Born Here, Born There

When the Movie About Your Lolo Makes Him the Villain (And Maybe He Was)

Manolo and Ricky are unpacking the messiest family dinner argument in Philippine cinema—when President Quezon's grandson stood up at a movie screening and publicly called out Jericho Rosales for turning his grandfather into the villain. But here's the kicker: the film dropped right when Filipinos discovered 421 ghost flood control projects and billions in stolen money. The real conversation goes deeper: Should families get veto power over how their dead relatives are portrayed? Is calling something "satire" just a shield for character assassination? And most uncomfortably—if this film is showing us that corruption has always been the playbook, what's the point of getting angry now? This isn't about protecting one president's legacy. It's about whether Filipinos are finally ready to accept that our independence heroes were flawed, manipulative, and sometimes corrupt. It's about the difference between respecting your elders and sanitizing history. And it's about why art that makes you uncomfortable might be exactly what you need—especially when your country is drowning in the same problems a century later. Spoiler: maybe the lesson isn't finding perfect leaders. Maybe it's stopping the search for heroes and building systems that work even when people aren't.

Ghost Flood Projects: Why Filipinos Don't Question Authority (And Why That Needs to Change)

In this inaugural episode of 'Born Here, Born There,' hosts Manolo Almagro and Ricky Baizas delve into the complexities of corruption in the Philippines, drawing from personal experiences and historical context. They discuss the recent Ghost Flood Projects scandal, the cultural dynamics that discourage questioning authority, and the public's growing anger towards corruption, particularly among younger generations. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective protest strategies to instigate change, reflecting on the lessons from past movements like EDSA.