Bago Ang Lahat

Lualhati Torres Bautista knew all along that she wanted to be a writer. She even left college to pursue her passion by writing for "Liwayway." She enjoyed it and her family was proud. But one day, she lost pride in what she wrote. In this episode, Lualhati herself shares how she found her love for writing again. Clarisse de Jesus, her niece and "Dekada ‘70" translator, and Lualhati's youngest brother, Dante, also share who Lualhati is as family, writer, and feminist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesse had a fun childhood: swimming in the Bicol River, playing agawan base, and telling stories by the bonfire. But it wasn't all carefree days. From his visually impaired father, he learned to hone his own strengths in order to achieve his goals. Like turning Naga into a first-class city, and reaping awards for good governance. His sister, Dr. Penny Bundoc, and executive assistant, Atty. Nina Rances, tell us about the man who believed that "yielding power to the people" was among his greatest achievements. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Santanina “Nina” Tillah Rasul learned that many of her adult kababayans in Mindanao could not read. So, she gathered her family to teach their community how to read. This literacy project spread across the Philippines until Cory Aquino heard about it and asked her to run for senator. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the face of Probe's TV documentaries, Cheche Lazaro became known as a fearless broadcast journalist. Pero bago ang lahat, she was a child who dabbled in music, treated the world as her classroom, and jumped headlong into the then-emerging field of television. Hear her story from Cheche herself and from Yasmin Tang, executive director of Probe Media Foundation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Juan Flavier was a doctor to the barrios at a time when many Filipinos died before ever seeing a health worker, and when other doctors found prestige in working abroad. He implemented mass vaccination campaigns and promoted reproductive health—even earning the ire of the Catholic Church. But before all that, he was a boy whose playground was the mountains, who excelled in school despite childhood bullying. Listen to his children Jondi and Joy share funny anecdotes about the late Health Secretary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sino nga ba ang mga lodi natin bago sila nakilala bilang magagaling na lider? May kwento rin kaya sila na kahawig ng personal IG stories natin? Kaya ba nating maging katulad nila or are they rare Pokemon who are really just one in a million? Pakinggan natin ang mga istorya nila sa second season ng "Bago Ang Lahat"—isang podcast mula sa Youth Leadership for Democracy, o YouthLed, a project of the United States Agency for International Development at The Asia Foundation. Powered by PumaPodcast. Abangan ang Season Two sa Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He helped end the Marawi crisis, and encourages fellow soldiers to become servant leaders. Pero Bago Ang Lahat, Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera was a bookworm who read constantly—even while he was in the mountains. Joining his brother Jesson Herrera and subordinate Lt. George Yu, Jr., he shows us how he became the leader he is today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ramon Magsaysay was beloved by millions—"The People's President." Pero Bago Ang Lahat, he was a student who preferred to be outdoors, a mechanic who could make any engine purr, and a guerilla fighter who made sure evacuees had food during World War 2. His daughter Mila Magsaysay-Valenzuela and son Senator Jun Magsaysay tell his story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congresswoman Sarah Elago is the face of defiance, calling out the misdeeds of older public officials and advocating for the youth. Pero Bago Ang Lahat, she struggled in school because of severe stuttering. Together with former colleague Chard Amazona, Sarah shares how she found her voice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Jovito Salonga was the ultimate statesman: incorruptible, brilliant, and a true patriot. He was jailed during the Japanese invasion for disseminating the news, and decades later, was behind bars once more for fighting against a dictator. Pero Bago Ang Lahat, he walked barefoot to school and picked grass to sell as horsefeed. His son Steve shares the side of him most people don't know. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Filipinos know Washington SyCip as the founder of SGV, the Philippines' most prestigious accounting - and now professional services - firm. Pero Bago Ang Lahat, he was a boy genius who would end up doing “James Bond stuff” in World War 2. His experiences led him to reform the accounting profession in the Philippines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who do you look up to? Government officials who serve their citizens? Founders of top companies? Defenders of our territory? We know them for their accomplishments. Pero Bago Ang Lahat... sino nga ba sila? Bago Ang Lahat is a new podcast by Youth Leadership for Democracy, or YouthLed, a program implemented by the United States Agency for International Development and The Asia Foundation. Powered by PumaPodcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.