The Halo Halo Podcast

Episode 420 - Small Town Pride and Filipinos in Small Towns with Chelle

In honour of July being a travel month for the Podcast, and to help close out Season four, Chelle visits the Halo Halo Studios and fills in for Sigi while he's away on location.  On this visit to the Halo Halo Studios, Chelle discusses their latest work, "Small Town Pride", a documentary streaming on CBC Gem which follows several queer individuals planning and preparing as they celebrate Pride in their respective small towns.  Jezzie dissects with Chelle how being unapologetic and being persistent is the key to having pride in this intimate portrayal of being queer in a small town. Later, Chelle reveals how they also met and discovered the Filipinos in these small towns and remarks on the lengths that our fellow Filipinos will go to support our families.  

Episode 419.625 - Taste Test of ”Showpao”

On this week’s Taste Test episode, Sigi samples the documentary Showpao, currently streaming on YouTube. Sigi likens this film to a serving of halo halo, a mix of personal stories told from the perspectives of Carlito, Rosabel, Jean-Noel and Jash, four Filipino/a/x Canadians living in Montreal. Each candid reflection had common threads but were still unique in sharing the Filipino/a/x Canadian experience in Quebec. It was refreshing for Sigi to see the representation of several generations of our culture and their personal journeys take up space in a film.
The immigration stories ranged from Carlito’s accidental story of getting sponsored by his brother to Rosabel following her mother’s advice to change her path to create a better life for her daughter. As each person shares their unique story, it is so interesting they include discussions on a unifying thread of people and their connection to culture and food, whether it be Jash musing that she cooks when she feels alone, Jean-Noel sharing the origins of the name of his cafe and Carlito smiling and telling the interviewer, that eating adobo and pancit makes us Filipino. Each person shares a message of hope as they talk about what makes you a Filipino/a/x Montrealer, to connect and find community with fellow Filipino/a/x with your shared experiences; embrace your culture without fear and to grow; and to have empathy for future generations.
Halo Halo Podcast listeners, we highly recommend you all to watch Showpao to learn more about the Filipinix-Montrealer experience. Many props to the Filipino Organization of Concordia University Students (FOCUS) for sharing this film.

Episode 419.5 - No Person is an Island Warmup

To kick off this July warm up–No Person is an Island,  Sigi and Jezzie curate their own specific Island experience by answering what items, meals, music, apparel and people they would include in their stranded island situation.

Episode 419 - Filipino Travel Bloggers and Connection to the Islands

The Halo Halo Podcast kicks off July with a spotlight on Filipino Travel bloggers and explore our connection to the islands. In their pop culture catch up, Jezzie and Sigi discuss not crossing paths during Pride weekend in TO while Sigi and his family spend a quick 24 hours visiting close friends and the aquarium. Sigi waxes on his latest streaming addictions: Loot and the Lake while Jezzie shares his love of Fire Island, the latest seasons of Legendary and The Handmaids Tale.
As both co-hosts mention that it is the beginning of summer and people are ready to travel, Jezzie highlights Filipino Travel bloggers, David Guison, (@davidguison)  and Jan and Ann, (@janandann). David who has been a travel and lifestyle blogger since 2011 shares a cool, luxe vibe encouraging a millennial view on how life should be about recreation, relaxation and discovery. Jan and Ann are a Filipino couple who moved from Alberta to Philippines to pursue their dreams of wanting to be content creators and sharing hidden gems/paradises and collecting experiences. Jan and Ann’s story is a call to the islands and their travel vlogs share similar stories to other vlogs where picturesque vistas are showcased that encourage people to connect with the islands. Jezzie explains that there is something visceral about watching a travel vlog or visiting the Islands themselves. Further, we encourage others to find other Filipino vloggers like David, and Jan and Ann and find something that you can connect with in terms of what they showcase.

Episode 418.625 - Taste Test of Meryenda Food Truck’s Halo Halo

On this very special Halo Halo Podcast, Taste Test episode, Jezzie visits Sigi in Ottawa and they record on location as they grab some food from the Meryenda Food Truck, Ottawa’s First Filipino Food Truck established in 2015. Both the hosts revel in ordering Halo Halo and give you an ASMR experience as they do an actual taste test of the classic Filipino dessert that is the actual moniker of the podcast. If you are in the Ottawa area and want to have some amazing Filipino food– visit the owner Mark and the crew at the Meryenda Food Truck. IG @meryenda_snack

Episode 418.5 - Tell Me Your Filipino with FOM

On this warm up, Sigi and Jezzie are joined by the Filipinos of Montreal Crew—Terrie, Shari and Eric. Sigi challenges the panel with the question, Tell me you’re Filipino without telling me you’re Filipino. The conversation gets lively as the five of them debate on bidets, saving bags, tsinelas and the beginnings of a mystery podcast, “Who eats the Santa Nino’s food?”. Could it be a future podcast under the Filipinos of Montreal and Halo Halo Podcast umbrella? Put in those earpods and join in on the fun.

Episode 418 - Filipinos of Montreal

For Filipino Canadian Heritage Month, The Halo Halo Podcast had reached out to the creators of Filipinos of Montreal to collaborate and record an episode. From the moment Sigi and Jezzie arrived at Atelier Qure studio in Montreal in early June, they were met with open arms and big smiles by Terrie Reyes, Shari Ramos and Eric Feliciano. Recording had not even started and the whole group was immediately sharing and fawning over the creative work by everyone– it was like cousins greeting each other at a Filipino party. They discuss the origin of the Filipinos of Montreal project and how the three of them initially met. Sigi and Jezzie ask about their immigration stories; what being Filipino Canadian means to them; and the importance of elevating and celebrating fellow Filipino Canadians. Listen in on this lively discussion and see how this creative group exemplifies the Bayanihan spirit. The Halo Halo Podcast and Filipinos of Montreal hope our listeners enjoy this collab. Happy Filipino Canadian Heritage Month!
To find out more about Filipinos of Montreal, follow them on IG @filipinosofmontreal or email them fillipinosofmontreal@gmail.com
This Territorial Acknowledgement (read at the beginning of the podcast)and resources were created by Concordia University’s Indigenous Directions Leadership Group (2017).

Taste of Allan Matudio’s ”Kasama” (Episode 417.625)

Since it is Filipino Canadian Heritage Month, Halo Halo Podcast’s Taste Test Episode puts a spotlight on the graphic novel Kasama written by Allan Matudio who is a Montreal born Filipino. Sigi likens his reading experience to one of his favourite Filipino treats–polboron, a sweet shortbread snack with a soft but textured taste making him want more. Kasama, (which is Tagalog for companion, partner, associate, ally and in social justice circles describes people who are in solidarity in a movement) introduces you to Alison as she makes her way into Orkidias City.  And in the first few pages, Allan Matudio not only captures the market place buzzing with food and energy, but manages to touch upon many Filipino cultural topics, like colourism, traditional culinary practices, OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) and pre-colonial writing (Baybayin). The novel is brimming with Filipino culture and history as Alison reunites with her friend Kia in search of a manananggal. Sigi found himself rereading the novel carefully, taking in the  graphics and story that have so much meaning to him as a Filipino Canadian, each page has something so interesting and engaging. It was quite clear that Matudio shares so much more about the Philippines beyond the cultural staples of food and tourism. It truly challenges the reader to learn much more about the Philippines. Find out more and follow Allan Matudio on Instagram (@allanmima) and order your copy of Kasama.

Episod 417.5 - Word Association Warmup (Filipino Canadian Edition)

On this Warm Up, Jezzie and Sigi do a little word association on things that are Filipino and Canadian. Play along and find out what comes to mind when you hear “Filipino Canadian Food” and who do you call to mind when you think of Famous Filipino Canadian?

Episode 417 - Becoming Filipino Canadian

The Halo Halo Podcast opens up Filipino Canadian Heritage Month this June with an episode on “Becoming Filipino Canadian.” The co-hosts discuss that Becoming Filipino means acknowledging that they are both Filipinos in the diaspora and highlights Almond Aguila’s definition of diaspora with several features. Jezzie shares how becoming Filipino Canadian really means shedding the identities foisted upon us, and searching for our sense of who we truly are without influence or distraction. They both share their personal stories on their journeys in becoming Filipino Canadian. Later, the co-hosts share that they use the Halo Halo Podcast as a vehicle to commune with each other as a way of continually refining their own Filipino identities and encourages listeners to find their way to commune with other Filipino Canadians.