Filipino Fridays

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! It's been a minute fam and we're so excited to have Arthur Tiojanco on this episode. In honor of the Vancouver Street Dance Festival's 10-Year Anniversary, we have the honor of speaking with our special guest on seeing the community event grow into one of Canada's largest outdoor street dance festivals! Arthur shares how the love of hip-hop and breakdancing led to work as a community organizer. We speak about the joy of seeing our Filipino brothers and sisters thrive in the art of street dance culture and finding spaces within dance where we belong. With breakdance set to debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, there's exciting times ahead for street dance.

ABOUT ARTHUR TIOJANCO

Arthur Tiojanco began his breaking career in 2003 and has worked his way to be recognized as a leading individual in the Vancouver breaking scene. He is a member of Surrey’s oldest, active breaking crew “Floor Storm”, and has competed locally and internationally. In 2007, Arthur organized and hosted his first breaking competition with PraiseTEAM Studio. Since then, he has organized dozens of battles in the Lower Mainland. He is the current Vice Chair of the Vancouver Street Dance Association, which puts on the Vancouver Street Dance Festival at Robson Square, the largest annual outdoor Street Dance Festival in Canada! Outside of street dance, Arthur works as a program Facilitator for after school programs in the Surrey School District. He is also currently completing his Master Degree in Clinical Counseling.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! Incredible episode for you today as we present the re-broadcast of our live show! Mabuhay! 

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays fam! . In partnership with Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, explorASIAN Festival and CiTR101.9FM, every week in May, Filipino Fridays Podcast will be featuring emerging Filipino artists to perform live music sessions at the CiTR lounge. Make sure to tune in every Monday to discover over a dozen up and coming Filipino/a/x artists across multiple genres.

The next artist in our music series is Audder (she/they), a Filipinx-Canadian artist of multiple genres and multiple feelings. Audder’s music narrates what it’s like to know love, loss, and longing, all while trying to know yourself. She’s written lyrically driven songs across genres: R&B, pop, with hip hop and alternative influences.  

Jasmine "Audder" Monton performed music and poetry across the prairies where she was born and raised. Currently, she lives in Vancouver, BC and helps produce Filipino Fridays Podcast. Listen to Audder’s first solo release, Violet Tape EP, on all streaming platforms. With more music set to release this year, Audder aims to grow herself and the community of artists around her.

Our other artist feature comes from the vocal powerhouse, Argel MDR - a Filipino-Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor from Surrey, Canada. He was one of the Top 10 finalists of CBC's Toyota Searchlight 2021. When he was 15 years old, he moved to Canada from the Philippines with his family to seek a better life and opportunities. With Sam Smith, One Republic, and Original Pinoy Music (OPM) as his music influences, Argel wants to use the power of storytelling to inspire Filipino youth and other immigrants through his music and theatrical performances. In addition, he is an advocate of representation, anti-racism work, and inclusion. Argel's most recent single, 'Sail Away' was featured in Spotify editorial playlists, including Fresh Finds Philippines.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast

Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com.

Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

We're back with a new episode!  "It's essential to create spaces and capital to invest in our own kapwa." - S.Bondoc

On this episode, Simon Bondoc, Director of Outreach from Pinoys on Parliament joins us to talk about the yearly national conference focused on youth leadership for young Filipino Canadians. In this compelling conversation we discuss: 

- Discovering and celebrating Filipino joy in a safe community that empowers and uplifts Filipino youth.

 - The theme for this year's conference 'Pagitan' - which describes the two worlds we stand in. From where we came from (the Philippines) and the intricacies that we face as we navigate life in Canada.

- Finding our space in between and exploring our intersections because our identity is not monolithic.

- Building a space where the young Filipino generation feels supported in their journey of healing and liberation for themselves.

- Why its significant to see Filipino representation in Parliament and how crucial it is that we take up space in society without losing who we are.

- Lastly, reclaiming our power as a Filipino/a/x and channeling our energy in making a difference for our people 

ABOUT SIMON BONDOC

Simon Bondoc is a new university graduate, community leader, activist and the Director of Outreach for the 2022 Pinoys on Parliament conference. He is Kapampangan and Hiligaynon, living on Moh’kins’tsis in Treaty 7 territory, colonially known as Calgary. The first POP in 2019 made the things he is passionate about now come to life: politics, social justice, community building, culture and spirituality. He has been involved in different organizations, projects and election campaigns ever since. In the future, he hopes to be ordained as a minister in the United Church of Canada and be the loving, queer, justice-seeking Filipino minister he wished he knew growing up.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast

Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com.

Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays fam! We are so glad to be back and bring you something special for this month. In partnership with Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, explorASIAN Festival and CiTR101.9FM, every week in May, Filipino Fridays Podcast will be featuring emerging Filipino artists to perform live music sessions at the CiTR lounge. Make sure to tune in every Monday to discover over a dozen up and coming Filipino/a/x artists across multiple genres.

The first artist in our music series is a contributing soul to Vancouver’s music culture for nearly a decade. Filipino/Canadian artist Kardias Quing offers a message of love and sovereignty to her community. Through her collaborations with producer and long time friend Withinroots, they have cultivated and continue to create a repertoire that uplifts and empowers. Influenced by Indie R&B and Alternative Pop, her creative efforts cut through the woes of modern distraction, and bring us all back to our infinite possibility.

The second artist feature comes from the incredibly talented R&B vocalist, Amber Bayani. Whether it's a deep understanding of harmony or an acute ear for rhythm, Filipino Canadian songbird Amber Bayani has a gift for coupling the technical aspects of singing with the modern approach to popular songwriting. She has been able to build a strong rapport with her listeners purely based off of her honesty and her self awareness.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast.
Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast
Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com.
Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays~! Tune in to Part 2 of this episode featuring transgender advocate, Romeo Reyes.

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays~! In honor of the International Day of Transgender Visibility, joining us on this episode is actor, model, tattoo artist and Transgender advocate, Romeo Reyes. 

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! On this episode, we analyzed how intergenerational trauma was covered in the Disney movie, Encanto. From Abuela's pressure to preserve the family miracle to burdens on the children, we unpack it all. The traumatic experience and grief that comes from immigrating to coming to terms on how to understand our elders, we hope that you even find this episode therapeutic!

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! It's been a minute since the last episode and we have some announcements!
On this episode we are joined by Byron Cadano, a half-Filipino live-streamer who shares some wild stories on what is was like growing up "Filipino". He shares with us on: 

- Growing up with his Nanay and Tatay and how his dad became a major influence in learning about his Filipino identity
- Visiting his Dad's hometown in Tacloban - waaaayy up in the "Bukid" (Mountain)
- Immersing himself in the culture by living like one of the locals - plowing the rice fields, disrupting the "barangay" (village) and being treated like family despite being "the white kid"
- We talk about how mixed Filipinos get treated differently when they visit the Philippines, the take on being "overcharged" and having compassion for your own people.
- On being told to leverage his privilege as a white-passing half-Filipino and challenging that narrative
- The misconception about him as a "white dude" but embracing the humble, simple and carefree way of life found on the islands of the Philippines.
- Our struggle with Bisaya words getting lost in translation

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back fam! Tune in along with the hosts of the upcoming Filipino Fridays spin-off, Dats Bastos! Podcast.
If they sound familiar, it's because they were the special guest on EP.04 "Halika Dito Right Quick" Dating Episode.

Sel and Matt join us to sound off on the following:

- What is 'toxic masculinity' and how is it perpetuated in Filipino culture?
- The history of colonialism embedding a patriarchal culture among Filipinos
- The consequence of cultural toxic masculinity traits impacting families
- The mental health impact on Filipino men due to cultural pressure and expectations
- Do Filipino men have fragile egos?
- On doing self-work to unlearn bad behaviors with a history rooted in culture
- Sel and Matt shares some tips on how to get on a healthy headspace, healthy ego and healthy heart
(Doubles as a January reset tip!)

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! We're about to light it up with today's feature episode (if you know what I mean...) Our special guest is Abi Sampson, Professor of Cannabis Regulations at Centennial College. Abi takes us through her experience leading up to a thriving career in cannabis education and advocacy. She shares with us on the personal relationship between Filipinos and cannabis - how Filipinos are uniquely positioned to succeed in the cannabis industry. She takes us through how to have the "weed talk" with our families, providing data and insight on how we can help them understand the use of cannabis today. We discuss the history of Filipinos with the use of plant medicine and its connection to decolonial work. We also speak at length about how Filipinos and BIPOC folks have been targeted for the use of cannabis due to a history of cannabis criminalization rooted in racism. As published in the Globe and Mail, Abi teaches us "Cannabis 101" and gives advice on how to deal with navigating the sensitive conversation around cannabis.

"Cannabis embodies the same tenets of community, compassion and care - that is the spirit of kapwa and of our Filipino culture (in the same way our people's ability to nurture communities)." 

"Filipinos are no strangers to revolutions - as people who are activists, fighters of resistance and our resiliency." 

(Quotes by Abi Sampson)

ABOUT ABI SAMPSON
Abi Sampson is a first generation Pinay-Canadian residing on the Native Lands of the Anishnabewaki, the Haudenosaunee, the Mississauga and the Wendake-Nionwentsïo people, colonially known as Colborne, ON.
She began her cannabis career as a volunteer at NORML Canada, the longest running cannabis advocacy group in Canada, where she sat as the Ontario Regional Coordinator and eventually the Executive Director.
Abi has provided expert delegations at the House of Commons before the Standing Committee on Health regarding Bill C-45/the Cannabis Act, at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario regarding exemptions to social cannabis consumption spaces under the Smoke Free Ontario Act and at Pickering City Council, where she presented as both a cannabis industry professional and a city resident.
Abi is currently a Professor at Centennial College, teaching the Cannabis Regulations course through the Cannabis Cultivation and Processing Program. She is committed to cultivating a just and equitable cannabis industry, with a focus on cannabis patient advocacy, social justice issues and righting the harms of the War on Drugs, through education, community engagement and de-stigmatization.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

It's been a banner year y'all! Thank you so much for joining us on the show. Tune in as Archie and Chia sound off on looking back on this year's memories with Filipino Fridays. A love letter to our listeners, our community who continue to uplift and amplify our work in the podcast space. Thankful to celebrate each milestone with you. Maraming maraming salamat! Listen to the end for some special announcements along with updates for Filipino Fridays in the new year. Mabuhay!

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Happy Filipino Fridays Fam! We're back with another episode featuring emerging musical artist, Babylon the Babel (also known as Jarnel Gamalinda). We chat with Jarnel about the journey into learning more about his Filipino heritage. Just like many of us whose lives were disrupted by the pandemic, we entered the state of deep reflection into our cultural identity. Many of us started the journey of being in touch with our Filipino roots, putting in the work to learn more about who we are. As Jarnel shares with us - the journey can be lonely, isolating even...especially when we may have first rejected or neglected the "Filipino" part of who we are. In the process of creating his album, Jarnel was inspired by how the stories of our ancestors has survived through time - from the legendary story of Lapu-Lapu to our mythology and folklore with the tales of the Bakunawa, and our very own "pimp" mythical creature, the Kapre (listen more for that hilarious context). He takes us through the process of answering the ancestral calling by expressing himself in different mediums of art while simultaneously diving deeper into the study of his culture.
We discuss the next generation expressing their culture in the aim to see more Filipino representation. He takes us through the most transformative part of his cultural and musical journey so far, as well as shares what it was like growing up as a kid with the Filipino parents in the Navy. Relate much? Make sure to catch his music on all streaming platforms!

"The deepest truth that one could really come to know is the sense of who they are. Part of that journey is discovering who you are as a Filipino - We're in this together, we're probably all at different stages of learning about who we are in our cultural identity, but that doesn't mean one is more Filipino than the other - "there's no such thing as less or more Filipino".

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Hey ya'll! We're back with a special guest joining us the from Philippines! Our special guest is Mycs Villoso, the artistic director of the LSDC-Street,  director of The Hip-Hop Dance Convention and co-founder of AcadeMYCS dance program. As a practitioner and dance coach respected in the global dance community, Mycs shares how the art of dance is critical in self-development and identity formation. She shares with us on how to properly use hip-hop and traditional Filipino dance respectfully to avoid appropriating our own culture. (*Hint: do your research) By promoting our values and expressing our culture through dance, we must take the first steps to understanding the Filipino part first. She guides on how to be culturally sensitive with Filipino dance by being mindful of the indigenous materials, instruments and the history of the people that practice them. She also shares why its important to foster women empowerment in a largely male dominated dance community.

We also discuss why Filipino representation is more highly visible in the world of dance, as well the difference in the dance landscape between Manila and other regions. We talk about how dance became a part of our culture - stemming from our social gatherings, traditional games, and love for entertainment. She also shares with us on her Top 3 recommendations on where to visit in the Philippines. Lastly, she leaves us with profound words to describe why dance becomes a part of the Filipino identity - as people who feel emotion deeply, therefore it makes our art soulful.

"Knowledge feeds your brain, but arts feeds your soul" - Mycs Villoso

ABOUT MYCS VILLOSO
A practitioner and teacher, Mycs Villoso is the proponent and director of The Hip-Hop Dance Convention (2016 and 2017), the largest gathering of hip-hop dance in the Philippines, which brings together practitioners from all over the country to converse and practice. As the Artistic Director for more than 15 years of La Salle Dance Company-Street of De La Salle University, Mycs has directed multiple productions, choreographed for competitions, mentored dance teachers and represented the country. Committed to following the progress of the Hip-Hop Dance Convention, Mycs is presently collaborating with different dance community leaders in different islands of the Philippines for community projects, promoting dance education and continued relationship-building towards a stronger dance community. She co-produced Street Styles Summit in Iloilo City (2019 and 2020) to shift the focus of major dance events towards other islands in the country. During this pandemic, Mycs co-created AcadeMycs with the purpose of re-evaluating the state of dance teaching in the Philippines. Mycs is based in Manila.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! We're back with a saucy episode that dives into an in-depth discussion about sex industry work. Joining us on this episode is digital creator and host of "Stripped by Sia" podcast, Steph Sia. We chat with Steph on a range of topics from her upbringing to the start of her career into the sex industry. We ask questions like, "what goes into an 'arrangement'? Is sex work easy money? What's a "Splenda"  Daddy? Steph takes us through what it's like to perform competitively as a pole dancer (it's a sport people!)

With the aim to destigmatize sex industry work, Steph provides insight on the misconceptions about strippers or sex workers. We discuss the fetishization and exoticization of Filipinas (or Asians in general). We even talk to her about what her family thinks of all of this!
We even address the difference and danger between sex industry work in North America and the Philippines. Lastly, we ask the question, "Are sex workers protected?"

Lots of great energy for this fun episode - make sure you watch out for a part two!

ABOUT STEPH SIA
Steph Sia is a Filipino-Chinese digital content creator and stripper based in Vancouver, Canada. She has been involved in the sex work community since 2013 sharing her lived experience and others' stories on her podcast, Stripped by SIA. Her podcast embodies the good and the bad, the benefits and the risks, and humanizes sex workers of all capacities and identities from around the world. The aim of her show is to help educate folks who are unfamiliar or who do not understand the work with an aim to destigmatize the industry and smash stereotypes. Her podcast may be found on all major podcast platforms. Besides her advocacy in sex work, Steph is a digital marketer and communications specialist, YouTuber and avid traveler

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com / Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Hey y'all we're back with another episode! Joining us on this episode are Nathalie De Los Santos from PilipinxPages and Jasmine (Audder) Monton to interview Allan Matudio about his graphic novel, "Kasama". Kasama, which means togetherness or allyship is about two friends that battle evil forces or the "manananggal".We chat with Allan on the journey of creating his novel; drawing from Filipino folklore intertwined with critical social commentary about Filipino culture. We talk about the using Filipino words intentionally throughout the novel as well as paying homage to different parts of the Filipino culture beyond the Luzon or Tagalog dominant narrative. We speak to Allan about using visual arts not only as a form of activism but also as a tool for decolonizing Filipino perspectives. We share tales about the "aswang" and "tyanak" and how these stories have impacted our lives growing up. We also talk to Allan about his community work with grassroots organizations, exercising his sense of "kapwa" by supporting and uplifting other marginalized communities.

ABOUT ALLAN MATUDIO
Allan Matudio is a visual artist, writer and organizer. Born to Filipino parents in Tio'tia:ke/Montréal, he currently works professionally as an illustrator in the video game industry. He’s been volunteering in grassroots Filipino organizations for over 3 years. His personal research focuses on the transnational trauma within the local Filipino community. As a storyteller, his main medium of expression is through comics and digital illustration. For more of Allan’s work visit his Instagram @allanmima.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com.Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! We have a powerful episode featuring MLA, Mable Elmore. Mable joins us to talk about her career as the first MLA of Filipino heritage, representing the Vancouver-Kensington electoral district. A passionate advocate for social justice and human rights, Mable has been active with human rights campaigns ever since her teens. With a deep love of being of service to the community, Mable ran for office and currently serving her fourth term in the provincial government. We discuss the growing population of Filipinos in British Columbia and the context of the Filipinos being the largest global community in the diaspora. But despite our populous numbers, Filipinos are still underrepresented in senior leadership positions. We speak with Mable on the reality of structural and institutionalized racism in Canada and a foundation based on white supremacy, which have become major structural barriers that have impacted the Filipino and other racialized communities. We talk about how to be better allies with the BIPOC community by first understanding the history and impact of colonization in Canada. We speak at length about our role as settlers and what we can do to participate in meaningful dialogue regarding systemic racism, to be in genuine solidarity with other marginalized communities. We also talk about how Filipinos have been at the forefront of the healthcare system and bearing the brunt disproportionately during the pandemic. We discuss about human and workers' rights of temporary foreign workers - with many Filipinos finding themselves in complex working conditions in order to support their families. Lastly, Mable shares with us on changing our cultural understanding -  being assertive and knowing what our rights are; taking a step forward in empowerment to see the Filipino community make an impact collectively. By raising our civic literacy, increasing the understanding and awareness in our community, Mable believes in the Filipino community as a collective going to power.
With the large population full of talent and expertise, it's time that Filipinos translate the numbers into power and use it as a leverage for representation by being active in enacting change.  

ABOUT MABLE ELMORE 

Mable Elmore was first elected MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 2009, when she made history by becoming the first MLA of Filipino heritage. Mable was re-elected in May 2013, May 2017, and October 2020. She serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long Term Care and previous served as Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction. She is also a member of the Cabinet Working Group on Mental Health, Addictions and Homelessness.

Mable previously served as the Official Opposition spokesperson for ICBC, and the deputy spokesperson for Finance.

Mable is passionate about building community engagement and connecting people around issues that matter to them. She is dedicated to doing whatever she can to make the lives of people in her community – and across B.C. – better.

Mable has been an active member in the peace movement, and has worked tirelessly on a wide range of immigrant, social justice, and workers’ rights issues.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! We have an incredible episode featuring the award-winning journalist of CBC Radio One, Michelle Eliot. Michelle joins us to talk about Filipino representation in broadcast media and how it impacts our community. We talk about how her immigrant experience has influenced her approach in telling stories in the media, which would include asking thoughtful questions where our community and other communities of color are well represented without being "othered". By representing the experience of many others, we talk about how meaningful it is to be a voice and perspective that brings light to the immigrant experience. Michelle also takes us through the journey of her career in journalism and talks about the most exciting part of hosting a live radio show. We discuss Mabuhay BC - a feature launched in CBC during Filipino Heritage Month in Canada that focuses on stories about the robust and diverse Filipino community. From articulating the kinship and bond between the Filipino and indigenous community, to highlighting the meaning or stories behind our Filipino names and also talking about issues that reflect the Filipino people. We chat about pushing the Filipino story forward, increasing the diversity in our stories and our responsibility as an immigrant in this community and how we can be in solidarity and kapwa with others. Lastly, Michelle shares her go-to karaoke song and what Filipino food items would be found on her boodle fight (kamayan).

ABOUT MICHELLE ELIOT

Michelle Eliot is the host of CBC Radio One's B.C. mid day open line show, BC Today. Michelle is an award-winning journalist with CBC Radio One, and has become a familiar voice as a regular guest host on regional and national programs, interviewing community members and prominent politicians, as well authors and musicians such as Douglas Coupland and Bif Naked. But her true passion is for the open line, where her skill at engaging callers probes further into their viewpoints and digs deeper into their personal stories.

Her work has been recognized by the RTDNA and the Jack Webster Foundation, winning awards for her team’s coverage of the ongoing overdose crisis and the 2017 NDP and Green Party deal. She has also received nominations for her story about immigrants learning to swim later in life, and for her profile of a well-loved woman in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside who died of an overdose.

Michelle was born in the Philippines and moved to Canada with her family at 12-years old, settling in North Vancouver. Her experience as a young immigrant planted the seed of understanding for people whose lives are changed by new circumstances.

She studied English Literature at the University of British Columbia and went on to study Broadcast Journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology before joining CBC Vancouver in 2000.

Michelle is married with two children. She enjoys joining community events like the Vancouver Sun Run and the Pride Parade. As the parent of a child with special needs, she also likes to participate in events in the disability community.

​Aside from enjoying running, ​Michelle is also ​an avid reader, a lover of spontaneous dance parties, and an unabashed fan of old school hip hop music.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays! We got a fun episode for you with our friends RJ & Byron joining us. If you listened to the family feud episode, we got some great news to share. Well we're still in the middle of the pandemic and definitely feeling the itch to travel again. If you're planning to visiting the Philippines one day, this episode is for you! We share why it's more fun in the Philippines, what to prepare for your first-time visit (mentally and physically), and we also share some tips on what to pack for your visit. We share some stories of our experiences along with what's next on our bucket list for the Philippines the next time we get a chance to travel again. Lots of laughs to expect with your favorite chaotic quartet!

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

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We're back with a remarkable episode featuring an emerging leader looking to bring science and diversity to Canadian politics.
Phil is an award-winning scientist and clean technology innovator. A first-generation Filipino-Canadian, after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, Phil became the youngest-ever Director at the National Research Council of Canada. He is now running for office in the Toronto-St. Paul's riding for a seat in the Canadian federal government. Phil's mission is to bring more diversity to politics by representing as a young, Filipino-Canadian immigrant looking to lead a new generation of science-driven leaders that make policies based on evidence and data, not polls and rhetoric. With Filipinos being the 4th largest visible minority and nearly a million in population residing in Canada, there isn't a single Filipino representative that is a member of Parliament. (not since the Honourable Rey Pagtakhan was elected in 1988 and retired in 2004).

We discussed about his goals for this election which is to create sustainable jobs where no one is left behind, solving the housing affordability crisis and an emphasis in supporting essential workers. We talked about his pursuit in a career in science along with how often he came across other Filipinos in graduate school, start-up tech and innovation. (You guessed it, never...) Taking a quote from Ursula Franklin, we talk about what it meant to be the first of the kind - to lead in becoming the leader we never saw growing up. Being the first of the kind means not being the only, which opens the doors for more Filipino representation in powerful decision making positions found in academia, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation and government.

We discuss in depth about the complex relationship between cultural identity and its correlation to professional success. As a person who was once ashamed to be Filipino, he even published an op-ed in the Toronto Star saying, "when I was young, all I wanted to be was white." This was due to the lack of role models in senior management positions and the yearning to belong and not othered. We addressed when the shift in mindset happened and finally embracing his heritage and inspiring others along the way. We break down the roadblocks our community faces in making a stamp in society and Phil shares advice on how we can impact change without having to leave behind who we are as a Filipino. We close  the show talking about the future and the coming of age for the Filipino community. 

ABOUT DR. PHIL DE LINA 

Phil De Luna is a scientist and carbontech innovator turned first-time candidate for political office. He is currently on leave from the National Research Council of Canada where he led a $57M Canada-made cleantech program. De Luna is a Governor General Gold Medal scientist and has published in high-impact journals like Science and Nature. He was a Carbon XPRIZE finalist, a Forbes Top 30 Under 30, and hosts a podcast about science and behaviour. De Luna is currently the Green Party of Canada candidate for Toronto-St. Paul’s and is running to bring more diversity to parliament and more science to politics.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Compelled by the mission to promote peace, unity and understanding in these tumultuous times, our special guest is Chris Soriano - the writer, producer, director and star of the film, "Zeus". In collaboration with eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, Chris created the film to raise awareness against anti-Asian hate. Chris was inspired to produce the film after witnessing the horrifying hate crimes that were happening to the Asian community during the pandemic. We discussed the journey behind making the film, and how important it was to stay true to the authenticity of the Filipino cultural experience. Keeping the accent we hear at home? Check. Being discouraged to reach for our dreams? Check. Rising above the challenges you thought would knock you out? Check. We also talked about what to understand when confronted with anti-Asian discrimination and racism, along with how we can provide support as a bystander when incidents occur. We discuss about the growth and learning we gain about ourselves when faced with life-changing experiences. We also talk about how Manny Pacquiao got involved with the film and setting the precedence to create more Filipino stories in filmmaking.

ABOUT CHRIS SORIANO
Chris Soriano is filmmaker and actor who has been backed by Shark Tank's Mark Cuban. Soriano is also an award-winning speaker for young adults, executives, and public servants. He is the cofounder ofDynasty Boys, a movie production company dedicated to sharing the stories of empowering minorities across America.. Chris has been featured on CNN, ABC News, and NBC. In 2018, he raised awareness on environmental issues by setting aGuinness World Record.

Almost killed by neighborhood gangs at 13. Stamped with a low GPA of 1.98. Denied admission to college. Chris Soriano made a plan to reverse the outcome of all these negative experiences. He uses movies to show his common theme to “find a way, even when there is no way.”
Check out his new film, Zeus premiering on Amazon Prime on August 19th and along with other platforms found on zeusthemovie.com.

We're back with another fun episode y'all! Our special guest is Robert Enriquez - writer, producer, director and star of the post-apocalyptic zombie flick, "Escape to the Cove". We talk to Robert about the process behind making his film, and how the unique occurrences caused by the pandemic aided in directing his film. Robert also takes us through the journey of his long standing career in the entertainment industry, advocating for diversity in the early stages of establishing his talent management company. As a 6'5 mixed Filipino, Robert shares his own experience about the lack of representation for Filipino and Asian roles when he started out as an actor. We also discuss how the industry is now working on diversifying roles and seeing a future where the stories we see on the screen reflect the multicultural landscape we live in today. We have some fun and ask Robert which Filipino dish he would be willing to get bit by a zombie for. Lastly, Robert shares advice on how to thrive in the industry - by embracing your true self as an actor and as a person, surrounding yourself with a trustworthy team and focus on mastering your craft.
"Focus on what drives you - have your passion in the right place and the rest will come."

Check out his newest film, Adventure Harbor just released on Amazon, a story about 4 tweens on an adventure to protect a mythical sea creature.

ABOUT ROBERT ENRIQUEZ
With over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry Robert Enriquez is a veteran of mentoring and building the careers of young filmmakers and artists. Robert is the West coast Director of the Sunscreen Film Festival. A festival backed by the Academy of Motion Picture arts and Sciences (The Oscars) in 2016.

Robert successfully owns and operates Red Baron Management and Films—A 20 year old Management and Production Company. Clients have starred in many Hollywood films and TV shows such as Run The World, Wonder Years, The Last OG. GLOW, Happy Together, Straight Outta Compton, 22 Jump Street, The Equalizer, The Carmichael Show, Blackish, and MANY more.

As Director/Producer Robert has made many films that have gone on to distribution in more than 18 different Countries,  Has brokered deals with  Amazon, Google Play, Comcast, Showtime, Netflix, Lionsgate, and placed in many film festivals—not to mention Tony and EMMY Recognition.

In release right now Robert has 'Escape to the Cove' on Amazon and in July 'Adventure Harbor' will be released By Relativity Media.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Hey y'all! We're back with another powerful episode - our special guest is Gelaine Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Cambio & Co., a Filipino jewelry company that provides sustainable livelihood for artisans in the Philippines and empowers Filipinos in the diaspora to #WearYourHeritage.
Whether it's sharing stories rooted in empowerment in the Filipino cultural identity, leading in purpose-driven decolonizing strategies, authentic allyship, to highlighting Filipino craftsmanship and excellence by building a company centered in meaningful relationships with local artisans, thus creating sustainable and dignified means of livelihood for communities.

We discuss setting intentions when partnering with artisans, cultivating meaningful relationships in business, and acknowledging the intimacy of building trust in setting the foundation for Filipino representation. Learning from leaders like Rags2Riches, Anthill Fabric Gallery who work on challenging colonial mentalities and tackling issues like eradicating poverty, Gelaine shares how she was inspired by hearing stories from the artisans who value of their craft. We talk about the coming to terms with having uncomfortable conversations regarding our cultural identity. Acknowledging that we are all at different stages in our cultural journey and celebrating the coming together to have these candid discussions - how do we have these discussions with others who have different views than us? By approaching the situation with curiosity and empathy rather than judgement and understand that you can also approach with love but hold space for accountability. She shares how we can analyze where we should find ourselves by asking the question, "are you coming from the right place?" We also talk about how some are not ready for the conversation and lean into standing in your own truth. After understanding who we are first, we are then able to teach, educate and share what it means to be an ally to other disenfranchised communities.

Gelaine Santiago is a speaker, writer, and social entrepreneur. Her mission is to build an ecosystem of BIPOC-owned businesses that create wealth to uplift marginalized communities.

She’s the co-founder and CEO ofCambio & Co., a Filipino jewelry company that provides sustainable livelihood for artisans in the Philippines and empowers Filipinos in the diaspora to #WearYourHeritage. She’s also the CEO ofSinta & Co., a boutique for socially conscious Filipino weddings. Gelaine is also the creative behind Fierce Fans Forever, a weekly newsletter about content marketing and authentic storytelling for BIPOC e-commerce founders.

Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine, Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, CBC, Rappler, OMNI Television and ABS-CBN. Gelaine was also a recipient of the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award in 2019.

Connect with her at www.gelainesantiago.com and on Instagram @gelainesantiago 

You can also find us at shopcambio.co and shopsinta.co 

Thank you to our partners CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Hey y'all! We're back with another episode - continuing with our Community Cultivator Series our special guest is JedRocks from Table Tutors.
After being diagnosed with a Stage 3 Brain Tumour, Jedro got a second lease on life and knew that there was something more to accomplish in this world. This life-changing experience led him to leave his 9-5 job and decided to trust his inner calling. He ventured out to become a leader and spokesperson representing the Filipino-Canadian identity. With the love of music and community, Jed became one of the co-founders at Table Tutors DJ Academy, building a fun, safe and inclusive space for others to grow and develop their skills. Building the community started by treating each other like family - sound familiar? The foundation of the Table Tutor culture is rooted in family - where everyone is welcome, with lots of love in guidance and mentorship.

Jed also shares with us on the inspiration behind launching his apparel line, FilCan Clothing - the spark came from attending the historic Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Dela Hoya boxing match. He shares how meaningful it is for him to be Filipino Canadian and the slight differences between the FilCan & FilAm experience. We take a trip down memory lane and take about the Filipino figures we looked up to in media for representation.
For you Canadians out there, remember YTV's PJ Phil and Carlos? Even a shout-out to Filipino-Canadian stand-up comedian, Ron Josol!
We also discuss the magical experience when it comes to travelling to the Philippines and what to expect for your first time visit.

Lastly, Jed shares with us on being open to mistakes, never giving up and always remember to love your self. It took surviving cancer to acknowledge that he is worthy enough, empowering others to embrace who they are, love their self, and live their best life as a Filipino.

ABOUT TABLE TUTORS DJ Academy
Vancouver's Premier DJ School & DJ Community! Where like-minded individuals gather to help each other learn, grow & improve.

ABOUT JEDRO MAGTOTO (JEDROCKS)
After being diagnosed with a Stage 3 Brain Tumour, Jedro relooked at his life and knew that there was something more to accomplish in this world. Rather than being content with a "Career" his parents and peers thought of as successful, he didn't feel fulfilled enough with it and decided to trust his inner feelings. He decided to take a leap and do what he wanted to do. After leaving the corporate world behind with not knowing the future ahead of him, he ended up co-owning a DJ school called TableTutors DJ Academy alongside DJ's Relik, WundrKut, Gnius, & Maiyah. He also rebooted his clothing line FilCan Clothing to represent Fiipino Culture in Canada through a Canadian Born Perspective. On top of that, he teamed up with fellow FilCan Comic Ron Josol to start a food Vlog to showcase how the Filipino Palate adapts to other cultures' food more easily. In a way he does Thank Cancer for coming into his life as it has taught him many valuable lessons.

Thank you to our partner CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. / Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast / Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Hey y'all! We're back with another episode - continuing with our Community Cultivator Series for Filipino Heritage Month in Canada, our special guest is Raquel Stewart from Bukobaba. In today's episode we learn about the origin story behind the Bukobaba brand and the story behind the name (it is the most adorable story ever!) Driven with a purpose to good, Raquel set out to help local coconut farmers and producers by bringing premium Filipino coconut products to Canada.  Bukobaba products are made in small batches, hand-crafted, and sustainably sourced by using traditional Philippine method that retains the integrity and quality of each product. Knowing how the farmers have struggled to pass down their family traditions in coconut farming and protect their families, we discuss why it was important for Raquel to play a role in providing a sustainable livelihood for farmers, in hopes of empowering the next generation. We discuss the strategy behind the brand - why it was significant to build a universally appealing brand but remained rooted in Filipino culture. We speak about what it means to be a part of the Filipino Food Movement happening in Vancouver and the future of Bukobaba as it continues its mission to make an impact by bringing awareness to Filipino culture and its products to the world.

BUKOBABA ESSENTIALS
Bukobaba is a Vancouver based, family-owned business. Our mission is to provide healthy premium coconut food and wellness products to markets in Canada by supporting and working directly with local organic coconut farmers in the Philippines. All of Bukobaba’s products are made and packaged in the Philippines. We use production methods that preserve the integrity and quality of each of our products. Each item is made in small batches, hand-crafted, and sustainably sourced.

RAQUEL STEWART
Raquel Stewart is the passionate founder and owner of Bukobaba Essentials Inc. Born in Las Piñas, Philippines, Raquel grew up in Vancouver maintaining strong cultural ties with her birthplace. Bukobaba is Raquel's vision of bridging her two worlds: bringing Philippine essentials, prepared in traditional methods going back centuries in the Philippines, to Canada where educated consumers recognize artisanal, small-batch products that support local farmers and producers in native lands.

“You have the power to do good… for your body, your soul, and for the people around you.” - Raquel Stewart

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

We're back with another powerful episode - continuing with our Community Cultivator Series for Filipino Heritage Month in Canada, our special guests are Iona and Paolo from Kape Coffee. As a leading disrupter in the specialty coffee industry, Kape Coffee strives to provide ethically sourced, farmer-first, and direct-trade coffee to consumers in Canada. We talk about the history of coffee farming in the Philippines and how integral it is to support farmers with a sustainable livelihood. We discuss our relationship with coffee and how it can it can serve as a bridge to connect to our culture and heritage and decolonize our identity. We speak at length about how our Filipino traits of honor, excellence, service and selflessness are representative of our identity. By channelling those traits we attain the deepest sense of what it means to be Filipino - Kapwa or "makipagkapwa", the shared interconnectedness and fellowship we have with each other. The sincere and earnest quality of caring for each other in our community is rooted in "kapwa"- where by uplifting one another, we see each one of us succeed. We also talk about how we developed "the heritage of smallness" and how we've been conditioned to see ourselves as inferior and lowly due to colonization and battling that mentality by having conviction in our identity as a Filipino. 

Kapé is a social enterprise helping Indigenous women coffee growers in the Philippines thrive and build sustainable livelihoods by promoting their unique coffees to the global stage. Behind this venture are wife and husband team Iona & Paolo, who met at a café in 2005 and have since brewed countless cups of coffee together. Working closely with native coffee growers in Benguet, Davao Del Sur, and other coffee farming communities in the Philippines, Kapé brings some of the most unique, flavourful, and farmer-direct coffees from the Philippines' Indigenous communities to Canada and beyond. Kapé aims to highlight the stories behind each cup; honour strong women and families behind great coffee; and make a difference by creating more equitable coffee practices from origin to cup.

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Hey y'all! We're back with another episode - in honor of Filipino Heritage Month in Canada, we will be featuring some of the notable Filipino-Canadian entrepreneurs who are putting Filipino products on the world map. Kicking off our 'Community Cultivator' Series is Vincent Garcia from Kasama Chocolate. We talk about the the history of cacao in the Philippines, the story behind creating bean-to-bar chocolate from Philippine cacao beans, and becoming a disrupter in the specialty chocolate industry by winning international awards with Filipino chocolate products - including gaining accolades for their single origin 70% Davao chocolate bar. By being rooted in the Filipino identity and gaining international recognition, Kasama Chocolate is an example of when we are stand in our power as a Filipino, we become living examples of Filipino excellence. The heart of the company is also rooted in its name, "Kasama" - which is the Tagalog word for friendship, camaraderie and collaboration - proving that success is a collective effort best achieved, together. In the spirit of community, we also talk about why it's important to work together towards openness and dialogue behind our struggles in order to learn from each other and elevate each other to thrive and succeed. We also discuss the generational shift happening today where many 2nd gens and beyond are rising to the challenge and becoming a part of the Filipino culture movement.

Based in Vancouver BC, Vincent Garcia is one of the co-founders and owners at the international award-winning, bean-to-bar chocolate shop KASAMA CHOCOLATE on Granville Island. A second-generation Filipino-Canadian, born to Itawis and Ilocano parents who immigrated to Canada in the 1970s, Vince credits chocolate-making for allowing him to delve deeper into his roots and discover the beauty and nuances of our culture during Philippine cacao origin visits to Cagayan, Malvar, Zamboanga Del Sur, and the Cordilleras to name a few. Holding true to the name of the chocolate company - KASAMA - Vince hopes to help build and nurture collaboration and camaraderie within the newly emerging Filipino Food Movement scene and business community in Vancouver and beyond. Check out KASAMA Chocolate at www.kasamachocolate.com

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

In celebration of Filipino Heritage Month in Canada, we are back with another episode featuring Filipino-Canadian filmmaker Joella Cabalu. The award winning director and producer joins us to talk about her new short film, 'Ode to a Seafaring People' featuring spoken word artist Sol Diana. A story that poetically reveals the often-hidden world of Filipino seafarers, and in doing so celebrates the resiliency of the Filipino community. Produced by Lantern Films, the film is one of the collection of stories featured in 'Behind the Facade', airing on Knowledge Network.

According to the Global Maritime Forum, about 400,000 of the world's 1.6 million seafarers are Filipino - contributing $6.14 Billion to the Philippine economy. Filipino seafarers are lauded to be the unsung heroes in the shipping industry and world trade.

Upon the development of the film, Joella wanted this film to be rooted in community and reach out to the Filipino Canadian arts & literary community to be a part of telling the story. Sol Diana was able to convey a moving story about the life of a Filipino seafarer. "It's a marvel how we make ghosts out of the living" - a compelling line that illustrates how Filipinos are often forgotten, overlooked and invisible. Even as major contributors in many sectors and industries, we find ourselves as living ghosts fighting for our representation to be known. We discuss at length on the great imbalance and disparity of our representation, along with the other factors that affect our ability to have conviction in our presence; internalized racism and identity insecurity where we find ourselves 'gaslighting' or second-guessing ourselves in what we are able to do. These are the results from colonial influence, capitalism and white supremacy - a reality we are still working through today. We talk about celebrating Filipino excellence in the arts and filmmaking, storytelling with care and the ongoing learning process of exploring our Filipino cultural identity.

Joella Cabaluis a Filipino Canadian documentary filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. Her films lay bare narratives about intimacies, identities, and relationships.

Her first mid-length documentary, It Runs in the Family(2015) — a personal exploration of acceptance and what the modern queer family can be in the Filipino diaspora — won the Audience Choice Awards at the Seattle Asian American Film Festival and Vancouver Queer Film Festival and a special jury mention at CAAMFest for the Loni Ding Award for Social Justice Documentary. In 2021, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the DOC BC + YT + NWT Breakthrough program, Joella is developing Nakabingwit: First Comes Love,a feature-length documentary that follows four Filipino Canadians and their white partners as they navigate race and romance against the backdrop of Canadian multiculturalism. Nakabingwit is Joella’s first feature documentary as a director.

Joella is an alumni of the Langara Documentary Production Program (2015), the BC Arts Council Early Career Development program (2014-2015), Hot Docs Shaw Media Diverse Voices program (2015), and CBC Development Workshop for Diverse Creators (2016).

**Producer's Note: this episode has been published with consent from former host of Filipino Fridays - OJ**

Hey y'all - this is our most personal and most vulnerable episode yet. We address going off-air for over a month with the outcome of one of our main hosts departing from the show. To help us navigate these conversations, this week's hosts RJ Galea and Byron Cadano have joined the show and taken the lead to interview Archie and Chia on what went down during the Filipino Fridays fallout.

As we all know, family feuds in the Filipino culture is nothing new. We discuss conflict between family members and how to solve those issues. We discuss at length on how Filipino family grudges are legendary and how important it is to reconcile and set aside differences before it's too late. We talk about how Filipino pride becomes counterproductive in relationships and communication. How many times have we heard of relatives never seeing eye to eye, never to speak again? The hosts also shared their experiences on how to take the initial steps in mending family feuds.
We hope to learn through this experience together as an episode of reflection, growth and shift in a new direction.

With that said, we are delighted to share that we are going back to regular programming with episodes released every Friday with new voices coming on the show. The new reformatting of Filipino Fridays will include a variety of Filipino voices with fresh takes on Filipino culture. We would like to especially thank this community for continuing to support the show - it is because of you that we are able to produce more Filipino stories that matter. Especially with Filipino Heritage Month in Canada in June, we have an exciting line up of guests featured each week.

Maraming, maraming salamat sa pagmamahal at suporta (Thank you, thank you so much for the love and support)

RJ Galea (@thisguy.rj) is an actor, vlogger, podcaster, host and music A&R - you can also find him on the following shows:
The Double D Show - https://youtu.be/IA36FMpBCco
The Comfort Room Podcast - https://youtu.be/Zawin27NBcY

Byron Cadano (@b.cadano92) is the host of "The Northside" on KUMU and music recording artist.

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast.
Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast
Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com.
Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad
Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

We are back with an episode y'all! Our special guest is Julia Menez who is a travel hacking coach, speaker, and host of the Geobreeze Travel podcast. She takes us through what travel hacking is and how to take advantage of points and miles to travel for free. We talk to Julia on what it means to be a voice for underrepresented communities, advocating for women, immigrants and people of color by providing the tools and strategies to get the most benefits from travel hacking. We also go over the "Filipino Frugal Flex" and why it is problematic among Filipino families. We discuss how important it is to change the narrative around personal finance and avoid perpetuating shame and judgement when it comes to handling finances. Julia shares how to manage and leverage credit to our advantage and empowers our community with the financial knowledge to beat the system. Need help in repairing your credit? Our guest gave the best advice on what NOT to do. Want to learn more on how to get started with travel hacking? Take advantage of the digital gift from Geobreeze Travel and go to http://geobreezetravel.com/filipinofridays to get started on how to travel hack!

Julia Menez is a travel hacking coach, speaker, and host of the Geobreeze Travel Podcast.
After traveling to more than 30 countries before the age of 30 and saving thousands of dollars each year by travel hacking, Julia distills the strategies from top travel hackers around the world in her Geobreeze Travel podcast, and prepares personalized points and miles plans for her private coaching clients. Through her podcast, Julia features a diverse roster of guests with experiences that are traditionally underrepresented in larger points and miles blogs and media. Her episodes often highlight travel hacking women, immigrants, or people of color.

Julia has been a speaker for FinConX, a course instructor for Frequent Traveler University Online, and quoted in publications such as creditcards.com and Money Magazine. She has also led workshops for thousands of attendees at events such as the SHEFACTOR 2020 Summit — an event that featured speakers such as Bethany Hamilton, Kaitlyn Bristowe, and Missy Franklin. Julia is available for comments and interviews regarding award travel, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and women in business

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

It's a hot episode y'all! A powerful episode on amplifying Filipino voices, Filipino representation, community engagement, and educating on the nuances of the Filipinx experience. Our special guest is the founder of Pinay Collection, Jovie Galit. We talk to Jovie on her experience immigrating to Canada and the challenges she faced that compelled her to work in the field of settlement and advocacy for newcomer & Filipino families. We discuss how the pillars of systemic racism, capitalism, exploitation of Filipino labor, colonial influence and ultimately white supremacy has led Filipinos to internalize that pain and disown or deny their own cultural identity. We talk about how significant it is to develop critical thinking and why it is important to challenge structures and systems that do not benefit the Filipino community. We speak at length on problematic Filipino representation (it gets heated y'all!) and why it is important for Filipino entrepreneurs to be diligent about using their platform to educate about the aspects of our culture with the products they are selling. "Imagine if all Filipino led businesses center their values around community care and social justice." Lastly, we talk about how we have the power to contribute and enact change, rooting our values in community and using our privilege to speak up and be better kin/allies with the Black and Indigenous communities. It's a loaded discussion that leaves you empowered, inspired and hopeful for the change to come in the Filipino community.

Jovie Galit (she/her) is the founder of Pinay Collection, a Toronto based clothing line that celebrates and reclaims the Filipina/x identity. She is a multifaceted creator whose work lies in the intersectionalities of art, entrepreneurship, and social justice. As a trained Hand lettering artist, her work with the Tagalog language has been focused on reclaiming pejorative words through the art of calligraphy - a theme that is projected strongly through her merchandise designs at Pinay Collection. Jovie's artistic work has been featured in various platforms, brands, and publications including Ultimate Wedding, Reel Asian Film Festival, L'Oreal Paris, DeSeres, and The Huffington Post.

Born and raised in Nueva Ecija, Philippines, she came to Canada as a settler in 2011. Her immigration journey has moulded the person she's become and the person that she is for her community. Outside of her artistic role, Jovie has extensive training and experience developing community work and advocating for newcomer & Filipino youth and families.

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Get hype y'all! Our special guest is viral sensation Hella Reya who is a force to be reckoned with. What does it mean to have Hella Reya Energy? It's that BDE with Filipino culture. Reya is a leading example on embodying what it means to be a proud Filipino - hardworking, ambitious, with lots of confidence, demanding Filipino representation everywhere. Manifesting opportunities with a strong conviction in cultural identity and we are so happy to have been "blessed" by this powerful energy. We learn about her journey to being a KUMU ambassador, why it is significant to practice radical Filipino inclusivity in all spaces and why we should keep our collective Filipino community success as top of mind when it comes to achieving great things together. Filipino Fridays and Hella Reya also share their love letter to KUMU (Download it now!) 

Reya is a Fil-Am viral tinikling choreographer and a recent UCLA transfer graduate from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the mastermind behind the modern tinikling performance to “My Type” by Saweetie that went viral on social media,  earning over a million views, and was featured on many news outlets around the world. Reya is also Kumu's Kumunity Kollege Program director. She is on a mission to bring the Pilipino college organizations onto Kumu in hopes to bridge the gap, increase retention rates, and promote the pursuit of higher education. Reya also hopes to put a spotlight on Filipino culture — and she does so by portraying her roots in an entertaining way that pushes forward the tradition to a new audience and generation.

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

We're back with another fun episode y'all! Our special guest is Paul Bacera who released his new book, Isdaman: The Little Filipino Hero. He is also behind the hit YouTube channel, The Asian Theory. We talk to Paul about how he breaks down the concepts in explaining the Filipino culture on his channel by asking poignant questions and why it is important to understand the historical context of our culture. We even discuss the Filipino's love for Korean entertainment (KPop, KDramas), PPop or Pinoy-Pop and go into a deep dive about Pinoy Baiting - the problematic issue of foreigners exploiting Filipino culture for the purpose of content or entertainment. The Pinoy thirst for global validation is real and we nail down how to identity whether someone is genuine in sharing the Filipino culture. The episode closes with an empowering message about how critical it is to learn and understand each other, and by having love for each other, we are closer to becoming united as a global Filipino community. 

Paul Bacera is a Youtube creator, filmmaker, actor, and author. He has always had a love for Asian culture, history and entertainment. His Youtube channel, The Asian Theory, is a celebration of all those values. His love of Filipino culture also led him to write his newest children's book, Isdaman: The Little Filipino Hero. The book is about a Filipino superhero who overcomes his trials by working hard and never giving up.

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays – we are back with our special guest, Cynthia Siadat. So many of you enjoyed our mental health episode and we invited our favorite therapist to discuss the topic of grief. When you heard the news about Angelo Quinto or even the Anti-Asian hate crimes happening today, how did you feel? What went through your mind? How did you react? Some of us may have experienced a moment of grief, deeply saddened about the things that are happening to our community. We hope to provide some comfort and understanding regarding what happens when we experience grief. We go through the different stages of grief and into the science of grief, learning what happens to our brain when hit with that experience.

Cynthia Siadat, LCSW (CA #76525) is a Proud Fil-Am trauma psychotherapist for high achievers and caregivers. She shares about mental health & her own mental health process as a speaker and writer. She runs her private practice Living Fully Therapy in Los Angeles and is currently working on Kapwa Therapy (title pending) — a therapeutic approach that encapsulates the Filipinx/a/o Spirit & Values alongside a CBT, existential, & trauma-informed lens.

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Filipinos are the type of people who feel deeply, but yet have a difficult time talking about it. This episode is an eye-opening discussion about mental health and the Filipino community (which is very rare). How our cultural upbringing affects our attitude towards mental wellness and the challenges we face with expressing what we are feeling. In our culture, we have a difficult time being honest with our emotions - we get great advice on how to deal with "hiya" or shame on being vulnerable about the condition of our mental well-being. We go over the concept of "maarte" and how it adversely affects Filipinos from asking for help and how to get started in talking about mental health with Filipino parents. Our special guest for this episode helps us navigate through these emotions. Cynthia Siadat, LCSW (CA #76525) is a Proud Fil-Am trauma psychotherapist for high achievers and caregivers. She shares about mental health & her own mental health process as a speaker and writer. She runs her private practice Living Fully Therapy in Los Angeles and is currently working on Kapwa Therapy (title pending) — a therapeutic approach that encapsulates the Filipinx/a/o Spirit & Values alongside a CBT, existential, & trauma-informed lens.

Content warning: we breach the topic of depression and what to watch out for. If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal or homicidal thought, please call 1-800-273-8255 or 833-456-4566 (in Canada) to reach someone who can help. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please head to your closest emergency room.

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

For all of you basketball fans, this episode is for you! As many of us know, Basketball is a Filipino's love language. Whether it's in the courts of Tondo, barangays in the Philippines, to community centre courts all over the world, you are bound to see a Filipino playing. The love for the game runs deep and when an NBA game is on, you'll always find Filipinos cheering on the court and at the screen. Other than Manny Pacquiao boxing matches, it's the only other time you'll find Filipinos off the streets and glued to watching the game. 

Our special guest is Ben Gacrama aka DailyBBaller, host of HoopLifestyle podcast and DailyBBallerTV. He is also the only Filipino playing on the Silicon Valley Panthers. Born and raised in the California Bay Area, he is a basketball enthusiast with a community of over 12,000 strong on Instagram and aims to encourage others to follow through with their hoop dreams. We discuss how basketball is one of the few unifiers in the Filipino community and how integral it is to the Filipino culture. Ben also shares advice for the younger generation on the different career opportunities available in the world of basketball. We also talk about the late Kobe Bryant's influence on his Filipino fans and how his legacy impacted our community.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

We're back with an eye-opening episode digging deep on what keeps Filipinos divided. Whether its a difference in mindset, attitudes, language barrier and experience, we ask the question - Can Filipinos Get Along? We tackle the honest conversation on if Filipinos can truly be happy for each other. We discuss the different factors that get in the way of the Filipino community from thriving and how to navigate conversations with fellow Filipinos in order to close that gap. We talk about how to eliminate the "Us vs Them" mentality regarding Filipinos from the Philippines and Filipinos in the Diaspora and how we can take examples from other cultures in order to see the Filipino community prosper. We share how to deal with conflict and clear misunderstanding between Filipinos using a real world example in Archia's case. (let's call it the Archia Special) We also talk about the concept of "Hiya" or "Shame" and how it provides perspective in understanding the other person. Lots to chew on this episode! Let's take the first steps together in seeing our Filipino community thrive in the future. Let's Get It Fam!

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios 

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays -

It's a banger y'all! We're still in COVID times and some of us miss the club, live music events and music at the bar, so we're bringing the club to you!
Our special guest this episode is the 2019 Canadian Beatboxing Champion, Vino Cuenca. Born and raised in Vancouver, Vino started competitive beatboxing when he was 18 and becoming a trailblazer in the beatboxing community. Vino shares his journey into beatbox, what it's like growing up outside of the Filipino stereotype and what you come across when you put "Beatboxer" on your profile on the dating apps. Make sure to listen to the end for sick beats!

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast.

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays -  Ojay, Archie and Archia are back and fired up for 2021 - This episode talks about what we've been up to and what to look forward to in the new year. Get to know us a little closer as we discuss how Korean culture (kpop, kdrama, kbeauty) influences the Filipino identity and what it means for Filipino culture and we announce a new addition to the Filipino Fridays. We go over some of the topics we have lined up this year including the female version of our dating episode, Filipino stereotypes and more guest interviews to come. We even share the hilarious family story about a penis and a boat. Lots of exciting things planned out as Filipino Fridays podcast sets out to get it done in 2021.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Thank you to our partners Potato Corner BC and CiTR 101.9 FM for supporting this podcast. 

We're back with another episode! It may be one of our longer episodes but sit back and enjoy the different types of topics we touch on with our special guest. Plus, we have a special announcement at the end regarding our new partnership!

This episode discusses how the Filipino talent is still undermined in today's landscape, how it's significant for Filipinos to continue to create innovative work and how we, as a community must create a nurturing landscape for artists to explore and showcase their work on the world stage. We even discussed how he was profiled as a Filipino stereotype in a gallery where his work was the main exhibition. We discuss the popular "Sana All" concept in Filipino culture, touch on how Filipino vs. Filipinx as a hot topic (don't worry, it'll be its own episode!) and we even have a spontaneous "Drake" sing-along" in the episode. Lots to chew on Filipino Fridays fam! And yes, the mystery behind his artist name and image is revealed.

About the Artist -

Multi-hyphenate artist Zar or 0270501 joins us as we talk about Filipino talent in the creative arts. After pursuing an education in animation, Zar put into work the "10,000" hours rule to improve his craft as a concept artist for movies and games. In his transformation as an artist, Zar shifted gears to work in a flourishing career in the fine arts industry as an abstract painter. His paintings have been featured in galleries internationally and completed his artist residencies in Thailand and Hong Kong. In the midst of pandemic times, Zar channelled his energy in a new pursuit into abstract hiphop and alternative rap and debuted his self-titled album under his musical moniker, 'Lil Happier' on Spotify. As if that wasn't enough, DJ Zar also launched his coffee brand, 'Fueled by Cold Brew' this year.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays – This episode digs deep on what it takes to make the move and move abroad.
As seen on Candy Magazine and Femalenetwork.com in the Philippines, Youtube and TikTok superstar Rachel Dancel joins us to talk about the steps she took in fulfilling her dream of immigrating to Canada. Since arriving to Vancouver in 2017, Rachel completed her studies in Communication Design and now dedicates her time in sharing about her immigration journey through her Youtube channel. From covering a range of immigration related topics along with talking about the process of what it takes to study abroad, to landing a job and eventually pursuing citizenship status by applying for permanent residency under Canada’s Express Entry program. Rachel believes that information is power and aims to empower others by sharing data-driven facts and experience to aspiring applicants that want to study, work or live in Canada. You can find Rachel in Youtube, TikTok and Instagram at @rrdancel

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

We're back with an insightful and inspiring episode. Our special guest is Romeo Marquez Jr.  - a sought-after international speaker, #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author, and Head of Kollective Hustle.

Romeo has delivered more than 1,000 presentations to over 1 million audience members across the United States, Canada, Philippines, Asia, and Europe helping students, entrepreneurs and CEOs achieve extraordinary results.

He is one of the first Filipinos in the United States to have a career as a professional speaker and as a result, he became the first Filipino chosen to be the Chairman for the National Speakers Association as well as being one of the first Filipinos in the world to do a TEDx Talk.

From speaking tours worldwide to working with other notable names such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kelly Clarkson, and Jim Carrey, Romeo's mission is to help people maximize their greatness so that they live a life with purpose and passion.

About Kollective Hustle -
Kollective Hustle which aims to uplift Filipino American leaders through digital storytelling and community building. Kollective Hustle , at its core, is a platform that promotes collaboration over competition, empowering the emerging, inspiring and educating, and strength in community. The brand aims to spotlight inspiring stories through video content, leadership panels, featured articles, and events that challenge what it means to be a disruptor in the Filipino community.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Comin' in hot with our special guest, we got the game changer himself, DJ Marlino from Heavy Rotation - the first and only global podcast and music show for Filipino Hip Hop and R&B. Heavy Rotation features music by established and up-and-coming Filipino artists from around the globe. Known for breaking new music, world premieres, and exclusive interviews, Heavy Rotation is for hip hop and R&B fans, music lovers and new music seekers. With over 3 million listeners, Heavy Rotation on Myxradio is where you discover fresh music first from around the world.

Beyond the music, DJ Marlino shares his experience as a culture cultivator by taking his experience as an on-air radio personality to create a platform for talented Filipino music artists. Driven by the passion to give back to his community, DJ Marlino works tirelessly to bring Filipino talent to the world stage. 

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

For all of you half Filipinos, mixed Filipinos, this episode is for you! Our special guest is Sheryl Williams, a Chicago-based intimacy coordinator with a background in Musical Theatre. She was recently featured as an actress in the Filipino American short films,' Miss Aswang' and 'Atang' under the direction of Filipino-American, Rialin Jose. Having faced a cultural identity crisis as a half-Filipino, Sheryl details the inner conflict and turmoil one faces when separated from her "other half". Without the opportunity to learn about her heritage at home, Sheryl shares her experiences as a biracial Filipino in the diaspora, the challenges that come with self-study into your Filipino culture and why even as a mixed Filipino, she is Filipino enough. 

If you have ever faced a moment in your life where you questioned where you belong, what you stand for and who you are - this profound conversation will leave an impression. 

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

We're back with a hot serving of Filipino food! Our special guest is Executive Chef Andrew Alojado from Layunin - a pop-up company based in Vancouver focused on reinventing Filipino cuisine through modern and global techniques. Layunin is more than just Filipino food, its intent and purpose is to push the Filipino culture to the forefront through community collaboration. With great things coming, Andrew is the visionary to watch out for.

Filipino food is the original fusion food, its many influences and flavors define who we are. As Jose Antonio Vargas puts it - we are our food and there is a special kind of pride that permeates when we gather together and eat. When you pull up to eat Filipino food, its not just a party - it's a gathering, the origin of community.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com. Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays - a podcast for the modern Filipinx millennial.

Ojay, Archie and Archia are back to talk about "TFC" - it ain't about the Filipino channel y'all! That's right, Toxic Filipino Culture Traits. We put it on blast about cancel culture, "chismosas", family discipline and the issue about schmonay (money). We hit only the tip of the iceberg for this broad topic. Sit back and join us as we "spill the tea".

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast

Email us at contact@filipinofridays.com.

Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad

Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Welcome back to Filipino Fridays - a podcast for the modern Filipinx millennial.

Ojay, Archie and Archia talk about body shaming and colorism in the Filipino culture. We discuss Filipino parties, the skin whitening industry and the origin of colourism. There's even a musical surprise - Hint: Ojay flexes a "Filipino" talent.

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast

Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_ / Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees / Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad

Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios

Pilot Episode for Filipino Fridays - a podcast for the modern Filipinx Millennial. 

Ojay, Archie and Archia talk about growing up Filipino in Canada, "The Filipino Nose" , on the definition of "What's Filipino enough", the disconnect between generations and empowering the Filipino in the workplace. 

Follow Filipino Fridays Podcast on Instagram: @FilipinoFridaysPodcast 

Follow Ojay on Instagram: @ojays_
Follow Archie on Instagram: @saychiees
Follow Archia on Instagram: @nah.tividad

Music: Hot Coffee by Patrick Patrikios