"Far from being an obstacle to the exercise of Christ's unique mediation, Mary instead highlights its fruitfulness and efficacy" (St. John Paul II).

In this episode, we are joined by Sir Paul Niño Oxales, a Christian Living teacher and ardent devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pag-uusapan natin ang latest "controversial" document from the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, Mater Populi Fidelis. Banned na nga ba ang titles na "co-redemptrix" at "mediatrix" ni Mama Mary? Is the Vatican document a timely response or does it just contribute to more confusion? We also discuss yung papel ni María sa salvation history, bakit ganun na lang ang pagpapahalaga nating mga katoliko sa kanya. And many more!

So, in this eve of the Solemnity of the Mother of God, join us sa usapang Mama Mary!

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Kapag katoliko ka ba dapat aktibista ka? Bakit ba nakikisawsaw sa usaping pulitika ang Simbahan? Okay lang ba na naaassociate ang Simbahan sa isang political party? Yan ang tinalakay nina Fr. Lennon at Russel sa episode na ito. Our baptism configures us to Christ and to his threefold mission ng pagiging pari, hari, at propeta. And the prophet announces the Good News, but also denounces injustice. Vatican II also teaches na bokasyon ng mga layko na gawing kristiyano ang pulitika. Anyways, supposedly light talks lang ito before Christmas, pero heto naging mini-rants ng dalawa at call to action to "Make the Philippines Catholic Again"!

Sali na sa usapan!

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Congrats mga pre at sis! Natiis niyo kami at ang aming mga usapang minsan tama, madalas may tama for three years and counting and for 100 regular episodes! After, 99 regular episodes, 4 bonus specials, 2 mini-series, we are now on our 100th regular episode, at talagang nakakataba ng puso ang inyong suporta. In this special 100th regular episode, magrereporting sina Lennon at Russel ng ating Spotify Wrapped for 2025, kumusta ba ang paglago ng ating Tamang Community at what can we look forward to in the future.

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In this 99th regular episode, ang pag-uusapan natin ay isa sa mga paboritong philosophers nina Lennon at Russel: si Emmanuel Levinas. Kilalanin natin siya, ang kaniyang buhay at pilosopiya na kakaiba dahil nga ang priority niya ay ethics at hindi lang kung ano ang mabuti kong dapat gawin kundi ano nga ba yung DAPAT kong gawin para sa kapwa ko.

Kaya tena, sit back, relax, maglaba na muna o magluto, at tune in na sa iyong paboritong background noise!

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You can read Lennon's research paper, "The Other in the Time of Duterte" here.—

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First of all, happy birthday Bro. Francis!!!!

At dahil diyan ang topic na malapit sa puso naming lahat, especially ni Bro. Francis Monterde, ang pag-uusapan natin ngayon: Divine Providence. Sakto, heto rin ang synthesis paper ng resident theologian natin na prinesent niya sa Don Bosco School of Theology.

So, together with Bro. Francis and Doc Luke Brofar, let us embark on this discussion on God's gratuitous gift to humanity.

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"What is love?... I wanna know," yan ang sikat na kanta ng TWICE (best girls, I tell you!). Pero, ano nga ba talaga ang love? Madaling sabihin, mahirap unawain. Minsan nga iba-iba pa pagkaunawa natin eh. Kaya in this episode sasamahan tayo ng mga philosophers like Plato, Arthur Schopenhauer, the lovers Peter Abelard and Hëloise, and CS Lewis to reflect on the nature of love. Totoo bang may "soulmates"? Baka naman fraud lang ang love? Hanggang saan ang dapat mong isacrifice for love? What are the types of love? Tama na basa, makinig na. Go!

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Sabi ni Albert Camus, ang suicide daw ang foremost philosophical question. In this episode, this sad but true experience of many ang ating topic, pero ang discussion natin ay through the lens of philosophy. From Camus who said that life is absurd, but we should imagine Sisyphus happy; Marcel's hope in the meaning of life because God is the writer of our story; to Cioran's go think about suicide, pero bukas na.

This is not a psychological evaluation of the phenomenon of suicide nor a spiritual advise, but a discussion through the lens of this three philosophers para sagutin ang age-old na tanong: "May sense ba talaga ang buhay? Bakit kailangan ko pang ituloy ito? Para saan ang pagkabuhay ko?"

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Here you can view the clip from Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator"

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We continue our discussion on the moral problem: is it always bad to lie? Sa last episode we heard Kant, Socrates, and Aquinas. In this epsiode mas jumpacked naman, we will hear from: Elizabeth Anscombe, Joseph Fletcher, JS Mill, Jeremy Bentham, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Buddha, Padre Roque Ferriols, etc. Kaya tena at mag-usapang kasinungalingan na tayo!

So, ikaw, lagi bang masama magsinungaling? Why?

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In this episode, tinalakay nina Russel at Lennon ang pilosopiya ng pagsisinungaling: lagi bang masama ang pagsisinungaling? Dito sa Part I ng Usapang Kasinungalingan, susuriin natin ang mga pananaw ng iba't ibang pilosopo tulad nina Immanuel Kant, Saint Thomas Aquinas, at Socrates. We see na ang kasinungalingan ay may iba't ibang anyo at hindi lahat ng kasinungalingan ay pantay-pantay sa kanilang moral value. Ang katotohanan at ang mga epekto ng pagsisinungaling sa kaluluwa at sa lipunan ay ang sentro ng Usapan natin in this episode.

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Takeaways

- Lying is not just saying something false, but with intent to deceive.

- Kant believes that lying is always wrong, regardless of the situation.

- Aquinas classifies lies into different categories based on their intent and impact.

- Socrates emphasizes that lying corrupts the soul and detaches a person from reality.

- The end does not justify the means in moral philosophy.

- Truth without love can lead to cruelty.

- Moral integrity is about controlling one's own actions, not the consequences.

- Not all lies are equal; some may be more harmful than others.

- Philosophical discussions on lying can help us reflect on our daily choices.

- Understanding the implications of lying is crucial in today's society.

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In this episode, Lennon and Russel is joined by our fan favorite guest, Doc Luke Brofar, kaya naman they engage in a deep discussion about empathy and morality, exploring various moral dilemmas and ethical theories. They delve into the complexities of moral decision-making, the role of empathy in understanding others, and the impact of cultural and personal values on ethical choices. The conversation also touches on the importance of balancing personal and societal ethics, and how empathy can guide moral actions.

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Doc Luke mentions a documentary in this episode that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRy42T-alY4

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Sa episode natin this time, Lennon and Russel discuss the current AI situation: ang laganap na "AI slop" or sloppification ng internet na nagpapababa ng quality ng content online. This lead some to believe in what is now called the "Dead Internet Theory" or the "Enshittification" of the internet. Problema pa dyaan ay ang epekto ng AI sa education, critical thinking, art, religion, medicine, etc... everything that makes us human. How should we use AI then? Matatakasan ba natin ang AI? Inherent ba ang evil niya o baka naman isa lang siyang tool that can be used either for the good or for evil? Tara, usapang AI tayo!

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In this grand finale of our Vatican II mini-series, Lennon and Russel take us beyond the aula of St. Peter’s Basilica into the tumultuous decades that followed the Council.

From the birth of new missionary zeal to the heartbreak of schism, this episode traces the Church’s struggle to live the Council’s vision in a world still learning what “renewal” really means.

We revisit the Consilium and the liturgical reforms, the 1985 Extraordinary Synod, the postconciliar popes—before diving into the deep theological debates about rupture vs. continuity that still shape the Church today.

This episode asks: What did Vatican II really change? And what has remained unshaken?

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In this episode of Tamang Usapan – usapang may tama, Lennon and Russel explore the final constitution of Vatican II: Gaudium et Spes. From its dramatic origins in the rejected Schema 13, to its bold proclamation that “the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the people of this age are the joys and hopes of the followers of Christ” (§1), we unpack how the Church sees herself in dialogue with the modern world.

We dive into themes of human dignity, conscience, solidarity, subsidiarity, culture, marriage and family, politics, economics, and peace—drawing on the contributions of Rahner, de Lubac, Congar, and others. We also examine the postconciliar controversies, including Liberation Theology and the corrective role of John Paul II and Joseph Ratzinger.

Is Gaudium et Spes still relevant today in a world of climate change, war, and inequality? Join the conversation and find out.

Key Topics Covered

The rejection of Schema 13 and how it shaped Gaudium et Spes

Historical context: Cold War, communism, capitalism, nuclear threat

Key personalities: Suenens, Ottaviani, Rahner, de Lubac, Congar

Catholic Social Teaching: solidarity and subsidiarity

Human dignity and conscience (§12, §16)

Culture and human progress (§53)

Marriage and family as covenant (§48)

Peace and the condemnation of nuclear war (§80)

The postconciliar excesses of Liberation Theology

John Paul II and Ratzinger’s corrections (Dominus Iesus)

Relevance of GS today

Recommended Readings

Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World), 1965 → Vatican.va text

Henri de Lubac, Catholicism: Christ and the Common Destiny of Man

Yves Congar, True and False Reform in the Church

Karl Rahner, Foundations of Christian Faith

John Paul II, Centesimus Annus (1991) – on solidarity and subsidiarity

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dominus Iesus (2000)

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Sa episode na ito ng ating Vatican II miniseries, sasamahan tayo ni Fra. Robert Francis Mª Ducado, OSM to dive deep into one of the most important documents of the Council: Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.

Kung noong Sacrosanctum Concilium ay tungkol sa liturgy at sa Dei Verbum ay sa Divine Revelation, dito naman makikita natin kung paano inilarawan ng Vatican II ang mismong identity ng Simbahan. From the heated debates in the aula of St. Peter’s Basilica—Cardinal Ottaviani thundering about authority, Cardinal Suenens calling for a vision of the People of God, Bishop De Smedt pleading for humility—to the dramatic vote on whether Mary should have her own schema, Lumen Gentium was born in fire.

Recommended Readings

In this episode, Lennon and Russel explore Dei Verbum—the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation of Vatican II. We dive into the dramatic debates behind the document, the rejection of the first draft (De Fontibus Revelationis), and how John XXIII’s intervention reshaped the Council’s approach to Scripture and Tradition.

We then break down the Constitution chapter by chapter—revelation itself, the transmission of the Word, inspiration and inerrancy, the Old and New Testaments, and Scripture in the life of the Church. Finally, we look at its reception: the dangers of extreme approaches (historical-critical reductionism vs. fundamentalism), and the renewal offered by Pope Benedict XVI’s Verbum Domini.

Recommended Readings

Dei Verbum reminds us that the Bible is not just a book, but God’s living Word transmitted in Scripture and Tradition. For Catholics, to read the Bible is to encounter Christ Himself. As Pope Benedict XVI said, if we rediscover lectio divina, the Church will experience a new springtime of faith.

And, if this episode spoke to your heart—or hit you in the “tama”—share it with a friend, post about it using the hashtag #tuumt, and tag us on socials.

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Lennon and Russel are joined by Doc Luke and together they dive into the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium — ang unang dokumentong na-approve ng Vatican II.

We trace the story from the Liturgical Movement bago pa ang Council, the debates inside the aula, at bakit napakahalaga ng liturgy sa pananampalatayang Katoliko. Step by step, dadaanan natin ang bawat chapter ng dokumento: mula sa theology ng liturgy, paggamit ng Latin at vernacular, actuosa participatio (full and active participation), hanggang sa Gregorian chant, sacred art, at inculturation.

Pero hindi lang puro idealism — kasama rin ang mga controversies: Archbishop Lefebvre’s later opposition, ang liturgical abuses of the 70s and 80s, at ang mga misteryosong alegasyon laban kay Archbishop Bugnini tungkol sa Freemasonry… at ang pananahimik ng Vatican tungkol dito.

Finally, we reflect on why SC still matters today: sa gitna ng debates tungkol sa liturgy, paano natin mababalanse ang “hermeneutic of continuity” ni Benedict XVI at ang mga pangangailangan ng modernong simbahan?

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Recommended readings:

Paul VI, Sacrosanctum Concilium

Pius XII, Mediator Dei (1947)

Joseph Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy

Aidan Nichols, Conciliar Octet: A Concise Commentary on the Eight Key Texts of the Second Vatican Council---

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“Bakit ba big deal ang Vatican II?” Yan ang tanong na sasagutin natin sa unang episode ng ating mini-series tungkol sa Second Vatican Council.

Sa episode na ito, sina Lennon at Russel ay magdadala sa atin sa isang kwento ng sorpresa, debate, at pagbabago:

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Sa episode na ito, sina Lennon at Russel ay sumisid sa ideya ng Burnout Society mula kay Byung-Chul Han. Bakit nga ba kahit mas “free” at mas maraming opportunities ngayon, mas marami rin ang pagod, anxious, at depressed? Paano nakatali dito ang myth of rags-to-riches na laging sinasabi: “Kung magsipag ka lang, aangat ka rin”? Pinag-usapan din natin ang Filipino context—paano ito lumalabas sa hustle culture, toxic positivity, at pangarap na maging susunod na Henry Sy.

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Key Takeaways

• • Byung-Chul Han: “We live in a society of achievement… The achievement society generates depressives and losers.”
  • Sa achievement society, hindi na tayo pinipilit ng amo—tayo na mismo ang nagpupumilit sa sarili.
  • Ang burnout ay hindi lang dahil kulang tayo, kundi dahil sobra ang “Yes, I can!” mindset.
  • Ang mito ng rags-to-riches ay nagiging ideolohiyang nagtutulak sa self-exploitation at nagtatago ng systemic inequality.
  • Sa Pilipinas, makikita ito sa hustle culture, multiple sidelines, at toxic positivity.
  • Kailangang bumalik sa contemplation at community solidarity—hindi lang productivity ang sukatan ng buhay.

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Recommended Readings

Primary Works by Byung-Chul Han:

Complementary reading:

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For our listeners:

Kung naramdaman mo na napapagod ka kahit wala namang “malinaw na kalaban,” hindi ka nag-iisa. Han reminds us: hindi lahat ng laban ay personal, minsan sistema mismo ang nagpapagod sa atin.

Kung gusto mong mag-dive deeper, check the reading list above. At huwag kalimutan: pahinga is also resistance.

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Buwan ng wika ang Agosto, kaya naman heto na ang aming "token" episode para sa pagdiriwang na ito, parang mga paganap sa mga paaralan na tuwing Agosto lang nagiging mahalaga ang Filipino. Sa episode na ito, tatalakayin nina Lennon at Russel ang wikang Tagalog sa liturhiya at ang mga hamong kinakaharap nito tulad ng pagpili ng mga kaparian at mga layko sa inglés, ang hamon ng pagsasalin mula sa latín, at iba pa.

___Recommended reading:

• Russel Padilla. "Bahay at Buhay: Pagtanaw sa Diwa ng Pilipinong Relihiyoso" (26 August 2024)

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In this episode, Lennon and Russel explore the life and thought of Jürgen Habermas, one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. We unpack his famous concept of the Ideal Speech Situation (ISS), where truth, fairness, sincerity, and equality guide conversation—so that the best argument wins, not the loudest or most powerful.

We discuss:

• Habermas’ biography and why communication mattered so much to him.

• The Ideal Speech Situation and its four conditions.

• Practical examples: family arguments, barangay meetings, and online debates.

• The public sphere: how democracy depends on inclusive dialogue—and how social media distorts it.

• Critiques from feminist, rhetorical, and development perspectives.

• The role of ISS in today’s world—from barangay halls to Facebook feeds to AI ethics.

The big takeaway? Democracy lives or dies on how we talk to each other.

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Recommended Readings

Primary Works by Habermas