Emmy Winner ‘Adobo Nation’ Now On Its 5th Year
The US-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, a group for former ex-convicts who turned their lives around and are now committed to keeping kids out of trouble and off the streets. The award for the United Playaz feature is TFC’s first Emmy, 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, Adobo Nation and its entire team, under the watchful eyes of ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia De Jesus, Director John-D Lazatin and Pugeda, scored another Emmy nomination for the segment on the transforming impact on youth and neighborhood by Arise School in East Oakland.
Through the past five years of delivering a one-stop pop culture program with segments covering the full nine yards of topics that show brains, beauty and banter, Adobo Nation has, indeed, become the overseas Filipino TV show that captured 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.”
What makes Adobo Nation more special is that the hosts truly enjoy doing the show and receiving fan feedback. “Adobo Nation for me is such a fun ride,” chimed 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 JC Gonzalez shared that “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 also added that “the best feedbacks 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.”
True enough, Goldilocks Brand Manager Agnes K. Francisco said, “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” – narrated: “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 5 to 8 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.”
“I like that we keep our community tightly knit through the stories that we tell,” said 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.” (NMFernandez for TFC All Access)
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