REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—The popular TFC weekly magazine show “Adobo Nation” is celebrating its fifth anniversary, a duration marked by an Emmy award last year and a new Emmy nomination for 2013.
After five years of delivering a one-stop pop culture program with segments covering “brains, beauty and banter” the show has become a staple for overseas Filipino TV audiences. It captures the intricate, delightful, ever evolving flavors of the iconic Filipino adobo dish.
Co-host Michi Salta explains, “Just like every Filipino household has a different recipe for adobo, every Pinoy has a different experience of living outside of the Philippines. We wanted to have a show that celebrated Filipinos abroad –in food, in business, in the arts–and also give our audience new and exciting stories and features that are relevant to them.”
The U.S.-produced show nabbed an Emmy in 2012 for best current/community/public affairs feature segment with its story on the San Francisco-based gang violence prevention organization United Playaz.
United Playaz comprises ex-convicts who turned their lives around and are now committed to keeping kids out of trouble and off the streets. The feature was produced by the Adobo Nation team of Executive Producer Eric Pugeda, Writer-Producer Troy Espera, Director-Photographer Jeremiah Ysip, Photographer Joseph Perry and Editor Mitos Briones.
This year the “Adobo Nation” team is up for another Emmy for the segment on the transforming impact on youth and neighborhood by Arise School in East Oakland. The team is under ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia De Jesus, Director John-D Lazatin and Pugeda,
“I like that we keep our community tightly knit through the stories that we tell,” says Salta. “One ka-nation’s triumph becomes everyone’s triumph. We are constantly showcasing the best of Filipinos abroad.”
Co-host Lee Robin Salazar agrees. “I think ‘Adobo Nation’ will be stickin’ around for a while. We’ll be part of the Pinoy household and their Sunday night viewing till we run out of innovative, interesting and talented Filipinos. And let’s face it: that will never happen.”
“Adobo Nation” hosts truly enjoy doing the show and receiving fan feedback.
“For me it is such a fun ride,” chimes in co-host Tet Hernandez. “I always look forward to taping because there’s always something new to learn about the community. The staff and crew are extremely talented and hardworking. And the viewers welcomed us as part of their Sunday family dinner!”
Original host J.C. Gonzalez says, “’Adobo Nation’ is pretty much a household name for anyone that subscribes to TFC. People may not necessarily know our names as individual hosts, but when they see us on the street, they say, ‘Uy, si Adobo Nation’ (Hey, that’s Adobo Nation)!”
Gonzalez adds,“The best feedback I get are from the folks who guest on the show. They say things like, ‘After I came out on ‘Adobo Nation,’ phone calls have been coming in constantly.’ We hear that on a consistent basis. That’s how we know that the show works.”
Goldilocks Brand Manager Agnes K. Francisco says, “Whenever we have a new product that is featured on ‘Adobo Nation,’ we receive calls and inquiries from customers looking for that particular product. The response from viewers is tremendous and immediate.”
O Skin Care owner Olivia Quido, who has a segment on the show called “Beauty by O” says, “Before I started my segment on ‘Adobo Nation,’ my clientele was limited to the area where I operate here in Cerritos. When I had my regular segment, I started receiving so many calls from area codes all over the U.S.–from San Diego, Las Vegas, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and even Alaska! They drive or fly in regularly in groups of five to eight for a day in the spa then return to their homes. ‘Adobo Nation’ truly opened the doors for us so we can serve as many clients as possible.”