Pinoy chef joins ‘Let It Snow’ in Canada

Anton Amoncio is still in high spirits after participating in “Let It Snow,” a chef exchange program by the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence held in Calgary, Canada. It’s the first time a Filipino chef joined the exchange. His trip was made possible through the Culinary Exchange program of the Canada Beef Centre of Excellence in partnership with Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Anton, together with other world-renowned chefs, whipped up appetizing recipes using Canada beef.

The week-long event was in celebration of the 150th founding anniversary of Canada. Three events were held at different Canadian luxury resorts, highlighting the seasons of Canada: At the Fairmont Banff Springs in early summer, Fairmont Royal York Toronto in harvest season, and Chateau Lake Louise for winter.  Anton’s visit to the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the finale of Canada Beef’s Canada 150 celebrations this year.

Anton had his share of the limelight when he presented his own recipes using the best quality Canada beef: Beef Morcon Sliders, Bistek on Green Onion Blinis, and Beef Shortribs Sinigang in Green Mango. He proved once more that Filipino chefs are at par with the best of them when it comes to culinary artistry.

Anton is a talent of Asian Artists Agency.

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WishCard for free

All-hits FM radio station Wish 107.5 launched the WishCard a few weeks ago at the Power Mac Center Spotlight in Circuit Makati.

Spearheading the launch of the WishCard and WishApp were Joseph Miranda, VP for Engineering, BMPI; Noel Peralta, CEO, 1K Solutions; Dr. Sarah Barba-Cabodil, host of the morning show in UNTV, “Good Morning Kuya;” Gerardo Etorma III, VP for Radio, BMPI; and Jay Eusebio, VP for Marketing & TV.

Wish 107.5 followers can get the WishCard by downloading the Wish App for free via Google Play for Android phones. Apple users can also avail of the App soon.

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Authentic Japanese cuisine

There’s a new Japanese eatery worth visiting and it’s called Tokio Café at Twin Oaks Place at Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City.

The chefs are Filipinos who trained under the finest Japanese chefs. Tokio, a wordplay for Tokyo, aims to give its patrons a “Tokyo-feel” experience with its signature dishes as Shu No Zensai, Wagyu Steak, Obento, Sushi, Sashimi, among others.

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GMA, ABS-CBN vie for 2017 ratings leadership

Media giants GMA Network Inc. and ABS-CBN Corp. welcomed 2018 by both claiming leadership in last year’s nationwide television ratings.

Citing data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA said on Thursday that it continued to dominate in 2017 with a 42.5-percent audience share in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (Nutam), 5.7 percent ahead of its rival’s 36.8 percent.

For its part, ABS-CBN said data from Kantar Media showed that it gathered an average audience share of 46 percent in the same period, 12 points higher than GMA’s 34 percent.

Both networks highlighted where they excelled in 2017, citing the same market research firms.

GMA said it beat ABS-CBN in all time blocks in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila at 76 percent and 59 percent, respectively.

In Mega Manila, the Kapuso network posted a 51.9-percent audience share, compared with ABS-CBN’s 26.7 percent.

GMA also disclosed data on December ratings, noting that it again topped nationwide ratings with 44.3 percent, compared with ABS-CBN’s 37.2 percent.

Overall, the Network dominated NUTAM's list of top programs for 2017 with 20 out of 30 programs coming from GMA. Reigning supreme in the list is the well-loved Kapuso primetime series “Encantadia,” which became the number one program for two consecutive years.

Award-winning magazine program “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” grabbed the second spot as the most-watched Kapuso program for the year followed by the Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza-starrer “Destined To Be Yours.”

Joining them in the list of most watched Kapuso shows were “Pepito Manaloto,” “Magpakailanman,” “Full House Tonight,” “Celebrity Bluff,” “24 Oras,” “Super Ma'am,” “Mulawin vs Ravena,” “Alyas Robin Hood,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko” and “All-Star Videoke.”

Also included were “My Love From the Star,” “Kambal Karibal”, “Meant To Be”, “I Heart Davao”, “My Korean Jagiya”, “Kapuso Movie Night”, “24 Oras Weekend”, “Someone To Watch Over Me”, “Hay Bahay!,” “Wowowin,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Sunday PinaSaya,” “Ika-6 Na Utos,” “Hahamakin ang Lahat,” “Legally Blind,” “Impostora,” “D'Originals,” “Karelasyon,” “Tadhana” and “Tsuperhero”.

Notably, GMA's exclusive free TV telecast of Manny Pacquiao's last fight, dubbed the "Battle of Brisbane: Pacquiao vs Horn", was the most watched TV special for the year.

More Filipinos also tuned in to GMA’s live telecast of President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24. GMA Network’s “SONA 2017” became the most watched coverage nationwide with 37.4 percent people audience share; outranking ABS-CBN’s “Pangako ng Pagbabago: SONA 2017,” which only got 34.3 percent. GMA-7’s coverage registered an even bigger margin in Urban Luzon with 43.2 percent people audience share versus competition’s 26.2 percent.

The broadcast network said it once again “proved to be the Filipino viewers’ network of choice” as the GMA-7’s live telecast of the Miss Universe 2016 pageant on January 30 rated highest nationwide with a 57.1% people audience share, higher than ABS-CBN’s 28% and TV5’s 8.4%. 

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN said it remained unbeatable across all time blocks. On its primetime block (6 p.m. to 12 a.m) in the January-to-December period, the Kapamilya network registered an average audience share of 50 percent versus GMA’s 32 percent.

On its morning block (6 a.m. to 12 noon), ABS-CBN recorded a 39-percent audience share, compared with its rival’s 32 percent; on the noontime block (12 noon to 3 p.m.), 45 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent; and on the afternoon block (3 p.m. to 6 p. m.), 43 percent against the Kapuso network’s 38 percent.

ABS-CBN said it led the race in Total Balance Luzon with an average national audience share of 48 percent, compared with GMA’s 36 percent; in Total Luzon, 42 percent versus GMA’s 36 percent, in Total Visayas, 53 percent, compared with GMA’s 28 percent; and in Total Mindanao, 53 percent versus GMA’s 31 percent.

The Kapamilya network also claimed to lead nationwide TV ratings in December with an average audience share of 45 percent, compared with GMA’s 34 percent.

Coco Martin still holds the primetime king bragging rights, as his “Ang Probinsyano” topped the TV ratings for this past year. The beloved cop drama, which has been on-air since 2015, came in first with a 38.6% average nationwide rating for the past 12 months, data from Kantar Media released Thursday showed.

The family-friendly reality talent contests, “Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids” and “The Voice Teens” were second and third, respectively, followed closely by Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo's fantasy series, “La Luna Sangre”. 

“TV Patrol” was fifth in the list, which featured only shows from the Kapamilya network. 

Also making to the list are "Langit Lupa,” Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson's reunion drama “Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin,” noontime shows “It’s Showtime” and “ASAP,” drama anthology “Ipaglaban Mo,” afternoon dramas “Doble Kara,” “The Better Half,” “The Promise of Forever,” “Hanggang Saan,” “The Greatest Love,” and “Pusong Ligaw,” primetime drama series' “Wildflower,” “My Dear Heart,” “A Love to Last” and “The Good Son,” “Home Sweetie Home,” “Little Big Shots,” “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “I Can Do That,” “I Can See Your Voice,” “Wansapanataym” and “Rated K.”

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Jan. 6, go to Sharon Cuneta, Marissa Delgado, Cesar Gaupo, Chito Puato, Melchor Dee, Star Villareal, Vilma Dimacuha, Adele-Marie Almontero, Charlie Arcega, Rhea Mae Violon Panganiban, Maria Lourdes Rebato, Rey Villareal Seneres, Edith Galve, Nharen Real, New York-based Shelly Guillermo, Angela Garchitorena and Bathazar Valenzuela… Jan. 7: Rep. Dante Liban, Councilor Lou Veloso, Apa Ongpin, Rosemary Lopez, Zenas Lozada, Ina Bautista, Tootsie Eduque, Louisebelle Hubert, Ditas Rodriguez, Ana Marie Lomboy, Jecelyn Macahindog-Leobrera, Eden Miro, Gina Onrubia, and Maddie Samonte… Jan. 8: Dr. Jaime Laya, Benjamin Yap, Judge Aurora Recina, Amparo Aspiras, Rowena Mendiola, Louismil Gala, Frances Alincastre, Carrie Javier, Graham Buenaseda, Tom Canchela,  Dennis Evangelista, Irish Joy Abarquez, Bernie Espiritu, Manny Hernandez, Mrs. Carmencita Valentino, Erwin Balines, Dra. Shyla Samson, Jim Sarthou, Ariel Dim Borlongan,Tom Canchela, Joselito Testa, Norsel del Rosario, Graham Rae Buenaseda, MB’s Ramir Medino and Robert de Luna and Tanya Scaife…