The Halo Halo Podcast

Episode 119 - Jeppy Paraiso and Valuing our Hospitality

Jeppy Paraiso has left a sizeable cultural footprint, with the creation of Tita Che, in just under 20 months!  Since November of 2017, Sigi and Jezzie haven't been able to stop laughing at this new generation of Filipino humour, skewering the Tita who likes to skewer us with her no-nonsense meddlesome comments.  Whether it be a family gathering or at Thanksgiving, Tita Che leaves us in stitches!  Sigi and Jezzie then pivot and continue our honouring of Filipino Heritage Month in Canada by deconstructing the hallmark Filipino value of hospitality.  They discuss how our hospitality is known worldwide, and although appreciated, it is very much undervalued.  Sigi and Jezzie encourage us to prize our hospitable cultural character and to acknowledge how true hospitality is about being warm, welcoming and inclusive.
In the Mix this Week:
FILIPINO TITAS ON THANKSGIVING BE LIKE... Video,
Jeppy Paraiso's Youtube.com Channel,
Filipino Hospitality

Episode 118.5 - Warmup Quiz on Are They Filipino?

In honour of Filipino Heritage Month, Sigi surprises Jezzie with a short pop quiz question: Are they Filipino?  In this quick warmup, which celebrities are Filipino and which are not?  Play along and see how you score!
In the Quiz:
Steven R. McQueen,
Monique Lhuillier,
Tim Tebow,
Charlyne Yi,
Rob Schneider,
Vanessa Hudgens,
Vera Wang,
Dave Bautista,
Jason Momoa,
Phoebe Cates,
Hailee Steinfeld,
Dwayne Johnson,
Darren Criss,
Keanu Reeves,
Benedict Wong,
Shannyn Sossamon,
Charles Michael Davis

Episode 118 - Marvel Cinematic Universe and Beyond

Mabuhay!  Happy Filipino Heritage Month.  On this episode, Sigi and Jezzie debrief the milestone instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's, "Avengers: Endgame" and review over the three phases that led to a satisfying ending, as well as the theses explored in these 22 superhero movies.  Sigi and Jezzie relate how these movies and the themes echo the Bayanihan Spirit (communal cooperation) of the Fillipino community and diaspora, and challenge us to manifest it this month where Canada recognizes the important contributions that Filipinos have made to this country since our first arrival in the 1930s.  
 In the Mix this Week: 
New York Times' "Still Processing",
"How to watch every Marvel Cinematic Universe film in the perfect order",
"Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4 Slate Leaks From Rumored Insider",
Deadline's "Disney Reinstates Director James Gunn For ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy 3'",
Wikipedia Entry on "Call-out Culture",
New York Times' "Dance is part of rehabilitation in the Philippines",
Yango's "Community-based treatment in the Philippines"
Mixed Culture's "The Bayanihan Spirit"
 

Episode 117.75 - Meryenda Elsewhere

Before Sigi and Jezzie get into this tasty Meryenda episode, they catchup and kiki over the 2019 Met Gala red carpet arrivals and dissect this year's theme of "Camp: Notes on Fashion."  Next, they reveal how pointing with one's hands is not as universal as Western Society might think.  They bring to light what electricity and living have in common.  Finally, they discuss how F's found their way into the Filipino alphabet, and how often it is confused with P's.  Don't savour this episode, just bite into it!  
In the Mix this Week:
Met Gala's 2019 Red Carpet Slideshow,
Camp: Notes on Fashion Gallery Views | Fashion at The Met,
"Notes on Camp" by Susan Sontag,
little-q: Who points with their lips? on the CBC,
"Why The F In ‘Filipino’ And How Did It Get There?" by Marne Kilatis
Consonants: voiced and unvoiced
 

Episode 117.5 - Beautiful People Warmup

Happy Victoria Day to all of our Filipino Canadian Listeners!  As we honour Queen Victoria's birthday this long weekend, enjoy our latest warmup where we painstakingly choose who we think would make People's Beautiful issue.  Do you think we got it right?  Who would be on your list?  Let us know what you think!
In this extra helping:
People's 2019 Beauties of the Year,
NS "Non-binary: An introduction to another way of thinking about identity",
New York Times' "Beauty Is More Diverse Than Ever. But Is It Diverse Enough?"

Episode 117 - Everything Korean and Equity for All

In this jam-packed episode, Sigi and Jezzie take a taste of everything Korean.  In the last decade, the influence of Korean culture and K-Pop music has slowly, but surely made an impact on Western culture and consumers.  Sigi and Jezzie examine BTS, and discuss Korean beauty products, along with Chanel's recent launch of beauty products for men.  Later Sigi and Jezzie, interrogate what it means to be a person of colour and suggest reframing ourselves as equity seekers.
 In the Mix this Week: 
Vox's K-Pop History Explained,
K-Pop: The Global Phenomenon Explained in 4 minutes ,

Episode 116.5 - What's in your iTunes Metadata?

What does your iTunes Metadata say about you?  Sigi and Jezzie reveal their top 25 songs played on their Apple Music + iTunes Library.  Guess which co-hosts top 25 songs resembles a 13 year-old girl playlist, and who's eclectic playlist relies on deep track and cuts.  Find out on this warmup episode!
In this extra helping:
"That's What I Like" by Bruno Mars,
"thank u, next" by Ariana Grade,
"How Do You Want It" (feat. K-Ci & JoJo) by Tupac Shukar,
"WooHoo" (feat. Nicki Minaj) [Ober Urban mix] by Christina Aguilera 
 

Episode 116 - My Way

In this compact episode, Sigi and Jezzie unpack the complexity of the social phenomenon in the Philippines known as the My Way Killings.  They critique and discuss the New York Times' article "Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord" by Normitisu Onishi and try to find their own answers to this not-well understood string of tragic events where some karaoke singers were needlessly shot singing Frank Sinitra's crooner classic, "My Way."  Finally, Sigi and Jezzie make the case to check ourselves when we engage in the Filipino notion of having too much personal ambition, at the expense of the common good, otherwise known as kanya-kanya.
 In the Mix this Week:
The Ketogenic Diet: A Detailed Beginner's Guide to Keto,
"The Other Two" Season One Trailer,
Netflix's "Sex Education",
Netflix's "Big Mouth",
Crab Mentality,
Tall Poppy Syndrome
 

Episode 115.5 - This or That Warmup

Happy Easter Monday! Here at Halo Halo, we like our forced-choice warmup games! Two things go into the ring, only one comes out!  Will it be this or will it be that?  Will it be lecheon or will it be pancit?  Will it be Miley Cyrus or will it be Arianna Grande? Will it be "Like a Prayer" Madonna or will it be "Ray of Light" Madonna?
In this extra helping:
Jej Vinson's Blind Audition on "the Voice",
Mark Ronson - "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" (Official Video) ft. Miley Cyrus,
"Cruel Intentions" returns for one week

Episode 115 - Children's Literature and locating "home"

On this solemn Good Friday, Sigi and Jezzie spotlight children's literature and children's books.  They fondly remember some children's classics and explore soon-to-be contemporary classics for Filipino Canadians.  In particular, they showcase the award-winning Filipino Children's Story "Pan de Sal Saves the Day", "My First Book of Tagalog Words", "Filipino Celebrations: A Treasury of Feasts and Festivals" and "Hoy! A Philippine Islands Activity Book" by Toronto's own Eric Tigley.  Later, Sigi and Jezzie unpack what it means when a Filipino Canadian has not visited the Philippines, and conclude on how national identity isn't tied to going back "home."    
 In the Mix this Week:
Wikipedia Entry "One Day at a time (2017)",