Topic: Philippines

Jake Grant shares his background as a missionary kid in the Philippines and how it shaped his perspective on faith. He and Rob Skiba focused on "biblical cosmology," which posits that the Earth is flat under a dome, a belief they claim is consistent across many ancient cultures. Grant argues that Christians who reject evolution or carbon dating have more in common with flat earthers than they do with modern Western scientific dogmas.

Following the interview, host Greg Carlwood offers a critique of Western medical campaigns in the third world. He suggests that vaccination programs are often a form of exploitation or medical testing, citing historical examples of birth control testing in the Philippines. Carlwood expresses skepticism toward the altruistic framing of these global health initiatives, viewing them through the same lens as economic hitman activities.

Philip Fairbanks explains his relocation to the Philippines and his work with alternative media platforms like The Goldwater and Tora3. His involvement in the independent news scene began after a BuzzFeed article about 8chan's news service prompted him to connect with other researchers. He emphasizes the importance of decentralized video sharing platforms that are not subject to the same censorship as mainstream tech companies.

Daniel Immerwahr, an associate professor of history at Northwestern University, joins the program to discuss his book, How to Hide an Empire. The text focuses on the "Greater United States," exploring the history of territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Immerwahr shares his background teaching at Berkeley and San Quentin State Prison before shifting his focus to colonial history.

A visit to Manila in the Philippines served as the catalyst for Daniel Immerwahr's research into the extent of the American empire. He observed American influences such as streets named after U.S. presidents, transit systems utilizing surplus army jeeps, and local residents speaking English with familiar accents. This experience led to the realization that standard U.S. history curricula often ignore territories that are not destined for statehood.

The December 7, 1941, Japanese offensive was a broad strike against multiple targets including Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines, rather than just Pearl Harbor. While Hawaii was damaged, the Philippines suffered a full invasion and occupation that resulted in over one million deaths. This death toll represents the bloodiest event in U.S. history, yet it is frequently omitted from textbooks because the victims were not on the mainland.

Early drafts of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s "Day of Infamy" speech included prominent mentions of the Philippines, but these were systematically removed in later revisions. Eleanor Roosevelt’s preceding radio address had correctly identified the attack as being against citizens in both Hawaii and the Philippines. FDR ultimately focused the narrative on Hawaii to ensure the American public viewed the event as an attack on domestic soil.

The Spanish-American War is characterized as a conflict driven by yellow journalism and a false flag event involving the USS Maine. Milligan argues that the primary objective was the seizure of the Philippines to secure opium trade routes. He links this strategy to the Russell and Company opium smuggling fortune, which funded the establishment of the Skull and Bones society.

William Howard Taft, a member of Skull and Bones, is identified as a key figure in transforming the opium trade. While serving as the civilian governor of the Philippines, Taft made opium illegal, which Milligan argues was a move to benefit smugglers by increasing the product's value. This led to the Hague and Shanghai conventions, establishing modern global drug prohibitions.

Sylvie Ivanova encourages listeners to contribute to the global database at megaliths.org by submitting photos of undocumented ancient sites. She outlines her future travel plans, including an expedition to Malta to study "land of giants" ruins and a trip to the Philippines to investigate psychic surgeons. The segment concludes with a call for people to develop their own "magical powers" and spiritual insights.

Conspiracy forums have proposed theories regarding the death of actor Paul Walker, suggesting his car crash was a murder intended to prevent him from exposing corruption. One theory claims Walker discovered a plot to hide permanent birth control in Philippine typhoon relief supplies. Another suggests he found "dirty money" within disaster relief efforts through his specialized rapid relief company.

The Philippines, particularly the Laguna region, is noted for a diverse variety of cryptids and folklore. Reports include bipedal humanoids as well as predatory winged creatures with glowing eyes, described as flesh-eating gargoyles rather than traditional cinematic vampires. The region also has a rich tradition of "little people" or goblin-type tricksters that are said to torment locals at night.