Host Jim Agapito is a "bad Filipino." The Filipino-Canadian filmmaker can't speak Tagalog and is stumped by some of the things Filipinos do and believe. Join Jim on this enlightening, joyful, and surprising 10-episode mission to recover his culture.
Why is my tita wishing me Merry Christmas in August?
Jim finds out why Christmas is such a big deal in Filipino culture, and why the festive season kicks off before summer ends. Jim will try to crack this yuletide mystery with the help of his guide to all things pinoy - his mom Yolanda.
10 Aug 2021
Am I still a bad Filipino, Lola?
Jim’s family history is the quintessential immigration story of hard work, sacrifice, and some heartache. Jim’s mission to recover his Filipino identity comes full circle in a call with his lola in the Philippines. Did he finally make his grandma proud?
3 Aug 2021
How is Filipino life like a boxing match?
Manny Pacquiao is the pride of the Philippines. He rose from poverty to become, arguably, the greatest boxer of all time. How did an ‘underdog’ mentality fuel the nation’s boxing supremacy? Jim gets into the ring to reveal how boxing changed his life.
27 Jul 2021
Isn’t karaoke supposed to be fun?
Karaoke is often considered the Philippines' national pastime, but, as Jim learns, it’s not always a recipe for good times. What one karaoke song has brought singers to fisticuffs, and worse? Meet a singer whose karaoke performances led her to Broadway.
20 Jul 2021
Ouch… Why couldn't I have a debut?
Jim gets real about Filipino rites of passage. It’s tuli (male circumcision) vs debut (a mega-party for girls). Jim's dad shares his "old school" tuli experience; Jim discovers a toxic masculinity connection; and relives his cousin Jerilyn's epic debut.
13 Jul 2021
Why does mom keep giving me packets of rice and salt?
Filipinos take their superstitions seriously. But why? Jim taps his fellow pinoys for their superstition stories. He discovers how Catholicism and folklore intersect. And Jim’s mom lives up to her title as the family’s reigning superstition queen.
6 Jul 2021
Why do they always give me leftovers?
Filipino feasts are legendary. No special occasion necessary. The spreads are epic and no one goes home empty-handed. But as Jim finds out there’s more to it than just hospitality. He also recounts his own saga with near starvation.
29 Jun 2021
Do we really need to finish the bottle?
Jim dips into his own family lore to understand the Tagay ritual - taking shots until the bottle is empty. Meet a mixologist infusing Filipino flair into cocktail culture. And Jim has an overdue conversation with his mom about his struggles with alcohol.
22 Jun 2021
Where are all the vegetarian Filipinos?
For one decade, Jim was a very bad Filipino, aka a vegetarian. His lola wasn’t proud. Jim discovers the Hobbit connection and makes a meat revelation. He navigates modern Filipino cuisine with Jeremy Senaris, of Master Chef Canada fame.
15 Jun 2021
Fried chicken and spaghetti. How is this a Filipino love story?
Jim isn’t a big fan of Filipino food, especially sweet spaghetti. Jim digs into the yuck and yum of Filipino cuisine with the help of expert Patricio Abinales; delves into his relationship with a popular bee; and gives a hated dish one more try.
8 Jun 2021
Why are my titas fighting over basketball?
Jim grew up playing basketball. He grew out of that passion, but his Filipino friends and family haven't. Why does the sport get his aunts (titas) yelling and flashing fists? Jim discovers the surprising origin of this love affair with basketball.
27 May 2021
Recovering Filipino — What does that even mean?
Meet Jim Agapito. When his lola (grandma) called him a "bad Filipino," Jim realized she had a point. Now Jim's on a mission to recover his culture one conversation at a time. His mom Yolanda is his unofficial guide and chief lumpia maker.
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4.9 / 5
27 ratings
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