Bisaya Banter is still under construction đ§ Salamat sa pasensya.
Bisaya Banter is still under construction đ§ Salamat sa pasensya.
Two Bisaya girlies in Aotearoa exploring Filipino identity in the diaspora. Our podcast is a safe, judge-free space for young Filipinos to process and celebrate their heritage. Expect deep cultural dives, personal stories, community voices, and plenty of Bisaya humor!
What would you do if your film, made for your own people, was banned in your own country?
In this special episode of Bisaya Banter, Vivien sat down with award-winning Filipino filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, best known for Sunday Beauty Queen, to talk about her latest documentary Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea.
This film, told through human stories, everyday resilience, and even touches of Bisaya language, was made for the Filipino people. But just two days before its premiere, it was pulled due to âexternal forces.â Baby Ruth shares how that felt, the importance of telling these stories, and how DocEdge Festival in Aotearoa became the filmâs new home, where it won the Tides of Change Award.
In this episode, weâre unpacking all the things we really wish we knew before moving to New Zealand â the funny, the awkward, and the downright emotional.
Culture shocks:
The deeper stuff:
Whether you're new to NZ or reflecting on your own migration story, we hope this convo makes you feel seen, heard, and a little less alone.
Today (November 2) is All Souls Day, a Philippine public holiday when we remember our loved ones who have passed away. We eat, pray, and play together with our extended families at the cemetery, and we sometimes camp there overnight.
Itâs actually not as scary as it sounds. Itâs one of Vivienâs best and funnest childhood memories, the highlight being the scary stories being told at night. Something Keziah wishes she experienced growing up.
Itâs only fitting to share some of our scary stories, with tons of laughter in between to soften the mood... (because we ended up scaring ourselves lol)
From tiyanak, exorcisms, albularyo and Minda Mora, we talk about some personal scary stories and stories weâve heard and seen on the internet.
What scary stories or FIlipino folklore did you grow up with? Tell us in the comments!
Correction: Gold Ribbon restaurant is in Glen Eden, not Henderson!
Content warning: This episode discusses mental health issues and themes of assault.
In this deeply personal episode, Vivien and Keziah open up about their own experiences of being fetishised as Asian women in the dating scene. They reflect on how these harmful stereotypes have shaped their relationships and self-perceptions.
This is a special video episode with the bubbly Marc Conaco, a queer Bisaya artist whose journey in the creative industry is deeply influenced by his supportive Bisaya parents and the rich cultural tapestry of MÄori traditions. Marc shares how his parents' encouragement has fuelled his passion to become a full-time freelance artist and how his experiences in Aotearoa have led him to reconnect with his pre-colonial Bisaya roots.
Marc Conaco, known as on Instagram, is not only a talented graphic designer and zine-maker but also an amateur farmer. Hailing from Daanbantayan, Cebu, Marc graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from the University of the Philippines before moving to Aotearoa in 2008, where he earned a Diploma in Graphic Design. Today, he thrives as a visual artist and producer within the creative industry.
Throughout the episode, we discuss how Marc's works strongly focus on reclaiming pre-colonial Bisaya culture, the importance of decolonisation and how it has allowed him to deepen his connection with Bisaya traditions.
There's heaps of laughter in this bilingual episode, predominantly in English with some Bisaya, as we celebrate the intersections of identity, culture, and artistry. Marc's story is a testament to the power of cultural pride and the influence of familial support in pursuing one's passions.
We also didn't anticipate this would be a video episode, so forgive our intro and outro audio! If we decide to do more videos, we'll have a filmed version by then!