EP 24: Ben & Tabs — Building The Pump Factory, One Hold at a Time

EP 24: Ben & Tabs — Building The Pump Factory, One Hold at a Time

What do you do when your climbing gym starts as a warehouse wall, runs on donations, and somehow becomes one of the most important climbing communities in the Philippines? In this episode, Tim and MG sit down with Ben and Tabs of The Pump Factory in Iloilo to talk about building a gym from scratch, growing a climbing community, importing holds to an archipelago (good luck), and why climbing spaces matter. This episode is also a shameless plug for the Long Beach Rising Community Climb Fundraiser benefiting The Pump Factory on June 13, 2026. 🧗🏽 Community Climb Fundraiser for The Pump Factory  📍 Long Beach Rising  📅 June 13, 2026 RSVP here. [https://partiful.com/e/3d7bHTkk9KHSoNk6lAnJ?c=3LohlSqI] We’ll share the gofundme link, which will be released at the fundraiser. Special thanks to MG for co-hosting, Onassis Rabanes for the lightning-fast edit, and Christine Antonio for helping get the word out and keeping the Rock & Rice social machine running. Also special shoutout to Basil Vargas for the initial idea of the fundraiser. From Long Beach to Iloilo: climbers supporting climbers.

EP 23: Tagumpay Projek Pango! Plus, Pilipinas Climbing Nationals and The Pump Fundraiser sa LBR.

Mabuhay Projek Pango! This month, we celebrate our friends Gerry Egbalic and Ivan Cataluña, who just summitted The Nose. Projek Pango was an idea born in 2023 and they summited The Nose May 2026.  To our knowledge, they are the first Filipino team to have done The Nose. But if you happen to know other all-Filipino teams who've summited, or even attempted The Nose, reach out to projek_pango@gmail.com. We'd love to celebrate them.  Shoutouts to our Valley Uprising Ghorls: Alex Sadlacan [https://www.instagram.com/alexcruzs02/], Kaila Andres [https://www.instagram.com/kailaandres_/], and Jen Martelino [https://www.instagram.com/jennymartiniii/] for documenting the experience. And interviewing the team! ~~ Iba Pang Balita / Other News * 🇵🇭 PCI Nationals is happening June 21 & 22, and June 28 & 29 in Manila. Learn more here [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPLEsqh6EK/]. Rock and Rice will be an official prize sponsor! Salamat JX [https://www.instagram.com/justjo_it/] for reaching out. Be on the lookout for Rock and Rice stickers! * 🌊 In SoCal? Come to Long Beach Rising on June 13th. They're hosting a fundraiser for The Pump Factory in Iloilo. Salamat MG [https://www.instagram.com/marigrace.0/] for leading this fundraiser, and Basil Vargas [https://www.instagram.com/basilvargas/] for the initial idea. We miss our friends in Iloilo! Mas marami tayong bisita ngayong taon! We have a stacked lineup of guests this year. Listen to the episode to hear who's going to be on the podcast.  Salamat sa pakikinig. Our show couldn't be possible without you.  ~~ Join our discord [https://discord.gg/7ywJCaB3] Become a Patron [https://patreon.com/rockandrice] ~~ Podcast Team:  * Tim Casasola, host * Onassis Rabanes, editor * Christine Joy, social & discord Artwork: Pat Palacio [https://www.palaciographics.com] Projek Pango logo by Lo (Lois Ann Luce Kempney). Salamat Lo! Song: Bruiser, by Winchip

EP 22: Daniel Pugeda — Privilege, Perspective, and Being Fans of Philippine Climbing

In this episode of Rock and Rice, we sit down with Daniel Pugeda — a Filipino-American climber whose first outdoor sport climb in the Philippines… was a 5.13a/7c+. But this conversation goes way beyond that wild first send. After multiple trips back to the Philippines, Daniel reflects on how his perspective has evolved — from being a stoked first-time visitor to someone thinking more critically about access, privilege, and what it really means to engage with the climbing community back home. We talk about: * The realities Filipino climbers face when it comes to travel, finances, and access * The difference between visiting the Philippines and living there * How Fil-Am climbers can show up with more awareness and intention * The rapid growth of the climbing scene — gyms, comps, and community This episode is about seeing the full picture — not just the climbing, but everything behind it. Maraming salamat to Charm Bartolay [https://www.instagram.com/mccbartolay/] for her interview with us on Episode 2. That episode was the impetus for this one. You can listen to our episode with Charm (and Wilson!) here [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7yobjxrn8VZgEUojyYEjuy?si=3928fd0af5e94ed6]. Also, a special mention to Nilo Batle [https://www.instagram.com/nilobatle]! Listen to learn more.  Follow Daniel: https://www.instagram.com/daniel4nthony/ [https://www.instagram.com/daniel4nthony/] Join the community: * Discord [https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ] * Patreon [ https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice] Credits Editor, Onassis Rabanes  [https://www.instagram.com/onassisfilms/] Social Lead, Christine Joy [https://www.instagram.com/cjoy_climb/] Host, Tim Casasola [https://www.instagram.com/timcasasola/]

EP 21: Ryan Juguan — Paraclimbing Nationals, Chicago Climbs, and Redefining Access

Di araw araw pasko… but today we dropped a nice one This week we sit down with Ryan Juguan — USA Paraclimber + disability advocate — to talk about competing at the highest level and making climbing more accessible for everyone. We get into: * what comp climbing is actually like * building Chicago Climbs [http://chicagoclimbs.org] from the ground up * the gaps in accessibility (and what needs to change) Also yes, CJoy [http://instagram.com/cjoy_climb/] (not Chicken Joy, but Christine Joy) is on the mic because Chicago climbing scene reunion. Go Bulls? Shoutouts to Ivee Leung [http://instagram.com/iveemeowpics/] for recommending Ryan as a guest! Salamat Ivy! Show Ryan some love 👉🏽 instagram.com/ryjuguan [https://instagram.com/ryjuguan] Hop in the Discord 👉🏽 https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ [https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ] Support the pod 👉🏽 https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice [https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice]

EP 20: Dane & Magnet — Di Araw Araw Pasko & Taking the Small Wins

Second episode of 2026! 🔥 This week on Rock and Rice, we sit down with Manila-based power couple Dane & Magnet — self-dubbed serial projectors who’ve been quietly stacking some of the biggest sends of 2025. From Magnet’s epic last-go send of Ben & Be [https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/philippines/route/8698924878] (7c+/5.13a) in Igbaras… to Power & Pinesse, White Flower, and the mental chess match of projecting at your limit — this one is all about the highs, the almosts, and why “di araw araw pasko” (not every day is Christmas). We talk: * The psychology of projecting * Booking climbing trips just to stay motivated * Why only ONE person is allowed to be crazy at a crag * Igbaras vs. Cantabaco * And what it really means to take small wins If you’ve ever left a trip without a send… this episode is for you. @magnetnavales [https://www.instagram.com/magnetnavales/] — Magnet’s Instagram @danepolicarpio [https://www.instagram.com/danepolicarpio/] — Dane’s Instagram — 🫶 Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ Climbers & listeners — this is our space to connect. 🎙 Support the pod + get extra love on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockandRice Your support keeps these stories coming. Let’s gooooo.