Facts First: Recent Episodes
Christian Esguerra
Every week journalist Christian Esguerra establishes the facts first on political issues, and more, in the Philippines as he sits down with experts and policy makers.
Journalist Christian Esguerra sits down with lawyer Andy Bautista, former chief of the Presidential Commission on Good Government who explained how Ferdinand Marcos, his family, and cronies looted public coffers during his 21-year rule. Bautista warns of the prospect of electing the son and namesake of the late dictator in this year’s Philippine presidential election.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FFP-ANDY-BAUTISTA-audio.mp3
In this episode, former Philippine senator Antonio Trillanes talks about his recent dialogue with a group of voters to better understand their support for the son of the later dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who’s running for president in May.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FFP-TRILLANES-RE-RENDER_1.mp3
Jailed for 5 years on questionable drug charges, Sen. Leila de Lima is seeking a second term. Christian Esguerra spoke with her spokesperson on how difficult it has been for her to wage a nationwide campaign while in detention, including explaining why she’s a victim of political persecution, using a live proxy — and a standee
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/FFP-DE-LIMA-_1.mp3
Can candidates realistically win without so-called “line troll networks”? Christian Esguerra sat down with a veteran campaign strategist and a professor, who studied how Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter influence political discourse in the 2022 elections.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/FFP-POLITICAL-TACTICS.mp3
This episode is a critical, no-BS look at presidential interviews in the run-up to the Philippine elections in May 2022, because the interviewer and the questions he asks are just as crucial as the candidates’ response. Journalist Christian Esguerra sits down with veteran campaign strategist Alan German.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/FFP-PRES-INTERVIEWS-ALAN-PT-2_1.mp3
Christian Esguerra sits down with Philippine labor leader Leody De Guzman, who details the “radical” changes he plans to implement if elected president in 2022. But does he even have a chance against more popular and moneyed candidates, including the son of the late Philippine dictator?
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FFP-KA-LEODY-EP_1.mp3
This episode explains the struggles of the Philippine government to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the late Philippine dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and his family.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FFP-RUBEN-CARRANZA-EP_1.mp3
This episode looks into the new law prohibiting child marriages and its implications on Muslims in the predominantly Christian country. Journalist Christian Esguerra sits down with legal scholar Michael Mastura, who helped efforts to codify Philippine Muslim laws in the 1970s.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FFP-CHILD-MARRIAGE-mp3.mp3
Around 200,000 residents of 63 villages in the Philippine province of North Cotabato may not be able to vote for local positions in the May 2022 elections because of a Comelec resolution. These villages are now part of the new BARMM but its interim government, led by former Moro rebels, has not reconstituted these villages into new local government units.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FFP-63-barangays.mp3
Why is Marcos Jr.’s campaign strategy working while Vice President Leni Robredo’s doesn’t seem to be as effective? Christian Esguerra sat down with veteran campaign strategist Alan German to examine the different campaign messaging of presidential candidates in the 2022 elections.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FFP-ALAN-GERMAN-audio.mp3
Disinformation is rampant in the upcoming Philippine elections. This episode sets the record straight about the fake story of the Tallano gold, the supposed source of the Marcos wealth and which would supposedly be distributed to Filipinos if the son of the late dictator wins the presidency in 2022. Journalist Christian Esguerra sits down with historian Michael Charleston Chua on why the story making the rounds on social media is FAKE.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Bakit-FAKE-NEWS-ang-kwento-ng-TALLANO-GOLD-_-FactsFirst_1.mp3
Multi-awarded screenwriter and poet Jerry Gracio explains why he organized the “Kapamilya” party-list group, and why Duterte’s shutdown of the Philippines’ largest media network on free TV and radio should be a major campaign issue in the 2022 elections.
OR LISTEN:
A former Duterte ally is coming out of retirement from politics to challenge the president’s son, Sebastian Duterte, for Davao City’s mayoralty in 2022. Ruy Elias Lopez, 61, a former congressman and a practicing lawyer, explains why he’s standing up to the Duterte dynasty in his city.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FFP-Ruy-Elias-Lopez-vs-Baste-Duterte-for-mayor.mp3
In this episode, professor Walden Bello, the socialist vice presidential candidate in the Philippines, speaks with journalist Christian Esguerra about the difficult solutions he and his presidential candidate, Leody De Guzman, are offering to voters in 2022.
OR LISTEN:
https://factsfirstpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FFP-WALDEN-BELLO_1.mp3