#WordplayWednesdays by AA

Back in May, we went live with our event, Stripped, and laid our rawest, bleeding truths out on-stage. In this episode, we're bringing that same energy back to the studio. We're digging deep into the wreckage of survival, the ghosts we've had to outgrow, and how we finally learned to turn our darkest memories into unyielding weapons.Trigger Warning: This episode contains open discussions about trauma, survival, mental health issues, and sexual abuse. Please take care of your peace first.

From drunken courage to spiritual surrender. 🍻🙏We sat down with Mike Ocampo (guitar and vocals) and Gino Manglicmot (bass and back-up vocals) of local band, Ube, for a soul-baring conversation on the hidden stories behind their tracks.We dive into the quiet agony of being torpe, loving someone beyond their surface-level shine, navigating shifting seasons in life, and the ultimate relief of learning to yield control.Plus! Stick around for an EXCLUSIVE stripped-down version of their songs, "San Miguel (Patron ng mga Torpe)" and "Kahit" 🎶

What do you do with the fire you lock inside? In this episode of #WordplayWednesdays by AA, we sit down with guest poet Stephen Alcaldeza to talk about repressed anger—and how turning those internal eruptions into art might just be the best therapy out there.Joined by Nike, Weewo, and Chai, we unpack Stephen's heavy-hitting piece, explore how humans process frustration, and debate whether anger is just trapped sadness or pure, grass-fed pettiness.Grab a drink, pull up a seat, and let off some steam with us.Stay articulate, stay anonymous. #AA

What does it actually mean to "get lucky" in the modern dating scene?Here's some behind-the-scenes truth: Episode 13 really lived up to its not-so-lucky number. We shot this episode twice, battled technical failures, endured chaotic scheduling, and fought our way to the finish line. What you're listening to is a salvaged, high-energy, 40-minute storm of pure spontaneity.Squeezing onto the couch with Chai, Weewo, and Nike are the surprise crashers Wacky Lachica, Co-Founder of The South Spoken Collective, and one of TSSC's performers, Stephen Alcaldeza. Together, we're throwing out the toxic BS and having a raw, unfiltered, slightly controversial, and incredibly fast-paced Battle of the Sexes about egos, accountability, consent, and the rarity of real connection.It's short, it's chaotic, and it's entirely real. Grab a drink and join the roundtable.

For Episode 12, we're coming to you live from an exclusive, highly confidential, rent-free venue—we decided to turn Weewo's couch into a therapy lounge.In this episode, we tackle the heavy but necessary topic of mental health. We dive deep into how we use art (among other things) as an elixir to soothe our souls and how it anchors us to the most significant and chaotic chapters of our lives. We read our personal pieces, break down the human experiences behind them, and discuss what helped us survive specific turning points in our lives.It's basically an unfiltered mental health check-in, but packed with our usual cozy chaos, deep vulnerability, and some wordplay. So grab a drink, settle onto the couch, and unpack your emotional baggage with us.Trigger Warning: This episode contains open discussions about mental health struggles, anxiety, coping mechanisms, and emotional low points. If you are struggling, please remember that you are not alone and reaching out for help is a sign of strength.

In this episode of #WordplayWednesdays, Weewo shoots his shot, Nike submerges us into the deep waters of human inhibitions, and Chai closes out the night by turning a death threat into raw poetic survival.Pour yourself a freshly pulled espresso shot — or whatever your chosen Poetry Potion is — and dive into the human experiences behind the prose.Special thanks to our venue partner, Hoody Cafe, and our friend, Nina, for the amazing, madness-filled night!📢 SOUTHIES, MARK YOUR CALENDARS!AA is officially collaborating with our friends from The South Spoken Collective for their upcoming event, Chapter 4: In Full Color.📅 When: 27 June, Saturday📍 Where: We The People Coffee, Alabang🎨 Theme: Chapter 4: In Full Color🎟️ Tickets: ₱400 (Online/Pre-registered) | ₱450 (Walk-in)Stay articulate, stay anonymous, and we'll see you there!

In Episode 10 of #WordplayWednesdays, the AA crew is taking over Luigi's Pizza in BF Homes for a pizza therapy session.We're joined by our friend Nina LIVE and returning legend, John. Over slices and beers, we're unpacking the irony of how we, as humans, are often the architects of the very chaos we try to escape.In this episode:Luigi's Origins: Luigi himself joins us to share the story behind their iconic "Pizza Pie Hanggang Mamatay" tagline and his creative journey with his wife, Mon.More is Set: Chai explores the irony of life, inspired by Alanis Morissette, and why we turn to the sea when we're drowning on land.NDE: Weewo recounts his heart-stopping near-death experience in a way you've never heard, and how he found bliss in the chaos.An Ode to an Old Friend: John returns to share a powerful piece about depression, reminding us that we aren't alone and there is always something greener on the other side.Note: The pieces shared here are expressions of personal experience. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a professional. You are not alone.

Do you need to be a full-time, famous author to call yourself a writer? Absolutely not.In Episode 9 of #WordplayWednesdays, Chai, Nike, and Weewo sit down with Nicole Fuentes. Nicole is Chai's old college friend from UA&P, a corporate marketer navigating married life in Sydney, and a brilliantly talented author who published a heavy, psychological thriller called "Keeping Her In The Light" before she even started college.We are on a mission to prove that anyone can be a writer. Whether you're a seasoned author or someone with a demanding day job who just wants to put pen to paper, this episode is your reminder that your ordinary, human story is worth immortalizing.Listen to find out:How to balance a demanding corporate job with your creative passionsHow Nicole birthed a story about Stockholm Syndrome as a teenagerThe specific emotional triggers that make writing authentic

What happens when you mix a Palanca-winning playwright, three eager writers, and discussions around unrequited love, the universe, and religion, among others? You get an episode that's as deep as a heritage archive and as bold as a stage performance.This week, Weewo, Nike, and Chai are joined by a very special guest: multi-Palanca Award Winner, Juan Ekis. He's the mind behind the revolutionary "Pingkian: Isang Musikal", the soul-searching "Twenty Questions", and the cult-classic "Kapeng Barako Club: Samahan Ng Mga Bitter".This episode dives into the bitter and sweet of love, friendship, and the universe, the weight of preserving Filipino heritage, and the magic of words.