, we talk about the journey of the ultimate Filipino staple, tracing how a grain introduced by Austronesian migrants transformed from a prestige food for the elite into the non-negotiable foundation of daily life. Through 3,500 years of agricultural history, we examine the spiritual rituals of the Cordilleras, the impact of colonial encomiendas, and the technological shifts of the Green Revolution that reshaped the landscape. How can rice serve as a lens for understanding Filipino identity, resilience, and the delicate balance between tradition and survival?

    40 min
  2. Jeepney: King of the Road

    11/15/2025

    Jeepney: King of the Road

    Climb aboard for a journey into the heart the Philippines' most iconic symbol: the jeepney, also known as the "King of the Road." In this episode, we trace the jeepney's incredible story, from its birth out of World War II scrap metal to its reign as a rolling gallery of folk art and chrome. Discover how former horse-carriage drivers became automotive pioneers, creating a unique communal theater on wheels where strangers pass fares with "paki-abot" and stop the driver with a shout of "Para po!" Beyond its vibrant exterior, the episode explores the jeepney's soul—its role as a symbol of resistance during martial law and the fierce modern-day battle for its survival, as government phase-out programs threaten to end the reign of this beloved cultural icon.

    41 min
  3. Banig: Grounding Filipino Life

    11/08/2025

    Banig: Grounding Filipino Life

    The banig is more than just a simple mat; it’s an object that literally grounds Filipino life. This episode traces its extraordinary 39,000-year journey, from prehistoric stone tools in the Tabon Caves to the sacred spaces of pre-colonial chieftains. We explore how this craft, passed down almost exclusively by women, survived colonization through its "strategic ordinariness" and later became a national symbol. We also discuss the harsh economic realities facing master weavers today and the countermovement by contemporary designers and social enterprises who are transforming the humble mat from the floor to the fashion catwalk.

    23 min
  4. Bulul: Guardians of Harvest

    11/01/2025

    Bulul: Guardians of Harvest

    This episode explores the complex story of the bulul, the iconic carved wooden figures of the Ifugao people. We trace its journey from a sacred ancestral guardian, consecrated with ritual to protect the all-important rice harvest, to its modern status as a celebrated and highly-priced art piece in global auction houses. What happens when a living spiritual vessel is transformed into a collector's commodity? And what does this object reveal about indigenous resilience, colonialism, and the very concept of authenticity? Join us as we offer answers to these questions in episode of our series, Bagay-Bagay: Objects of Philippine Life.

    31 min
  5. Daga: More Than Pests

    10/25/2025

    Daga: More Than Pests

    More than just a pest, the rat is an unacknowledged actor in Philippine history, its story intertwined with our own from prehistoric times to the modern day. This episode uncovers that hidden narrative, from the extinct giant cloud rats that coexisted with ancient humans to the arrival of invasive species that brought centuries of agricultural plagues and colonial-era disease. It examines the rat's evolution into a public health enemy, the target of post-war military campaigns, and a potent cultural symbol—euphemized as "mabait" in folklore while weaponized as the namesake for a brutal paramilitary group. With this journey, we find that rats reflect our society's failures in agriculture, urbanization, and waste management, proving that the rat's story is inseparable from our own.

    33 min
  6. Tansan: Crown of the Streets

    10/17/2025

    Tansan: Crown of the Streets

    This episode uncaps the surprising history of the tansan—the humble metal crown that sealed our childhood sodas and our uncles' beers. We trace its journey from an unlikely Japanese brand name to the prized currency of sidewalk games like Tatsing. Learn how this piece of industrial waste was transformed into the sound of Christmas karoling and, tragically, the explosive center of the 1992 Pepsi "Number Fever" scandal. Join us as we explore the rise and fall of this accidental Filipino icon.

    31 min
  7. Sorbetes: A Scoop of History

    10/10/2025

    Sorbetes: A Scoop of History

    If you're like us, you grew up hearing that familiar ring of your favorite sorbetero's bell, so join us as we scoop into the history of the Philippines' favorite frozen dessert. In this episode, we trace the journey of sorbetes from an elite 19th-century luxury—made possible by ice shipped from around the globe—to the democratic "dirty ice cream" every Filipino knows and loves. Discover the story behind the controversial nickname, the innovations that made it uniquely Filipino, and why this colorful cart treat remains a sweet symbol of our history and resilience.

    34 min
  8. Kendi: Sari-Sari Store Sugar Rush

    10/03/2025

    Kendi: Sari-Sari Store Sugar Rush

    For generations of Filipino children, a single peso coin held immense power: the power to choose between a crumbly Choc Nut, a powdery Mik-Mik, a chewy White Rabbit, or a stack of Haw Flakes. This episode unwraps the surprisingly complex history of these iconic sari-sari store treats. We trace their origins from Malabon to Shanghai and explore the unique rituals they inspired: from sacrilegious playground masses with candy 'ostiya' to the shared rite of passage of surviving a powdered milk choking hazard. Discover how economic necessity and a national sweet tooth transformed these simple candies into powerful symbols of nostalgia, creativity, and the enduring sweetness of Filipino childhood.

    34 min
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Philippine history that is accessible and approachable. PODKAS envisions the mainstreaming of critical discussions on Philippine history, politics, and society to broader audiences using new media, accessible language, and relatable content.

Information

  • Creator
    Podkas Team
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    160
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Podkas Team
  • Show Website
    PODKAS