The TLC Fest Experience

The TLC Festival was recently held at Bonifacio Highstreet. Eversince I saw the ad to this event in Facebook, I was excited and pre-registered online. It was just a one day event full of activities. One of the reasons why I signed up was because Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro, would be there. I mean, who wouldn’t want to meet Buddy, right? 😀

Anyway, we arrived at the event in the afternoon already. I never really expected much, apart from the fact that there will be a lot of people. Activity areas had long lines of people, too, and I didn’t want to waste time lining up. Instead, we just strolled through the area just like we always do. Haha! There were photo/video booth of some sort, there was an area for letting your creativity flow, there’s a cooking area, and a few more. I didn’t get a chance to stay and check out the areas.

The gallery where registered participants can create their own art :)
The gallery where registered participants can create their own art 🙂
Cookng Demo just across the gallery area. I think they were doing an Italian dish
Cooking Demo just across the gallery area. I think they were doing an Italian dish

Philippines got to showcase local delicacies as well as traditional dances, too. I was not able to get a photo of the huts where the local delicacies were being sold.

Tiniking by La Manila Dance Ambassadors in the background
Tinikling by La Manila Dance Ambassadors in the background

Del Monte was there, too, just beside the makeshift stage, handing out free pasta and iced tea. 🙂

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Free food!
The little boy enjoying his pasta :)
The little boy enjoying his pasta 🙂

Afterwards, we headed down towards the ampitheater. On our way there, I couldn’t resist having our photo taken with this:

:)
🙂

The main stage was set up along 7th Avenue, beside Mango Tree. There were a lot of people already so there was no way for us to get closer to the stage. The hosts were about to introduce the stars of Surfing the Menu. I am not familiar with this show in TLC but the people were screaming when the two guys got on stage that Z held on tight because he was frightened by the screams.

Not so clear of a photo since I was all the way back and I had to use the zoom of the phone, which, well, reduces the quality of the photo :P
Not so clear of a photo since I was all the way back . But, girls were going crazy when these two hit the stage LOL!

They had a short cooking demo (pan-seared salmon with soy sauce, lemon and maple syrup and blanched greens). After their demo, we headed down to the ampitheater. There were a lot of people in the open stage, waiting for Buddy.

Half an hour before Buddy arrived. That crowd doubled a few minutes after taking this
Half an hour before Buddy arrived. That crowd doubled a few minutes after taking this

I tried to get a video of Buddy and his wife, Lisa, arriving at the open stage but being short and already behind a few lines of people, it was really hard to get a clear video. Majority of what I got were arms and camera phones raised and heads so I didn’t upload it in YouTube anymore. LOL! There were also people behind me pushing forward, screaming Buddy’s name, then suddenly I heard one lady ask her companion “sino sya? (Who is he?)” after screaming Buddy’s name. I just wanted to turn around and give them that are-you-effing-kidding-me look. LOL! Seriously, they were right behind me, two ladies, both screaming Buddy’s name, then suddenly one of them asked who he was. Argh! I have no words. LOL!

When Buddy got on stage, people started moving forward again, occupying every space in front of them that they could find. I had a few guys who blocked my view, apart from the ones in front of me who were raising the camera phones and tablets so high I could no longer get a good view of the stage.

But here’s a snapshot from one of the video clips I attempted to take. That’s Buddy right there. 🙂

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All the TLC stars in attendance (I didn’t get to see Janet Hsieh) went back to the main stage for the closing program at around 6 or 7pm, I think. I decided not to stay because the crowd was getting huge and I am not really fond of crowds, especially since I had the little boy with me. We just roamed around for a few minutes then headed to McDonald’s for a quick dinner before we headed home.

I had fun even if I didn’t get to win prizes or even participated in any of the games. I didn’t even attend the cake decorating event that I registered in because I was tired already from walking and carrying the little boy. And I got to see Buddy, even if he was a few meters away. I envied the people who were able to take a selfie with Buddy but what I really envied were the people who got to have a master class with the Cake Boss himself the day after the festival. Who doesn’t want to be taught how to decorate a cake by the Cake Boss, right? But since he said that he will be back, I might as well start preparing for it. Who knows, I may be fortunate enough to meet him the next time. Hee Hee!

I didn’t know that this was a yearly event for the past few years now (not sure though when it started). I will definitely look forward to next year’s festival should there be one again (which I hope there will be). 🙂

 

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