The crossover we’ve been manifesting in our vision boards is REAL, and it’s called Kumusta – a culinary travel show that’s about to smash Korean and Filipino food culture together in the most delicious way possible. Set in the iconic streets of Gangnam, Seoul, this isn’t just a cooking show. It’s a whole cultural moment, and we are HERE for every single second of it.
Imagine this: Ji Chang-wook, along with a squad of Filipino A-listers, ditching their glam and running a fully operational Filipino pop-up restaurant in one of Seoul’s most buzzing districts. For SEVEN. STRAIGHT. DAYS. Up to 12 hours a day. We’re talking Chicken Inasal, Kare-kare, Sisig, and the queen of all dishes – Lechon – being served to Korean diners who are probably about to have the best meal of their lives, honestly.
The cast getting their hands dirty (and deliciously greasy) includes Jodi Sta. Maria, Janella Salvador, Francine Diaz, and Arci Muñoz. That’s basically every Filipino celebrity you’ve ever had a parasocial relationship with, all in one show. You’re welcome.
The show was officially launched at a grand media conference at The Collab, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Newport World Resorts, and the energy was infectious. Chang-wook flew to the Philippines to hype this up alongside his Filipino co-stars, and apparently we get to see a way more candid, unfiltered side of him – building real friendships, laughing in the kitchen, probably making a mess – and we genuinely cannot wait.
Oh, and did we mention the Korean celebrity guests? Kim Min-seok, Kim Myung-soo, and Seo In-guk are all making appearances. The casting department said “let’s just give the fans everything” and honestly, respect.
Chef JP Anglo, who is the former MasterChef Philippines judge and certified legend of the Filipino food scene, is leading the kitchen. He’s basically the glue holding this whole glorious, chaotic, flavour-packed experiment together. Seoul’s food scene is famously discerning, and Chef JP is out here making sure Filipino cuisine doesn’t just show up – it shows out.
Sure, watching celebrities panic-cook Kare-kare in Seoul is peak entertainment. But Kumusta is really about what happens when two cultures meet over a shared meal – and how quickly walls come down when there’s good food involved. As E&S Partners CEO Jack Hyunsoo Noh put it, the show puts Filipino cuisine at the center of it all, introducing it to a wider audience in a way that feels completely genuine.
Kumusta is 100% produced by E&S Partners, a subsidiary of Echolive Korea (the same people who brought Waterbomb Manila to life in 2025, so you KNOW the vibes are right), with filming and editing handled by Korean production company PODO Creative. Rebisco is the main sponsor, because of course a Filipino snack icon had to show up for this.
The show debuted on TV5’s Weekend Trip and if you can’t catch it live, there’s always Viu. Stream it anytime on the app, because Filipino cuisine is about to go global and you are NOT missing this historic moment.
Discover more from InstiWitty Media Studios
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
