They came, they traversed the extreme northern province. I hope the Ilocos Norte down-home food culture will leave a mark in their hearts and minds.
I don’t mind repeating the solid 5-day food adventure if I’m going to do it again with the FoodPrints production team, and of course, the innate entertainer, fair and candid chef Sandy Daza, who’s been schooled in Paris and the “heir apparent to mom,” as how mom veteran chef Nora Daza fondly refers to him, according to Sandy.
In the drivers’ seats are Lifestyle Network production manager Giselle Interior (who’s been with Probe way back the early days of LEAD Movement’s Adams ecotourism project and the La Paz sand adventure, pre-sandboarding, I came to know in this shoot), and Jennie Celdran, executive producer of RedBalloon, who does global events and production on the side. BTW, she’s the perky and stylish other half of David Celdran.
Rio Grande (overlooking the Padsan River) of Atty. and Mrs. Constante Caluya was the FoodPrints’ home in Laoag for the entire duration of the shoot.
You know, based on my account of the FoodPrints shoot., filming is not as random as you come here, and then guides/hosts take you to places and feed you with all sorts of food. There are so many things to consider like logistics for one. Exploration starts even before they set foot in Ilocandia. The accidental others are the chicharon on top.
Together with Lifestyle Network EP Alina Co, Director Cristina Bilbao, scriptwriter Nikki Alfonso, PA Melanie de Leon and the camera and audio guys namely Rommel Diaz, Pen Mulingbayan, Neil Laygo and Christian Flores, the whole team worked more than they ate, but when they ate, they ate with much gusto and appreciation. Thank you so much, in behalf of Ilocos Norte!
On the 6th day, I was starting to miss Doc Glory and Jennie. The entire team, the routine actually.
Btw, reunited for a day with local tourism people Joegie Jimenez and Arnel. I also met Ivy and Elaine of the PGIN for the first time.
Extra-pasensiyosa Director Cris Bilbao at the Museo Ilocos Norte. Thanks, direk, for the kindness:)
There’s Giselle, my constant ka-istorya about kids, moms, vertical rappelling, trekking, etc.
Hahah, Rommel Diaz is the brother of the country’s number 1 blogger Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet!
The group’s baby, sweet and pretty Nikki.
These guys are chill!
I call this the first supper (shot in Saramsam Nuevo).
Please don’t forget, peeps, Lifestyle Network (channel 52 if you are on Sky), September 7, 8:30 pm. Enjoy the ride! (More on FoodPrints in Ilocos Norte here.)
(My personal thanks to each and everyone! Warm wishes to Sandy Daza and Foodprints,)
Photographed by Pen Mulingbayan, Jeng de Leon and Blauearth
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