Bakas-Bukas Podcast

Beginning today, 11/1/2022, I am introducing my new project, Bakas-Bukas Podcast. It is an open mic talk approach in storytelling which is inspired by StoryCorps' mission to record, preserve, and share stories of Filipinos in their journey and in search for "sarili, kapwa, and bayan" wherever they may be.

This is consistent with my Historian Statement of this homepage: (That) it is only by telling and retelling our story do we keep our collective memory of struggles for justice, freedom and democracy alive and to thrive for this generation and beyond.

Bakas is the Filipino word for [noun] footprint, trace, imprint, outline, sign, clue, and [adjective] traced, imprinted, outlined Root. While Bukas means open, tomorrow, opening, future, without cover, and state of being open.

Hence, Bakas Bukas may mean "Tomorrow's Footprints," "Legacy Tracks," "Be open or uncover of the past," and its profound interpretation: BAKAS is BAgong KASaysayan or new narratives, and BUKAS is to be open minded as in to make more responsive, understanding, or generous, to make known to the public, and to make available and accessible to all.

The format is audio. It is a podcast. A digital audio file made available on the internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments where one can listen at their convenience and comfort.

No need for notes taking while listening. No worries, this homepage provides supplemental texts and readings of the topics or subject matters in the podcast. There are also videos and webinars to further and deepen the understanding.

For this inaugural launch of the Bakas Bukas Podcast I am sharing two StoryCorps tapes. First, Tina Alejo, a grade school teacher at Bessie Carmichael and a parent of two children who attended Filipino Education Center/Bessie Carmichael School. Tina is also my co-founder of the renowned Galing-Bata Program.

This is a story sharing of Tina Alejo and MC Canlas on their work in SoMa Pilipinas in San Francisco. It was taped on May 1,2011. Among the topics shared are parenting in this environment as immigrant family; The concept of Kapwa as immigrant Filipinos; the school system and Galing-Bata; sikolohiyang Pilipino and pantayong pananaw in history; building community and activism; bilingual education, and Filipino Education Center; The sense of longing and belonging.

The second Bakas Bukas is my conversation with Cristina Sprague, a longtime nurse and nurse practitioner of SoMa Health Center, also a StoryCorps audio documentation which was taped on August 12,2016. We talked about the help seeking behavior, attitude, and mindset of Filipinos with regards to their health and health care system. It is a good insight in the "barrio" mentality and rural culture of immigrant residents in San Francisco.

Bakas Bukas Podcast is still a work in progress. I would love to hear your feedback and suggestions. Happy listening.