The Bottomline is the best talk show in all of Asia!

 I say it not so much with conceit, rather with authority authority that emanates from the approval and adulation of the Asian counterpart of the Emmy Awards, no less. And of course, I say it with pride pride that emanates from the heart of someone who is honored to be a part of something that has left an indelible mark in the pursuit to educate and empower through the medium of television, and has brought distinction to the country while at it.

 On the evening of December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, ABS-CBN’s The Bottomline with Boy Abunda was declared as the “Best Talk Show” at the 16th Asian Television Awards (ATA) held at the Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore.

 Boy dedicated the award to all the journalists who died during the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre, and to their families, and to the entire country for which we—Boy, the production, the bottomliners, ABS-CBN, and our guests—do all of this for (the subtitled entry that was submitted by ABS-CBN to the ATA is the episode with Maguindanao Governor Toto Mangudadatu. We were all quite anxious before taping that episode, considering how sensitive the matter is, and how dangerous some of the other personalities involved are. But, as ever, we made sure we conquered our fears and spoke from the heart).

 Needless to say, I’m exceedingly proud to have witnessed and experienced that shining moment; I am so happy that I never for a moment waivered on my decision to attend. In fact, I was the first to book a flight to Singapore, and despite encountering several hitches along the way (I realized I had to extend my passport’s validity; booking my seat to the awards gala dinner proved to be quite tedious and bureaucratic, etc.), my mind was pretty set on going. The psychic that I am, my gut was quite sure we were going to bring home the bacon, so to speak.

 I was campaigning vigorously, incessantly pestering our executive producer Apples Braga, Boy, and fellow bottomliners Nini Santos-Borja and Dr. Denis Ngo, and other members of the production, to book their tickets. And it was only a couple of days before the awards night that Boy, who has countless awards attached to his name (the Star Awards Hall of Fame, yes, but not yet the Asian Television Awards), decided to go. Thank heavens! Perhaps Boy channeled his woman’s intuition and realized we were going to beat CNN’s Talk Asia, and the best way to beat them is to actually be there to get the award himself! Take that! *sinister grin*

 And rightly so. Little do people know that the concept, the show’s format, is largely Boy’s idea. It’s a unique format never before seen on Philippine television (and most probably in Asia as well) and the ATA is known for rewarding major breakthroughs in content. I can still vividly remember how Boy passionately shared the idea to me and to one of my best friends Edward Co in the summer of 2009 when it was it was still being conceptualized. And I had no idea he was going to invite me to be a part of it a few months after (and for the opportunity, I will be eternally grateful).

 Amid the euphoria of victory was nostalgia. Thanking the Lord for the blessing, I quickly recalled how my own Bottomline experience all started a couple of year ago (yes, in only two years, The Bottomline is named best talk show in Asia). Reminiscing a speech I delivered accepting the most outstanding alumnus award the University of San Carlos conferred on me in August of 2009, I fondly remember ending it with “I really don’t know what I’d be doing next (after my colorful stint serving in government), who knows, you might see me on TV!” Talk about self-fulfilling prophecies. The following day, between 9 and 10 AM, I got a call from Anne Miraballes of ABS-CBN informing me that I had been invited to be a mainstay panelist (they would later call a “bottomliner”) in Boy’s new show called The Bottomline with Boy Abunda. Goosebumps.

 However small my part there is vis-à-vis everything that happens before an episode starts to take shape, for me, each time is consistently a labor of love, flying to Manila to tape on my own tab, going into the show with barely or no sleep at all. Is it all worth it? Certainly! Each taping experience has its own share of lessons to be learned.

 Our first taping (to present to ABS management) happened the eve of Ondoy. And so much has happened since then.  We’ve had the most inspiring guests, some of the most brilliant minds, and some of the lousiest liars (IMO). We’ve had a string of local awards. And last night (I’m writing this on the plane ride back to Cebu from Singapore), it was like my mind was telling me, ‘okay, we’re going to win now’ –and we did!

 But what’s special about this recognition is that it’s one that’s shared. Shared by Boy who hosts it and by all those who have helped bring to life the dynamism and fire The Bottomline has become known for. Being our contribution to a more meaningful national conversation, it most certainly includes you, the viewer, and the insights and opinions you develop and discuss with your peers and family along the way.

And after all’s been said and done, do we still need to ask Boy’s ‘mahiwagang salamin’ (magic mirror) what the best talk show in all of Asia is? I am so sure its answer will be: “sa haba-haba ng prosesyon, hahantong at hahantong rin tayo sa The Bottomline!”