The Howie Severino Podcast

It’s being called a "Godzilla" of extreme weather – a potentially record-breaking Super El Niño threatening severe drought, heat waves, and water shortages well into 2027.Preparing for this crisis requires more than short-term fixes, according to prominent Filipino environmental scientist Dr. Rodel D. Lasco. A pioneer in climate change research, he stresses the urgent need to pair nature-based solutions with individual responsibility in our daily consumption.Beyond his scientific work, Dr. Lasco is also a church pastor with a master’s degree in theology. From this rare intersection of faith and science, he joins Howie Severino to discuss how the principles of order in both disciplines help him find harmony in his lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ground-breaking psychologist and former Kapuso actor Carl Lorenz Cervantes unpacks the Filipino belief in the paranormal. Drawing on Sikolihiyang Pilipino, he explains how ‘kababalaghan’ bridges the visible and invisible worlds to help us understand ourselves, our ancestors, and our shared humanity or what we know as “kapwa.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

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