A famous quote said that "no matter where life takes us, the kitchen is where we all come back to." And no one prepared us to come back to the year of the 90s with a reunion of our favorite Gimik cast– Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal, Marvin Agustin, Mylene Dizon, and Dominic Ochoa– at Judy Ann’s Kitchen Youtube channel.
ICYDK, Gimik was a renowned teen show of the 90s produced by ABS-CBN. As Judy Ann recalls, “they were cool once,” marking the humble beginnings of what used to be a stepping stone of their successful careers in show business.
While preparing Thai Pork Rib Soup and Steamed Lapu-Lapu, the Batang 90s Gimik cast not only shared cooking tips but also took us on a nostalgic roller coaster of emotions, bringing back waves of happiness and cherished memories from their time on the show.
Take A Look At Our Favorite Moments From The Batang 90s Reunion At Judy Ann's Kitchen:
1. Marvin and Jolina comeback???
When Jolina said to Marvin "kailangan mo ba ng tulong ko o wala naman?" He responded back with a "meron. Kailangan iinspire mo ako." Did we hear that right? YES!
It doesn't end there! Jolina and Marvin just kept referring to each other "love team" throughout the video, bringing back all the butterflies and *kilig*. For the Gen Zs who might be unfamiliar, Jolina and Marvin were one of the most iconic love teams of the 90s, capturing the hearts of audiences with their chemistry and charm.
2. Judy Ann Santos Recalls "Ploning" Shoot With Mylene Dizon
As Judy Ann, Jolina, and Mylene prepared the marinade for their dish, Judy Ann meticulously listed the essential ingredients: cilantro, green bell pepper, and tamalarong juice. Jolina, wearing a confused expression, asked, 'What is tamalarong juice?' Judy Ann responded back to their time shooting the movie Ploning in Cuyo, reminiscing that tamalarong juice was Mylene’s favorite during their stay.
Ploning is a Philippine romantic drama released in 2008, featuring Judy Ann Santos and Mylene Dizon in leading roles. Set in Cuyo, Palawan, the film narrates the story of a man on a quest to find his childhood sweetheart, Ploning.
3. They still remember their respective character names!
During their reunion at Judy Ann’s Kitchen, the beloved Gimik cast treated viewers with a special Batang 90s 101 segment. They reintroduced themselves, this time, in their characters from the show: Judy Ann as Diane Villaruel, Jolina as Ese Aragon, Mylene Dizon as Melanie Suntay, Dominic Ochoa as Erik Abesamis, and Marvin Agustin as Joey Fajardo.
Dominic also shared a memorable experience about their early days in show business. He recalled a commercial shoot with Mylene that began with an early morning call time only to be shot at 9PM, highlighting the unpredictable yet exciting nature of their careers.
4. Kiffy > Kaffir
Who would've thought that even the generations before Gen Z knows how to pull off a witty joke? Take note, not a dad joke. When Mylene said "lagyan natin ng kaffir" referring to the seasoning of their dish, Judy Ann bursted a laugh because she thought Mylene was telling them to put "kiffy" on the food. As a response, Marvin innocently asked what a "kiffy" is and it just brought added laughter to the room.
Just for reference, "kiffy" is the Gen Z colloquial term for female genital.
5. ‘Boom Shakalaka’ Dance By Marvin Agustin
Marvin Agustin just graced the reunion with a talent portion and we cannot stop laughing about it! While mixing the drinks, Marvin candidly shook and danced to the beat of 'boom shakalaka.' Mylene jokingly suggested that this energetic dance routine was how Marvin was discovered in showbiz.
6. Marvin speaking English and making reference to Diether
Marvin surprised Judy Ann with a thoughtful gift, hinting that he also had surprises in store for Jolina and Mylene. As the banter continued, Marvin couldn’t resist poking fun at their English accents, all while dropping reference to Diether.
ICYDK, Diether Ocampo is one of the casts of Gimik together with G. Toengi and Bojo Molina, who are MIA in this OG reunion. Ah yes! The sound of the 90s. But where are they now?
While it was not mentioned why they were not in the reunion, Diether Ocampo retired from showbiz in 2017 and is now pursuing his dreams as a Captain of Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Meanwhile, G. Toengi, now residing in the United States with her family since leaving the country in 2001 for studies, made a brief return to the Philippines in 2023, settling in Batangas with her son Kenobi.
As for Bojo Molina, he now enjoys life in Guam with his wife Jen Kwe Punongbayan and his two kids.
It was indeed a reunion that evokes nostalgia, especially for the millennials and baby boomers. And in case you were “bitin” with this reunion, you might want to wait for Part 2 as disclosed at the end of the show.