Podcasting in the Philippines (article)

 In the digital era, everything is fast paced and ever evolving. Digital activities have become a part of our daily lives from entertainment to education. Going about the hustle bustle of life, some people may choose to listen to their favorite track, others might put on a podcast and start about their day. If you’re new to the podcasting world you might be wondering what a podcast is. To put it simply, it is an audio program that talks about certain topics ranging from pop culture to career advice to ASMR. They can be in any length and frequency. You can listen to these from the comfort of your smartphone or any device really, that can access apps like Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, etc.

According to Esquire magazine, the podcast community in the Philippines is in its early growing stage but no doubt will enter its golden era soon. A Filipino podcasting startup, Podcast Network Asia (PNA), recently raised P36 million in a new round of seed funding from big names like Lisa Gokongwei, Foxmont Capital, and Venturra Discovery. This 2021, global podcast ad revenues are expected to hit $1 billion. PNA plans to expand through other neighboring countries in Southeast Asia by using the Philippines as its start off point. Podcasting has great potential, and with the right team and services this will usher in a new wave of powerful media.

Spotify has partnered with some of the country’s top content creators to make their podcasts available through their streaming service. Among 1,101 Filipino adults (aged 18+) in the Philippines, 85% of them tuned into podcast content or some type of music throughout the day based on a study Spotify conducted by YouGov Singapore Pte. Ltd. in July 2020. 

Local creators are making waves in the podcasting scene with different gimmicks for their content. At the top of the charts, you will find podcasts about life, “hugot” and love conversations, family, TED talks, the rap scene, memes and humour, and all that jazz. Inka Magnaye hosts Sleeping Pill with Inka, a meditative and ASMR podcast with relaxing and soothing vibes that ease anxieties and help the listeners have a good night’s sleep. Joyce Pring, a popular TV personality and host, talks about Adulting with Joyce Pring, which aims to help her listeners navigate through life. Celebrity couple Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona-Bacarro’s Wake up with Jim and Saab podcast orbits around navigating married life, sharing things they learned from being parents to new parents and everything in between. Boiling Waters PH is focused on talking about the “difficult’ topics in relationships. From purpose, pains, to courtship, nothing is off-limits in this podcast. These are just a few names in the scene. There are also those that aim to talk about social issues and current events such as Woke Up PH, to educate the Filipino youth.

A quick search through Facebook and you’ll be able to find communities for beginner local podcast creators and enthusiasts who bond together to help share, grow, and promote their content. The community is definitely bustling and growing. The young generation of today are definitely engaged and if they haven’t heard of it yet, sooner or later they will get wind of it through their peers who share their favorite podcasts through Instagram stories or Facebook My Day’s and hopefully will pique their interest.  

Whether you’re a talker or a listener, the podcast community has enough space for you. This media is a good platform to showcase different advocacies, stories, and personalities from different people from different walks of life.    

Start your podcast journey by listening to Lagim: A Filipino True Crime Podcast. Lagim’s host, Christine, shares stories of infamous and not so known crimes that took place in the Philippines. Tune into your preferred podcasting platform every two weeks to catch a new true crime story, Filipino-style!

For additional true crime content and to keep up to date about all things Lagim, make sure to follow Lagim on all its social media accounts. Lagim is on Instagram @lagimpodcast, on Twitter @lagimpod, on TikTok @lagimpodcast and on YouTube @lagimpodcast. Lagim is also on Facebook. Just search for Lagim, a Filipino True Crime Podcast. There is also a Facebook Discussion Group. Just search for Lagim Podcast Discussion Group. Lastly, if you want to better support this independent production, make sure to head over to BuyMeCoffee to donate whatever amount you fancy. Thank you!

References:

Adobo Magazine. (2020, September 25). Digital: The power of pods, spotify unveils nine platform-exclusive filipino podcasts. Retrieved from https://www.adobomagazine.com/digital-news/digital-the-power-of-pods-spotify-unveils-nine-platform-exclusive-filipino-podcasts/

Ichimura, A. (2021, January 25). Philippine podcast startup secures P36 Million in seed funding. Esquire. Retrieved from https://www.esquiremag.ph/money/capital/podcast-network-asia-investment-a00304-20210125

Nine filipino fan favorite podcasts join spotify. (2020, September 22). Spotify. Retrieved from https://newsroom.spotify.com/2020-09-22/nine-filipino-fan-favorite-podcasts-join-spotify/