This Filipino American Life

This time of year is one of our favorites. It’s March Madness and April is Filipino Food Month. To celebrate these two occasions, the TFAL developed a Filipino Food Bracket! In this Part 1 episode, we explain the parameters of this tournament and go through the first round of 64 Filipino dishes (ulam-only). Listen as Ryan goes crazy over some of our choices, we get Kat to serve as our tiebreaker, and Producer Mike picking meat-only options. Unfortunately, Joe had babysitting duties so we had to cut this short. However, Part 2 comes out next week! Note: Yes, we know there is a glaring omission. We’ll course correct in Part 2. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. Do you think we got this right? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

Pursuing a career in academia can be both rewarding and challenging. It often requires a significant amount of dedication, hard work, and resilience. From navigating graduate school to being on the job market to balancing research, teaching, and service, scholars face a range of unique experiences and pressures. For Filipino Americans, the added layers of being imperial and racialized subjects compound the already challenging experience in this sector. In this TFAL episode, Joe talks to his old school academic colleagues – Jennifer Nazareno, Nic Ramos, and Precious Singson – about their experiences living the academic life, including the joys and struggles, the opportunities and obstacles, and the lessons learned along the way. Listen as we discuss why we wanted to go into academia, the roadblocks that we either pushed through or circumvented, our views on the field of Filipino American Studies, and advice for someone who is interested in academia or finds themselves “stuck” in its alluring yet sometimes toxic web. This episode certainly leans the “nerdy” side, focused on a small subset of Filipino Americans. However, we hope this discussion will offer valuable insights and inspiration for your own career and life journey. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. What are your experiences in academia?  Got a hot take on Filipino American Studies? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

Tell us if you’ve heard this one: “What size is your panty? You’re not large.. you’re size H… HUSKY” We can still remember listening to this joke in college (before youtube), in an MP3 file that circulated the dorms.  Never had we heard a stand up comic that sounded like our uncle. Listening to Rex Navarrete for the first time had the feel of backyard shenanigans with a relative, telling stories, and laughing hysterically.  His Filipino accent hit home for many of us, and his stories were relevant to our own lives growing up. It really felt nice to be heard and seen; to know that we weren’t alone, but most importantly, that we can laugh about ourselves unapologetically. We’ve talked about Filipino jokes and humor before. But this is so special for the TFAL Crew because Rex has been such a formidable part of so many of us growing up. On this episode, we got a chance to talk with the OG, Original Gago himself, Rex Navarrete. Listen as we discuss his origin story as among the first Filipino American stand-up comics, his opinions about stealing jokes, and some advise he has for young Fil Am comics out there. Rex really tapped into comedy like no other, bravely going into a medium that may have been unfamiliar to millions of Filipino American.  And we lapped it up. Thank you Rex, for being a pioneer.  You are the Filipino American comedian that paved the way for comedians that are Filipino American. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. *Unfortunately, Producer Mike was unable to participate in the interview with Rex. He and Resident Reality Checker, Gerlie, were busy eating free food somewhere. Here are some classic clips of Rex we referred to in the episode: Husky Boy SBC Packers ESL Class When was the first time you heard Rex’s stand up performance? Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at  thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com. Check out Rex’s website for info on his latest show schedule.

In this episode the TFAL crew talks about make out parties in the 1990s. Just Kidding! In this episode the TFAL crew talks about scams, the criminal kind. The crew talks about their recollection of prominent Filipino American scams that happened in Los Angeles like the infamous Jun Reodica who was the leader of a bank fraud scheme that unfortunately took advantage of Filipino Americans in the process of financing car purchases in the 1980s and 1990s. Then there is the recent LA Times article about former Philippine “actor” David Bunevacz who took advantage of investors in a fake weed business. Find out who the crew thinks would be the best scammer? Can you take a guess who we thought it would be? Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. What are your experiences with scams? Have you ever gotten hooked into one? Have you committed one? Let us know (anonymously of course!) Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at  thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

As Filipinos, comedy is a significant part of our lives.  Not only is it a source of entertainment, comedy is a way of survival – a salve during the lowest points of our lives.  It’s no wonder why Filipinos find humor in anything.  In these modern times, performance comedy can come in many forms – stand-up, written narratives, sketches, improv, etc. Where does Filipino American comedy thrive? How can Filipino Americans challenges conventional understanding of our community through comedy?In this TFAL episode, we discuss comedy as both a genre and a career with Joy Regullano. Joy has had a long career as a performance artist, writer, and comedian. Listen as we talk about her journey disappointing her parents, how ethnic studies and PCNs helped shape her career, and the triumphs and challenges in the entertainment industry. We also talk about her amazing community productions Filipino AF and her upcoming Supportive White Parents album. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. What are your thoughts about comedy?  Having supportive parents?  Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.  Maybe tell us a joke that we’ll read on our next episode?!?

Hilaw Pa 5.0!  Once again it’s a new year. With a new year comes new ideas. In this 5th iteration of Hilaw Pa, the TFAL crew once again come up with new random “half-baked” ideas related to Filipino Americans that should be out there in the world. Listen as we discuss a solution to California’s housing crisis, a new Filipino New Year’s Tradition, a more convenient way to eat Filipino BBQ, and much much more! Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. Do you have any hilaw pa ideas that you would like to share? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

The TFAL Crew comes together for a festivus miracle episode! What is festivus? Take a listen and hear our take on the Seinfeld inspired holiday where we air out our grievances aka give our hot takes for 2022. Do you need to air out your grievances? What are your hot takes for 2022? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/tfal-episode180.mp3

Somehow it’s November and the holidays are upon us. In this episode the TFAL crew has a conversation about our favorite Thanksgiving foods, traditions, etc, etc, etc. What are you thankful for this year? What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com  Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, find us on Mixcloud or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here.    

“Everybody’s looking for Blue’s Clues (and You!) Come on in, come on in It’s Blue’s Clues (and You!)” Some of us remember growing up watching Blue’s Clues, the show that changed children’s programming in a significant way.  Nickelodeon introduced us to Steven and his animated dog, Blue, as they found and followed up on clues.  The show delighted children for 10 years.  In 2019, the show was brought back with a new host, the young Filipino American, Josh!  Now new generations of children are growing up with a Filipino helping them figure out clues, learning and laughing along the way. In this TFAL episode, we speak to the one and only, Josh Dela Cruz, the host of the children’s show, Blues Clues and You.  We discuss his journey through musical theater, his rise in Broadway and Nickelodeon, and his passion to change the normative narratives that so many of us have grown up believing. Also, make sure to check out the new movie Blue’s Big City Adventure streaming on Paramount+ beginning on November 18! Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, find us on Mixcloud or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. What were your favorite children’s shows?  If you have kids, what shows do they watch? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com …

Happy Filipino American HISTORY Month!  How did you celebrate?  Why did you celebrate? The past month here in Southern California was filled with numerous events and moments where Filipino and Filipino American culture and heritage were celebrated, but only a handful seemed to spotlight and focus on Filipino American History itself.  And while it may seem like splitting hairs, there are very specific and deliberate reasons for the word “History” to be included in the official designation of this month.  When it was fist declared in a resolution by the Filipino American National Historical Society (FAHNS) in 1992, it was specifically proposed to be ” a significant time to study the advancement of Filipino Americans in the history of the United States,” a somewhat different proposition from the cultural dances and ube colored foods that tend to dominate social media feeds. At the same time, the history that is often highlighted during this time can feel somewhat incomplete.  For example, October was chosen by FAHNS for Filipino American History Month as a way to commemorate the date of the first recorded presence of Filipinos within the borders of what was to eventually become the United States.  But what else do we know about that landing?  Why were the “Luzones Indios” even there on that ship, what happened when they stepped foot in what is now Morro Bay, California, and is that worth celebrating?  What defines a celebratory moment in our history?  And what are we missing by not digging deeper? Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on this page, find us on Mixcloud or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. And for folks on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here. And what should be on our future Filipino American History Month Advent Calendar? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com