The Howie Severino Podcast

“‘Yun ang power ng animation. It gave life to the voiceless. Nabigyan namin sila ng itsura… ng boses ulit.” Director Carl Joseph Papa joins Howie Severino from the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, where his groundbreaking animated documentary "58th" premiered. The film follows Reynafe Momay in her relentless search for closure for her father, photojournalist Reynaldo Momay — the officially missing 58th victim of the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre. A trained software engineer, Papa talks about his uncommon filmmaking journey and the deeply emotional toll of immersing himself in archives about the massacre. In this discussion, he explores how animation serves as a vital, empathetic medium to preserve a painful chapter of history and engage younger generations who may not have lived through it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Ipapabarangay kita.” The common neighborhood warning highlights the real authority at the most grassroots level of government. Barangays are not just community hubs; it is said their officials serve as vital foot soldiers in the political machinery of higher leaders. In this episode, analyst and professor Edmund Tayao talks to Howie Severino about how the postponement yet again of barangay elections may be connected to the high-stakes national elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Napatunayan po nila na war, guns, is not the only option of attaining peace and development in our communities.” As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) concludes its historic first parliamentary elections, the region marks a monumental shift from decades of armed conflict to an experiment in democratic self-determination. In this episode, Mindanao State University (Marawi) political science professor Dr. Zainal Kulidtod discusses with Howie Severino how this political project aims to regulate dynasties, dismantle private armies, and deliver good governance for lasting peace. Dr. Kulidtod also talks about his personal experience of growing up in a conflict zone before becoming a leading scholar of the peace process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a virtual assistant (VA) is now the dream job for most Filipinos, according to a new Remitly study. As one of the growing professions in the remote work sector, VA work has given Filipinos greater access to international job opportunities. Across the Philippines, a growing workforce of remote professionals is serving overseas clients from laid-back hubs like Bohol and El Nido. But behind the flexibility lies a tough reality: social isolation, job insecurity, and zero employee benefits. In this episode, Howie Severino talks to Maria Sucgang, a millennial CEO pioneering a model that networks freelancers to provide the safety nets that foreign employers don’t give. They discuss the potential to keep talent in the provinces, reducing the need for foreign migration, and whether AI threatens the future of remote work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Nakagaganda ng buhay ang may alam." Viral content creator, University of the Philippines Los Baños professor, and forester Ethan Hernandez shares his journey from overcoming poverty, including sleeping in an abandoned train station, to becoming a leading voice for environmental literacy. Ethan tells Howie Severino how he developed his distinct animated style of storytelling, including incorporating the scientific names of trees in familiar songs. With over 1.3 million followers, he goes beyond science education to shape public opinion on critical environmental issues such as mining, deforestation, and Pax Silica. He talks about training the next generation of science content creators as a vital strategy to combat the plague of online disinformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.