Everything's Political

Founded in 1999 and formerly known as Sigaw ng Bayan, Radyo Kapwa is an inclusive Filipino/a/x community and cultural radio show that celebrates the diversity and difference of people with roots to the Philippines. With three historical colonial invasions, multiple waves of migration worldwide, and over 7000 islands, we recognize and honour that Filipino/a/x/s are not a monolith. We provide a wide range of programming, music, and discussion topics to reflect this diversity. Radyo Kapwa aims to share their platform with grassroots community organisers and organisations, as well as interviews with inspiring members of our community. Our framework is based on values rooted in decolonization, and restorative and transformative justice. Our mission is to create an anti-patriarchal, anti-racist, anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia, faith-inclusive, non-ableist, trauma-informed space. This show is hosted by France Stohner, Desiree Ruiz and Veronica Jane Bertiz. This show would not possible without the team behind the scenes namely the sound engineers starting from head sound engineer Lorra Caluya, Fenny Cristo, Riz Gatsby. Platform manager Zay. Marketing team Desiree Ruiz, Angelica Alino, Erica Nidea. Philippine News from Abroad segment Jon Marvin Reyes, TITA Talks segment by Kat Daaca, and many more! Listen live every Wednesday 2-3pm 90.3FM #RadyoKapwa #CentreKapwa #CentreKapwaMtl #KapwaMtI #KapwaRising

Mabuhay les ami.es, long time no talk. That's just how things are! Life has been very busy since you last hear me rant. Quick update for you all. I am now working full-time as a paralegal in a law firm. You can say that I doing what I want as a career. I also co-founded, Centre Kapwa, a non-profit organization based here in Tiotia:ke/Montreal. We have been doing a lot of activities to support the mental health and wellbeing of Filipinx youth and families. Therefore, voila, that's why I have been busy. We have programming lined up as well. For today's episode, I wanted to share the process of me doing my research to the word Kapwa which is also where the name of the our Organization derived from. Tune in and let's learn together. Sharing is caring, knowledge is power. So let's empower each other! Mabuhay! PDF Copy of the article link below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mqQy2pYHLPfv7R_zXtY7GMV-TyIxrxZB/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mqQy2pYHLPfv7R_zXtY7GMV-TyIxrxZB/view?usp=sharing

Mabuhay les ami.es, I am back once againt to continue my rant about the so-called Canada’s broken healthcare system. As the title of this episode entails, I will talk about the overwhelming burden on women when the decision-makers are primarily men who do not have the same experiences. Yet, Canada boasts itself as a democratic country. So why are the ministers in charge of our healthcare system men? In Quebec, we have an accountant in charge of our health and social care services. Rich, Cis, White men. If this is a true democracy, doesn’t it make sense that women should be ministers when it comes to our healthcare system? Women literally represent 80% of the healthcare industry. Women are already often dismissed, ignored, and often not heard. The moment women speaks up and stand their ground, they are branded as “bitch” and aggressive. Yet when men literally have blood on their hands for severe professional negligence, they are left unpunished. Tune in to this episode and be enraged with me! I thank everyone who continuously supports me and listens to my podcast. I really try to remain consistent but you know, life happens! Muli, maraming salamat sa pakikinig. Vero, out.

Mabuhay les ami.es! I finally had the burst of energy to talk and rant about the disastrous healthcare system here in Canada and how neoliberal employment-immigration policies are just another way of stealing resources from another country like the Philippines. Unsurprisingly, imperialist nations like Canada and the West allies are relying back again on their former colonies. From 1960 to the 1970s, due to USA’s healthcare worker shortages coming out from the Second World War, they needed a lot of care providers for all their injured G.I.s. When the USA violently occupied the Philippines in the early 1900s, they set up an education system oriented to serve American interests. I’d say, it’s planting their seeds and imposing on us to be educated and speak in English. This seed bloomed because 50-60 years later, the first Labour Export Policy between former colonial master USA and former colony the Philippines was enacted. This caused a huge legal migration of Filipinos to fill in these labour shortages. 50 years later, they are still doing exactly the same thing in exchange for showering us with crumbs of “help”. Listen to this episode to connect the dots. Do not forget to boost my ego by following me on my Instagram @ lahat_konektado_podcast. Vero, out!

Mabuhay les ami.es, I am back again! Sorry I am not able to regularly upload. Please do enjoy this episode where I read Hanna's Tagalog segment on Filipino Star for Canada's Thanksgiving. Hanna, just like me, is 1.5 generation immigrant. Born in the Philippines and spent awkward teenagehood here in Tiotia:ke/Montreal. In her writing, she shared her experience as someone who is not familiar with the concept of this colonial Thanksgiving. Rather, she share her experiences in a more decolonized perspective. I noticed it in the way she thanks the Sun, the Wind and the Sky as a way of honouring the land here where the custodians of the Land and Water are the Kanien'kehá:ka. Hanna, if you're reading this, ikinagagalac kong ipagmalaki na ika'y aking isang matalik na kaibigan. Ako'y nag-papasalamat dahil ako's saksi at bahagi ng iyong magadang buhay. Mabuhay ka. For those who braved and listened to the episode. Thank you for listening. I will not have an English translation because I believe it changes a littled bit of its essence. Frankly, I also do not have capacity. I also would like to center the beauty of my mother tongue: Tagalog. Muli, I thank you all for your support. Vero, out. 

Mabuhay les ami.es! It’s me again Veronica! For this episode, it’s not really a rant but more of a spoken word or what we say in Tagalog, Tula. This is a speech I prepared for an event hosted by a dear friend of mine Jackie, a PhD candidate in Social Work at McGill University. I was one of the participants of her studies about Queer Filipinx in Tiotia:ke/Montreal. During the workshops, we really got intimate in a spiritual level and strengthen our connection/bond to the Homeland and our queerness. At the end of the workshop, Jackie organised gathering where we showcased photographs that we submitted and spoke about the reasoning behind. Throughout the time we spent together, the overlaying topic that keep on appearing is the concept of Home, Love and Vulnerability. I used that as an inspiration to the speech that I recorded published here. Bonne écoute! Vero, out!

Mabuhay les ami.es! Long time no talk. Sorry! I cannot seem to sustain rigid scheduling and really having a hard time managing my time. So, when I did have a burst of energy, I immediately went into writing mode. I have been dwelling on how to center and highlight Tagalog as my native language. I live in Tiotia:ke, colonially known as Montreal. I also live in Quebec. Language is a big deal. We just had an election and the governing party has openly demonised and scapegoated immigrants such as myself to gain more votes. This is also a reflection of the society I currently live in. They are the ones in power even though only 41% of the 67% of people who voted in Quebec election, voted for Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ). I know many of my kapwa immigrant, immigrant peers, are worried and uneasy. I know some of my kapwa (peers) who are already integrated and almost abandoned their parent’s mother tongue to further prevent more alienation and more discrimination. As a result, half of my Filipino friends are unable to speak their parents’ language. We are also the product of Law 101 in Quebec where all immigrants must go to french educational institutions by law in order to protect their language. Tune in to this episode in hopes of invigorating that bayanihan/kapwa feeling and empower my Tagalog-speaking listeners to continue to resist and safeguard our mothertongue as it is a reflection of who we are and where we came from. I like this episode and this topic has been dwelling in me so if you like it, please make sure to follow me at @lahat_konektado_podcast on Instagram. Let your presence be known by liking and subscribing. This way, I know that my efforts are not in vain! Muli, maraming salamat! Vero, out.

Mabuhay les ami.es, I have been meaning to address and unpack the comments under the recent Omni news report that I was part of. If you want to watch it, it's on Omni News Facebook page. I want to decortiquer a bit the emotions behind the comments that are hateful that basically came from somewhere deep.  For this episode, I dived into our concept of home and the decalage between our parents' generations and ours. Why is it that our own kapwa is mad that we are fighting for our rights? That advocating for our kapwa is considered "mayabang" or arrogant? I believe that this is rooted in our insecurity and that entrenched inferiority complex that was planted by the imperialist. I am so tired of keeping our heads down. That being said, I thank France Stohner for bringing looking for a way to give me a more solid and wider platform. The news has made ripples in our kapwa and they are asking questions. We have our rights and damn right we are going to fight for them. Why is that so wrong? Oh yeah, coz it's a reflection of how much we are taught to be obedient and submissive. Every time we deviate away from this mentality, people have diligently "followed" the rules. We are free from these constraints while they are drowning in one. So of course, they are bad. We get to fight back and be mayabang but they cannot. Using my unawa, I understand the frustration they are feeling. Those frustrations manifest and they project those bad energies on us attempting to bring us down. But I simply reject that notion right away. My parents have worked hard for me to have the freedom I am living in. I will rock the boat and rattle the cages. Listen to my podcast now! Vero, out. 

Mabuhay les ami.es! As mentioned, here is the second episode for this month of June which is Filipino Heritage Month in the Turtle Island/ Canada.  If you want to inform yourself more about Queer heritage we have pre-colonial Spanish era, I listed to Pinoy Historian Kirby Araullo. Check him out on youtube. I also follow several decolonised accounts on Instagram which helped me come up with my own understanding of our view on sexuality without a colonisers' influence. The homophobia that current Filipinos experience is from the strong colonial foothold of Spanish imperialism that has successfully entrenched in our society. Even modern Spain right now is still very intolerant towards LGBTQ members. The reason why is something that I tackled in this episode. Moreover, if we were to study a little bit deeper let's say, India's pre-colonial era, you will notice that gender expression, identity, and the norm are fluid as well. Imperialism really just ruins everything! So please do listen and I thank you in advance ! Maraming salamat mga Kasama. Vero, out. 

Mabuhay! I am excited to share this small project of mine in the spirit of Filipino Heritage Month. I want to create 3 other episodes for the month and hopefully, you all like it and learned something from it! I worked hard for this idea and episode. I edited my script several times. I used popular movies/shows as an example to make it easier to understand where I'm coming from. The goal here is to informally educate you all. I dont have a degree in Education but I do have a degree in Political Science and Paralegal technologies. If you want to compensate me, I have a Ko-fi page. Buy me a coffee coz I like coffee. Do let me know that you appreciate this type of work through compensating me :P Link is down below.  https://ko-fi.com/lahatkonektado Follow me on social media @Lahat_Konektado_podcast! Maraming salamat mga Kasama Vero, out. 

This is my opinion alone which is protected by both Canadian and Quebec Charters. I will not entertain comments that are clearly done to rile me up. I created this video in order to validate the feelings you're feeling right now. This is a space for my Kapwa Pilipino and immigrants who are the indirect target of this law to alienate and assimilate. Let take care of each other. Yakap ng mahigpit. 

Mabuhay les ami.es, long time no episode! This episode is actually a reflection and caption for my post at @mat.vero over on Instagram. If you are curious as to what I posted, I suggest to head over there and check my post. As always, enjoy my ramble! I wish to do more of this in the future. Maraming salamat. Vero out! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lahat_konektado_podcast/  https://www.instagram.com/mat.vero/

Mabuhay les ami.es! I'm back with another episode. I am happy to be able to sustain this podcasting of mine finish all the way to Food. I had certain topics I wanted to tackle before I start freestyling about my future episodes. I wanted to be able to touch the basics first. That way, I can just refer back as I talk about more topics.  As an uprooted immigrant, food is our direct connection to our "home". Even those who were born here and unable to speak their parents' mother tongue, are still able to pronounce the name of the Filipino dishes.  Here's an article written by a kapwa https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/filipino-food-identity_a_23584183  I also mentioned that I will post some links below regarding Filipino restaurants you may want to order from!  Cuisine de Manille: https://cuisinedemanille.com/  Junior Filipino: https://order.chkplzapp.com/junior/menus  Beck's Cuisine and Catering: https://beckscuisine.com/  Pinoy Pansitan: https://www.facebook.com/Pinoypansitan/info?tab=page_info  Cafe Kuya: https://cafe-kuya.business.site/  I also suggest for y'all to just Google them: Filipino food montreal. It will give you a lot of suggestions. Or, send me a message. My Instagram is @lahat_konektado_podcast. From thereon, you can easily reach me.  Now go listen to my podcast! Vero, out!

Mabuhay les ami.es and Happy new year! Je suis de retour and I finally had the energy to finish this episode. I am satisfied as to how I finished this. This episode is a little roller coaster story telling. But then again, that's kinda how my episodes are anyways. Imagine if I dont have a script/outline. I will be talking on and on. I will not have anymore listeners. Anywho, I hope you all had a good day. I had a rough 2021. We all did anyways except richie rich people profiting off our suffering.  #TyphoonOdette donation is still very much needed. There are many organizations who are currently seeking help with whatever means possible too. I am currently unemployed and unable to help financial means. I am doing what I can which is raising awareness for my homeland. If you have the means, please do consider donating. Just press on the Hashtag and you bet it will direct you to multiple platforms. I hope you enjoy this episode and made you nod along with me. Feedback is welcome too! With that, I leave you be. Vero, out. 

Mabuhay les ami.es, I apologise for being MIA. For this episode, I talk about an issue that barely anyone speaks about by everyone has experienced some way or another. It is about my activist and mental health stemming most of it from generational trauma from my background as former colonies of several imperialist nations. I mean Spain, UK, and Japan were once an empire. I am displaced from my own homeland, "tahanan ng aking lahi" or land of my race in english, to immigrate here in Tiotia:ke/Montreal for economic purposes. The social, political, economic sphere in the Philippines has been in turmoil. We have not had our own time to be who we are. Shout out to Barbados! Anyways, listen to me ramble, and thank you in advance for listening!  here's the link for the Omni News video about the single Filipina caregiver mother I talked about in this episode.  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=949802952629237 

Mabuhay les ami.es! Trigger warning for this episode as I rant about the Catholic Church and how it's weaponised to cut our ties from our indigenous belief (paganism). We think of ancient Greek mythology as something cool. We know Zeus, God of War, Venus, Goddess of Love. Well, guess what? We "Filipinos" also have our own version. We have diwata, bathala. We have our own version of God of Sea, God of land, etc. The thing is when we talk about this, we are primitive and we must be "savages" for believing this kind of stories but there's literally Ph.D. level education about ancient Greek Mythology. We don't even have Filipino studies! Anyways, I am already ranting. Listen to my podcast and follow me on Instagram at @Lahat_Konektado_Podcast I think I wrote this script fairly well. Did you enjoy it? let me know! Salamat mga Kasama!

Mabuhay les ami.es since I talked about our language, I thought it was fitting to read you all a Tagalog spokenwords. This one is from Akdaan anthology, 3rd edition. It is a spoken word by Mary Jane Veloso who was sentenced to death by the Indonesian government due to drug charges. She was allegedly a drug mule. I apologise for the unscheduled scheduling. I am now back to school. I really hope I get to continue to doing this even though my time is more limited. I enjoy writing and recording this. As mentioned, this is also a creative/rant outlet for me.  Anyways, je vous souhaite un bon écoute. Merci encore une fois d'avoir m'écouté, c'est bien apprecié. Maraming salamat mga kasama.  Vero, out. 

Our language is one of our connections to our culture, heritage. There are so many languages in the Philippines because we are very diverse. Tagalog "became" the dominant language in the Philippines as decided by the ruling Spaniard, during the Spanish occupation. What this does is further created further division among different cultures in the Philippines. We were further pitted against one another. This is an imperialist tactic of "Divide and Conquer". First, they have divided up us by favouring one community over the other, then conquer/control us because we are not solid to our kapwa. The Spaniards used this tactic to create distrust between us and our other kapwa. We also grew up hearing "english is the business language" meaning that if we are fluent in english we'll make "good" money. This is further orienting us Filipinos to not invest in our community and actually work overseas. We have been oriented to work abroad to earn money. I say no more. I believe we can start investing in ourselves, supporting one another's business and grow away from our dependence from foreign powers. These are just small connections, please listen to this episode to hear more! Salamat mga kasama. 

I apologise for the random noises in the background. I did a mini-crash course thanks to YouTube on how I can isolate as much noise as I can. If you're wondering where and what's the noise, it's my handheld microphone! It's the wire because I kept on moving. I was excited to talk to our Ate ng Bayan (Neighbourhood's big sister).  I want to clarify as well is that I did not grow up to where I currently live. My partner did. She's the one who told me the story of brick being thrown in their window à l'époque. Also, I will post pictures of the murals and the cement blocks falling apart at Centre Sportif Loisir over at Van Horne street. It will posted on the podcast instagram @Lahat_Konektado_Podcast. See you there!  Where can you find France Stohner? Facebook: @Francestohner.snowdon Instagram: Francestohner.snowdon Snowdon is the district/arrondissement she's running to represent here in Montreal, Quebec. 

Mabuhay les ami.es, this is the last episode of me "laying the ground".  In this episode, I talked about generational trauma within my community that we don't talk about it much. I talked about how this is all connected, it's all politics.  I hope that my rant has validated some of you!  Thank you for listening, merci d'avoir m'écouter, maraming salamat mga kasama. Vero, out.

Mabuhay les ami.es, for this episode, I rant why the importance if being active in politics. Hurts to say this but, we're no longer teenagers! We can't party all night and go to work at 7 am the next day. We got kids, or we're now tito or tita. We have bills to pay, rent to pay. We're grown adults now! So, lets take ownership of our life and get cozy. Tiotia:ke/Montreal, Canada is our home too. We will no longer be eternal visitors on this stolen land. Thank you for taking time listening to my podcast, merci d'avoir m'écouter, salamat talaga sa supporta mga kasama. Vero

Mabuhay les ami.es! This is Vero host of this podcast: Everything is Political. Join me while I rant about the world and sharing my perspective as a personne racisée in Tiotia:ke/Montreal.  For this episode, I just lay down the ground and talk about who I am to understand where I am coming from. So it's basically a brief introduction of me, because I am full of myself.  Im still getting the gist of how things operate so please be patient while I navigate all of this techno stuffs. Tita Veronica is working hard.  Thank you for listening to me, thank you for the time, un moment donné, j'aimerais enregistrer des épisode en français aussi. C'est sûr est certain! That being said, maraming salamat sa supporta mga kasama.  Vero