In just a little under two months, we’ve managed to crank out seven episodes of our new Manila Bulletin podcast, The Sit Down. There have been little birth pains in terms of my first time-ever hosting, the production, and the marketing side of the product. We’re still learning how best to effectively bring the podcast to you, the public. But hopefully, we are fast learners; and for those who have consistently watched the episodes, we are grateful for the shared interest, and the trust.

When we have guested public figures, we try to make the episodes go beyond what you would have gleaned from the subjects in the course of watching them on newscasts, and in ambush interviews. The format allows us to scratch beyond the surface, and explore their personalities in what we trust is a relaxed, “safe space” atmosphere. We pushed with questions that confront the public issues, but also touch on their private selves, and we always try to inject a modicum of lighter moments.

We’ve had politicians from both the national and local level, we’ve interviewed key figures from the business landscape, and we’ve even gone show business! It’s been a great ride, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. With some of the political figures, as can be expected, there will be harsh, even off the point, comments. And that’s fair, as emotions do run high when it comes to our current political situation. But what’s important is that we extend the effort to bring them on our show, and allow you to react.

We kicked off the podcast series with Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Sharon Cuneta, which guesting-wise, was a wonderful “bueno mano.” In one of my past lives, at the ABS Cable Channels and Print Media Group, one of our print titles was a Sharon magazine; and she is one of the first show business personalities I met that I can say, we went beyond the “Hi, hello” stage, and a friendship was nurtured. I liked how despite being the megastar that she is, if you watch the episode, you’ll notice how she keeps bringing the spotlight back to her husband. At the time we taped, he was the returning Senator.

With the PBBM exclusive, I have to defer to our Marketing Head Leslie Araujo, for how this occasion became one of the highlights of his tenure at the Manila Bulletin. Apparently, when just a new hire, he had asked Boss Emil Yap if there was a chance he’d get to meet the President. Lo and behold, we helped make that happen, and Leslie even got to have a quick one-on-one chat. For Leslie, this is now one of his #CoreMemory, and I’m happy it transpired while he was dispensing his duties with us, at the Manila Bulletin.

Our Executive Editor Pinky Colmenares joined me for our episode with Senator Bam Aquino. For Pinky, the meeting took on added significance, as when she had been on a hiking trip in Antique, the two guides who joined their expedition would make “kwento” about how they were the first in their families to have college degrees. Both said this was because of RA 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, of which Bam was a principal author. She was excited to share this anecdote with the Senator.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Steven Tan of SM Supermalls, Kyle Tan of Tanduay, and the duo of Bela Padilla and JC Santos, make up the other current episodes of The Sit Down. And I like how it’s a mixed bag, with no predictability in who we guest. The more important thing is that interesting, compelling conversations arise.

I’m excited for the tapings to come, as we will be creating a subgroup called “The Sit Down Sustainability series.” As you know, the Manila Bulletin had been mounting the MB Sustainability Forum for four years now (the fourth iteration happens this Nov. 19 and 20 at the National University, Sampaloc), and the offshoot Focus Sessions.

While the Forum and Focus Sessions have been held on campuses (UP, UST, and DLSU), with students as the primary live audience, the Sit Down Sustainability series will allow companies who advocate Sustainability in their day-to-day operations explain how they make this happen to the general public. It’s Sustainability, as embedded in their OpEx, and not just as a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) effort.

That difference is quite important. CSR is traditionally what a company does with it’s profits, part of being a more responsible member of the corporate community. Who we will guest are companies that view Sustainability initiatives as part of their DNA, as givens in the way they conduct business – whether from an environmental perspective, a social one, or even one hinged on governance.

Thanks also to Bobby Requintina, Patrick Garcia, and James Loyola, who have joined me hosting particular episodes. And I look forward to working with Len Amadora. Thanks to the Sit Down team, JD, Jaime, Irish, and Jordan. And to Boss Emil for the “green light” we needed.