On this warm up, Sigi is inspired while making lunches for his kids and ask what school-aged Sigi and Jezzie list out their top 3 snacks in their lunchboxes. So as they discuss their “baon” find out which treats topped their list!

The Halo Halo Podcast is back to tie up Season 6! After a summer of adventures to East Coast Canada, casinos and concert combos, soaking up the sun and sharing some new pop culture indulgences, the co-hosts are back to school this fall and fawn over Abbott Elementary. They discuss what attracts them to the award winning hit network sitcom which leads to Jezzie pondering about learning about Filipino Excellence growing up. Further he encourages to educate Filipino Canadian youth around us about Filipino successes.

This is an early preview of this anthology series produced by Halo Halo Pop Culture.  If you have access to this recording, it is at the courtesy of Halo Halo Pop Culture and your use is for demonstration purposes.  This recording is not for distribution at this time.  

To wrap up Filipino Heritage Month, here is Part Two of this warm up! Jezzie and Sigi welcome Diyyinah and Carlo from the Filipino Public Servants Network (FSPN) into the Halo Halo Podcast virtual studios to play “A Question in 3 Parts” and the co-hosts and guests reflect on what makes them Filipino Canadian. Listen in as they dive into this ice breaker and find their commonalities and discover their personal thoughts behind these questions.

It’s June and in honour of Filipino Heritage month in Canada, we are showcasing Filipino Canadians who elevate and celebrate our community.  Last episode we brought into the Halo Halo Podcast Studios Diyannah and Carlo from the Filipino Public Servants Network who shared their story of how the FPSN was founded.  In Part Two with the FPSN we spend more time talking about how they recruited for the Network and later on in this episode we find out their thoughts on lateral mentorship.   What are you waiting for? Download and put on those earbuds to find out how Diyyinah went old school and cold called people and maybe hear Sigi ask Carlo to share a little of his Texas accent. If you’re a current federal public servant of Filipino descent, and want to know more about the FPSN send an email at [email protected] for a monthly newsletter and regularly scheduled events. You can find FPSN on GCxchange and GCpedia, as well as on their Facebook group.

On this warm up, Jezzie and SIgi welcome Diyyinah and Carlo from the Filipino Public Servants Network (FSPN) into the Halo Halo Podcast virtual studios to get their get voices ready for their full two-part episode. They play “A Question in 3 Parts” and the co-hosts and guests reflect on what makes them Filipino, and Canadian. Listen in as they dive into this ice breaker and find their commonalities and discover their personal thoughts behind these questions. If you’re a current federal public servant of Filipino descent, and want to know more about the FPSN send an email at [email protected] for a monthly newsletter and regularly scheduled events. You can find FPSN on GCxchange and GCpedia, as well as on their Facebook group.

Since it is June and Filipino Heritage Month, The Halo Halo Podcast elevates and celebrates the Filipino Public Servants Network (FPSN) in a special  TWO PART full episodes dropping this month!  In Part One: Jezzie and Sigi welcome Diyyinah Jamora and Carlo Carandang to the virtual studios to create the “Canada sandwich” with all four of them podcasting from Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax. The co-hosts dive into Diyyinah’s and Carlo’s immigration stories and follow their paths beginning in Vancouver (Diyyinah) and Texas (Carlo) to the Public Service.  From reveling in the fact that both of our guests worked in stores where their families sold Filipino snacks, Diyyinah shares how the FSPN came into fruition.  Download Part One of this episode now! Stay tuned for Part Two in 2 weeks! If you’re a current federal public servant of Filipino descent, and want to know more about the FPSN send an email at [email protected] for a monthly newsletter and regularly scheduled events. You can find FPSN on GCxchange and GCpedia, as well as on our Facebook group.

On this warm up, Jezzie and Sigi hold their cups of tea and rhyme out their top 3 gossip folks in pop culture. Find out who cites Alec Mapa and Jacob Ben Israel in their top 3. They dedicate this warm up to their two real life gossip folk in their friend group–you know who you are because your hair is so big because it is filled with secrets. XOXO.

On this episode Jezzie and Sigi dive into a compare and contrast of Mean Girls 2004 and the Mean Girls Musical 2024, but before they jump into all things fetch and the allure of Regina George, they discuss Jezzie’s Monorail Bar Crawl in Vegas, Rachel Zegler in Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Filipino Lords in Bridgerton Season 3. As they share notes on Tina Fey’s classic 20 year old staple and the newly released movie based on the musical, they revel in an amazing cast, cameos and debate elaborate shownumbers. Later the co-hosts discuss gossip and that in Filipino culture scholars suggest there is gossip and tsismis. Jezzie shares the two-fold value of this concept and observes how it sometimes begs for information and resources to be shared so someone can benefit.

This warm up has both co-hosts share their top 3 pop culture moms. Jezzie also gives Sigi a vocabulary lesson about the ballroom origin of the term “mother.” Find out who tops their lists of sitcom, musical and reality tv moms.

For this month, The Halo Halo Podcast tailored the set of upcoming eps to a Maternal May. Jezzie and Sigi go into the pop culture vault to revisit Mamma Mia the musical, movie and the sequel. Listen in as Jezzie suspends his disbelief and revels in the jukebox musical while Sigi litters the convo with consistent “WHAT IS HAPPENING?!” After much discussion on the Meryl Streep of it all, Amanda Seyfried’s dewy face, the classiness of Christine Baranski and Cher wandering into the movie, the convo shifts to mothers and motherhood. Jezzie references Wilfred Galila’s essay on the “Power of Pinays” where he discusses how pre-colonial and before the arrival of the Spanish, Philippine Society was seen as Matriarchal. Further, Jezzie discusses the power shared by Filipina Women in the diaspora is a quiet power.  The fixing of the week encourages Halo Halo Listeners to celebrate the Filipina Women in our lives and happy mothers’ day to our mothers!

On this Taste Test and to close out our Filipino Food Themed episodes, Sigi samples the novel, Lessons In Fusion by Primrose Madayag Knazan. This novel set in Winnipeg during the pandemic focuses on Sarah who applies to compete in a reality show called Cyber Chef Next Gen. Her participation in the competition puts her on a journey on finding out more about her identity and her family. Pair this novel with the many recipes especially the matzo ball sopas because it is a warm nourishing read.  This book is a love letter on how recipes when passed on through generations tells a tale about connections and love in families. This isn’t just a young adult novel, it is a cookbook that fuses together different cultures and encourages the reader to embrace all facets of their identity. Listen in on this ep and go get your copy of Lessons in Fusion!

On this warm up Sigi and Jezzie take some ideas and make it Filipino. Sigi ventures down the fast food lanes to makes them more pinoy and Jezzie finds ways to nourish not only our stomachs but our minds and style. Listen in and find out what condiment Sigi wants to be available for his Costco hot dog and what Jezzie would add to the Canadian staple Timmie’s!

During this month of April and in honour of Filipino Food Month, we at the Halo Halo Podcast will be re-releasing some of our favourite Meryenda episodes, but first in their pop culture catch up Sigi talks about the Hallmark movie based in his hometown Niagara Falls and the recent limited series Apples Never Fall. Jezzie share his thoughts on the latest Rebel Moon and newly crowned Drag Superstar. Further, Jezzie discusses his rediscovered love and ventures back into Lobby Bars in his neighbourhood and revelling in Happy Hour---the perfect segue into revisting Mereyenda Epsiode 406.75 San Miguel Beer from Season Four! Cheers!

On this taste test, Sigi takes his daughter Delaney to Jollibee in Toronto right before the Olivia Rodrigo concert. As Sigi revels in CHICKENJOY with his daughter, he and Jezzie dive deep into the pairing of crispy salty chicken skin paired with warm white rice. Is it possible that it is buried deep in the Filipino DNA? And to even add more to his CHICKENJOY, the presence of ube pie served as the piece de resistance on this adventure. Listen in and this ep will have you craving for fast food giant from the Philippines.

On this warm up Jezzie and Sigi venture into some special Filipino Food Connections and revisit memories of adobo, chicharon, pandesal and ice cream. Join us for a visit down memory lane which will have you craving for more!

For the month of April and in honor of Filipino Food Month, we at The Halo Halo Podcast will be rereleasing some of our favourite Meryenda Episodes. On this ep, Jezzie and Sigi catch up and Sigi shares his Filipino filled Easter which included Olivia Rodrigo, a Jollibee jaunt and an amazing Easter Sunday Kamayan. This serves the perfect segue into the rerelease of our Meryenda Epsiode from season 3-Boodle Fight/Kamayan! Get out those banana leaves and dig in for a big serving of lumpia and bangus!

Our main episode has us going into a debate about someone who I deemed so cool, in the early aughts when he broke out into his own. . . but now if I we had to be on a mission to define cool, who would fit the bill?

On this episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi dive deep and figure out where they stand with Justin Timberlake. They revisit the *NSYNC boy band craze; Justified, and Sexyback albums; the Janet Jackson Superbowl controversy, his foray into acting and comedy and his latest album–Everything I Thought It Was. Further Jezzie pivots the convo to discuss the Filipino cultural value of pakikisama. This cultural value really informs the collectivistic attitudes and mentality that we as a culture possess and the influence of being family-oriented. Although this value can be weaponized, Jezzie encourages us to determine its value by asking ourselves if it benefits all of the community and that there is a feeling of inclusion.

On this very special Taste Test, Jezzie takes us on his very VIP experience in Las Vegas seeing the Madonna Celebration Tour. Get out a flight of sparking wines as Jezzie recounts his journey behind the velvet rope. Get ready Halo Halo Listeners, he goes deep into the superfan experience. And if you are interested leave a comment in this week’s episode post and we will share some pics of Jezzie’s limited edition swag for your viewing pleasure.

Join Jezzie and Sigi in this warm up and they chart out an alternate universe where they achieve their EGOT status. Find out who plans to win their Emmy hosting a show and who will win their Oscar in the ensemble piece, “Puzzle”. Suspend your disbelief and follow their trails to acquire their EGOT status.

The Halo Halo Podcast is back for this month of March in fine pop culture form breaking down the 2024 Oscars. From observing shimmering dresses and shiny male brooches on the red carpet to adjusting to the early start time, Jezzie and Sigi share their hot takes on one of their fave events. Meaningful speeches and flowers from previous Oscar winners got the podcast hosts elated and vibrating from a crowd pleasing Gosling/Slash performance.

 The Halo Halo Podcast brings back its suite of four Social Justice centered episodes for this month of February. In this fourth and final episode, Jezzie reviews the framework we shared with our listeners to aid them to decipher the value of a social movement. This framework can also serve as a basis to help us engage in a more meaningful fashion as opposed to just superficial engagement. It also means that it takes time, commitment and being a good ally. Good allyship involves: Being actionable— does what we say match our behaviour ?; Using your privilege to support those that we are joining in a social movement; Being okay with being criticized and sometimes embracing the discomfort; Not expecting the social movement or others to educate you and Not equating your own struggles with those of the social movement.

The Halo Halo Podcast brings back its suite of four Social Justice centered episodes for this month of February. In this third episode, Jezzie guides us in our continued discussion that cultural humility and discernment in joining social movements means not only learning about other cultures, but also learning about ourselves and social systems. This learning is continual and encourages us to be teachable and learn more about the deeper parts of one’s culture. There is a need for us to move away from being ethnocentric to ethnorelative. Striving to do this and being willing to learn about ourselves in an honest fashion and debunking social systems that we are in can help us understand other cultures and histories in an authentic and respectful way, thus make us ultimately teachable.

The Halo Halo Podcast brings back its suite of four Social Justice centered episodes for this month of February. In this second episode, the focus is on Cultural Humility. It is first described by Melanie Tervalon, as a mindset which requires us to: learn from others–while honoring those that we learn from; understand and accept the differences we have with others; and be self-reflective and engage in critical self-reflection. Jezzie discusses further that when we adopt a culturally humble stance, we are in a position to then discern.

The Halo Halo Podcast brings back its Social Justice centered episodes for this month of February. In this episode the focus is on Discernment on Movements and Counter-movements. Discernment is key to understanding social movements and counter-movements. Jezzie guides a discussion on the meaning of discernment and the need to understanding the arguments behind a movement; not getting swept up in the urgency; questioning information sources and being critical of our own motivations.

Write Up-On this  Taste Test, Sigi goes into the 1999 Pop Culture Movie vault an rewatches The Talented Mr. Ripley. Find out why he would pair this flick with a duo cocktail of gin and sin and a rye and tonic. From the classic direction of  Minghella, the beauty of Italy and the talented cast, you will find yourself immersed in this psychological thriller that may have inspired shows like You and movies like Saltburn.

On this warm up, Sigi and Jezzie dust off old issues of Vanity Fair and revisit the famous Hollywood Issue where ingenues and popular stars graced the cover to promote their movies/shows for the year.  They face the imaginary task of being the guest editors and cast the Hollywood 2024 Vanity Fair cover shoot. Find out who is one the list and will land on the cover!

On this week’s episode, Sigi and Jezzie remain in the 1999 movie vault and focus on two movies—American Beauty and Cruel Intentions. Later they discuss the “Implications of ‘Bahala Na’”.  The pop culture recap gets down to latest with Jezzie and his attendance at two shows of Madonna’s current tour. Find out firsthand about his experience and that this marks the beginning of his own “Madonna tour”—definitely tune in to hear more about various legs of this tour as our dear co-host travels across North America in awe and fandom for his dear Madge. Join the two co-hosts as they revisit two movies that turn 25 this year.  The first being an Academy award winning and ensemble cast that covers themes that haven’t aged well since 1999—American Beauty.The second, inspired by the book and movie, Dangerous Liaisons, set in the upper class neighbourhoods of Manhattan and being a predecessor for shows like Gossip Girl and Euphoria--Cruel Intentions.  The conversation laters shifts into the cultural capital topic of “Bahala Na” which has a deterministic idea that things will work out in the end and not to worry—more precisely, don’t care too much about the situation and circumstance. Jezzie discusses where this term originates and where it is well rooted and what kind of difficulties can be encountered when this stance is skewed. Our fixing of the week challenges our listeners to be resourceful when active acceptance of choices are unavailable.

On this Taste Test Episode, Jezzie open up the pop culture movie vault of 1999 and re-samples "The Sixth Sense". Serve yourself up with a matcha latté as Jezzie takes us through M. Night Shyamalan’s breakthrough hit “The Sixth Sense” –a psychological thriller starring Bruce Willis, playing child psychologist, Dr. Malcolm Crowe and Hayley Joel Osment,  as his troubled patient Cole Seer who apparently talks to dead people. Find out how Jezzie’s revisit to this timeless, unique movie with a well documented twist brought up current themes in 2024.

On this Warm Up Ep, Jezzie and Sigi go back to the vault to 1999 and talk about their WinAmps. What music was playing on their hard drives with the HP speakers blaring in the dorms of A Lower and 6 Middle at Saugeen (Z00). Find out what tunes Sigi played when he put on the Aldo shoes, sweater vest and cargos before he headed out to the Ridout? Where did Jezzie go to hunt down exclusive Madonna remixes and who influenced him to get Celine and Tammy Wynette on his playlist?  Put on a puffy vest, dance in a mirrored tunnel and listen in!

Happy New Year Halo Halo Podcast Listeners! Jezzie and Sigi go Back to the Vault this January 2024 to the year 1999 to focus on movies that turn 25 years old— Fight Club, Boys Don’t Cry and American Pie . All these films make comments on what masculinity of its time period as well as what it can mean today and the co-hosts compare notes on their views of these movies when they saw them in 1999 versus now in 2024. Later, they discuss the rethinking of Filipino masculinity in the diaspora. Jezzie references a recent study by Bagaporo and Papadelos which studied Filipino men from the Philippines and found that masculinity was influenced by various colonial influences and shaped around three features: breadwinner; Padre de Paymilia and good-natured social persona. The fixing of the week is to remind ourselves not to be bound by these masculine scripts.

Write up: A new Taste Test episode that sustain the festive spirit of the holidays, Jezzie samples Hannah Waddingham-Home For Christmas now streaming on Apple TV +. Find out why Jezzie would raise a toast with a Christmas cosmopolitan for the holiday spectacle filled with familiar Christmas songs and guest appearances from the dearly beloved show, Ted Lasso.

On this Warm Up of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi and Jezzie are joined by Eric and Shari from the Filipinos of Montreal. Sigi poses an epic karaoke question, what is your Christmas Karaoke song? this sparks discussion of classic staples from Wham, Bieber, David Archuleta and that "Gremlins" is definitely a holiday movie. Listen in on as they list their holiday repertoire! Maligayang Pasko and Happy Holidays from The  Halo Halo Podcast and Filipinos of Montreal! To find out more about the Filipinos of Montreal , follow them on insta @filipinosofmontreal

On this Holiday Episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi and Jezzie are joined by second time guests---Eric and Shari from the Filipinos of Montreal. Listen in on the four of them share their Filipino Festive Traditions during the holiday. But before they dive into the glazed ham, Korean chicken and Noche Buena of it all, the crew discusses their "Prison Dancer" musical experience. Recounting the highlights which included supporting their friends Norm (Hookaps) and Dom (Shakespeare) and being on Team Cherish with Evernote on repeat. They all agreed it was so special to see amazing Filipino Canadian representation on the stage and cannot wait to travel to NYC if this hit is Broadway bound. As Jezzie shares with  Sigi and the guests in on his family traditions filled with themes, videos and a Lady Gaga wig, they collectively agree how a plethora of food and the gathering of families remain a constant among their families. Further, they focus on what kindness and kapwa means to them and to our culture as Filipinos. Join in on the fun with the crew as they talk about what lies on their holiday buffet tables and the usefulness of an “chocolate open house” for Ninong and Niniangs. Maligayang Pasko and Happy Holidays from The  Halo Halo Podcast and Filipinos of Montreal! To find out more about the Filipinos of Montreal , follow them on insta @filipinosofmontreal

On this Taste Test Sigi ventures back into the MCU and samples "The Marvels." Armed with an avocado toast and a sharp wit he shares his thoughts on this instalment of the MCU. He gets right down to it and highlights the fun—Iman Vellani, the three leads working as a team and Nick Fury approaching his Danny Glover era. From a crazy musical number, to hairball raising technique by an intergalactic crew of cats, join the co-hosts as they dig into this popcorn fared flick.

On this warm up, Sigi and Jezzie pull out their Christmas lists for 2023. Who wants the Legos Avengers Tower? Who wants to be in Madge’s pit in Atlanta? Tune in and find out.

The perfect way to start off our episodes for the month of December is by taking in a musical. Your Halo Halo Podcast co-hosts Jezzie and Sigi had the pleasure of watching  Prison Dancer: The Musical--now playing through December 2 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The musical, created by Romeo Candido and Carmen Leilani De Jesus and directed by Nina Lee Aquino is inspired by a 2007 viral You Tube video where 1500 inmates from a prison in Cebu danced to Thriller. Blown away by the music and lyrics by Romeo Candido, Jezzie found underlying messages in the spectacle including, “Dancing gives life”; “Taking responsibility for your life”; and “Asking for what you need.” Dynamic performances from the cast including the “love teams” : Lola (Julio Fuentes) and Shakespeare (Dominique Brillantes); and Christian (Daren Dyhengco) and Cherish (Diana Del Rosario) has the co-hosts floored and clamouring for more. Later, Jezzie outlines the message, “Hope can exist anywhere,” ties into this week’s culture capital topic and that hope is “recognizing that there are many ways to accomplish one’s goals and not giving up as a result.” If you are in Ottawa, go and see Prison Dancer: The Musical. From the music, dancing, tales of love, hope and having no “regerts”—get your tickets before it is too late!

On this Taste Test Episode, by listener request and co-host favored, Sigi and Jezzie sample "Heartstopper" Season 2 now streaming on Netflix. First Jezzie quizzes Sigi on which Heartstopper character is the Star Wars fan. Find out why your co-hosts would pair this sophomore season with cotton candy and a croissandwich. Listen in and discover how the Heartstopper universe expanded and how the introduction Nick’s family; a class trip to Paris and a school dance with a touch of Gen-X music rendered this a season to watch. Special shout out to Sonya for this wonderful Taste Test that will definitely make you ask for the next serving of "Heartstopper" Season 3.

On this Warm Up, Jezzie plays high school yearbook editor and Sigi assigns him the tasks of Star Wars Superlatives! Find out who he chooses for Prom King and Queen and his hot take for Class President. Listen in as Jezzie takes the Star Wars universe back to school for some fun and nostalgia. Who would you vote for Most Likely to Succeed and Class Clown?

As The Halo Halo Podcast continues with the Star Wars universe theme for November, they focus on the early empire in occurring between Episode 3 and Episode 4 of the Star Wars saga. First on their pop culture catch up they touch on the situation in the Middle East, end of the SAG-Aftra strike, Just Jack and Will podcast and Season 2 of "Wheel of Time." Jezzie then discusses the Disney+ series, "Bad Batch", "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and "Andor" and how they depict the rise of the Empire Era where it was a time of darkness for the Jedis and Imperial Era. Sigi and Jezzie both fawn over the cinematic feel of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the strong cast including the character Tala Durith and the young Leia Organa. Jezzie ties in that the three series share the theme of a call to action and the reluctance of a hero responding to that call. Further, Jezzie describes instances where we may be reluctant to a call to action and discusses why we may have those feelings of reluctance. He encourages us to challenge those feelings and be aware that we are all collectively in this together and the importance of helping others may serve as motivation. The fixing for this week would be to, Respond to the call any way you can.

On this Taste Test, Jezzie samples "Star Wars--Thrawn", Book one of the Thrawn Trilogy. Find out why he would compare this to a nice bottle of chianti, a layered wine with many notes. These deep dark layers of strategy, mystery, and political intrigue are revealed as the origin story of Thrawn’s meteoric rise to Grand Admiral unfolds. Listen in as Jezzie shares more Star Wars lore in setting the tale of this Machiavellian strategist and how it adheres and feeds into the magnificent Star Wars Universe.

In honor of dedicating our November theme of the Star Wars Universe, Sigi and Jezzie take us back to the 80s and recount their first viewing of the Star Wars franchise. Roll out the movie reel, uncover the dusty Betamax video and purchase those old movie tickets to wait in lines  as our hosts go back in time to recall their first impressions of an iconic movie franchise.

During the month of November, The Halo Halo Podacast will focus full episodes on the Star Wars Universe much to the delight of our co-host Jezzie. First, our co-hosts play pop culture catch up on Sigi’s binge on Britney’s memoir; Jezzie’s delving into the Halloween franchise and remembering and honoring Matthew Perry. Next, Jezzie virtually grabs Sigi’s hand and leads him into the Mandoverse recapping the Mandoverse trifecta of "The Mandalorian"; "Book of Boba Fett" and "Ahsoka". Sigi enters the Mandoverse and shares his thoughts on "Ahsoka" much to Jezzie’s delight. Further, the Jezzie  highlights that in some ways, these series have been messaging the idea that we still need to help the cause as the rebellion becomes the new way of life in the galaxy. Jezzie goes on to discuss on how we can help the cause for the Filipino Communities in the Diaspora can mean many things. He touches on sharing equity and generational wealth; keeping the door open and mentorship. He leaves us with the cultural fixing of asking ourselves how we can help the next generation.

On this Taste Test Episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi dives into Season Three of 'The Morning Show' streaming on Apple TV. Find out why Sigi went retro to pair this show with a box of Cracker Jacks. Get ready as he regales Jezzie with the main reasons to tune into the 3rd season gorgeous architecture porn from the Hamptons and Jon Hamm and Jen Aniston delivering the steamiest scenes streaming right now! Forget about Reese/Bradley floating in space and the UBA financial struggles, tune in, munch into this crunchy snack of a show to get to the prize!

On this warm Sigi and Jezzie toy with anachronistic view, what if streaming services were created in the late 90s to early aughts? From hanging out as Res Staff members at Saugeen Maitland Hall, the co-hosts forecasts Felicity viewings with Dean and Deluca fixings; Jerry Springer binges after a late shift and the glories of consuming March Madness without peril!

Jezzie and Sigi continue with the theme of Hollywood Labour Movement, but first Sigi reveals a Halo Halo Podcast listener request and shares that he is gunning for a Dad Award as he secured tix for him and his daughter to see Olivia Rodrigo! The convo steers towards residuals and the current state of the actor’s strike. From streamers being secretive on metrics to free-ad supported streaming tv, the discussion steers towards the residual ideology of cultures. Residual ideology are cultural beliefs and practices that were dominant at some point but are contrasting to the dominant ideology of the day. Jezzie brings up some examples of these ideologies such as gallivanting and revolutionary sprit that continue in the Filipino diaspora. He encourages us to reacquaint ourselves with our traditions.

On the first Taste Test Ep of Season Six, Jezzie raises a glass of prosecco and recounts seeing 'Here Lies Love' on Broadway while on a recent jaunt in the Big Apple. Find out more about this immersive disco experience created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim which tells the story of Imelda Marcos and her rise to power. From an interactive dance floor and club vibe, listen in on Jezzie’s experience and quiet interaction with a famous actor in attendance!

On this warm up, Sigi and Jezzie venture into "sweata weatha" and discuss their fall essentials in wardrobe, skin care and hot drinks. Go get that cozy cashmere sweaters, PSL and dive into a pile of fall leaves and let us know what your fall essentials are. See you at the apple orchard or pumpkin patch lounging in an Adirondack chaise!

On the Season Six premiere of the Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi reunite after a couple of months and recap a stellar adventure to Seafood City and Jolibee and discuss the Hollywood Labour Movement with the recent developments in the WGA Strike as of their October 2nd recording of this ep. Their discussion focuses on movies of the working class including Newsies, Norma Rae and one of Jezzie's favourites--Pride which tells the story of how a small lesbian and gay activist group supports the struggling miners of a small Welsh town in the 1980s. As the movie involves both groups discovering common humanities, Jezzie ties in finding common humanity being a Filipino in the diaspora. He urges us to find power in seeing our common culture and shared traditions rather than judging.

On the Season Five Finale Taste Test, Sigi and Jezzie break out Sans Rival and Ube  Chocolate Chip cookies to celebrate a milestone-100 full main episodes of The Halo Halo Podcast. Listen in as the co-host celebrate and marvel on their 5 year journey of creating and producing the mix of Filipino Canadian and pop culture life. From a friendship that started in 1999 to a five year creative plan conceived in August 2018, find out how their network has grown and what is on the horizon. Many thanks to our families, friends, loyal Halo Halo Podcast listeners and wonderful guests and guest co-hosts who have visited the virtual studios and joined us to elevate and celebrate others. See you in the fall for Season Six! XOXO Jezzie and Sigi

Eric Cervania, director and creator of the short film, "Return to Country" join Sigi and Jezzie in the virtual Halo Halo Podcast studios for this warmup. Eric’s film centers on a balikbayan box, so Sigi flips the scripts and poses the question, “What would you want as a pasalubong?” The crew discusses Filipino branded clothing, books and Sigi’s obsession with polvoron. And to the loyal Halo Halo listeners, if any of you are headed to the motherland anytime soon this ep is great wishlist for us, (insert coy smiles from your co-hosts and guest). To find out more about Eric and his film, follow him on Insta @returntocountryshortfilm; @epcerv and @mountlegendproductions.

On this episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi and Jezzie welcome filmmaker, Eric Cervania to the virtual studios to discuss his short film, Return to Country. In this film, a young boy connects with his Filipino heritage through a facetime call with his Lolo and discovering the joy of giving through a balikbayan box. The film premiered on July 8th and recently the cast of the film received a Best Cast nomination at the Alternative Film Festival. Eric shares his journey into filmmaking, growing up in Oakville, his love with cinema and creating this special project. To find out more about Eric and his film, follow him on Insta @returntocountryshortfilm; @epcerv and @mountlegendproductions.

On this Taste Test, Jezzie samples "Jewish Matchmaking" now streaming on Netflix. Pair this show with the drink of summer, an aperol spritz.  This reality show features a wonderful yenta, Aleeza with an interesting pedagogy and many of you hopeless romantics should binge this show “without the bloat.”

On this warm up, Catherine Sion of Katherine Kruze Couture join Sigi and Jezzie in the Halo Halo Podcast studios to talk wedding style. Listen in on the discussion which ranges from the style of the monarchy, Nantucket and memories of Filipino Weddings. To find out more about Katherine Kruze Couture, follow her on IG @therealkatherinekruze.

To kick off this month of July the Halo Halo Podcast is focussing on all things summer and what better things to talk about in the summer, but bridal fashion. The owner and creator of Katherine Kruze Couture, Catherine Sion joins us in the virtual Halo Halo Podcast studios. She shares her immigration story and her journey into designing exclusive and handmade bridal gowns. From studying architectural design, her work as a flight attendant in one of the most highly rated airlines; and returning to school to study fashion design have culminated into a business which enables her to create custom, meaningful and stylish bridal wear for her clientele.  Find more about Katherine Kruze Couture and see her beautiful apparel follow her on IG @katherinekruzecouture.  

To close off Filipino Heritage Month, this Meryenda Episode is all about Sweet Sips and Drinks. Before they dive into those drinks, Jezzie and Sigi play catch up and talk about the movies "Elemental" and "Of An Age" and Sigi shares about his Filipino catered  team building lunch at work. From some sweet desserts of ube cookies and ube macapuno cupcakes, the discussion pivots to sago at gulaman, mais con yelo and buko pandan.  Jezzie schools Sigi on these sweet sips, shares some homespun memories and proposes some modern versions of these Filipino refreshingly sweet drinks. Watch out President’s Choice, Jezzie might have some great additions to the Filipino flavoured delicacies adorning shelves at your local Loblaws.

On this Taste Test, Jezzie ventured out and sampled the 7000 Islands: Filipino Night Market. Find out why Jezzie compared this experience to longanisa—sweet and savory and evoking feelings of home comfort. From many food trucks and restaurants celebrating Filipino culinary delights, listen in as Jezzie revels in the food magic which lingered in the Scarborough night air.

On this warm up, Jezzie and Sigi are joined by Honourable Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville, Rechie Valdez. Sigi and Jezzie bring back a Question in 3 Parts and Rechie shares what it means to be Filipino, Canadian and Filipino Canadian. Loyal listeners of the Filipino diaspora, listen in and take a moment to reflect and ask those questions yourself during this June, Filipino Canadian Heritage Month.

On the latest Halo Halo Podcast episode, Jezzie and Sigi welcome the Honourable Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville, Rechie Valdez to the virtual studios. During Filipino Canadian Heritage Month, the podcast has been focussing on leadership and who better to talk about leadership, than the first Filipino woman elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada. This episode provided a great opportunity to catch up with Rechie as she had guested on the podcast in Season 3 in 2021. After a pop culture catch up on Fast X, Super Mario Brothers and Guardians of the Galaxy, the hosts get Rechie to reflect on her role as a Member of Parliament. Further they discuss her approach to leadership and her advice to fellow Filipino Canadians wanting to learn more about becoming a leader. If you want to find out more about Rechie, follow her on Instagram @rechie.valdez or email her [email protected].

Sigi goes out to his fave Filipino food truck in Ottawa–Meryenda to sample some appetizers! Listen in and find out more about these tasty FIlipino appetizers with a twist. Follow @meryenda_snack and if you are in Ottawa go check them out! You won’t be disappointed!

On this warm up episode Jenn Barcelona joins Sigi and Jezzie in The Halo Halo Podcast virtual studios. Sigi ask Jezzie and Jenn to compare and contrast on their childhood and adult perspectives on what makes them Filipino, Canadian and Filipino Canadian. From capturing the way our moms make Filipino food; having Filipino passports and passing on Filipino traditions find out more on their self reflections. 

In this month of June, Filipino Canadian Heritage Month, The Halo Halo Podcast will be elevating and celebrating some special Filipino Canadians guests. On this podcast episode we deconstruct leadership and mentorship with Jenn Barcelona joining us in our Halo Halo Podcast virtual studios! After some pop culture catch up on Maisel, Survivor Season 43 and a very bloody John Wick Chapter 4, Jezzie, Sigi and Jen discuss their commonalities and experiences with student affairs. Further, they explore the importance of mentorship; its importance for Filipino Canadian students and theories of leadership. Find out more and listen in and learn more about lateral mentorship and that we should “pass on the wealth!”

To wrap up the Halo Halo Podcast’s Fashion themed eps in May, we have a special double drop of 2 Taste Test episodes! On this second ep, Jezzie samples Vogue Philippines! Courtesy of Sigi’s Tita Carmen, Jezzie’s copy came directly from the Philippines and proved to be as decadent as a dark chocolate truffle. Find out more as Jezzie takes you through the pages from the latest from Condé Nast and One Mega Group.

To wrap up the Halo Halo Podcast’s Fashion themed eps in May, we have a special double drop of 2 Taste Test episodes! On this ep Jezzie samples Next in Fashion now streaming on Netflix! Find out why Jezzie likened this show to a bag of Skittles. Listen in and taste the rainbow!

Jezzie and Sigi are joined by Gelaine Santiago, CEO and co-founder of Cambio & Co and Sinta & Co in The Halo Halo Podcast virtual studios. For this warm up Sigi asks the questions, who were your style icons as a teen, now and who is a stylish Filipino? Join in the convo as their discussion ranges from preppy style, questionable A&F/Hollister brands, Clueless, classic style from Sigi’s Lolo and Gelaine admiring some Gen Z colleagues’ effortless style.

On this episode of The Halo Halo Podcast we are pleased to have Gelaine Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Cambio & Co. join our co-hosts in the virtual studios. Gelaine shares her journey from the province of Bulacan in the Philippines to Canada. Along the way she and the co-hosts revisit reinventing themselves in university and socializing with their peers at Guelph and Western. Gelaine shares that it was that fateful trip to the Philippines in 2012, (where she had some amazing lechon) and a reconnection with her roots where the idea of Cambio & Co. first came to her and her husband, (Cambio’s Co-founder.) This Filipino jewelry company provides sustainable livelihood for artisans in the Philippines and empowers Filipinos in the diaspora to #wearyourheritage. In 2019, Gelaine launched Sinta & Co, a Filipino wedding boutique to help couples celebrate their heritage on their wedding and milestone events. And now, you can book an appointment to visit  Bahay Cambio, their Filipino jewelry and wedding showroom in Toronto.  Download this episode and listen to hear more of this candid conversation! And hey what are you waiting for, go to www.shopcambio.co and check it out!  And on Instagram follow @cambio_co, @sinta_co, and @gelainesantiago.

On this warm up Sigi grants Jezzie’s wish and asks what would be his dream theme for the Met Gala 2024. From the Future of Filipinana and Madge being a co-chair, tune in as the co-host do their Met Gala Dream Draft.

For the month of May, The Halo Halo Podcast’s theme is fashion! So it is perfect to start off with fashion’s biggest night—The Met Gala. The first Monday of May has been one of Jezzie’s favourite time of the year and the co-hosts recap some of the lewks of the 2023 Met Gala which was “In Honour of Karl Lagerfeld.” Before they dive in, Sigi and Jezzie discuss the rom com action movie "Ghosted" and explore Chris Evans appeal and Sigi’s crush on Ana DeArmas in "No Time to Die." After the Met Gala hot takes on lewks served by Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Lil Nas X, Nicole Kidman and a debate on the homage to Choupette, Jezzie talks luxury, extravagant living and being a little extra.

On this Taste Test Episode , Raie joins Sigi in the Halo Halo Podcast Studios as Jezzie is on location. They go into the vault and provide counterpoint to the previous Taste Test of "Friday Night Lights", they (re)sample "Varsity Blues." Find out why they would pair this movie with a reheated tuna melt and Popeye’s cigar–er, candy sticks. Join in as they venture to West Cannan Texas, where the Mox (Dawson from the Creek) a second string quarterback with dreams of going to Brown leads his team on the football field and goes head to head against the head coach, Bud Kilmer, (played by Angelina Jolie’s daddy.) So put on "My Hero" by the Foo Fighters, throw on your best Texas drawl and listen in!

On this Warm Up, Jezzie and Sigi talk about sports they followed when growing up. Not only do the hosts give you a primer on cable and descramblers in the 80’s, Jezzie talks about how he discovered rowing at university and Sigi talks about playing tennis as a kid and loving Michael Chang.

Jezzie and Sigi discuss the docuseries "All or Nothing-Toronto Maple Leafs". They both get wrapped up on how the series documents the Maple Leafs and their journey into the playoffs in 2021 amid the pandemic. Jezzie highlights the arcs of this show and Sigi discovers that this could serve as a primer on understanding the NHL from a team perspective. Later, Jezzie touches on how endurance when paired with a positive mindset and the ability to embrace failure becomes stamina. From there, if you add passion, it becomes grit and allows you to continue going on without ever giving up, despite not achieving what you’ve set out to do (kinda like the Toronto Maple Leafs). Jezzie make a wonderful comparison to the Philippines’ national animal and leaves us with an appropriate fixing of the week, “Have HOPE. (Hang On, Pain Ends)".

Clear eyes, Full hearts, Can't Lose!  On this taste test episode and in honour of April being devoted to sports and spring training, Jezzie is joined by guest co-host, Marie-Beath, as they both savour (like chicken pot pie) the comforting and rich storytelling of "Friday Night Lights".   Listen in as both talk about how this series is not only authentic and intimate in its dramatization of rural life and football in West Texas, but also surprising in its ability to critique social issues while making us leave room in our hearts for all the endearing characters we meet on "Friday Night Lights".

On this warm up Jezzie and Sigi talk about their fave Sport Flicks. Find out who is a Kirsten Dunst fan and Jez goes for a deep cut and gives props to the Muscles From Brussels. Join in and let us know what your fave sports flicks are!

On the episiode of The Halo Halo Podcast, your hosts welcome spring with some sports influenced themes and kick off the month with a deep dive on "Ted Lasso" and Mental Health in Sports. But first, their pop culture catch up finds Sigi talking about "Hot Ones" and the Gwyneth trial while Jezzie consumes the latest RuPaul Drag Race and the doc "Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey". Next, they jump into Ted Lasso’s shoes and his journey into the Premier League.This relentless optimistic coach at the centre of the story encourages his team to be about the sport not the game. Sigi and Jez take turns citing their fave characters, arcs and episodes of the Emmy and Golden Globe winning show, now streaming its 3rd Season on Apple TV.  Later Jezzie discusses how sports is a frontier space for mental health to be challenged by prejudice because it inherently values competition over excellence. The co-host leave you with two fixings of the week, “Do your best and forget the rest” and the Ted Lasso classic “Believe”

On this Mereyenda Episode of The Halo Halo Podcast Sigi and Jezzie examine sweet spaghetti. But first, your co-host play pop culture catch up. Sigi discusses Jen Sookfong Lee’s book "Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart" and Marvel’s "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur". Jezzie dives back into the Star Wars Universe via "Bad Batch" and "The Mandalorian" while also enjoying Jon Stewart’s "The Problem." Later the hosts discuss how symbolically, Filipino spaghetti represents an intersection of American imperialism, Filipino creativity and ingenuity, and ideas of Filipino inclusion and accommodation. So get out some pasta, banana ketchup, hot dogs and dig into this episode!

In rounding out this month's focus on the podcast with crime and punishment, Jezzie finally gets to share his taste test of the cloak-and-dagger series, "Star Wars--Andor".  Find out why Jezzie likens this gritty series to Memphis-style, dry-rub ribs, and how this series breaks the mould for the Star Wars franchise.

On this warm up, Sigi revisits the "Family Feud" with Jezzie. They must choose winners when several famous families/teams are pitted against each other. Can The "Schitt’s Creek" crew handle the "Modern Family"? Jezzie must also make the Sophie’s Choice decision between the "Supernatural" versus "Charmed" cast! Find out who you will think will win the feud!

On this new episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi dive into Rian Johnson’s tv series "Poker Face" and Filipino Family Feuds. But first, Sigi gets cathartic and talks Oscars, "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and his beef with a joke he should have trademarked before Hugh Grant used it. As Jezzie sorts through Sigi’s deluge of emotion he briefs us on his love of "Wednesday" and "The Last of Us". After that meaty catch up, they delve into "Poker Face" and how its Columbo/Quantum Leap-inspired style mystery detective dramedy leads viewers to follow Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) sleuthing her way out of jeopardy while on the run from a crime boss, Sterling Sr (Ron Perlman) and his henchman Cliff (Benjamin Bratt). Later, Jezzie notes how one of the overarching themes of power struggle can be seen in Filipino culture through family feuds. He discusses how Filipino pop culture alludes to family feuds in their teleseryes and movies and how “ridos” or persistent feuds exist in some parts of the Philippines. He also examines reasons for family feuds and often when in a feud, to a moment to contemplate and meditate on who the actual villain is in the feud–its probably not the person you’re directly fighting.

On this Taste Test episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi and Jez finally peel back the layers of the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Jez pulls off a master class in food analogy referencing the movie as a visit to a Korean BBQ restaurant while Sigi sheepishly likens his movie viewing experience as going to a guilty pleasure of food chain with his wife on date night. Listen in as they dish about the allure of not only this mystery caper in an exotic locale amid the pandemic, but the character of Benoit Blanc who is the mystery solver. From cameos, clothes and a stellar cast of disruptors, join in as they revel in a world created by Rian Johnson.

On this warm up, Jezzie and Sigi are joined by Christine Abrigana of Lagim: A Filipino True Crime Podcast to assemble their own versions of a Scooby gang to solve mysteries. Find out who Sigi poaches from the Mission Impossible and Charlie’s Angels crews. Find out who Christine recruits for her squad and why we all need to get on board with shipping her and Dave Bautista. And find out who from the Star Wars franchise Jez wants to join his mystery team.

To kick off Crime and Punishment theme for this March on The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi and Jezzie welcome special guest, Christine Abrigana, the creator and host of Lagim: A Filipino True Crime Podcast. Joining the hosts virtually  from Greece, Christine dives into the podcast to talk about her immigration story; growing up in Davao City; where she is locating herself at the moment and Miss Universe pageants. Later, Christine shares with us how her podcast began in December 2020 and features cases involving Filipinos in the motherland and the diaspora. You can find Lagim: A Filipino True Crime Podcast on all podcast platforms and you can follow Christine on Instagram @lagimpodcast.

To end off our Social Justice episodes this February, Jezzie and Sigi revisit Community Care. They both acknowledge that taking action through social justice work can be tiring and note the  importance to take care of ourselves and others.  One way of taking action can be about providing community care, in any way we know how.  At the end of the day, community care is about infusing this world with more compassion.

On this revisiting of social justice topics for the month of February, your co-hosts make even more room for anger and decide to linger on this topic further.  As they linger on this topic of anger, Sigi and Jezzie are reminded of how anger reveals the true source of injustice that marginalized communities face and decide to recall Episode 309 - Righteous Anger & Indignation, where we are reminded that anger is really a call to help others instead of shaming those that have faced oppression.

Your co-hosts continue to revisit previous episodes of their Social Justice Collections for this month of February. In this episode revisit, they return to Episode 216.5 - "Making Room for Anger," where they discuss how anger naturally comes after communities mourn a tragedy.  Sigi and Jezzie discuss the importance of needing to make room for that anger and being prepared for it.  They speak of how being able to make room for other people's anger is an important way to be in solidarity with those who have experienced injustices and oppression.  

The Halo Halo Podcast brings back its Social Justice centered episodes for this month of February. The co-hosts revisit Episode 312.625 "Empowerment through Solidarity and Mourning" in light of the community feelings that emerged from the Lunar New Year Shooting in Monterey Park California. In this episode revisit, they discuss the overwhelming range of emotions that were encountered in the Asian Community, and how mourning with others can lead to solidarity and healing.

In time for Jezzie and Sigi's last foray in the pop culture vault this year, and on the heals of Madonna's recent announcement of the "Celebration Tour" covering 40 years of chart-topping music, Jezzie does a taste test of Madonna's latest remix album and retrospective of her 50 number one dance hits on Billboard's Dance Music Charts.  Find out what premium cocktail this reminds Jezzie of, and how he may host a thundering Madonnathon in the very near future!

We grew up with some music icons, can you equate?

On the episode of The Halo Halo Podcast,  Jezzie and Sigi begin with a catch up and talk "Velma", The Golden Globes and Elevated Super Bowl parties. They go into the pop culture vault and talk about the music they were into when they were 33. They also reference a new study which was based mainly on data from U.S. Spotify users, concludes that age 33 is when, on average, people stop discovering new music. Later Jezzie gives all of us a 'nosebleed' while he discuss what it means to be modern, and what does it mean to be a modern Filipino.

On this Taste Test of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi go into the pop culture vault in 1993 and sampled "The Joy Luck Club" Find out why the co-hosts would pair this movie with king crab and ginisang ampalaya at hipon. Listen in as they discuss the relationships of these Chinese immigrant mothers and their first generation daughters in San Francisco. As Jezzie likened ginisang ampalaya, this movie is a “bittersweet story of sacrifice but filled with sweet-smelling hope for the next generation to come.”

The Halo Halo Podcast ventures back to the vault and dream casts their Sitcom Family of their dreams! Find out who would want Tony Micelli as their dad; The Americans as their next door neighbour and Moira Rose as their matriarch. Listen in and find out who would star in That’s So Sigi and The Untitled Jezzie Project.

On this all new episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi go back to the pop culture vault and talk about 80’s Family Sitcoms. Before they dive in, Sigi finds out about Jezzie’s past birthday adventure in Las Vegas and Jezzie elaborates on “5 Dinners for 5 Decades”. As the co-hosts revel in Alex P Keaton’s Reagan obsession; serious reasons to never hitchhike and the cool things in an 80s mansion of Silver Spoons, they delve into the emphasis of family in the Filipino culture. Jezzie also talks about the legitimacy of families of choice and leaves us with a fixing to, “Honor each other choices on who we choose to be part of our families.”

On the Meryenda Episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi talk about a classic Christmas Noche Buena Filipino Dessert, the Fruit Salad. Find out how how each of the hosts feel about this dessert and how timing is of the essence on its consumption. Analogies run amok as Jezzie and Sigi create their virtual fruit salad of pop culture and their podcast for 2022. From all of us, have a wonderful holiday and see you all in 2023!

On this Taste Test Epsiode Jezzie samples the movie he has on repeat, "Spirited," now streaming on Apple TV. This tale is a post-modern, post-truth retelling of Dickens “A Christmas Carol” where Clint, an unredeemable media consultant played by Ryan Reynolds, meets Will Farrell’s Ghost of Christmas Present and the entire Industrial Haunting Crew. Find out why Jezzie would pair this treat of a movie to a delicious peppermint candy cane crinkle cookie and why you should jump on the bandwagon and root for Will Ferrel to create a Christmas Movie Trifecta.

On this warm up of the Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi and Jezzie revisit their quick hot takes on their favourite Holiday cocktails, Starbuck order, holiday song, dessert and movie. Find out what Christmas Album is on constant repeat at Sigi’s house and what Christmas movie Jezzie is obsessed about!

On this festive episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, our co-hosts get into the holiday and birthday spirit!  In a bit of a throwback to season 2, Episode 205, “The Spirit of Hallmark Christmas Movies” Sigi and Jezzie discussed how the Hallmark Channel created the Industrial Christmas Rom Com Complex–started in 2009 with their “Countdown to Christmas”. This year, the co-hosts focus on Netflix’s take on the Christmas Rom Com. From Lilo’s latest comeback in "Falling for Christmas" and "Single All the Way", Sigi and Jezzie talk small town holiday traditions, Jingle Bell Rock and the Netflix Cinematic Universe. Later the discussion shifts from the twists and spins that Netflix puts on holiday movies, to the twists the Filipinos put on festive occasions and life. The Filipino twist isn’t about being extra, it’s about having a contagious zest for life.This holiday season, The Halo Halo Podcasts encourages our listeners to immerse yourself in the joy of the season by letting yourself get caught up in the zest of the Christmas Spirit!

On this Taste Test Episode Sigi samples "Wakanda Forever." Find out why he likens the sequel to a visit to the decadent steakhouse Smith and Wollensky. Beware listeners this episode is filled with SPOILERS. So, get your tickets to watch "Wakanda Forever" in theaters, then download and listen to this taste test!\\ Listen in as Sigi takes Jezzie through the long awaited movie by Ryan Coogler with returning cast members including Angela Basset (Queen Ramonda), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita N’yongo (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Martin Freeman (Everett Ross)  and new cast members Dominique Thorne (Riri), Tenoch Huerta Mejia (Namor)  and Michaela Coel (Aneka). The country of Wakanda collectively wades through their grief as they mourn the unexpected passing of their leader, T’challa. Meanwhile the search for vibranium leads to the discovery of an underwater civilization called Talokan, led by their leader Namor. Armed with charged fight scenes,  great cameos, a beautiful homage to the late Chadwick Boseman/T’Challa and a tearful mid credits scene, "Wakanda Forever" is the definite must-see movie for MCU Phase 4.

On this warm up called Phased In,  Jezzie and Sigi cite their highs and lows in the phases of the MCU. Join in and find out why for Phase 3 both the co-hosts struggled with their own versions of Sophie’s Choice in the Marvel Universe!

On this new episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi talk about Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Multiple Truths. Jezzie likens the previous phases to his own personal journey into social justice and Sigi explores the parallels in his journey with Jezzie on this creative venture. Phase 4 and the Multiverse Saga bring to mind for Jezzie this idea that there is a multiplicity of truths, multiple expressions of the same concept/person, and multiple universes/possibilities that can co-exist. Further, he shares that Filipinos in the diaspora are not monolithic and that depending where you are in the diaspora, you can express and emphasize parts of our cultural makeup more than in other regions. The fixing of the week encourages us to accept the notion that all perspectives can be true.

On this Taste Test, Sigi takes a big sample of "She-Hulk" now streaming on Disney+. Find out why he would pair this show with an elusive candy bar he received in 2017 from his Uncle Danny. Listen in as he revels in the legal comedy that managed to break fourth walls; host a ton of cameos; have some key supporting roles by some Filipinos (Ginger Gonzaga and Trevor Salter); showcase the amazing show runner Jessica Gao and introduces us to the best duo in MCU— Wongers and Madisynn.

On this warm up, Sigi and Jezzie are joined by Allan Matudio, author of the graphic novel "Kasama". They discuss the first comics they purchased and consumed as young kids. Find out which co-host got very confused about Archie comics. Also, Sigi asks Allan for some recommended reading for our listeners! To learn more about Allan and get your copy of Kasama, go to www.allanmatudio.com and follow him on @allanmatudio

On this episode, Jezzie and Sigi welcomes Allan Matudio into the virtual Halo Halo Podcast studios to discuss his graphic novel, "Kasama". Allan shares that his research on the pre-colonial Filipino aesthetic led  to volunteering in his local community. He had learned a lot from his own kasama in Montreal and it brought an urge to share what he had learned with a greater audience. As an illustrator and writer, Allan thought the best medium for sharing is through the comic book format. Sigi and Jezzie explore with Allan, the themes that Kasama touches on and discuss his inspirations in creating this graphic novel. To learn more about Allan and order a copy of "Kasama", visit www.allanmatudio.com and follow him on @allanmatudio.

On the season five premiere, Sigi and Jezzie have a livestreamed talkback session with the writer(Marie Beath Badian) and director (Niña Lee Aquino) of Factory Theatre's production of "The Waltz".  On this live recording, with an in-studio audience, Sigi and Jezzie discuss stepping into the Prarieverse and discuss how "The Waltz," a coming-of-age love story under the Saskatchewan Sky, is a love letter.  Later, listen in as Sigi, Jezzie, Marie Beath and Niña, reminisce about their favourite rom coms and what they loved most about the 90s.  Factory Theatre's Toronto production of "The Waltz" runs until November 13, 2022.  Buy your tickets now!

For this Meryenda Episode, your co-hosts talk calamansi cocktails and close off Season 4 of The Halo Halo Podcast. Sigi and Jezzie take a look back at Season 4 on memorable topics, funniest discussions and  the plethora of guests who graced them with their presence for 2021-2022. Big thank you to all of you listening, elevating and celebrating. Over 19 000 downloads and counting, cannot wait to come back for Season 5 Fall 2022!

On this last Taste Test of Season four, Jezzie samples "Trixie Motel". Find out why Jezzie compares this show to authentic Greek food and how Trixie Mattel and her crew finds ways to integrate themselves into the community of Palm Springs. If you are a die hard Trixie Mattel fan or anyone who would want to venture to Palm Springs, this show may be up your alley.

With Sigi away on location, guest co-host, Chelle, helps out Kuya on this warmup.  With the Halo Halo Podcast focusing the month of July on travel, Kuya quizzes Chelle on their most favourable places they've travelled. Find out who can't get enough of southern California and why El Nido is reminiscent of the French Riviera.  This and just a bit more on this final warmup episode of Season four.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 [email protected] This Territorial Acknowledgement (read at the beginning of the podcast)and resources were created by Concordia University’s Indigenous Directions Leadership Group (2017).

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.

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?

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.

This Taste Test episode on the news media outlet Rappler wraps up Halo Halo Podcast’s focus on Sex and Politics this May. Find out why Jezzie would pair this website with a light roasted, caffeinated but bold tasting coffee with two pumps of thin white chocolate with two equal parts in lactose-free cream. This reliable and truth seeking news source is groundbreaking for its role as being a watchdog for the Philippine government the past few years. Rappler’s fearless reporting delivered to their readers is truly testament in this age of disinformation, where it is truly important to get the right information that you can trust.

On this warm up, Sigi encourages Jezzie to make choices on sets of people to lead him into battle. From fighting the creatures at "Jurassic Park" to navigating the galaxies, Jezzie is up to the challenge! Listen in as he provides such deep insight on this fun warm up—we guarantee that you will be Team Elmo and Team Star Wars in no time!

On this episode of The Halo Halo Podcast Jezzie and Sigi start off with a mini Taste Taste of the show "Heartstopper" based on the graphic novel by Alice Osman currently streaming on Netflix. From a heartstopping series about coming of age, to a heartstopping election, the hosts shift to focus today’s episode topic, the recent Philippines Elections and its results. After discussing their initial reactions and thoughts, Jezzie poses the question: what does this Election for the Philippines mean for Filipinos and Filipinx/a/os in the Diaspora? After a discussion on facing the truth from the past, the hosts leave you with the cultural fixing of encouraging our listeners to find the blessing in the aftermath.

On this Taste Test Episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie samples the documentary White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie and Fitch currently streaming on Netflix. Like pickled sushi ginger, this eye opening doc was a palate cleanser. The trendy sportswear line was the unofficial brand of “the all American” collegiate preppy in the late 90s and early aughts. The fallen CEO Mike Jeffries had created a brand which perfected selling sex and popularity to young adults in high school and college with the A&F black and white images of shirtless models (courtesy of photographer, Bruce Weber.) The documentary outlines the various scandals of racist graphic tees (‘Two Wongs Can Make It White’); hiring practices/standards for beauty; mistreating employees of colour leading to lawsuits and the questionable predatory nature of Bruce Weber. Take a trip back to the late 90s/early aughts, put on LFO and put the episode of the OC on pause and listen in on this revealing doc!

On this Warm Up,  Sigi guides Jezzie through a series of “Celebrity Sexy Choices”. Play along and face the barrage of sexy choices. Can you make those crucial decisions when your choices can include:  Paul Rudd or Mark Ruffalo; Zendaya or Camilla Cabello and Beyonce or Lizzo?

This month of May, the Halo Halo Podcast devoted its episodes to Sex and Politics. On this week’s episode we discuss the Twitter Alterverse and Sexuality in the Philippines. The Alterverse is a digital space on twitter where participants can flirt with one another, be sexually suggestive or sexually explicit with one another, while hiding key parts of their identities. This enables participants to partake in the community as a way of not risking their true identities, reputations and harm to themselves or families. Jezzie and Sigi discuss what makes the Alterverse unique from other social media platforms/apps and how it is a gateway to other forms of communication and interaction. Later, Jezzie discusses how the existence of (and in some ways the need for) such a community makes a commentary about the Philippines and what sexuality is all about in the Philippines.

On this Meryenda Episode of the Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi focus on SALABAT, the traditional Filipino tea made with fresh ginger. Sigi has it coursing through his veins after recuperating for a cold and gives us a little ASMR during this episode. Your hosts chat about the many remedies that salabat provides and their own connections to this Pinoy beverage. Need to fix that throat? Need to recharge your vocal chords during Holy Week? Have an upset stomach? A warm cup of this herbal remedy may be you staple go to!

On this Taste Test, Jezzie samples "Topline" currently streaming on CBC Gem! Topline tells the story of Tala/Illisha who gets discovered by a production team, after releasing a social media sensation of her song “Cotton Candy.”  Tala joins to eventually find her own song along the way. Creator Romeo Candido not only tells the story of a Filipino Canadian in our diaspora, but lets the viewer in how a person navigates two worlds (R&B/Music/EDM, and Filipino responsibility/expectations) while exhibiting his amazing ability to create a great hook. We highly recommend all of you to hear and watch a Filipino story revolving around finding your voice, coming of age, grief and the importance of family.

This is not a Taste Test, this is a quick discussion. No Way Home came out in late 2021. We were still in pandemic--some boosted, some not. Yes the spoiler was that the multiverse cracked open, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire came back to Spiderman. Praise be to Sony and Marvel and contract, but your co-hosts focus on the scene in the movie where it occurred–AT NED’S LOLA’S HOUSE–on this shallow dive warmup!

On this episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi and Jezzie put the spotlight on the actor, singer, songwriter, and now Grammy winning–Olivia Rodrigo. Last year on January 8th, she dropped one of the most listened to songs of 2021–"Drivers Licence." Your co-hosts talk about her career from being a Disney actor on "Bizaardvark" and "High School The Musical: The Series" to her debut album SOUR. Later, your co-hosts talk about the preservation of Filipino culture in mixed children. Jezzie shares that preserving our culture is not about necessarily all about maintaining past practices and traditions. It is about being able to take the values, qualities and traditions of our heritage and allowing it to evolve.  And still later, your co-hosts go on to discuss how for mixed children, their culture and heritage is often questioned, and their identities authenticated by others. Jezzie highlights that we should instead empower children to claim their Filipino/a/x identities for themselves, and any other identities with which they identify.

On this Taste Test of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi samples "Turning Red" now streaming on Disney+. Domee Shi’s Toronto based  movie tells the tale of 13 year old Mei Lin, an overachieving 8th grader who is trying to balance her interests in boy bands and anime; maintaining her relationship with her parents by doing them proud and calming her new found inner, or rather outer panda. This coming of age story tackles not only the physical changes, but the emotional changes that a first generation immigrant teenager experiences.  Grab a box of Pocky Sticks, feed that Tamagotchi, and pop and lock to the tunes of 4-Town in this funny and touching romp.

On this Halo Halo Podcast warm up Jezzie and Sigi play a game of “Show Me that You Live in a Filipino Household without telling me you live in a Filipino household.” So listeners, get out the walis and tsinelas and tell/show us that you live in a Filipino household and play along. Sige na! 

On this episode of The Halo Halo Podcast,  Jezzie and Sigi feature the movie "The Fabulous Filipino Brothers", directed by Dante Basco and written by Dante and his brothers and sister. This comedy focuses on a Filipino American family in Southern California gathering for a family wedding. The movie highlights snippets of everyday Filipino life like silog in the morning; a loud boisterous multigenerational home; vicks vapo serving as a solution in a pinch and a sumptious wedding food spread. The four linked vignettes put a spotlight on each brother: Dayo, Duke, David and Danny Boy leading up to the wedding. From SoCal to the streets of Manila, this ambitious movie lets you step into this family united by their love for their culture and each other.   Later, Jezzie and Sigi shift their discussion onto Filipino formal wear seen at traditional Filipino weddings–the Barong Tagalog. They discuss the origin and significance of this piece of formal wear and retell stories of wearing the barong for special occasions. Jezzie reminds us wearing a Barong Tagalog is not only about having and wearing your pride in your culture, it’s also a dedication to the survival of our culture–a message that’s echoed in the Abasta matriarch in “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers.” Filipino culture outside of the Philippines is indeed alive and well, what can you do to continue this dedication?

On this Taste Test, Jezzie keeps with this month’s theme of Crime and Punishment and samples "Lagim: A Filipino True Crime Podcast". Find out why Jezzie devoured this heaping helping of diniguan in listening to this well-written, well-thought through, pensive and yet critical podcast. 

On this Warm Up, Jezzie and Sigi stroll down pop culture memory lane and discuss "Unsolved Mysteries", "America’s Most Wanted" and some crime procedural shows. Most importantly the hosts highlight their fave whodunit from the 80s–CLUE!

To continue with the theme of Crime and Punishment for this month of March, The Halo Halo Podcast focuses on the newest novel from Mia P Manansala, Homicide and Halo Halo. Jezzie and Sigi recount this novel, the second in the series of cozy mysteries written by a Fil-Am author. This frothy whodunit is set in the sleepy town of Shady Palms, and is filled with Filipino culture and tantalizing descriptors of Filipino Food for a dash of a good measure. Influenced by the lead character Lila, your co-hosts  later delve into a discussion on favoured Filipino narratives and the appeal of rooting for the underdog.

On this Taste Test, Sigi and Jezzie sample the limited series- "The Unusual Suspects" currently streaming on HBO Max/Crave. Find out why these two would pair this scrumptious viewing with decadent desserts including 13 layer chocolate cake and red velvet ube cupcake. This miniseries set in Eastern Sydney focuses on the burglary of a multi-million dollar necklace with several suspects connected in this comedy-drama caper. Find out how six women including a lifestyle brandmaker; three Filipino domestic workers, spa owner and a retired lawyer are linked in this jewel heist as they each try to find a way out of their respective money issues and life crumbling predicaments. Who ends up being the mastermind behind the shady deals and escaping with the goods?

On this warm up Jezzie and Sigi talk about Doing Time from getting grounded, detention in school and getting tickets for speeding and traffic violations. Find out who got caught speeding to Western and who’s French teacher had a box placed on her head.

The Halo Halo Podcast will be releasing their Crime and Punishment episodes for the Month of March. On this episode Jezzie and Sigi puts a spotlight on Emmy award winning director Michele Josue’s five part documentary "Happy Jail" currently streaming on Netflix. The doc focuses on the Cebu Prison Detention and Rehabilitation Centre (CPDRC) which became an international sensation when its dancing inmates uploaded their choreographed performance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on YouTube in 2008. The series digs a little deeper and tells the tale from various points of view from inmates, prison guards, the prison consultant, Marco Toral–giving voices to those who want to tell their stories that are often ignored and silenced. Later Jezzie does a deep dive in generally understanding of the criminal justice system in the Philippines and its views on offender rehabilitation. He reminds us for the fixing of the week hat appeasing others or overly accommodating is not the path to rehabilitation.  

On this final part of our four-part collection on Social Justice, Sigi and Jezzie unpack how organizing, where you add your voice and presence to others who have common cause with you, is a form of community care that results in political action.  Jezzie runs through, in this compact episode, various ways of how you can lend your voice to a collective choir and create change.  From voting in an election to sharing and retweeting credible and reliable information about important social justice issues (e.g., ON Canada Project Blog), Sigi and Jezzie urge you to find a cause that matters to you and the community that you've chosen to support, and then to add your voice and presence to that cause.

In this third part of this year's Halo-Halo Podcast's Four-part Collection on Social Justice, your co-hosts continue their meditation on community care, and discuss how calling out and then calling in can be a more interventionist approach to taking care of communities in need.  Listen in on how Sigi asks Jezzie to outline and define what calling out and calling in entails, and the differences between these two ways of intervening on biased and oppressive comments.  Later, Jezzie outlines how oppressive comments can take the form of microaggressions, microinsults, microassaults and microinvalidations.  Despite the tension that calling in and calling out can make, Jezzie reminds us that it may be okay to irritate.   In the Mix: Calling In Vs. Calling: How to Talk about Inclusion

In this second part of this year's Halo-Halo Podcast's Four-part Collection on Social Justice, your co-hosts explore how ethical consumerism, brand activism and buycotting are daily, informed ways of taking care of communities that you support or champion.  Jezzie recounts the history of how buycotting has been a form of political action since the 1990s and how today these daily buying choices can add up to make a difference in supporting and caring for communities in need.  Later, Sigi brings us up to speed on Filipina/x/o businesses and enterprises where our patronage can show them that we care.  As we mention in this episode Halo Halo Listeners, check out the following Instagram accounts: For The Groggy Owl: @thegroggyowl, @sarah.dizonsowinski For Entrepinayship: @entrepinayship, @foundher.podcast For Filipinos of Montreal: @filipinosofmontreal, @sharimramos, @terrie.reyes, @feliciano_je  Check out their post on #supportyourfriends2022

Every February at the Halo Halo Podcast we devote our episodes to Social Justice.  To kick off this year's four-part collection, we build on last year's concepts of self-care by Jezzie outlining how we all need to practice some community care before we can expect ourselves or others to engage in proper self-care.  Later your co-hosts talk about how community care is not a new notion to the Filipino community.  Rather, community care is really just bayanihan and that perhaps maybe North America and Westernized nations could learn from Filipinos on how to substantively engage in taking care of one another.

Khristia continues to guest as co-host as she spells off Sigi while away on assignment, and helps lead her Kuya Jezzie through his taste test of the "Tender Bar".  As Jezzie savours this Amazon Studio offering, listen in on how he likens this movie to a trip down memory lane with a cross-border chocolate candy haul to boot!  Like a Nestle Crunch, the "Tender Bar" has sweet moments of childhood along with crisp lessons about life, love and becoming confident in your career. Enjoy!

As Sigi is on assignment for the remainder of this month, Khristia continues to take over as co-host and warmups with her Kuya Jezzie to take on this truancy warmup for the Halo Halo Podcast.   Find out from these two unassuming hosts which one impersonated an adult to get a fellow sibling to skip school, and who, like Ferris Bueller on his day off, joined a parade.  Find out these facts and much more on this episode! 

On this visit back to the pop culture vault, the Halo Halo Podcast visit 80s Teenage Delinquency films with educator and special guest co-host Khristia (while Sigi is away on assignment) alongside your very own Jezzie.  Listen in on how your co-hosts for this episode are rule-based learners, and are ironically poised to discuss two of John Hughes' films all-time classics, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Breakfast Club."  Listen in on how they learned from these films to be mindful as well as to be kind to others, because you never know what others might be facing in the background!  Later, they talk about the value of taking the scenic route for your career and education, how you're never too old to keep on learning, and that the its the direction that counts, and not the destination!  Bueller? Sigi? Buller? Sigi?    

On this week’s Halo Halo Taste Test Episode—Jezzie and Sigi sample "Emily in Paris" Season 2, now streaming on Netflix. Find out why your co-hosts would pair this show with Filipino fruit salad and a Jack Astor’s milkshake. If you want to escape to see a show with a gorgeous colour palette of fashion, to hear amazing music from Mean Girls Broadway star—Ashley Park or to crush on some beautiful French actors and actresses--this is the show for you! Play 'Mon Soleil' and listen in!

On this 'On Trend' Warm Up Jezzie and Sigi recounts some trends they followed from their teens. Jezzie shares a poignant and touching story about his father and trying to attain a personal career goal. Sigi taps into his 13 year old self and revels in his Lola making a special purchase for him when he played tennis. Put on that Ralph Lauren polo, Tretorns and let’s search for a posh tennis club in the late 80’s!

The Co-Hosts of the Halo Halo Podcast start 2022 by going back to the vault for the month of January. Jezzie and Sigi revisit 90s Supermodels.  So play some Freedom 90, take out those Herb Ritts inspired photos and you better work! After some gushing over Cindy, Linda, Christy and Naomi, the co-hosts talk about some Filipino fashion designers that catch their eye—Cara Sumabat, Mark Tumang, Francis Librian and Zaldy. Each designer manages to add their own Pinoy Touch and our fixing of the week encourages that whatever you create, ask yourself how can you add you own Pinoy Touch?

On this Mereyenda Episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie quenches his palette and talks about San Miguel—the iconic and number one selling beer in the Philippines. Along with Sigi, the co-hosts toast pop culture highlights as the close out 2021. Happy New Year and Maligayang Bagong Taon from The Halo Halo Podcast! Here’s to many more episodes coming in 2022!

This Wednesday brings in a festive Halo Halo Podcast Taste Test Episode! Aligned to our past two musical full episode and warm up, Jezzie samples Darren Criss’ 'A Very Crissmas Album'. Get a venti Starbucks Sugar Cookie Oat latte while Jezzie dives into this album’s holiday appeal. With some Yuletide classics and some collabs with Adam Lambert, Evan Rachel Wood and Lainey Wilson, Jezzie encourages us to add this album to your holiday playlists while you make Christmas cookies and giftwrap.

On this week’s Warm Up, special guest Armand Aromin (www.thevoxhunters.com; www.thevoxhunters.bandcamp.com and www.arominviolins.com) join Sigi and Jezzie in the virtual studios  as they name their top three favourite Christmas songs! Listen in as you will find the Christmas staples get this trio into holiday spirit! Halo Halo Listers tell us what Christmas songs tops your holiday playlist!

On this special, extra-sized festive episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi welcome back Armand Aromin in the virtual studios. They talk about the musical "Come From Away" (currently streaming on Apple TV), Armand’s music and craftsmanship and the undeniable FilipinX ability to make things our own. Loyal listeners–get in the holiday spirit and put in those airpods as Armand and his partner Ben showcase a wonderful musical segment consisting of two arrangements of O Ilaw and Subli/Diwa Ng Pasko. Learn more about their band The Voxhunters (www.thevoxhunters.com and www.thevoxhunters.bandcamp.com) and more about Armand and his luthiery (www.arominviolins.com).  Enjoy and Maligayang Pasko from the Halo Halo Podcast!

To complete The Halo Halo Podcast trifecta of Bond-centric episodes, Jezzie and Sigi samples "No Time To Die" on this Taste Test. Have a gin and tonic or Moscati D’Asti as the co-hosts toast Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007. Take in the stylish landscapes in Italy and a 70’s villain lair! Get a peek into Q’s life. And join Sigi’s quest to see if Rami Malek blinks during this flick!

On this Spycast Warm Up, Jezzie and Sigi discuss possible successors to Daniel Craig. They even delve into comedic, Asian and female heir apparents to this stylish franchise. Listen in and weigh in on their choices for the future of Bond and possible recording artist adding to the soundtrack!

What better way to kick off the holiday season but with a bit of intrigue, a dash of style, and a stirred martini.  On this deep dive, Sigi and Jezzie get to the bottom of why they love the James Bond franchise and when this love affair began.  They talk about who their go-to Bond actors are, and then analyze the anatomy of what we quintessentially know as the Bond style.  Later, Sig and Jezzie discuss how our flair (and who we authentically are) is sometimes suppressed by the Filipino idioms of “OA,” “Ay, Nosebleed,” and “char or joke lang.” Jezzie ends with challenging us all to embrace and celebrate each other’s flair.  After all, it costs nothing for one candle to light another! Enjoy! 

On this Warm Up, friend of the Halo Halo Podcast, Raie replaces Jezzie while he is on location. Sigi and Raie do the VIP experience to take in the latest from the MCU---Eternals. Likened to a Mandarin buffet and all you can eat sushi, these two dish about the beautiful and diverse heroes; visually stunning landscapes and a questionable time spanning plot that under served a huge cast. They weigh in on why they both stan Kumail and Gemma;  their love of underrated actors (including Lauren Ridloff and Salma Hayek); a meh reaction for the stinger; and puzzlement over the flying Kit Kat/Toblerone serving as the Eternals’ vehicle. Hold on to your glass of Kim Crawford wine and buttered popcorn and listen in!

On this warm up, the co-hosts play a round of animal questions inspired by Sigi’s kids and their dinner convos. Find out what pets your hosts had growing up, and hear about some interesting “bird” stories from Jezzie’s past and Sigi’s present!

On this week’s full episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, linked to the November theme of Filipino Folklore, Jezzie and Sigi unpack the controversy of the Aswang Project. They discuss whether the creator was a cultural tourist and further delve into the meaning of cultural appropriation. Later, Sigi asks Jezzie if it can be done right and how to respectfully celebrate other cultures. Jezzie encourages us to ask ourselves:  “What part do I play in contributing to another culture?”; “Can I build upon it respectfully?”; and  “How can this appropriation deepen both cultures?”    

This week’s Halo Halo Podcast Taste Test Episode completes our trifecta theme of supernatural, spooky stories and Filipino folklore!  Jezzie samples the podcast-- Stories with Sapphire by Sapphire Sandalo. Much like the sweet treat of Smores, this podcast wants you to settle in by a campfire as Sapphire spins yarns of tales that is a mix of Filipino supernatural, urban legends and stories submitted by listeners.

Sam, from Sabel Studios and creator of The Lost Shaman Podcast joins Sigi and Jezzie for this warm up called, “Things That Go Bump in the Night”. They discuss their scariest movies, childhood fears and memorable nightmares. Sigi recounts a spooky encounter with his son Mack; Sam shares her love of scary movies and Jezzie admits that he may be a victim of jump scares while watching a spooky flick. Grab a blanket and flashlight and listen in!

The Halo Halo Podcast welcomes Sam from Sabel Studios, the creator of The Lost Shaman Podcast into the virtual studios! Sigi and Jezzie do a deep dive on Sam’s podcast about Saatchi, a young Filipina in Toronto who rediscovers her babaylan heritage and fights evil spirits in this modern coming-of-age drama. Sam shares what inspires her in the creation of an audio drama; going to school in the UK; being a foodie and how Saatchi reclaims her heritage. Later they reminisce about Filipino Folklore and discuss what they tell us about our culture. The Lost Shaman is available on all podcast platforms--subscribe, download and listen! Follow @sabelstudios to find out more! In the Mix this week: "Love on the Spectrum" Trailer, IMdB entry on "Midnight Mass", Wikipedia entry on "RuPaul’s Drag Race UK" (series 3)

Halo Halo Podcast’s slate of Meryenda Episodes for Season 4 will definitely quench your thirst and will focus on some interesting beverages. Episode 402.75 has Jezzie and Sigi reaching for cups of Milo and Ovaltine and reminiscing about these alternatives to Nesquik from their childhoods. Grab a glass, some cold or warm milk, a couple tablespoons of this cocoa mix and enjoy this Milo vs. Ovaltine discussion!

On this Taste Test Episode, we sample The Morning Show Season 2 streaming on Apple TV. Take out the charcuterie plate and waygu beef meatballs as the Jezzie and Sigi revel in some prestige tv. Could there be a return to appointment television with the weekly drops of episodes? Can a TV program showcase actors giving “looks” to emote so much more? By the way-- Sigi is stanning Billy Crudup/Cory Ellison and “JEN AN.” Jezzie is loving the flashback to the beginning of the pandemic and how 2020 is going to be documented. Put on those ear pods and listen in!

For this warm up Jezzie and Sigi return to some random table top questions and get wrapped up in some of their favourite gifts and toys. Listen in and enjoy!

In honour of FIlipino American Heritage Month, Jezzie and Sigi discuss Filipino American author Mae Respicio ‘s YA Novel "The House That Lou Built." The story is centred on Lou Bulosan-Nelson, a 7th grader living with her mom and Lola in San Francisco. Sigi shares with Jezzie how this coming of age story about culture, family and the meaning of home was not only a refreshing read but a relatable story for Filipinos in the diaspora. Lou deals with losing land that her father left for her, and finds support from friends and her extended family in the journey of finding out what home truly means. Later, Jezzie links together how losing land and displacement is only one part of what colonialism is, and discusses further how it's also the act of depriving others of their heritage, their traditions and their culture. He then challenges us to consider how we need to decolonize ourselves by asking what has been displaced in us and what can we do to reclaim it? In the Mix this week: What If The Prince Below Deck: The Mediterranean

The first Taste Test of Season 4, which Sigi has been anticipating since July 2019, was also his first return to the theatre going experience. To Sigi's surprise does he find out how Jezzie gets shut out of getting tickets to "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings". But all is not lost!  Instead of a double taste by both your hosts, Jezzie guides Sigi through his thoughts on the latest Marvel movie in theatres. Beautiful choreographed fight scenes; a killer soundtrack which includes Anderson Paak; Tony Leung’s Wenwu and subtle eye acting; and stingers to die for--it made Sigi’s return to the movie theatre well worth the wait!

Sigi and Jezzie are back to old tricks in this warm up. They talk the Met Gala and Jezzie cites icon Lil Nas X and his fashion forward looks. Sexy C-3P0 and Jezzie is all for it, while Sigi wants to borrow a comfy duvet from Rihanna and praises Bieber for bringing back a dressy baggy pant. Listen in on their hot takes on some September style.

Welcome to Season 4 of the Halo Halo Podcast! In honour of FIlipino American History Month Jezzie and Sigi discuss Filipino American author Elaine Castillo’s America is Not the Heart. Jezzie recounts the epic intergenerational story of Geronima (Hero) de Vera who leaves the Philippines after being disowned by her wealthy parents and dropping out of medical school. Hero’s story is an example of one expression of being Filipina in the Diaspora which leads to a discussion on who is today’s Filipino/a/x in relation to brave new identities and brave new worlds. Jezzie shares that today’s Filipino/a/x is moving beyond our original values (still retaining them) but having the courage to be in an ever uncertain world. There is a movement beyond immigration stories that speak of struggles to immigrate and build wealth. Today’s Filipino/a/x are taking up spaces in sports, media, business and politics and clearly taking positive risks and move beyond what the world thinks we truly are! In the mix this week: Ted Lasso The Hustler Dexter: New Blood

Sigi and Jezzie close out Season 3 of the Halo Halo Podcast with a special Meryenda Episode - Midnight Snack. Listen in as they both feast on sweet and savoury Filipino treats that highlight episodes from this past season. Find out how meringues plays a prominent role in Jezzie’s snacks and how Sigi surrenders to some household staples from his family. And if you listen closely, Sigi even shares his recipe for Filipino BBQ!  Join them in snacking and dishing on another season of the Halo Halo Podcast.   We would like to thank all of our guests from Season 3 (Rechie, Joanna, Mailyne, Armand, Chelle and Raie) for joining us in the virtual studios. We would also like to thank all of our listeners who have reached out and shared with us this past year. This little creative project has become so much more to us and we continue to create because of all of you! Thank you and we cannot wait for Season 4 to start this Fall 2021. Maraming salamat! XOXO, Jezzie and Sigi

On this Taste Test, Sigi dives back into MCU territory by sampling "Black Widow" in theatres and streaming on Disney+. Sigi likens this summer flick to a trip to Baskin Robbins and ordering a scoop of chocolate peanut butter ice cream. The velvety chocolate is sweet and familiar, and needed after not seeing an MCU movie since 2019. The ribbon of peanut butter chunk is analogous to the added performances by Florence Pugh, David Harbour and stuntperson Heidi Moneymaker. Sigi recounts how this movie veers into a family dramedy; showcases some epic fight scenes and connects the MCU in the big and little screens. Listen in and find out if Scar Jo’s swan song and long overdue feature satisfies your sweet tooth. MCU fans—be aware spoilers in this Taste Test ep. And hey to echo Yelena, “Why are you such a poser?”

On this warm up Sigi and Jezzie get into the Summer Vibes by citing their summer faves. Sigi goes retro and Jezzie keeps it current. Listen in and curate a Summatime Spotify playlist and a tasty summer time menu of libations!

On this episode Jezzie and Sigi discuss the 2019 documentary, "The Kingmaker" by Lauren Greenfield on the life and influence of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines and wife to Ferdinand Marcos. This fascinating film takes a slow-burn approach to expose Imelda as an unreliable narrator and takes an inside look at her perception of the truth. Jezzie and Sigi were shocked to hear the stories beyond the famous collection of shoes, like the excess riches, infidelity and Caluit Safari Park. Later, Jezzie discusses when dealing with the hard truth, there is a need to accept it to allow us to get to reconciliation.

While Sigi is on assignment, Chelle gladly sits in his place as they take Kuya through this Taste Test of the Netflix adaptation of the Filipino Komiks "Trese".  Kuya likens this breakthrough series to Red Ribbon's triple chocolate roll--instantly familiar, but with a twist.  Listen in on how "Trese" explores through its protagonist, Alexandra, the updated and modernized mythical and supernatural creatures of Precolonial Philippines.  

Sigi's and Jezzie's viewing of  "A Thousand Cuts" documentary gives them a sober approach to understanding how the Press is critical in holding governments and private corporate actors accountable for their decisions and actions.  This documentary chronicles Filipino American journalist, Maria Ressa (CEO of Rappler), as she becomes the target of outgoing President Duterte's crackdown on news outlets. Later, Jezzie explores with Sig the influence of Spanish Colonialism on the politicking in the Philippines and the importance of speaking truth to power. In the mix: Bravo's "Below Deck", CTV's "The Marilyn Denis Show", Padrino System    

On this Taste Test, The Halo Halo Podcast puts the spotlight on this Filipino Canadian podcast created by Sabel Studios, Lost Shaman. This coming of age audio drama transports you into a Filipino Canadian’s world of discovery delving into Filipino folklore set in Toronto. Sigi’s samples the podcast which he likens to an audio feast for the senses. Are you interested in folklore, mystery and the supernatural? You can give your eyes a rest from online streaming and let Sabel Studios create a visual world through this fictional podcast.

On this warm up Sigi quizzes Jezzie on some Filipino Canadian entertainers. See if you can match wits and can identify these entertainers who have been on Canadian Idol and Degrassi Next Gen; starred in Hallmark movies and Netflix’s Virgin River; currently stars in "Jann" and is playing a part in highly anticipated  Jo Koy movie, Easter Sunday; will be in the Top Gun Sequel and Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers; and provided voices in Trese and Looney Tunes!

On this video episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie introduces Sigi to Filipino Canadian singer Darren Espanto. Sigi participates in providing reaction videos to a select few songs from the 20 year old singer. They both revel in amazement over this talented artist. Further Jezzie likens Darren’s success with thriving and encourages listeners to find the right conditions in order to bloom! As a special treat, find the video recording of this episode on our IGTV channel. In the mix: Star Wars Bad Batch Trailer, IMdB Entry on "Small Town Pride" Darren sings "I Believe", Darren and Morissette Amon sings "A Whole New World", Darren sings "Tama Na"

On this Taste Test Episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi samples, "Living Hyphen, Expressions of the Hyphenated Identity, Issue 1, Entrances and Exits". Find out why Sigi likens his experience in immersing himself in these stories as a warm bowl of sinigang for the soul. The intimate stories, art and poetry shared from artists and writers from all across Canada include diverse ethnicities, religions and Indigenous nations. This publication will arouse your senses and evoke feelings of home and show you different sides of the hyphenated Canadian experience. To find out more about Living Hyphen, visit www.livinghyphen.ca.

On this warm up of The Halo Halo Podcast, Sigi makes it meta and quizzes Jezzie on Podcasts! Are you curious to find out how many downloads The Halo Halo Podcast has to date? And what episodes rank as out top five! Tune in and find out! In this extra helping: Why I'm done trying to be "man enough" | Justin Baldoni TED talk, My identity is a superpower -- not an obstacle | America Ferrera TED Talk, The mathematics of love | Hannah Fry TED talk  

June rings in Filipino Canadian Heritage Month and the Halo Halo Podcast will be amplifying fellow Filipino/a/x Canadian voices in episodes released this month. On this episode, Jezzie and Sigi focus on some of their favourite Filipino Canadian Podcasts: Filipino Fridays Podcast, Exploring Filipino Kitchens and Living Hyphen. The guys share their feelings of pride and elation to be part of a podcast landscape which includes other Filipino/a/x Canadian voices talking about many topics such as “Being Filipino Enough”; Filipino food culture and a metaphorical and narrative take on being Filipinx in the diaspora. Later Jezzie, discusses the importance of mentorship and sometimes looking laterally will aid you in finding other otters to create your own raft. If you haven’t had the chance please follow @filipinofridayspodcast, @livinghyphen and @exploringfilipinokitchens and download their latest episodes for your listening pleasure---you won’t be sorry! Happy Filipino Canadian Heritage Month! In the mix: @filipinofridayspodcast with co-hosts @saychiees, and @nah.tivitad @exploringfilipinokitchens with host @nastashaali @livinghyphen podcast with creator @justineabigail

To round out this Awards and Fashion month, Jezzie does a taste test of Netflix's "Halston" and compares it to a death-by-chocolate dessert trifle.  With all the fixings to boot, Jezzie gushes over the fashion in this biographic limited series and then shares his suspicions of how Halston and his designs may have served as the inspiration to some of Tom Ford's early 2000 fashion lines. Finally, Jezzie discusses how this is a must-see for all fashionista listeners of the Halo Halo Podcast. 

Jezzie stretches his sharp sartorial tastes and fashion IQ as Sigi gives him a Fashion Pop Quiz! Open up that Vogue magazine, watch the latest episode of Sex and the City and play along with guys! 

On this episode, Jezzie longs for the first Monday in May and the Met Gala that raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Jezzie shares the Met’s new plan-- this year, the Costume Institute announced the two-part exhibition: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” (Part I: Sept 2021) and “An Anthology of Fashion” opening in May 2022. Later, Jezzie links finding the vocabulary of fashion through the emotion, values and sentiments brought up in the fashion itself which made him wonder what is the modern vocabulary of Filipiniana. Jezzie guides Sigi in a critique to uncover the modern vocabulary of Modern Filipiniana Fashion. We invite you to join them as they revisit the looks at  the 2019 ABS-CBN Ball (formerly StarMagic Ball) where all the TV and Movie stars gather. Several of the looks will be posted on IG for this episode. Jezzie sums it up quite well, “Fashion is not only functional, but can also be emotional and expressive.” In the Mix this Week: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion: Virtual Press Presentation | Met Fashion, ABS-CBN Ball 2019 Red Carpet Highlights

On this Taste Test, Sigi helps himself to the Vegas Marvel Brunch buffet and goes in for seconds and samples "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" now streaming on Disney+. Sigi takes Jezzie through the themes of legacy, making amends and currents social issues woven in this action packed series. Listen in as Sigi revels in the latest from the MCU and how you should definitely watch this piece of prestige tv.

Sigi takes Jezzie down memory lane to commemorate a Facebook Memory that popped up on his feed from 12 years ago and forecasted the creative venture that is now The Halo Halo Podcast. On this stroll, Sigi brings back boy bands and tests Jezzie’s memory on naming members of some memorable boy bands from the past. Jezzie is taking applications for anyone willing to be his “phone a friend” for these impromptu quizzes. See how you fare on this boy band recall.

After a brief hiatus in April, Jezzie and Sigi are reunited in the virtual Halo Halo Podcast studios playing pop culture catch up and sharing their takeaways from the 2021 Oscars. From an intimate and anti-climatic black tie affair, the guys marvel over the big wins made by Chloe Zhao, H.E.R. and Youn Yuh-jung. Sigi then notices that representation is popping up in his pop culture from Shanti Dope in the "Falcon and Winter Soldier" soundtrack; Olivia Rodrigo’s "Deja Vu" and Silk Sonic’s Leave the Door Open being on repeat for him and his daughter Delaney; and the unveiling of the "Shang Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings" Trailer on Simu Liu’s birthday. Jezzie links the representations in Disney cultural properties. He shares that Disney has made efforts to shift towards the idea of belonging as an expression of diversity and inclusions. Most recently, "Raya and The Last Dragon" showcased a true narrative about Asian panethnicity and the double competing message of how being Asian is not a monolithic experience, while cooperation can be. Later Jezzie talks about “Jackpot Mentality” in the Philippine culture and observes there is a  focus on how hope is the key to financial security or financial planning.

On this Meryenda Episode, Jezzie and Sigi dig into a delicious topic--boodle fights and kamayan! Sigi talks about kamayan- the traditional way Filipinos dine. Jezzie shares the origins of the boodle fight. The guys talk about the trends, their best experiences and what would make up their personal boodle fight feasts! And Halo Halo Podcast listeners--tell us what are your favourite kamayan/boodle fight experiences! Sarap!  Finally, check out Daniel Bender’s and Adrian De Leon's academic work on Boodle Fight and its histories.

Sigi and Jezzie have their palates satiated in this Taste Test of Disney+’s limited series: WandaVision. Consider this a spoiler alert and arm yourself with a box gobstoppers and package of pop rocks to fuel your energy as Jezzie and Sigi revel jumping back into the Marvel universe mingled with nostalgic sitcoms ranging from the 50's to the Aughts. Clearly the guys have been in remission and the Easter Eggs and post credits scenes certainly have made this Taste Test a delicious treat!

Armand Aromin joins Sigi and Jezzie for this musically inclined warm up. Find out what instruments our two hosts played when they were younger. Armand also enlightens the guys as he anticipates the long awaited delivery of a kutyapi. Find out more about Armand and his creative ventures. His music is available on www.thevoxhunters.com and don't forget to check out www.arominviolins.com.

In this supersized episode, Armand Aromin joins Sigi and Jezzie in The Halo Halo Podcast virtual studios to talk about the "Hello Stranger, The Movie" and love teams in the Philippine media. Armand tells the guys about growing up in Rhode Island and how he became involved in his musical creative ventures, violin making and his band, The Vox Hunters. Later they dish on the scenes from "Hello Stranger, The Movie" that made them “kinikilig” and recount the best parts of this BL romantic comedy. Finally, Jezzie gives Sigi and Armand a primer on Love Teams in Philippine Media, as inspired by Tony Labrusca and JC Alacantara’s bromantic love highlighted all over the Philippine press and social media.  Find out more about Armand and his creative ventures. His music is available on www.thevoxhunters.com and check out www.arominviolins.com. In the mix: Pilipinas Popcorn's "What Your Favorite Filipino Love Teams Are Up This New Year", National Obsession: The Dark Side of Filipino Love Teams, James Reid and Nadine Lustre's "Hanap Hanap", Janella Salvador's "Blanko" on wish 107.5 Bus

On this Taste Test, Sigi samples Yellow Rose, a film by Diana Paragas. This story is seen through a lens of an undocumented teen who happens to be Filipino and her journey as she flees her small town life in Texas on her own. She is looking to find herself and she does that through country music. With an amazing soundtrack, a heartbreaking performance by Eva Nobelzada and a cameo from Filipino acting royalty, Lea Salonga, Sigi shares how much he enjoyed this story of representation and even purchases Jezzie a digital copy for his immediate viewing pleasure.  

Sigi leads Jezzie and special guest Mailyne down a memory lane of advertisement jingles on this warm up. Can you match wits and name some of these catchy jingles? Once you hear them you won’t be able to forget them!

Sigi and Jezzie welcome back friend of The Halo Halo Podcast and fellow creative, Mailyne in The Halo Halo Virtual Studios for this episode. The group discusses Wellness Accounts they follow on Instagram for inspiration, resources, education and physical and mental health. They then go into a deeper discussion on the definition of self-care, how it relates to activism and how we prioritize it. Our fixing of the week reminds us to ritualize our self care regimen. Once it becomes a ritual, it is harder for you to abandon. To find out more about Mailyne, check out her personal and not-for profit ventures IG accounts, @iammailyne, @kilammedia,  @inourtongues and @artinactionottawa, and visit her business website at Firegrove Studio.  In the mix: IG: @the.drtherapinay SUPERHUMAN Podcast with Wil Dasovich on Spotify, IG: @thenapministry, IG: @nedratawwab          

On this extra Social Justice episode of The Halo Halo Podcast, Jezzie and Sigi take a moment to reflect on the shootings in Atlanta and anti-Asian hate covered in the media as revealed by the pandemic. They discuss the spectrum of prejudice and the overwhelming range of emotions that the Asian Community is feeling at the moment. Jezzie encourages us to mourn together as way to bring about global justice, as suggested by Judith Butler, who makes that assertion in Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence. Jezzie and Sigi candidly share their thoughts and feelings.  We at The Halo Halo Podcast encourage our listeners to do the same and share your thoughts of grief and loss with others. In mourning together, we empower our community and ourselves.

Sigi reaches into the Halo Halo Podcast Lost Episode Archives for this warm up. The guys expose some surprising tidbits in their pop culture consumption. Find out what movie Sigi has never watched even though people have gifted it to him to view. And get ready to hear what pop songstress’ oeuvre that hasn’t graced Jezzie’s turntable!

Jezzie and Sigi dive into the critically acclaimed and award winning limited series: HBO’s Watchmen. They marvel over the superb acting, creative storytelling and themes woven into this speculative history tale stemming from the Tulsa Race Riots. The Watchmen’s revisionist history, along with the  month of March marking 500 years since Magellan arrived in the Philippines, got Jezzie speculating and leading us through a thought experiment: What would have happened if the Spanish arrived 50 years later? In the mix: ImDB's entry on "Discovery of Witches", BBC "All Together Now" -- The Final 10's Top Songs, ImDB's entry on "Superstore", ImDB's entry on "Moxie",  ImDB's entry on "Coming 2 America" 

On this Taste Test Jezzie samples "Hamilton" on Disney+ and takes us through a delicious mash up of hip hop, musical theatre and poetic wit. Find out more about what the general public is loving about this game changing and critically acclaimed musical and how it brings light to the immigrant experience and enhances the story of an American Founding Father.

In honour of the Golden Globes Sigi shares some trivia about Golden Globe Ambassadors and Jezzie tries his luck at identifying the famous parents of the past Golden Globe Ambassadors in the last decade. Play along and see how you fare as well!

Jezzie and Sigi recorded this episode post watching the Golden Globes this past Sunday. Listen in as they unpack the show which was a hybrid of a zoom meeting with famous people abiding by various degrees of formal dress code. They talk about the good (Norman Lear, The Crown, Schitt’s Creek and CBC shout outs); the bad (technical glitches) and the ugly (HFPA’s lack of representation). Listen in and dish as they enter Moira Rose’s fave season and take a quick detour on Jezzie’s brushes with some famous interactions!

In our final instalment to our four part series on Social Justice this February, Jezzie and Sigi revisit allyship. Jezzie discusses two ways to provide continued support: cultural humility and activism self care. He highlights that allies adopt cultural humility as a purposeful stance that promotes reflection, introspection and constant learning, while self care is really a call to finding balance in one’s life. For our fixing of the week, we want to know what interest have you not pursued in a long time and is there a way to pursue it during the pandemic?

On the third installment of our four part series on Social Justice,  Jezzie helps Sigi sort issues that need advocacy by adopting an intersectionality analysis. Jezzie explains how intersectionality arose from work in critical race theory being applied to legal studies, as a way of understanding why certain changes in the law to address discrimination did not create sizeable changes in oppressed people’s lives. He also discusses the importance of intersectionality to consider when facing multiple oppression. Jezzie guides Sigi through an exercise to explore intersectionality as to highlight one’s social location and shares the importance of giving a voice and place those voices front and centre to the injustices that they experience.

On our second instalment of this special collection on Social Justice, Jezzie and Sigi discuss Speaking Up as Social Action. How does fear play a role in not speaking up? How do we ready ourselves to speak up? Jezzie shares how fear can be a sign to prepare and highlights the ways we can prepare ourselves by researching, planning, consulting, practicing and being kind to yourself.

This February, The Halo Halo Podcast revisits Social Justice and drops the first of  a four-part series. On this episode Jezzie and Sigi discuss what Righteous Anger is;  what does it mean; and what do we do with it. Jezzie talks of how such a feeling is really a call to take action and should motivate us to speak out about the mistreatment we see or witness.  Finally, your co-hosts encourages us all to invoke and task the FilipinX spirit of Bayanihan on becoming more inclusive.

Episode Warning: this Halo Halo Podcast Meryenda Episode is a literal feast for the senses and not for the listener with misophonia--gums smacking ahead!  Sigi sent Jezzie a package of Pinoy Snacks from his local T&T Grocery Store for him to sample on air. The guys gush over Bridgerton and then dabble in a little ASMR. Grab a huge glass of tubig (i.e., water) or San Miguel beermas Jezzie ventures through crunchy, sweet, and savoury snacks that evoke feelings of Filipino nostalgia walking the streets and buying goodies from vendors’ bilao. We hope this mereyenda satisfies you! Sarap!   In the mix this week: ImDB Entry on "Bridgerton" PEANUTS IN GARLIC – FILIPINO ADOBONG MANI Tamarind Candy  

On this Taste Test, Jezzie samples Maya Motayne’s YA novel, Nocturna. Find out why Jezzie likens this novel to a butter beer and how this new magical world pairs a prince and a thief in a double heist in a fight for good over evil with redemption along the way! Listen in as Jezzie shares this frothy and fun escape of a debut novel.

Rechie Valdez joins Sigi and Jezzie in this warm up called “The Sweet Spot!” Listen in and hear how brown sugar ties in with some of their fave Filipino desserts. Rechie even lets the guys in how her mood affects her baking and her relationship with coconut. We hope this warm up pleases your taste buds! Listeners—let us know what are your favourite Filipino desserts!        

On this better-than-late-then-never episode, special guest and friend of the podcast Rechie Valdez joins Jezzie and Sigi in the virtual studios. Rechie shares her unique immigration story which starts in Zambia, Africa and shares how her parents’ perseverance is a source of inspiration in her life. During this month of January we reach into the Pop Culture Vault and discuss Black Heist Films of the 1990s. Rechie and Sigi share their thoughts on "Set It Off" and that even after 24 years, it is still a stark reminder that the social injustices presented in the movie still persist now.  Jezzie revisits Quentin Tarantino’s "Jackie Brown" and its blaxploitation influences and comments on police brutality. Later the group discusses cultural appropriation of Black Culture by Diasporic Filipinos.  Pull up a chair and listen in on the discussion.   In the Mix This Week: RECHIE VALDEZ – IGNITED & FREE, History of the 90s Podcast, IMDb entry on "Locke and Key", IMDb Entry on "Saved By the Bell" “Set It Off” Is the Queer Tribute to Black Women’s Friendship We Need After a Summer of Black Mourning,    

Friend of the Halo Halo Podcast Raie fills in for Jezzie while he is on location and joins Sigi in the virtual studio for this Taste Test Episode. They dive into Jay Manuel’s debut novel, “The Wig, The Bitch and The Meltdown.” Find out why these two would pair this novel with some marshmallow cotton candy and Coke Zero. Prepare for a pop culture deep dive and reach into the vault with Raie and Sigi to the mid-aughts when America Next’s Top Model reigned supreme. Download and listen in to these two ANTM fans find the fine line between the novel and reality tv.

Keeping in theme of this month's "back to the vault" and the recent full episode's topic of the dawn reality television, your co-hosts warmup with a dose of reality. Discover which reality show they would guest on, and which reality TV star they think would be poised to take on a political role.  All this and a bit more on the first warmup episode of 2021.  Enjoy!

Happy New Year! January is "Back to the Vault" month at the Halo Halo Podcast.  Your hosts, on this episode, reach into the vault and pullout the 2000s and the Dawn of Reality Television.   They review where reality TV all started and talk about the three broad categories that make up this genre: unscripted life, make-better shows, and competition dramas.  Later they discuss Filipino Influencers and propose a meditation on how to be a leader in your own lives. In the Mix this week: What is an Influencer?, Twelve Filipino Influencers You Need to Hit the Follow Button Now, Top 20 tiktok Influencers in the Philippines Right Now, Catriona Gray @catriona_gray, Erick Esteban @miscellaneousbrown, Petersen Vargas @awarewolves, Geena Rocero @geenarocero Geena Rocero's TED talk, Mark Munoz @mark_munoz, Gelaine Santiago @gelainesantiago, Rannie Turingan @photojunkie, Mailyne K. @iammailyne    

On the last taste test of 2020, we get more than a mouthful when both Jezzie and Sigi weigh in on this new entry onto the holiday movie scene.  Starring  Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber and Dan Levy, this holiday movie is sure to please and is a great twist on who's coming to dinner!  

Tables have turned! If you were researching Sigi on the internet, what would you ask?  On this warmup, Sigi participates in the Halo Halo podcast's version of the Wired-inspired Autocomplete interviews and reveals his favourite body part and discusses what his full first name is.  Did he answer your questions?  Find out!

This year couldn't end more quickly!  With 2020 almost behind us, your co-hosts take stock of this year and it's impact on the pop culture landscape.  From the pandemic wreaking havoc on pop culture, to the importance of audiences, Sigi and Jezzie review how the pandemic revealed truths and also created opportunities. Later in the podcast, Sigi and Jezzie discuss Asian pan-ethnicity and where FilipinXs in the Diaspara fit in the pantheon, and encourage us to corral our voices together to find our strength.  Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! In the Mix this week:

On this taste test, Jezzie samples Carrie Underwood's Christmas album, "My Gift," and compares it to sipping a mulled white wine.  Sip along with your co-hosts as they discuss how this effervescent album is an understated change for Carrie, and how this album is very much reflective of this year.

If you were researching Jezzie on the internet, what would you ask?  On this warmup, Jezzie participates in the Halo Halo podcast's version of the Wired-inspired Autocomplete interviews and revisits the concatenation of his name, and later reveals where he has studied throughout Southwestern Ontario.  Did he answer your questions?  Find out!

Sigi and Jezzie have a stable of Classic Christmas Movies that helps them ring in the holiday season.  On this episode, your co-hosts discuss two of what they consider are new Christmas classics, "The Family Stone" and "Love, Actually."  Listen in on how the theme of inclusion resonates with Sigi on "The Family Stone," while Jezzie celebrates the various forms of love in "Love Actually."  Later, they discuss how the Philippines hosts the longest celebration of Christmas.  Malagayang Pasko! In the Mix this week: IMdB entry on "Graves", Wikipedia entry on "The Vampire Diaries", "Die Hard" Trailer  

On this surprisingly filling Taste Test, Sigi shares his musings on Mariah's current memoirs, "The Meaning of Mariah Carey."  Written for her lambily, and anyone that has any downtimes this holidays season, it is not only filled with shade but fascinating insights as well!

At Halo Halo, we've never seen Sigi ever be stumped on a trivia game before!  Play along on the Elle magazine inspired game and find out if you can out do Sigi!  Special prizes are in store! Find all the songs that they talk about on this spotify playlist.    

Ryan Murphy's latest entry on Netflix is Nurse Ratched, an origin series inspired from "One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest."  In keeping with Murphy's stylish sensibilities, he not only explores Nurse Ratched's beginnings, but has a coordinated all-star cast to boot.  Without a Filipina nurse in site, this stylish yet sometimes oddly-paced series reveals the grotesque treatment of mental health in the late 1940s.  Later, Sigi and Jezzie discuss why the profession of nursing is  popular among Filipinos and what this reflects about the Philippines in general.  This episode is dedicated to all health-care workers who deserve much respect and recognition in the caring labour they provide the world.  Much gratitude. In the Mix this week: IMdB's "Archer", BBC's "Best Home Cook", Vox's "Why the US has so many Filipina Nurses?", Filipinos, Nursing, and How This Century-Long Relationship Began

On this Taste Test episode, Sigi samples Michelle Buteau's Netflix standup show, "Welcome to Buteaupia" and relates to her parenting style, fatigue in raising kids and navigating cultural differences with a Dutch partner.  Spicy, sumptuous and filled with tang and heat, Sigi likens this piece of pop culture to a juicy piece of a buffalo chicken wing.  In the vein of Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes, and Ali Wong, this energetic comedy special is sure to please!

Mabuhay!  On this warmup, Sigi leads Jezzie and our special guest for this past week Joanna, from Tagalog with Kirby, on sharing what each of their favourite Tagalog words are.  Find out which word could be used to make a drunken toast, and which word describes a feeling of being uncomfortable going to the washroom at someone else's house.  We had a blast with Joanna on this warmup, we hope you do too!

Your co-hosts, this week, review the growing FilipinX selection of films on Netflix and share their thoughts on "Lingua Franca," and "Born Beautiful" with their special guest, Joanna Kirby, from Tagalog with Kirby.  Later in the podcast, we learn of Joanna's immigration story, teaching as well as learning Tagalog, and why learning Tagalog, through fearless trying, can be a story of loss regained, and sacrifice renewed.  In the Mix this week: 'GLOW' cancelled, "Monsoon" Trailer, "Crying Ladies" Trailer, How Americans Preserved British English

On this Meryenda episode, Sigi and Jezzie inhale Alexandra Cuerdo's documentary, "Ulam: Main Dish, The Movie" and savour every minute of it!  Your co-hosts agree with the documentary's thesis of how Filipino food is about to take the spotlight on the North American foodie scene, and also why it took so long to take its rightful place on the world's food stage.   In the Mix this week: Netflix's "Emily in Paris", "David Tennant does a Podcast with...", "Discovering Routes" Trailer, "#GayaSaPelikula (Like in the Movies)" Playlist, Eggslut Food Concept, Lola's Kitchen, Amy Besa's "Memories of Filipino Kitchens", Junior, The Crane Express

On this Taste Test episode, Jezzie takes in Matt Ortile's "The Groom Will Keep His Name and Other Vows I've Made About Race, Resistance and Romance."  Jezzie compares this decadent book to a brunch menu item from Mildred's Temple Kitchen, and serves us an analysis of a tell-all book that all the while serves the reader with a decadent analysis on oppressive structures that Filipino gay men try to out navigate every day.  This is a great book to savour for gay Filipino men and their allies.

On this warmup, Sigi explores what romantic scenes and songs gives them the tingles!  Discover who can't resist a Chanel suit, and who swoons when you surrender to love.  Along the way, your co-hosts get sidetracked by the Hours and 112's "Only You" but end it off on a sumptuous note!  

"Hello Stranger" is Black Sheep Productions' response to the BL (Boys Love) TV series genre and craze!  Your co-hosts review this classic story with a twist while lamenting over its ending.  Told in this time of quarantine and social distancing, it follows the unlikely pairing of J.C. Alcantara's Mico, and Tony Labrusca's Xavier on a school project where we find out if these opposites will attract.  Later, Sigi and Jezzie discuss BL series generally and how they promote kilig, or romantic excitement in others.  Finally, your co-hosts discuss grand romantic gestures and feeling excited for others. In the Mix this week:

On this taste test, Sigi reviews Melissa Dela Cruz's young adult novel, "Something in Between" and likens it to a creamy and yet familiar dessert at an Asian Western buffet where, you can add speckles of familiar Filipino flavours.  Sigi recounts how the main character Jasmine de los Santos, an academically driven student, soon discovers that her family's legal status in the United States is undocumented.  Sigi delights in how this novel fills in the gaps in the young adult novel landscape where there lies a dearth in young adult novels reflecting the Filipinx experience.  Recommended for our teen listeners, it's worth a read and a great introduction to the work of Melissa Dela Cruz! 

On this first warmup of Season three, Sigi poses the question, in honour of Chadwick Boseman's passing, which heroines/heroes do we look up to on the pop culture landscape.  Find out who can do a soliloquy on the spot, and which of your co-hosts admires the everyday working heroine.  Which hero/heroine do you look up to in the pop culture universe?

On this premiere episode of Season three, your co-hosts come back from their summer hiatus to catchup and review the debut album of SB19's "Get in the Zone".  Sigi and Jezzie delight in this good start for this P-Pop boy band group.  Later, your co-hosts discuss the unique expressions of love, Filipino style.  From fiercely protecting one's heart, to performing grand gestures of affection, Sigi and Jezzie poke fun at both romantic and cringeworthy ways that love is expressed in the Filipino culture. And finally, they suggest how soemtimes saying awkward is a good antidote to when your grand gesture could fail. In the Mix this week: Chris Evans accidentally shares..., "Mulan" Trailer, "Social Dilemma" Trailer, Pinoy pre-wedding Rituals (Sigi talks about Pamanhikan)    

On this last Taste Test and episode of the season, Sigi samples Eleanor Guerrero-Campbell's "Stumbling Through Paradise: A Feast of Mercy for Manuel del Mundo" and likens this page-turner to classic saga stories like "The Joy Luck Club" and "Roots: The Saga of an American Family".  Sigi finds comfort in this instantly familiar, yet a more robust telling of Filipino Canadian immigration stories. Finally, Sigi exclaims on how you are left wanting more while Guerrero-Campbell offers its readers a contemplation on how Canadian society is trying to be like a slow-cooked and well-balanced soup.

It's the last warmup and Sigi has saved the best for last!  In this warmup, Sigi has your podcast hosts identify what they last heard, watched, ate and splurged on during this past week.  Find out which of your co-hosts can't get the song, "Somebody to Tell Me" by Tyler Glenn out of their head, and who recently splurged on lego. Enjoy!

What a year!  From guests and guest co-hosts to podcasting from the Philippines itself, it has been quite a second season.  No sophomore slump for us!  Along with our regular discussions of pop culture and FilipinX issues, we opened the pop culture vault (courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic) and pivoted to respond to the Anti-Black Racism protests this season.  Without our Filipino sense of being disaster-proof, being able to course correct our programming on the fly would have been more difficult.  Thank you for listening to us this season and we look forward to talk to you all this Fall.  Maraming salamat!   In the Mix this week: Taylor Swift's "Folklore", Kygo's mix of Tina Turner's "Higher Love", "Hamilton" on Disney+, Black Sheep Production of "Hello Stranger"    

On this week’s Taste Test Episode is Season 2 of "The Politician", now streaming on Netflix. Sigi is joined by longtime friend/listener of the Halo Halo Podcast- Raie as Jezzie is away on assignment. They dive in and discuss Ryan Murphy’s latest masterpiece? Their convo covers singing the praises of Judith Light (who will forever be Angela Bower from "Who’s the Boss"); Bette Midler and a possible “spicy lube” drinking game; and the ultimate Gwyneth love her/hate her debate. Listen in and find out why Raie and Sigi recommend a serving of a latke imported from Montreal and a can of Bubly for a pairing this show. Sit back, enjoy some sass and tuned-up pop culture banter. As Sigi promised he’s left links in the show notes for their fast paced pop culture speak.   In this Taste Test: Wikipedia's Entry on "Who’s The Boss", "The Politician Season 2" Trailer, The Politician Season 2 Episode 5 The Voters Vulture Recap, ImDB's Entry on Gwyneth Paltrow, ImDB's entry on Ben Platt, ImDB's Entry on Judith Light, ImDB's Entry on "Lost", Fire Marshall Bill from In Living Colour, Wikipedia's Entry on "Great Expectations(1998)", Bubly, Latke  

As we celebrate Sigi's birthday today, how appropriate that we play the game, Who's Older?  Find out if Jezzie is older or younger than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and if Sigi is older or younger than "Black Panther" star, Chadwick Boseman.  Have fun and Happy Birthday Sigs!

As this summer of quarantine living comes into full force, your co-hosts share with each other and with all of you, their recommendations on what will occupy them for these upcoming "dog days." From the "Babysitter's Club" and "Hamilton: The Musical" to "Canada's Drag Race" and "The Alienist: Angel of Darkness," Sigi and Jezzie have much to cover.  Later, they discuss the honouring gesture amongst Filipinos, known as pagmamano and its various expressions and meanings it takes on across the diaspora.  At that heart of this tradition is showing affection for our elders and in this time of physical distancing, Jezzie encourages us to demonstrate our affection through kindness, service or gifts. In the Mix this week: Netflix's "Umbrella Academy, Season 2", Alicia Key's "Alicia" Wikipedia Entry, Billboard's "Why Sam Smith is Renaming and Pushing Back Release of Their New Album", Sam Hunt's "Southside", Carly Rae Jepsen's Dedicated Side B  

On this warmup and on the line with Sigi and Jezzie, Monica Vera, the Realtor Tita, joins your co-hosts and quickly revisit the Proust Questionnaire. Find out why Monica looks up to Oprah, how Sigi could be more specific with his wife, and what state of mind might Jezzie be in these days.  All this and a few more on this classic warmup!  

As we continue to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month in Canada, Sigi and Jezzie welcome Monica Vera to the podcast where she shares her amazing immigration story and the generational wealth that she has accrued throughout her illustrious life.  As the Realtor Tita, and On the Flipside 101.3 FM radio personality, she shares both the ups and downs of parenting, the importance of breaking generational curses, and why sacrifice is more than just giving something up.  Monica also shares with Sigi and Jezzie how she has paid her wealth forward by founding the not-for-profit organization, Fundamental Learning Academy for Girls (FLAGPhil) in 2010, which has supported underprivileged girls in the Philippines and their pursuit of learning opportunities.  

On this special warmup, Sigi and Jezzie are joined by their friend and editorial feedback provider, Marie Beath Badian on this forced-choice quiz.  Listen in on your co-hosts and special guest, as they muse on who they would want to narrate their lives and who would rather live with people in Antarctica versus in isolation on a tropical island.  Share in the laughs and the jabs on this Either/Or warmup.

June is Filipino Heritage Month in Canada and what better way for the Halo Halo Podcast to kick it off right, but with their very own special guest, editorial feedback provider to this narrowcast, and playwright extraordinaire--Marie Beath Badian!  Sigi and Jezzie showcase Marie Beath's talents in their recounting of her distinctly Filipino Canadian play, "Prairie Nurse" (available through the CBC PlayME podcast) and listen in on how she birthed this national story to life.  Later, Sigi and Jezzie ask Marie Beath to share her generational wealth where she reminds us of the importance of telling our own stories.  In the Mix this Week:  Goodreads entry on "Emergency Contact" by Mary H.K. Choi, Neftlix's "The Last Dance" Teaser, Food Network's "Junior Chef Showdown", Netflix's "Never, Have I Ever" Trailer,

Earning your allyship is a lifelong journey that involves consistency, healthy self-criticism, acting instead of reacting and self-care.  In this last episode of this four-part collection on social justice and the Halo Halo Podcast's response to the call to action on Anti-Black Racism protests around the world, Jezzie helps Sigi makes sense of the coming journey ahead and the need to foster trust with the communities that we want to align ourselves with and support.  Finally, Jezzie reminds us that earning your allyship is not about earning a "badge" of sorts, but rather the point of allyship is that it helps us aspire to, in Louis Armstrong's words, "A Wonderful World".

Educating yourself is the first step in taking any action against racial discrimination. Sigi shares how he is educating himself on what it means to be antiracist through the work of Ibram X. Kendi's "How to be an Antiracist."  On this third episode of a special four-part collection on social justice, Sigi and Jezzie expand further on Kendi's work and discuss what taking action means, and finding impactful and meaningful ways of doing this.  Later, Jezzie speaks to how systems of oppression, like white fragility perpetuate racism, and how microinterventions (inspired by Dr. E.J.R. David's Addressing Anti-Black Microaggressions in Filipino Families) especially within the Filipina/x/o communities, can be a worthwhile use of our energies.   

Expressing anger is key to taking any action against an injustice.  However, not everyone is comfortable with anger and its various forms of expression.  Some of us, when faced with listening to anger, want to run away from it.  While others want to contain it.  And even others will deny that any anger should be heard.  However, when we don't make space for anger, we don't really hear the injustice that needs to be heard.  In this second episode of a four-part collection on social justice, your co-hosts discuss why it's so hard to listen to anger, how anger is typically expressed and dealt with in the Filipino culture (i.e., tampo), and why it's important to validate and be a witness to one's anger.  Listeners, get ready to make room.

Anti-Black racism is at the forefront of American and international discourse. It’s difficult for the Halo Halo Podcast to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month in Canada when others are literally dying and suffering around the world.  Before we can celebrate, we need to stand in solidarity and take a stand and make a statement against racial discrimination.  At the Halo Halo Podcast we stand for community inclusion and a world where we can openly challenge all forms of implicit and explicit bias, discrimination and hatred.  We believe that everyone is entitled to equity and that sharing the wealth can lead to a kinder and safer world for all. We stand with all those that condemn racism in all of its insidious forms.

As Sigi and Jezzie close out their final search in the pop culture vault for the month of May, Jezzie unearths how the Philippines itself rose to become a Pageant Powerhouse in the 2010s.  In this velvety and scrumptious snack about Pageants and the Philippines, Jezzie tracks the origin of pageants to the medieval ages, and it’s evolution to be part of the Filipino fiesta traditions like the Santa Cruzan.  Sigi and Jezzie then explore how those fiesta sensibilities have lent themselves well to modern-day beauty pageants, and the emerging industrial beauty boot camps that have explained the Philippines success at international beauty contests during the 2010s.  In the Mix this Week: Vulture's "Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba Performs a Soundtrack for Your Summer of Longing", Yakface's reports on Amazon Delays for May Fan First Star Wars Figures, Wikipedia Entry on "Medieval Pageant", The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros Trailer (2005), Wikipedia Entry on Big Four International Beauty Pageants, MISS UNIVERSE WINNERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES COMPILATION: 1969, 1973, 2015, 2018, CNA Insiders "The Hidden Side Of Philippines Beauty Pageants", "The Game of Crowns" Playlist Full Episodes on Youtube

While Sigi continues to be away on assignment, Rannie Turingan, social media guru and early adopter, steps in to co-hosts this taste test with his cousin, Jezzie.  On this episode, Rannie gushes over this update to the 2001 classic, social simulation video game "Animal Crossing: New Horizon" for the Nintendo Switch and reveals how it's multiplayer online mode can serendipitously create meaningful connections.  Later, Rannie speaks to how this game has become an important balm during this time of pandemic living.  And along the way, your co-hosts unpack the game mechanics that make "Animal Crossing: New Horizon" so wonderful to play! Enjoy and don't forget to follow Rannie on twitter and instagram.

Sigi mines the pop culture vault for this latest quiz with Jez, where he borrows the MTV's popular 2000s live show, Total Request Live, otherwise known as TRL.  Jezzie improves upon his last quiz outing by scoring 70% (with bonus points, courtesy of Sigi) this time around.  Listeners, see if you can best Jezzie's performance and find out which of the many faces and stages of Christina Aguilera does Sigi adore. 

For the entire month of May, your Halo Halo podcast hosts continue to mine the pop culture vault.   In their latest foray, they uncover pop music in the 2000s and revisit the maturing of teen pop idols of the 1990s, the triumph and victory of R&B music on the charts, and the acceleration of pop music fame in the latter half of the decade.  Find out which song Jezzie believes is the quintessential 2010s R&B track, and which Rihanna song haunted Sigi throughout a Las Vegas trip he took in the 2000s. Later, Sigi and Jezzie delve deeper into how generosity is an expression of Filipino hospitality and explore ways of sustaining this cherished cultural value. In the Mix this Week:  #blackAF, Abstract of "Marketing androgyny: the Evolution of the Backstreet Boys", Mandy Moore's Cover Art of "Umbrella",

While Sigi's on assignment, Chelle takes over co-hosting duties with their Kuya Jezzie on their taste test of the revival of a 2000s queer classic, the L Word: Generation Q.  Both Chelle and Jezzie have their amuse-bouche say on all the original and beloved characters as well as the new cast in tow.  Along the way, Chelle enthusiastically shares their review and personal experience of Ma'am Sir, a Filipino restaurant in Los Angeles, featured in Generation Q.  Later, listen to Jezzie wax on how this gem of a show captures a new wave of California Cool.  Finally, if you can't get enough of analyzing the L Word: Generation Q and want to hear more, head on over to Chelle's podcast, Off The Chart from Xtra.   

This impromptu warmup has Sigi take Beano's The Ultimate 90s Music Quiz.  As Sigi and Jezzie continue to mine the pop culture vault for 90s Music, find out why this warmup is an impromptu exercise courtesy of Jezzie, and take the quiz to see if you can best Sigi's score!  Good luck!

For the entire month of May, your Halo Halo podcast hosts will visit the pop culture vault.  Sigi and Jezzie hope that each visit to the vault will inspire you to consume pop culture classics in any unbudgeted time that you might have found as we all adjust temporarily to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In this foray to the vault, they reach in and dissect 90s teen movies as smart sendups of old classics.  From "10 Things I hate about you" to "My Own Private Idaho," they reminisce on how each one of these fresh takes on old classics, become a classic in their own right.  Later, they analyze how gaya-gaya (copycatting) in the Filipino culture is a double-edged sword, but find a way to understand this behaviour positively with a twist of its own. In the Mix this Week:  Wikipedia entry on "The Rooms", Art for Kids Hub, "Clueless" ImDB Entry, "Cruel Intentions" Trailer, "Romeo + Juliet" Trailer,

Before we finish this month of podcasts and head to the pop culture vault for the month of May, Sigi cleanses our palates with a taste test of Dante Basco's "From Rufio to Zuko."  Sigi reviews how this straightforward and unapologetic memoir shares important wisdom that this Filipino American actor and poet has learned in his career thusfar. In this Taste Test: Banagrang- The Prequel to Hook on You Tube, Rufio origin story, ImDB's entry on "Hook", ImDB's entry on "The Debut", Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV Series)

Continuing with our love letter theme to Schitt's Creek and all things related to village life, we expand our ode, in this Reader's Digest Quiz, where Sigi takes Jezzie through a national Canadian tour of small towns with strange names.  Find out which ones Jezzie gets right, and which small town is right near where Sigi grew up.  Play along and tell us how you do an all our socials.  Have fun!

Here, at Halo Halo, we ADORE Schitt's Creek!  This is our love letter to the entire made-in-Canada, six-season series.  This well-told study of Canadiana life and the riches-to-rags, urban, elitist family finding itself in the unlikely setting of Schitt's Creek, is a breath of fresh air on the pop culture landscape. Listen to your co-hosts delight in the wonderful themes and comedy explored in this gem of a show.  Later, Sigi and Jezzie unpack the colonial legacy and adopted value of mañana time and rethink it as a call to enjoy what we have today.    In the Mix this Week:  Wikipedia Entry on "Community", Amazon's "Making the Cut", ABC's "Modern Family", ImDB's Entry on Cameron Crowe,

Halo Halo Listeners get a double treat with a double taste test by both Jezzie and Sigi on the most current offering of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 12.  Listen in on how this bubble gum season is not only chewy and poppy, but also familiar and yet tangy.  Enjoy!

Halo Halo Listeners!  Start your engine, and may the best quiz-taker win!  Take this test with Sigi and see if you can pass with flying colours.  Jezzie finds out how much Sigi has studied RuPaul's Drag Race and quizzes him on drag lingo from the Glossary of Drag Terms from Enter the Queendom.  And snaps to those that get a dusted mark, and we hope this warmup gives you life! Okurrrr!!!

Halo Halo listeners, start your engines!  Your co-hosts kiki on RuPaul's Drag Race and dissect how its creator has not only created an industrial complex on the art form of drag, but promoted a cultural movement on self-love and authenticity.  Later, they discuss Traditional Filipino views on the silent tolerance of homosexuality, and discuss how finding another person's humanity as the key to accepting diversity.  In the Mix this Week:  ImDB's entry on "High Fidelity" TV Series, ImDB's entry on "Little Fires Everywhere", Amazon Prime's "Hunters" trailer, ImDB's entry on "The Man in the High Castle", RuPaul and Milton Berle incident 1993 MTV Music Awards, Photographer explores Filipino 'bakla' culture,

On this taste test, Jezzie gets the honest and enlivened truth from CNN's "Unseen Enemy" 2017 documentary on the lurking viruses and bacteria that may lead to the next global pandemic.  Like the lozenges, Fisherman's Friend, this documentary makes the sharp point that battling the next pandemic will take more than just a super vaccine and quarantine measures.  Take care of yourselves and the most vulnerable around us. 

In this extraordinary time of public safety and the need to engage in social distancing, Sigi and Jezzie warmup by planning and recommending their media binging at home for the foreseeable future.  Guess which co-hosts would revisit the Harry Potter franchise and which co-host would dive deep into trivia. Happy binge-watching everyone! In this extra helping: ImDB's "Parks and Recreation", Wikipedia Entry on "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" TV Series, Miss Information: A Trivia Podcast, Code Switch: NPR

#Canceleverything!  Originally, we had two topics that we were going to do a deep dive on for the coming months.  The first was the James Bond franchise and the anticipated release of Bond 25 "A Time to Die".  The second was Disney's release of their live action take on "Mulan."  However, both releases were postponed and as of this moment, the three major cinema chains in Canada have closed to follow the public health authorities direction of social distancing.  In these unprecedented times, Sigi and Jezzie discuss the impact that COVID-19 has on pop culture.  Later, they unpack how the fatalistic Filipino attitude of "Bahala Na" (aka whatever happens, happens) can help us find the silver lining in today's still world.  Finally, the Halo Halo Pop Culture family would like to wish you all safe passage in all your travels. Ingat na!  In the Mix this Week: 

On this taste test, Sigi samples 

Your two favourite co-hosts pick their favourite things to warmup before they record their next full episode.  Find out who carries a tongue scrapper and who comes prepared to lend you an iPhone cord charger, just in case you need it.  Enjoy!    

Jezzie's back from his travels and Sigi is back in the Halo Halo studios to talk about SB19 (Sound Break 19), the latest boy band sensation coming out of the Philippines and crafted by South Korea's KPop music industry.  They discuss SB19's undeniable precision and their ability to not only pierce the mainstream veil, but their potential to be mainstream.  Later, they discuss how being agreeable is a hallmark of the Filipino culture and how it values tact over fact.  Finally, they invite us to let the truth in so it can make us better and stronger!  In the Mix this Week: "Next in Fashion" Competition Series Trailer, "The Circle - A Netflix Reality-Competition" | Official Trailer | Netflix, TWICE "FANCY" Dance Practice Video, SB19 - "Go Up" Dance Practice, SB19 - "Alab" C-Bear's REACTION, K-pop Vocal Coach reacts to SB19 - Go up, [PPop in the Streets] Alab (Burning) by SB19 | Dance Cover by YOUNGSIDE, Asking for the bill or menu in a Filipino restaurant,

On this taste test, Jezzie quickly samples Botong Francisco's 1964 "Filipino Struggles Through History" mural, where he shares how breathtaking this monumental piece of art is.  Beautifully restored and located in Manila's National Museum of Fine Art, he likens this artistic endeavour to a dynamic, epic and bright graphic novel that depicts the resiliency and strength of the FilipinX people over the last 500 years.

On this warmup, Sigi leads your co-hosts through another instalment of Catharsis.  In this episode, Sigi and Jezzie reveal which movies, songs and TV shows produces laughter and joy.  Find out which of your co-hosts gets a belly ache after watching an episode of the "The Carol Burnett Show" and which co-host can't help but giggle when Buddy the "Elf" tells the audience that Santa does not smell like beef and cheese! In this extra helping: Wikipedia's entry on "The Carol Burnett", IMdB's "Elf", Fandom's "Jack McFarland", "The Hangover" trailer, IMdB's "The Golden Girls", "Patriot Act" Channel on Youtube  

Jezzie dials it in from the Seludon, former capital of the Kingdom of Maynila and the ancient lands of the Tagalogs and Kapampangans, while Sigi joins him from his homebase in Canada's capital region.  On this episode, they review Alex Tizon's "Big Little Man" and unpacks it's themes of representation, and the impact of colonialization on Asian masculinity.  Later, they examine more specifically Filipino masculinity and take inspiration from their fathers and the current Mayor of Manila, Isko Moreno.  Finally, they encourage us to share our wealth and take pride in ourselves as ways of embodying a new Asian masculine identity.  In the Mix this Week: Wikipedia's Entry on "2020 Taal Volcano Explosion", Wikipedia's Entry on SB19, La Times' review of Tizon's "Big Little Man",

On this Taste Test, Jezzie gives a full-bodied and luscious report on Star War’s Galaxy’s Edge in Los Angeles’ Disneyland. He details the immersive and interactive experience of this far, far away land and leaves us wanting more! 

On this warmup, Sigi leads your co-hosts through a new exercise called Catharsis.  In this episode, Sigi and Jezzie reveal which movies, songs and TV shows purged them of a particular emotion.  For this first of five warmups on Catharsis, they concentrate on sadness.  Find out which of your co-hosts cried during "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" and which co-host can't help but tear up during "This is Us." In this extra helping: ImDB entry on "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial", Trailer for "The Hours", Wikipedia entry on "This is Us"

Sigi helps Jezzie unpack the end of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga.  They discuss Episode 9 - Rise of the Skywalker, and the expectations attached to it.  Later they analyze and interpret the hero's journey across the triple trilogy movie series.  Next, Jezzie speaks to his feelings on the loss and ending of 40-plus years of storytelling on this particular part of the Star Wars universe. Finally, both your co-hosts review how the FilipinX community copes with loss through the Damayan system and how it may be important to make room for loss in one's life. In the Mix this Week: Wikipedia's entry on Cantopop, Timeout's review Bing Bing HK, Dorkside of the Force's "Star Wars: Is this really the end of the Skywalker Saga?", Rebuilding Communities and Lives: The Role of Damayan and Bayanihan in Disaster Resiliency

On this Meryenda episode, Jezzie and Sigi look at Filipino food pairings and examine why some of these odd food pairings work!  From chicharon (pork rinds) to dinuguan (blood stew), they breakdown how these food pairings are a stories in contrast, complements and focus. Enjoy this tasty episode! In the Mix this Week: Official Trailer "Between Maybes", K-pop Vocal Coach reacts to SB19 - Go up, SB19 - "Go Up" Dance Practice, MISS INFORMATION: A TRIVIA PODCAST, Kawaling Pinoy's "Pork Chicharon", Kawaling Pinoy's "Polvoron", 10 Strange Pinoy Food Pairings That Actually Work, Vulture's "How Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Gets Filipino Culture Right", FastCompany's "Infographic: A Scientific Map Of Optimal Food Pairings",

With the 2020 Award Season underway, Sigi provides a report to Jezzie on the most recent Golden Globe Awards as a warmup to their main episode.  Sigi goes over the notable wins, the fashion and its predicting power for the Academy Awards, while Jezzie pretends to be stylist to the stars on this first warmup of the year. In this extra helping: Golden Globes 2020: Awkwafina makes history with best actress win for 'The Farewell', '1917' Official Trailer, 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Official Trailer, Gwyneth Paltrow reinterprets the naked dress at the Golden Globes  

A New Year comes a new look!  Welcome to this very special episode where we debut our new logo for the Halo Halo Podcast, as well as interview our long-time listener and designer, Mailyne Briggs, who not only helped conceive and materialize this amazing design, but also shares her interesting life story and gives us a peak into her creative process.  Later, Sigi and Jezzie discuss what popular lovebrands have seeped into their psyche's and then analyze the Filipino disposition to give high loyalty and preference for foreign-made brands over local products and give them an unquestioningly "Blue Seal" approval.   In the Mix this Week: Wikipedia's Entry on "Lovemark", Dream Love Grow Media, Cambio & Co. Blog's "THE #WEARYOURHERITAGE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: 6 FILIPINO BRANDS YOU’LL LOVE", Cambio & Co. , Starbucks Brand; Starbucks Brand Identity, Personality & Experience

Happy New Year!  Sigi and Jezzie would like to wish all of our listeners a Happy New Year with much success, laughter and love in your lives. We have much in store for you, as we plan to bring you some special episodes from the Philippines and explore new topics like Asian Masculinity and reveal a brand new logo!   This all starts on January 17, 2020.  In the meantime, download some of earlier episodes and tell all your friends about us on all of your socials!

Halo Halo Podcast would like to wish all of our listeners a Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!  As a special gift to all of you, we've saved up a very special taste test where Jezzie walks us through, for the not-so-faint-of-heart, a prop and wardrobe auction for the nine-season TV Show of "Suits."  He explains how thrilling, but also anxiety provoking the whole experience was.  Look on our Socials for a glimpse of what he won!  Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!    

Sigi and Jezzie warmup this week with their pop culture wish list.  From automatic season renewals to hoping Claire Saffitz will make a gourmet Canadian Joe Louis in the Bon Appetit Test Kitchen, they share what they hope will come in the New Year.  From the Halo Halo Pop Culture Podcast, we wish you and your family double the kindness that you've given this past year to others.  Happy Holidays!

Sigi and Jezzie round out this rest of 2019 by collecting what they believe are the best of what this year has offered.  From movies to music, and tv to media, they trace out the themes of rebirth and consolidation and hope that Claire Saffitz from Bon Appetit's Taste Kitchen would make her version of a Canadian Joe Louis.  Later they revisit how collectivism is a central aspect of the FilipinX culture, and the tools that help maintain this cultural value. In the Mix this Week: "The Farewell" Trailer, Vanity Fair's "Baby Yoda has Conquered the World", Vulture's "Best Bon Appetit Test Kitchen Videos Ranked", Time's Entertainer of the Year 2019 Lizzo, CNN Style's "Remember J.Lo's iconic dress from the 2000 Grammy's? She just wore an updated version"