This Filipino American Life

Episode 251 – Telling Truths about ‘Here Lies Love’ with Christine Balance

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/tfal-episode251.mp3 Here Lies Love, the play about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos as the Philippine dictator’s wife during Martial Law is now playing in Los Angeles. The TFAL crew had the opportunity to watch Here Lies Love when it first opened at the Mark Taper Forum a couple of weeks ago. Love it or hate it, the controversial musical is a part of our community, and many folks are watching it. It reflects the talent, labor, limitations, privileges, complications, and discourses in and of the Filipino American community. In this TFAL episode, the crew gives their honest takes on Here Lies Love. They also hear the insights of Professor Christine Balance, who has been following David Byrne’s work on Imelda Marcos for close to two decades. Given her research background on Filipino American music and performance, we thought she would be the perfect person to talk to about the musical. Listen as they share their various experiences watching the production, discuss its high points as well as shortcomings, reflect on the limitations of representation, and convey the musical’s broader implications and reflections of Philippine history and the Filipino American community in general. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Did you watch the play in Seattle, New York, or Los Angeles? What did you think? Let us know by emailing us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com. For more accurate and detailed info on the broader Martial Law period, please refer to these resources: Here Lies Love in Critical Contexts: a Public Syllabus  Ramona Diaz, Imelda (2003) Jessica Hagedorn, Dogeaters  (audio version on Audible)  (play version/print)  Josen Diaz, Postcolonial Configurations: Dictatorship, the Racial Cold War, and Filipino America  Lucy San Pablo Burns, Puro Arte: Filipinos on the Stages of Empire Amanda Andrei, American Theatre magazine article, “The Complicated Triumph of Here Lies Love” Sara Ahmed, Living a Feminist Life Mark John Sanchez, List of published articles PC: Los Angeles Times

Episode 250 – Echoes from the Ditches: A Conversation with a Martial Law Activist

For 10 years, TFAL has been trying to amplify voices from our community, but particular voices from sectors of our community that have been historically overlooked. We are especially attuned to the voices without glitz and glamor, without state-sanctioned narratives, and without algorithmic egos. For our 250th episode, and on the heels of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, we wanted to focus on the memories of Martial Law, a period in Philippine and Filipino American history when Dictator Ferdinand Marcos ruled the country. Not the “golden years” that the current Philippine administration and its supporters want folks to believe, but Martial Law was a dark time where civil liberties were stripped away, which led to severe human rights violations, including thousands of arrests, torture, and killings In this TFAL episode, we talk to CAROL OJEDA-KIMBROUGH, a life-long political activist who came of age during Martial Law. Listen as she discusses her activism in the Philippines, the losses she experienced under the hands of a dictator, and the imperative to tell and remember these historical truths without whitewashing narratives. We also get to discuss our opinions on the controversial musical, HERE LIVES LOVE, which is currently showing here in Los Angeles. For many Filipino Americans, we are somewhat removed from Martial Law Philippines, but it’s imperative that these stories and memories live on through us, particularly during this dark era we find ourselves in the authoritative United States. This episode is dedicated to the memory of ROLANDO FEDERIS, who fought and died for Philippine freedom, justice, and love. You can read more about the life of Rolando Federis here. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. What do you think of the episode? Let us know by emailing us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

Episode 249 – The Fil Am Celebrity Draft

Have you ever dreamed about a TV show with an all-Filipino American cast? What kind of show it would be? Who would star in it? In this TFAL episode, Elaine, Joe, and Producer Mike dream up their ideal TV show by playing The Fil Am Celebrity Draft! Adapted from a game that Joe used to play with his friends (and Dave Chappelle’s Racial Draft, if we’re being honest), the crew takes turn “drafting” Filipino American celebrities to be cast in their hypothetical shows. Listen to see who drafts Marc Descascos, Olivia Rodrigo, Eugene Cordero, and everyone’s favorite, the man with the epic mustache, Mitch Narito! I’m sure you will root for your favorite celebrities (and shows) as you listen to the episode. P.S. We, the Filipino American delegation, would like to trade Rob Schneider for a warm bottle of San Mig and a couple of kwek-kweks. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. Which of the crew’s TV shows would you want to watch most? Let us know by emailing us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com or leave a voicemail on Ryan’s phone. =) Below are mood boards Elaine created that give you hints of what the crew picked.

Episode 248 – Community Care with Kalaya’an Mendoza

https://thisfilipinoamericanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/tfal-episode248.mp3 In this episode of the podcast, Kalaya’an Mendoza returns to talk with the crew about community care.  This episode is dedicated to the folks in Minnesota and beyond who are grieving, protesting, and resisting ICE kidnappings and intimidation. The crew reached out to Kalaya’an again to check in on how we can support each other in these times of unrest. Take a listen as the crew talks about how we are all coping and providing care for our communities in our own ways. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. For more resources on how to support your community check out these ig accounts! View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram

Episode 247 – Seafood City Late Night Analysis

Over the last few months, the hottest night out can be had at a Filipino supermarket. If you’re lucky enough to live near a Seafood City, you might have seen or experienced the multi-generational viral dance party conceptualized by JP Breganza back in August 2025. What is this phenomenon all about? Why does it attract so many people (especially younger Millennials and Gen Zers)? How long will it last? In this episode of TFAL, the crew breaks down their experiences at these “Late Night Madness” parties and their larger impact on the Filipino American community.  The crew dives into the Seafood City Party phenomenon, corporate responsibilities of large Filipino American businesses, and how the ethos of these parties relates to the recent H-Mart controversy. Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found. For more info on the Seafood City Party phenomenon, check out these articles: Disarray Magazine KQED LA Times Seattle Times NY Times Photo Credit: Disarray Magazine