Rock and Rice
Where Filipino climbers share their story.
Logo: Pat Palacio
Music: Bruiser by Winchip
Rock and Rice
EP 18: Rain, Redpoints, and Rambles (2025 RECAP)
Maligayang Pasko, mga ka-akyat 🧗🏽♂️🇵🇭
In this end-of-year kwentuhan, Tim records from his parents’ house in Temecula (yes, still climbing, still dodging rain, still watching Severance late) to reflect on a very Rock and Rice year:
- Rainy seasons in California and the Philippines
- A trip back home (Manila ➝ Igbaras ➝ rice terraces ➝ thunderstorms)
- A sketchy habal-habal ride you never forget
- A fiancé reveal 💍 (surprise!)
- And the official historical record that Andre 100% sent Alon ✅ (no questions pls)
Tim looks back on the pod’s year. Six episodes, 21 climbers interviewed, most born and raised in the Philippines. He talks honestly about juggling work, climbing, creativity, and not burning out in an endless content economy. There’s gratitude for the community, love for Filipino climbers back home, big pride for Pilipinas Climbing, and a few dangerous ideas about Rock and Rice someday becoming a balíkbayan service for climbing gear. 🪢🔩
Also:
✨ Big shoutouts to the guests this year: Nikki Cuna, Ina & Miel Pahati, Shaun Marquez, Mika Hooker, Tristin Rubia, Onassis Rabanes, Christine Joy, Vince Padios
✨ Goal next year: one episode a month
✨ Special salamat to Onassis & Christine for joining the pod team
🎮 Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/aMe7ktS2
👏🏽 Become a Patron: http://patreon.com/rockandrice
This episode is less polished interview, more tropa catching up over pancit. Thanks for listening, thanks for climbing, and thanks for believing Filipino climbers belong everywhere.
Maligayang pasko. Welcome to Rock and Rice, a podcast where Filipino climbers share their story. I am your host, Tim caa. I'm coming to you from. Southern California actually from Temecula, California, where I'm from and where my parents live. 'cause we just celebrated Christmas. It's been rainy here in the west coast, both in California and in Vegas.
And that has been a bit of a bummer, but that's okay . some friends of mine are gonna go out to Joshua Tree this weekend. I'm planning to go out to Vegas to see some friends and get back on a project. And while we're also gonna get some rain after New Year's, there's there's a bit of a weather window.
There's some sunny days now until the first. And so gonna take advantage of that. I don't think I'm gonna go out to Joshua Tree tomorrow 'cause I'm feeling pretty chill here at my parents' house. I. Watching Severance season two because I haven't watched it yet and I'm super late, but I'm enjoying it.
And, but I'm headed to Vegas on Sunday and I'm excited and I'm hoping it'll be a good trip. I recently was in the Philippines December, around December first, and I was in. Manila for a couple of days sang I was only there for two days. I got to spend some time in PowerUp Tanura, which many of you know as a listener.
PowerUp Tanura is a OG gym in Manila. It's where a lot of older climbers in Manila have started and I wanted to check it out and it was cool. I got to. Check out the tension board and see the spray wall. And I met a couple climbers there that actually knew about the show. So I wanted to shout out.
Jay wanted to shout out Wes shout out Glen who works there. They all knew about the show and gave some, gave them some stickers. It's cool to see that you folks from the Philippines are listening to this 'cause, we're here just trying to promote what climbing in the Philippines is all about.
Speaking of climbing in the Philippines after Manila, I met up when ILO with my partner now fiance Kayla, we're now engaged, which is very exciting. But Kayla had agreed to meet me in ILO for us to spend a couple days in IG Brass. We also met up with our friends based in Oakland.
Their names are Tim and Christina. Tim and Christina. I had met through Philippine up when. I did a talk with a global climbing initiative at great Power Western in Oakland. And this was in September of 2024. Got to meet up with Tim and Christina Sean Stratasan Marquez.
He drove us four from residential 50 which is Anna's from Illegal Climate community. Anna's Airbnb. To the to the Jeep Station. There's like these Jeep needs that take you to ig, Bruss Town Center. So Sean took us there. It was great to see him. The plan was to meet up with Sean and Andre the following day.
Anyway, I'll get to that in a bit, but we got to take our friends, Tim and Christina from Oakland to ig, Russ, Kayla got to experience IG Brass for the first time. I'll never forget, man, like you take this Haal HaBO from igs Town Center after you pay this environmental fee back to the.
Back to the town. There's these Hubble, Hubble drivers run by this guy named Kuya Reggie, and they know you're a climber. They see your bags, they know you're a foreigner. They know, the climbers. And yeah, just that Hubble ride from the town center to dho, which is the campground in IGRAs.
It's one you'll never forget. You see these like rice terraces, you probably don't have a helmet unless you're mean you put on your climbing helmet. The. Know your Kuya is balancing your climbing bag on the front of their bike, and it's a pretty epic ride. The kuya who drive the Haal from IG Bras Town Center to Diog, they always say, man, I remember when this road was not a concrete road and it was dirt.
So apparently that crazy drive from town center to die ho, which is uphill and pretty epic and. One of my favorite things about climbing in Iloilo is just literally that drive used to be even crazier. So I can't even think to, I can't even believe that. Anyway, I wanna share a bit about that trip.
One thing that happened that second day was unexpected something un unexpected. Basically, day two, I was working. I, Barack, which is FA by Sean. So shout outs to Sean for fing. I, Barack I was pretty inspired to try it. It seemed like a pretty fun seven b plus. And after my second go I was like learning the route, trying to understand the clipping stances, getting psyched about putting in an earnest red point attempt.
We started to hear thunderstorms and the clouds started to surround the cliff and Kayla and I looked at each other and we were like, it's time to get the fuck outta here. So we packed our bags, packed our stuff started to traverse the safety line. In Berros there's this safety line that's useful when traversing the the area that way climbers can be safe when they're navigating the terrain.
So we had to. Traverse the safety line as the rain was starting to come down pretty insane. For me it was it wasn't too bad, but I imagine it was not the fun, funniest experience for Kayla, although it was in retrospect. Super adventurous. And yeah, we hiked back to a cubo in the pouring rain and the, the locals there were just like, looking at us and smiling.
We were smiling back to them 'cause they knew we were caught in the rain. So we got back to a Cubo. We were supposed to meet up with Sean and Andre and, we couldn't find them texted them, no response. They probably didn't have reception. I saw a car parked in front of Die Hugs Trailhead.
We, we waved to the car. I didn't see anyone there okay. That's not their car. Maybe they're around somewhere. Kayla and I weren't really sure, but we were definitely worried. We were wondering where they were. And so after the rain subsided. Kayla's in Aruba. I'm in Aruba.
I'm like, Hey Kayla, I'll go look around and see if they're around. So I start to go down Diog and see, if Andre and Sean were around. And lo and behold, Sean and Andre were walking up the Diog steps the Diog approach, and it was good to see them. I hadn't seen Andre. My last trip in the Philippines.
And it was a pleasant surprise. It was funny. Andre was supposed to, the running joke is that Andre was supposed to get on his project Alon, which is six b plus in boroughs. If you have not tried Alon, I would highly recommend it. It's a really fun and surprisingly very challenging rap.
So the plan was for Andre to put it down that day, and because of the rain and the rain subsiding around 3:00 PM he just didn't think it was a good idea to hike into the crag and give it a go. The running the running joke is that he actually did send it and he did send Alan and he got the green check box and all is well.
If anyone asks, Andre sent Alan. Andre, congratulations on sending, Alan, I'm so proud of you. You sent it, you didn't get to not do it 'cause of the ring you'd sent it. Congrats on sending it. Yes, I'm putting that on the record. So if anyone asks Andre. Just say, or anyone sees him, just congratulate him on sending Alon.
'cause he totally was able to do it when the rain subsided. Anyway, let's talk about the last year for the pod. The purpose of this episode is to just reflect back on how this last year went and. What our intentions are for next year. So this year we put out six episodes. Initially I had set out a goal to put out 12.
We put out six which is half the amount that we wanted to put out. And that's all good. Episodes with Nikki Kuna, who is the first female certified climbing guide in the Philippines. I still think that's a big deal to Ina and Miel ti shout outs to Ina and Illa Miel. They are working with Pilipinas climbing right now, so the Pilipinas.
National team who've been competing recently. And I'll talk a bit more about them towards the end of the episode. We interviewed Sean. We talked about Sean earlier in our random spiel about IRAs and him taking us to the Japanese that took us to IRAs. Our episode with Sean Marquez was a really special one.
Sean is. Really choosy with how he wants to present himself and speak. And it was a pleasure to interview Sean and get to know his story to Micah. Micah is our Filipino Australian friend who loves Dan now to Tristan Rubia. Tristan's a SoCal Boulderer, he's a crusher.
He's been on a tear and he is continuing to. To send hard so shout outs to Tristan Rubia and shout outs to Mad Rock. So lastly, a really fun, silly episode with my three friends at the Red River Gorge. I got to do a fun episode with Onassis Christine Joy, Christine's been a friend of the pod and Vince who I had met in Squamish.
Anyway, each episode felt super unique and very special. Next year we wanna actually meet our goal of putting out one episode a month. We wanna make sure that this show is engaging you, giving you. Really interesting stories that you can take away and be inspired by.
Personally I struggled to meet my goal of releasing an episode per month last year. I picked up work January through April, and during those months I put out two episodes instead of my intended goal of four after April when my contract ended, I wasn't. Full-time working. So I was able to stay a little bit more consistent with three episodes put out from June to December, and then September I started a new full-time job.
I started a new full-time job at Airbnb, which is very exciting and because I decided to put a lot of my. Creative focus and attention on the job. I was only able to release one episode which was my episode with my friends at the Red since starting my new job at Airbnb. So episodes come out more slowly when I'm working and that's not that surprising of an insight.
We all get busy and sometimes it's okay to release. Lesser often. I think that's one thing I'm realizing as a, I don't know. I don't, I hate to call myself a content creator 'cause that just sounds a little cringe. But as someone that does put stuff out there into the world, I'm realizing that it's okay to release things less often.
We're all just inundated with content these days. Don't you feel like, don't you feel like everything just feels like a endless. I don't know, endless pool of content and there's just an infinite amount of things to consume. I wanna make sure that this EPIs, this podcast is continuing to just put out stuff that you are actually willing to listen to.
You're actually excited to, to digest. And yeah, that's just something I'm realizing that it's okay to not hit our intended goals and to put out less. Next year I wanna make some changes so that it is more feasible for this show to put out an episode per month. 'cause I do think I.
Putting out an episode per month is something that you all can expect and, just have more as a reliable thing as a listener. It's really cool when I listen to podcasts and they're really consistent with putting out episodes, so I want this podcast to be the same. So to help with that, I am really grateful and excited to have two of my good friends that you know, Onassis Christine, help with the production of this show.
Onassis. Is going to help edit the show and Christine is gonna help run the socials. Our last episode, Onassis did do the editing, and Christine did the video promotion, which was hilarious and amazing. And these two friends are just the most suited to do this kind of thing for rock and rice, and both are not only passionate climbers and proud Filipinos they really.
Create meaningful connections between Filipino climbers. They really believe in that and they really believe in what rock and rice is all about. So Anas is a professional video videographer. Christine is a community gatherer, someone who cares a lot about, bringing people together and helping people feel safe and understood and heard.
And what to, what better to people to help with the editing and the socials than Onassis and Christine? Onassis. Christine, thank you so much Sama. I appreciate that you both are down to help out this podcast and help make it possible to get out an episode per month. Alright, here's another thing I want to talk about.
Let me let you in on a cool statistic, 15 out of the 21 climbers. So we've interviewed 21 climbers so far. Out of those twenty one, fifteen of them were born in the Philippines, and I think this is really important for the show. I don't think this is a coincidence. I myself am a Filipino American, meaning I'm born in America.
And, I think that's important to name because the experience of being a climber from the Philippines is a very different thing than being a Filipino climber born in the States. And Charm mentioned this in episode two. I'm traveling around and it's very rare that I get to see a Filipino rock climber traveling abroad.
And if I do my joke about this, if you do probably that. Person is not like 100% Filipino in the sense that he was not born and raised in the Philippines. He was probably a kid who grew up in. California or in yeah, no, yeah, exactly. Or a kid who I know some people from Dubai, so it's like kids who are, who were raised in Dubai, so they have a lot of gas to travel around.
So it's that dilemma. But it also boils down to the financial capacity. Ca, as Wilson said, every force is against you to become a better climber. Every, it's it's you try to earn as much money as you can. Then when you go abroad, the amount of money that you are earning is in pesos, and then if you convert that into the currency of the other country, usually it makes you poorer.
It makes you realize, oh, I don't have a lot of money for this. When I first went to SAI and then I was bike touring by myself, so I was bike. I don't know, it was the second time that I went to onsite when I was bike touring. And then I was spending in a very tiny amount because I was just by myself. And then when I went to the climbing area, and then people would say, oh, there's this very cheap place to eat at.
Let's go there. And then when I go there, I'm like, really? This is cheap? I only say that in my mind. Okay, so I guess we have different categories, so cheap. Now, every time somebody tells me that this is cheap, I say, define to me what is cheap for you? How much is cheap? Yeah. There's the money issue.
That's the hard, one of the hardest things for Filipino climbers. I'd like the show to continue to primarily feature climbers from the Philippines. That's super important to me. Many Filipino American climbers don't know, and I think should, that there is a thriving climbing community back home.
We're starting to set up interviews for guests next year. If you have suggestions for who we should interview, I have some ideas and I'm starting to reach out to folks. I'd love to hear your suggestions too. If you have any thoughts on who we should interview, especially folks from the Philippines, send us a DM or email us at Rock and Rice podcast@gmail.com with your suggestions.
Also, one question I wanna let you in on long term is. Question I've been holding is, can this podcast become a, something like bollock by on service for climbing gear? As a Phil Am, you're always encouraged to bring bollock by on box back home when you go to the Philippines. And I like to think that, what if this podcast became a gear Bullock by in service where communities like ili, ILO climbing community.
The community out in Balo the community out in Ian Dero and CRCC. What if y'all put in requests for things that you're looking for, and Rock and rice would partner with a brand, say like Mad Rock or even organic, to donate those things or to provide those things at a discount for communities in the Philippines.
Getting gear from the Philippines is just not easy. It's something that I realize you can't just walk into an REI and pick up a 70 meter rope, like you actually need connections and frankly, money to even start in this sport. It's a really privileged, it takes a lot of privilege to, to get into climbing in the Philippines and I want to acknowledge that.
I have that privilege. And I know a lot of others who listen to this show do too. But one day I'd love for rock and rice to help distribute gear back home. What if we partnered with a brand like Mad Rock, for example, and they would send, discounted drones to, to the Philippines. My friend, my good friend Mary Grace, who many of you know, especially in Eli elo, like she just buys drones from the Mad Rock HQ in Southern California and brings it back to her friends in ILI Lou and they just pay her back. What if that was a lot more of a formalized thing with Mad Rock, where, if they believe if they believe in giving back to climbing communities out there would they be willing to.
Donate or discount any of the shoes that they sell here in Southern California. So it's a rough idea. It's something that I think would bring rock and rice into like non-profit territory which has its own implications and just frankly, given my own bandwidth with work and stuff, I'm not really sure that I can commit to, something bigger than a podcast, but it's an idea. I wanna continue holding and having a discussion with people and it is a dream of mine. So if you have any ideas for how we can do this especially if you're out in the Philippines, let us know. We are open to feedback and thoughts. Lastly, I wanna, give a special shout out to Philippina Climbing. Philippina Climbing has been a, they've had a really big year this year, and I think they deserve a lot of recognition. Philippina Climbing is a, it's the recognized national sports association for sport climbing in the Philippines under the International Federation of Sport Climbing, or the IFSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
So it's pretty much a legitimized association that enables, climbers who are on the team, the national team for the Philippines to compete in, the Olympics and other just like internationally recognized athletic competitions. They have a new. They're under new leadership.
This person named Attorney Al Agra and the organization is focused on building competitive excellence, expanding grassroots participation, and making the sport accessible to more Filipinos. I read this verbatim from their website. Basically their big deal. And this year they formed their national adult team and competed in the Southeast Asia games in Thailand this December.
That's a really, just as someone that's been following from abroad and trying to understand, the significance of this year's, southeast Asia games was a big deal because climbing returned to the competition. It had not been a part of this. Climbing hadn't been a part of sea games since 2011.
And in 2011, guess who took the gold in bouldering Ina ina ti who he had interviewed and who has been a part of the show. Ina takes the gold in 2021. There's no climbing. And sea games until 2025, which is today. And now Philippines Climbing is a recognized national sports association as well as officially part of the IFSE.
So it's a really exciting time for climbers in the Philippines, especially for the national team. The Philippines national team. Iman Mora competed in the men's finals for bouldering while Raj de La Cruz competed in the women's finals for bouldering at the Sea Games. Andraj ended up placing bronze, which is super exciting for for Filipino climbing.
I noticed that team Filipino climbing has also competed in a SE Asian climbing championships or a SE. A and climbing championships in Speed Lead and Boulder and IFSC World Championships, which happened in Seoul. And this was just Boulder and lead. I also wanna mention that you, as a listener, know two members of the National of the Philippines climbing team Joe r Arla from episode nine and Pets.
From Sabu from episode 10. So it's cool that we've interviewed two, two friends from just climbing in the Philippines who are actually part of the national team. That's a big deal, and I wanna recognize them. I wanna recognize Ina at the Ina Raj Iman, Mora Lisa from Sabu and all the other climbers who are currently on the Filipinos climbing team.
We're here. Celebrating you, supporting you and cheering you on from abroad, and just keep up your training and what you do. It's really exciting to see this. Also, the shirts are dope. We also wanna announce something really fun. So Christine and I have made a discord. We wanted to create a space for listeners of the show to connect, so I'm gonna leave a link.
In the show notes of the server, any listener is welcome to join the Discord. We'd love to connect with you and just have a space for you to ask questions, make suggestions for what you wanna see out of the show. We just wanted to create a a fun little space for folks who love the show to connect.
Last but not least. I wanna plug our Patreon. So we do have a Patreon. It is still up there. And if you become a Patreon, we we will allow you to ask future guests of this show. We'll include your questions in future q and as for guests. If you become a patron and you can become a patron as low as a dollar a month you can actually ask future guests we'll questions and we'll ask those questions in the q and a and we'll give you a shout out if you want. Join the Patreon. It's it's a great way to give back to the show. Long term I would love this show to operate on its own. So not have to rely on my own income, but to be its own sustaining thing so that, it can just be its own Yeah.
Its own thing. That'd be really cool. So join our Patreon if you. If you support the show. Alright. Thank you again, Madam Salama for listening. I know this was a ramble but we're excited for putting out more stories next year. If you have any suggestions for who we should interview, especially if they're from the Philippines give us a shout out, a DM or an email and have a great New Year's Eve.
Thank you for listening.