Banana Q: a Filipino-Flavored Podcast

We talk about our personal highlights of 2023 which include a lot of revenge travel and new roles and hobbies. We also share the results of Banana Q podcasts's Spotify Wrapped and then talk about our favorite TV shows and movies discovered during the year. Show Notes: Oxford Word of the Year 2023

We finally have our first reunion since we started this podcast... in Hong Kong. We give tips on what to do when traveling to Hong Kong, tackling different spots such as Wan Chai, Stanley, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Mongkok, Tung Chung, and Lamma Island. We discussed Hotels.com, Klook, Jollibee, The Peak, Big Bus Tours, Symphony of Lights, Avenue of Stars, K11 Musea Mall, Bakehouse, Flash Coffee, Eggettes, Tim Ho Wan, cha chaan teng, Ladies Market, Lee Tung Avenue, City Gate Outlet, Rainbow Seafood Restaurant, and Aqua.

We talk about the cons of being an Overseas Filipino Worker, including experiencing being stereotyped and feeling like a second class citizen abroad, missing food and events back home, and being confused about what “home” means now.

We discuss the most popular social media platforms and their differences - Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Tiktok, YouTube. We delve into a bit of nostalgia talking about the first popular Social media platforms in the Philippines back in the day - Friendster and Multiply. We share the social media etiquette rules you need to stop breaking. Show Notes: Understanding the Difference in Social Media Platforms 13 Social Media Etiquette Rules You Really Need to Stop Breaking Timeline: James Gunn’s long and winding road from Troma to the top of DC Studios

We answer these questions: Why is Accountancy a popular course choice in the Philippines? What do accountants actually do? We share our real life experiences in Finance-related roles in Philippines, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong, which include: assistant accountant, IRM auditor, business process owner, accounts payable analyst, hedge fund accountant, private equity and real estate accountant, projects and reporting coordinator, product controller, financial planning & analysis manager, finance business partner, and CFO (chief financial officer). We give tips on how to thrive in corporate life and how to turn fund accounting into FUN accounting. Show Notes: 3 Reasons Accounting Job is the Top Choice in the Philippines Why the Philippines is a Top Choice for Offshore Accounting

We interview Cate, an accountant in Australia, about her heartbreaking struggle of trying to have a baby. She talks about her endometriosis and multiple cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Show Notes: Why Michelle Obama’s revelation that she had a miscarriage and did IVF matters

Rey explains what inflation is for the average Juan, and includes discussion on the heavily memed phenomenon of the huge increase in price of onions in the Philippines.

We learn about Chinese New Year history and traditions in China, Philippines, and other places. Show Notes: Chinese New Year Wikipedia How The Philippines Celebrates Lunar New Year

We talk about our personal highlights of 2022 which include big milestones. In relation to these, we end up sharing life and career advice including how to stay young and how to be Sir Chief.We also share the results of Banana Q podcasts's Spotify Wrapped and then talk about our favorite TV shows and movies discovered during the year. Dee picks After Life, Mythic Quest, The Afterparty, and Everything, Everywhere, All At Once while Rey goes for National Treasure, Wednesday, Boba Fett, and Top Gun: Maverick. Other Banana Q podcast episodes mentioned: Ep 97: Buying vs Renting a Home Ep 98: This is 40 - Expectations vs Reality Ep 66: What Career Advice Would You Give to Gen Z? Ep 16: What Shows Did You Find Binge-worthy in 2020? Ep 69: The Highlights of Our 2021

We discuss common toxic misconceptions that people have about Filipinas who date foreigners (usually Westerners) with the aid of Kach Umandap's article on her blog. Show Notes: Truth and Lies About Filipinas Dating Foreigners

We talk about royals that exist in modern times. We discuss Philippine monarchy in the past and touch on a bit of history, finally tackling the last unanswered question from our trailer. We lay out the pros and cons of monarchy and share whether or not we wanna be royals. Show Notes: Wikipedia Pros and cons of the monarchy

We talk about the afterlife and learn the beliefs of different religions - Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse, Catholic, Islam, Buddhist, and Hindu. We also talk about mediums, near death experiences, and the possibility of uploading your consciousness to a virtual reality as portrayed in the shows Upload and Black Mirror (San Junipero). Finally, we talk about our ideal afterlife and bring up The Good Place.

We talk about the pros and cons of buying vs renting a home. Pros: Building wealth through equity Low mortgage interest rates Freedom to renovate and modify your house as you see fit No surprises in rent prices Cons: Less flexibility to move Significant asking price Home expenses like repairs, maintenance fees, and insurance Owning your home used to be the practical choice, but this is no longer the case. What changed?