Food Explorer Turned Guest Reviewer on GMA News TV’s Pop Talk (“,)
Guess who’s going to be …
On cam, blogging. That’s Kuya Joe behind the camera and beside the bright (spot)light. =D
… one of the guest reviewers on Pop Talk’s Baguio Panagbenga special?
Of course, it’s yours truly, eatsplorer X. (Why would I be writing about some stranger guesting on the show? *heehahaha)
Sshhh. Ms. Hearty, genius hair and make up artist, at work. \m/
For the recommendation to this opportunity to experience and be in the midst of what goes on in an episode taping for a day, I have Sir Augie, author extraordinaire, to thank. (“,) I’m ever so grateful, Sir! *still in a daze
Et voila, the finished product and the artist … with Ms. Ces as a cute photo bomber. *hihi
Oh, the people I met that became new friends at the end of the busy and exciting 1st of February, 2016. It started with Ms. Ces who met with Race and me at Le Monet Hotel and who assisted us and kept us informed about what was to happen as the day progressed. Miss Hearty, great HMUA, I bow to you. *hihi She waved her makeup brushes and ‘bibbiti-bobbiti-boo’-ed me so much into fabulousness, it threw some people off from realizing it was me. \m/
After Ms. Hearty’s transformation work on me was done, we all converged at the lobby to meet with the Pop Talk’s host, Kuya Antonio, Ms. Eva who always made sure I had something to say/gave my take in between the spoonfuls and forkfuls of food that I shoved into gob when we started taping *heehaha, and the guys that work their magic behind the cams: Kuya Oliver, Kuya Pat, Kuya Joe, Kuya Jesselem, Kuya Alex, and Kuya Ruel.
My co-guest reviewers: Celebrity reviewer, Pepita Curtis; and Chef reviewer, Chef Sam of Le Monet Hotel and I also bonded in our time in the limelight.
It sure was fun spending the day with everyone, hopping from this resto to the next. The cameras and lights are set up and when Kuya Tonipet says: “Rolling” , away we taste this dish and that dish laid out in front of us. =b No scripts! How awed I was at Kuya Toni’s ad libbing skills, knowing what to say to the ‘audience in their homes’ and to us, guest reviewers; the lines and funnies that Pepita delivered that made everyone around the filming table laugh so hard and also, put me at ease; and Chef Sam’s reserved knowledgeable comments about what we were eating.
Getting our expectations from the restaurants we will visit on the record with Kuya Pat behind the cam. =)
Without a doubt, I’m so excited to see this air on TV. I purposely don’t want to give anything away about the restos we visited, my foodie friends, so no notations whatsoever on that. Para surprise. *hihi [BUT if you think you know where they are based on the photos here (photo with Pepita Curtis and Chef Sam), you can surely comment what your guess is, under this post.First to guess correctly will win a little prize from me. ^^, Please DON’T FORGET to fill out the NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS required fields. I’ll entertain comment answers until February 20, 2016 noon.]
GMA News TV or GNTV logo
Please do catch this Pop Talk episode on GMA News TV @wagastv11,February 27, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. (Channel 11 is their main channel, but I heard it depends on who your cable provider is, too. Some of my friends say, it’s channel 1 on their TV so just keep a look out for the GMA News TV logo to be sure you’re on the right channel.) Let’s see how the three Baguio restaurants we visited fared, shall we? … and how I did, as well. OMG, be still my heart. =)))
***Thank you so much to Sir Aladin, for coordinating with me via phone, too.
***P.S. Shoutout to Ms. Jane. *hihi
UPDATE 02/29/2016: (Just in case you missed the airing,) Here’s a snippet of the Baguio Panagbenga 2016 resto episode – The Final Verdict
(where I was fueled enough with everything we ate that day, I suddenly had so much to say. Chatterbox powers ON! *snickers)
Bwahaha, hello there, Nickie! Disqualified you, you got insider info =b Thank you so much for the support! I hope you will watch GMA News TV’s Pop Talk 2016 Baguio Panagbenga special on February 27! (“,)
Hello, Candy! Nakiki-limelight lang. =b My mark is all over here wahahaha, i hope that will do as an autograph. Thank you so much for the support! (“,) Hope you watch the Pop Talk, particularly their 2016 Baguio Panagbenga specials. See how I do in front of the cameras. Fingers crossed, well. *hihi
Thank you so, so much! I hope you enjoy the Baguio Pop Talk feature as much as I (… and I’m sure everyone with me) enjoyed taping it. Ever so grateful for the support, Candy! (“,)
Nainggit naman ako sayo Xine. Nagcocomment ako lagi sa poptalk Facebook page kasi gusto kong rin maging guest reviewer. Congrats! Sana 1 day maging reviewer rin ako. he he he
Hello there! Thank you so much! I’m sure, GMA New TV appreciates your support; hoping that your dream to be a guest reviewer on Pop Talk will soon become a reality. Till that day, just keep on exploring and eatsploring wherever you are. (“,)
Hello there, Mario! I’m not sure if the Pop Talk episode on Baguio B&Bs this week will give a preview at the end of the show. If they do not give the answers away, I’ll extend the time for getting your answers in. Medjo tricky ba guessing where we taped the Baguio resto episode? *hihi You can do it! Guess na, so you can narrow things down. (“,)
Hello, Jan Do! Correct! Ozark Diner is one of the places we reviewed for this Pop Talk episode. Yey! Please check your email (spam folder too just in case =b) for my message. Let’s talk there for when I can meet with you to give you your prize. Congratulations! (“,)
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked the episode! I sure did have fun taping that episode with Kuya Tonipet, Pepita Curtis, Chef Sam, and the whole Pop Talk team. Happy eatsploring to you! (“,)
Good work in the Pop Talk episode.The replay just finished. It’s so cute that you only did oneliners and taglines when in the food tasting but you had much to say in the verdict portion. And you are so polite. “Po, po” 🙂
Hello there, Alysa! I had nothing in my mouth save for the coffee in the final verdict so nothing was stopping me from talking, I guess. =b You noticed the po(seseseses) *hihi Thank you so very much for watching! Eatsplore away! (“,)
I am aging, very single white American man who is considering moving to Baguio City in April, 2017. My ancestry is far northern European, mostly Viking. A cold night in Baguio would be like a hot day in Viking country. Ergo Baguio. I would be interested in meeting a pinay for joint culinary adventure. I will be clueless. I buy. Hope pinay has sense of humor
Hello there, XY! We wish you a happy and easy move/transition to Baguio! Surely, there are many nice and wonderful people here that you can be good friends with.
We’ll be glad to accompany you in some of your eatsplorations of the City of Pines as we love eating out, too. Till your official move, we wish you well. (“,)
X Marks the Spot for Good Baguio Foods is a personal blog. Everything posted in this blog is PERSONAL OPINION DERIVED FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE and since TASTE can be pretty SUBJECTIVE, should NOT be taken as THE NORM or the LAW OF DINING around in the City of Pines.
Its (prosaic =b) contents are meant to help with the question “san tayo?”/where do we go? in relation to eating out in Baguio, to ENCOURAGE EXPLORING (eatsploring) and TRYING NEW THINGS offered in the City of Pines.
By all means, eat where you want to eat and eat what you want to eat. May you have a great experience with all the places you visit and may all the restaurants you go to deserve a ton of treasure chests! (“,)
(Also, if you have any second thoughts about a certain place you arrive at, please DON'T LET THIS BLOG BE THE REASON YOU ARE FORCED into ending up anywhere. If the restaurant doesn’t have what you want, please FEEL FREE TO WALK AWAY.)
Who Picks Up the Tab? ^^,
Unless otherwise stated, I finance this Baguio eatscapade with my own hard earned - as per Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets: “big sweaty wads of …” =)) - money.
X Marks the Spot for Good Baguio Foods 
May I answer the places so I’ll get a prize? hehe Xine on Poptalk! Very nice!
Bwahaha, hello there, Nickie! Disqualified you, you got insider info =b Thank you so much for the support! I hope you will watch GMA News TV’s Pop Talk 2016 Baguio Panagbenga special on February 27! (“,)
WOOOWWWWWW, can I get your autograph, Xine? 🙂
Hello, Candy! Nakiki-limelight lang. =b My mark is all over here wahahaha, i hope that will do as an autograph. Thank you so much for the support! (“,) Hope you watch the Pop Talk, particularly their 2016 Baguio Panagbenga specials. See how I do in front of the cameras. Fingers crossed, well. *hihi
I already calendared the air date for this Poptalk special. Congratulations, Xine! 🙂
Thank you so, so much! I hope you enjoy the Baguio Pop Talk feature as much as I (… and I’m sure everyone with me) enjoyed taping it. Ever so grateful for the support, Candy! (“,)
Wee, romeandtroismom, you remember your password! Hooray! *hihi Thank you so much for giving out a star for this post! Sister hugs! (“,)
Nainggit naman ako sayo Xine. Nagcocomment ako lagi sa poptalk Facebook page kasi gusto kong rin maging guest reviewer. Congrats! Sana 1 day maging reviewer rin ako. he he he
Hello there! Thank you so much! I’m sure, GMA New TV appreciates your support; hoping that your dream to be a guest reviewer on Pop Talk will soon become a reality. Till that day, just keep on exploring and eatsploring wherever you are. (“,)
Only till the 20th to guess, why, bakit, apay? hehe
Hello there, Mario! I’m not sure if the Pop Talk episode on Baguio B&Bs this week will give a preview at the end of the show. If they do not give the answers away, I’ll extend the time for getting your answers in. Medjo tricky ba guessing where we taped the Baguio resto episode? *hihi You can do it! Guess na, so you can narrow things down. (“,)
Alam ko na! Sa Cafe in the Sky, Cafe Yagam, Ozark!
Nakita ko sa preview sa B&B episode. hehe
Heehaha. Funny, Mario! =b
Will have other giveaways in the future, hope you can join (in time) then. *hihi Thank you so much! (“,)
Hello there Ms. Xine! It’s Ozark Diner, with Ms. Pepita Curtis. 👍👍👍
Hello, Jan Do! Correct! Ozark Diner is one of the places we reviewed for this Pop Talk episode. Yey! Please check your email (spam folder too just in case =b) for my message. Let’s talk there for when I can meet with you to give you your prize. Congratulations! (“,)
I watched the Baguio Panagbenga 2016 restaurant episode of Pop Talk. You were great, Xine! Good job! 🙂
Wee, thank you so much for watching the Pop Talk Panagbenga restaurants episode! (“,) I really appreciate the support! *noimnomnomnom *hihi
Xine ang ganda mo. Pwede ka mag artista!! Pop na pop!!!!!1
Aww, thank you so very much! Pop Talk’s hair and makeup artist worked wonders on me. I hope you enjoy the Pop Talk Panagbenga 2016 resto episode! (“,)
Biglaan yun end. Pero maganda ka parin. Pop na episode.
*hihi I thought that too (abrupt ending =b). There was too much footage ata to fit into the 30 minutes. We all had lots to say. (“,)
Mukha namang nagenjoy kayo. Nice topic. Galing nyong reviewers.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked the episode! I sure did have fun taping that episode with Kuya Tonipet, Pepita Curtis, Chef Sam, and the whole Pop Talk team. Happy eatsploring to you! (“,)
Watching a replay of Pop Talk Baguio restaurants now. You are a natural.
Hello there, Shorty! Weee, thank you for the support and the compliment! Happy watching! (“,)
Good work in the Pop Talk episode.The replay just finished. It’s so cute that you only did oneliners and taglines when in the food tasting but you had much to say in the verdict portion. And you are so polite. “Po, po” 🙂
Hello there, Alysa! I had nothing in my mouth save for the coffee in the final verdict so nothing was stopping me from talking, I guess. =b You noticed the po(seseseses) *hihi Thank you so very much for watching! Eatsplore away! (“,)
Thanks to you, Xine, we have many options for dining out in Baguio. 🙂
Enjoy, Alysa! (“,)
I am aging, very single white American man who is considering moving to Baguio City in April, 2017. My ancestry is far northern European, mostly Viking. A cold night in Baguio would be like a hot day in Viking country. Ergo Baguio. I would be interested in meeting a pinay for joint culinary adventure. I will be clueless. I buy. Hope pinay has sense of humor
Hello there, XY! We wish you a happy and easy move/transition to Baguio! Surely, there are many nice and wonderful people here that you can be good friends with.
We’ll be glad to accompany you in some of your eatsplorations of the City of Pines as we love eating out, too. Till your official move, we wish you well. (“,)