BEHIND-THE-SCENES: Beating food coma with Team ‘Ang Pinaka’

In one conversation, Augie Rivera, the head writer of GMA News TV’s award-winning show “Ang Pinaka,” described the program’s operations as “a well-oiled machine.”

For the crew to operate efficiently is expected of every show. Team “Ang Pinaka,” however, exceeds expectations with their chemistry. While they go about their work, they crack jokes in between. When the food tasting is done, the bounty is shared with everyone and we all ate like family. It’s no wonder that “Ang Pinaka” is already in its eighth year, garnering awards from “Anak TV” and “Catholic Mass Media Awards” along the way. More than a smooth-operating crew, Team “Ang Pinaka” is family. And I had the chance to join the brood on their shoot in Baguio.

Take a sneak peek of their operations in my Top 10 Ang Pinaka: Paboritong Moments with Team “Ang Pinaka.”
 

10. Like “a well-oiled machine,” the crew operates efficiently. Once we reach our locations, our cameramen and executive producer, Ma’am Eva, start setting up right away while our researchers, Gary and Jane, quickly coordinate with their contact persons. No questions asked. They have already performed this dance dozens of times.

9. Maey Bautista knows not only how to give detailed commentaries for each dish. The funny woman also knows how to tickle the funny bones of her interviewees to help them relax in front of the intimidating camera. One such conversation with Chef Mike of Cafe Sabel while trying the restaurant’s rosemary-marinated pork chop:

Maey: Chef, pinagloloko mo naman ako eh! Hindi ko matikman si rosemary!
Chef Mike: Mayroon iyan! Tikman mo ulit.
Maey (concentrates and chews slowly): Ayan, teka...sorry, chef. Hindi talaga. O hindi ko lang talaga alam lasa ng rosemary!

8. With Chef Alvin of Chef’s Home, host Maey suggests they go on a light jog first in an effort to be fit and healthy before devouring chef’s Asian-fusion offerings. She rubs chef’s tummy to make her point.
 

 

6. Our hosts, Boobay, Maey Bautista and Rovilson Fernandez, are definitely feeling the Christmas spirit as they pose for a wacky shot in front of the Forest Lodge hotel at Camp John Hay.
 

5. While the crew prepares to shoot at the Star Cafe and Restaurant at Session Road, Maey and Boobay sneak out to look for a cake shop. Boobay, of course in one of his flashy outfits, turns heads and proves that he can walk along the uphill roads of Baguio even while wearing four-inch heels.
 

4. Ninya Mercado, segment producer of “Ang Pinaka,” multi-tasks. After reviewing the flow of the interview with the hosts, she quickly grabs the camera and takes vicinity shots of the restaurant.

When you’re with a playful bunch like Team "Ang Pinaka," sometimes things get a little too fun. Like the organized, golden groupmate you dreamed you had in college, Ninya makes sure work gets done first. In one interview session with the Star Cafe’s owner, for example, the crew got a bit noisy at the back while finishing leftovers. Ninya made a “shhh” gesture to keep us quiet, to which Boobay replied, “Magagalit ‘yung principal!”
 

3. Ever wondered how our hosts manage to pack all the food in during our Yummy shoots? They get help from the crew! It takes total team effort to beat food coma!
 

2. The busy streets of Baguio are cramping our hosts’ style. They struggle to shoot their spiels while people stream up and down Session Road. It seems the cold weather is also affecting our smooth-talking hosts. Maey keeps pronouncing “Chinese dishes” as “Chinish deeses” while Rovilson stutters. But they take it all in stride because, as Rovilson reminds the gathering audience who just witnessed their bloopers, “We’re professionals!”
 

1. “Ang Pinaka’s” hosts are all fan-friendly, so for viewers who are able to spot a host or our crew in action, just approach them. They don’t bite, unless you’re food!

 

“Ang Pinaka” airs every Sunday, 5:45 PM, on GMA News TV. Follow the program on Facebook and Twitter:

https://www.facebook.com/AngPinakaNewsTV
https://twitter.com/AngPinakaNewsTV