Cast Members of Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition Revealed

The third season of Survivor Philippines, telecast on GMA 7, will comprise 18 local celebrities and personalities.

The latest season, which will air in August 2010, will be hosted by Richard Gutierrez, taking over from Paolo Bediones, who resigned for greener pastures at Kapatid network, Channel 5.

The castaways that will be stranded in an island in Thailand for 40 days to compete for the title of Sole Survivor.

Female Castaways:

Michelle Madrigal - Banak in Dyesbel
Aubrey Miles - sexy actress at hot mama
Solenn Heussaff - socialite at model
Karen delos Reyes - meh
Aira Bermudez - Sexbomb member
Elma Muros - champion athlete at long-jump queen
Princess Snell - StarStruck V Avenger
Mykah - Bubble Gang regular cast member
Moi Marcampo - commercial model and Piolo Pascual's personal assistant (seen in the movie Kimmy Dora

Male Castaways:

Akihiro Sato - Brazilian-Japanese model-actor
Jon Hall - model and rumored boyfriend of Michelle Madrigal
Ahron Villena - actor, former? ABS-CBN talent
Mico Aytona - TV host-actor (who?)
Ian Batherson - StarStruck V Avenger
Doc Ferds Recio - celebrity veterinarian at Born To Be Wild host
Buwi Meneses - Parokya ni Edgar bassist
Ervic Vijandre - athlete at model (ex-boyfriend of Marian Rivera)
Pretty Trisha - comedian

A bunch of has-beens, never-was and wannabes, with the exemption of Elma Muros and Doc Ferds.

If this season is as contrived for drama as the previous season, I'm going to bail in the middle of it. I was blogging and suddenly I lost interest because that season definitely jumped the shark.

I hope this celebrity season is more natural - let the drama and the story line unfold on its own.

For what it's worth, my early faves are Elma Muros (props to her sports accomplishments), Doc Ferds (his passion for the environment is hot) and Mykah.

Of course, my favorites never win.

Survivor Philippines Palau: Week 4 – Who Got Voted Out?

Yes! Vlad, the alpha male (barf!) was the fourth castaway to be voted out on week 4 of Survivor Philippines Palau.

You so slick Vlad, that’s why your ass is out of the Airai tribe. You were as subtle as an elephant let out in a china shop.

When Airai lost the immunity challenge, I knew Vlad’s days in the island were numbered. As soon as the challenge was over he immediately went to Charles to plot against Charles. Talking with the enemy behind your back? Hindi obvious masyado.

Myka is like more convincing like. Vlad also had the stupidy to talk strategy/backstab with Charles with Myka right behind. Myka like found out like what you were up to, huh, Vlad? Like, sorry.

Alpha males when they lose are bitter. Vlad is no exception per his goodbye confessional. Charles was the target of his bitterness because it was Charles was supposed to be the one gone tonight. Sorry, Vlad you were more annoying, lazier and more of a douchebag than Charles.

Naman kasi, sumobra si Vlad. He and Troy couldn’t assert their alpha male-ness while there was Shaun and Cris. Immediately after the tribal swift, without Shaun running the old Airai, Vlad got too power hungry and started his obvious plotting and politicking.

My happiness over Vlad’s boot is tempered by the fact that he is off to Isla Purgatoryo to battle it out with original Isla Purgatoryo castaway Justine. But I hopes that Vlad is so out of it already that Justine can chalk up a win against Vlad. Also, Justine was a former man so medyo patas nila (chos!).

TRIBAL SWITCH: Because of a tribal shift, there original Airai and Koror are no more. The new Koror are Amanda, Jef, Echo, Marvin, Shaun and Suzuki. The new Airai are Myka, Cris, Tara, Troy, Charles, Louie and Vlad (voted out at last tribal council).

ISLA PURGATORY: Maya technically was the second castaway to have her torch snuffed. Justine won the physical challenge consisting of putting together the wheels of cart, climbing stations for puzzle pieces and completing the puzzle.

REWARD CHALLENGE: The swimming challenge was won Airai and they got fishballs for reward. Jef couldn’t complete the challenge, putting Koror one flag behind Koror. Marvin had a mental lapse and forgot to take two flags during the second round, putting Koror further behind Airai.

Koror won, thanks to asshole Vlad who wondered why Marvin was able to keep up with him – him being a swimmer in college or something. Troy remains lucky kasi hindi siya nalunod.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE: Koror wins, getting immunity plus letters and photos from home.

Troy is a sitting duck without his pal Vlad. Louie, a douchebag on the downlow, is another target. If Airai losses immunity again next week, either Troy or Louie is out. Both are indispensable at this point because the four, Myka, the ring leader, Tara, Chris and Charles seemed to sticking together.

Next week challenge should be fun. It’s a challenge already in the US version, Survivor Palau.

Survivor Philippines Palau: Week 3 – Who Got Voted Out?

Maya, the pilot, is the castaway to be voted out in the third week of Survivor Philippines Palau.

Maya is one of my pre-game favorites because of her being a woman in the military field. Unfortunately that fact made her decide to fly under the radar. Too off the radar that she became invisible and appeared weak to her tribemates.

All is not lost because she’s bound for Isla Purgatoryo where she will go up against Justine for the right to stay in the island and a chance to make it to the merge.

Why was it not Troy? I need Troy to be out two episodes ago. He’s an ass, not even a charming ass. He’s a perv and a poseur. Mentalist - my big ass!

The editing made it looked like Mika and Amanda were adamant about voting out Troy and and were willing to take their chances in a tie. Alas, those two turned out to be the deciding votes that snuffed out Maya’s torch. For Amanda’s and Mika’s sake, let’s hope Shaun stay true to his word about booting out Troy and Vlad in favor of the two girls. Otherwise, they should have allowed the tie and let the chips fall where they may.

Speaking of tribal council, why is Paolo Bediones meddling too much in what’s going on in each tribe? Last I heard he’s just the host whose job is to make a play-by-play commentary during challenges and moderate the discussion during TC.

So, why is Paolo making inter-tribe commentaries such as what Charles and Marvin said about the other tribe? To create more artificial drama but I thought the tribes have no knowledge of each other’s camp life. SHUT.THE.FUCK.UP, PAOLO!

Isla Purgatoryo: So technically Carol, the School Teacher, was the first castaway voted out of Palau. True to Justine’s words “pinakain ang bisita dahil mamaya ng konti uuwi na rin siya ng Pilipinas.”

By the way, did any of you notice that Justine has allowed herself to exhibit “gay mannerisms and speech pattern” now that she’s all by her lonesome. Jumbo doesn’t count because what could the dog do or say? Judge her?

Reward Challenge: Koror won the challenge and got a sumptuous breakfast feast for their efforts.

Immunity Challenge: Koror is on a roll because they too won this challenge, huge thanks to Marvin. Marvin is my eye candy in this season, but he is turning out to be capable, too capable, which could put a huge target on his back sooner or later.

Troy, I would like to see that cut-off penis of yours now served on a platter. Promise mo yan. Three Korors were able to lift Jumbolado to the finish line. They didn’t exactly lift him up but, you know, that push and pull strategy also worked.

Vlad: Geesh, what an alpha male. Mika and Amanda have more claim to the title than you do.

Charles’ personality is slowly coming out so from being a potential first bootee, the names coming out now are Tara’s and Marvin’s. Charles brings the funny, especially this week’s episodes.

Tara, down girl. I know it’s hard being surrounded by all those testosterone, but you can get some when you come home in the next few episodes.

Charles: Get over yourself. Tara switched to Suzuki and Charles because you turned her down? Please, bitch.

All others – meh. I don’t have an opinion because they are either useless or no personalities.

Survivor Philippines Palau: Week 2 – Who Got Voted Out?

Schoolteacher Carol was the second castaway booted out from Survivor Philippines Palau.

Who didn’t see this coming? Carol stood out like a sore thumb in her tribe, Koror, because she never left her classroom. Many a castaway have been voted out for being a know-it-all.

Carol should have been gone before Justine, the Beauty Queen, but was saved by a stupid immunity bracelet.

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Now Carol is on her way to Isla Purgatoryo, where she will have a face-off with first bootee, Justine, to determine the castaway who will get a second chance at P3 M and the title of sole survivor.

Paolo Bediones calls Isla Purgatoryo twist, but purists like me call this bullshit. Once a castaway is voted out by his/her fellow castaways, and his/her fire is extinguished there must be no second chance at coming back.

We’re only in the second season and there’s no other twist that could have been introduced? There’s a perfectly good reason why a castaway is voted out, either he’s useless, has no clue (to play the mental or social aspect of the game) or annoying. If you’re one or all of those, then you need to get off my TV yesterday.

Reward Challenge: I know Koror finally won something. I can’t comment since I wasn’t able to watch this episode. Fell asleep. The next episode, I see Carol acting like she’s useful by attempting to fish in shallow waters. Her fellow castaways are on to her, but she’s clueless. No clue, no fish.

Immunity Challenge: HAHHAHA… Mga pinoy pikon at namemersonal. I’m looking at you alpha boy, Vlad. I like Suzuki so far so I was kinda tingly and giggly when Suzuki held Vlad’s head under water for a few seconds. I wish it could have been a few seconds more. It would hurt Vlad, only his ego. LOL

After watching season after season of Survivor, the US edition, I can feel a tribe shuffle coming. I don’t like this kind of twist but the producers have to create drama and excitement because the game is becoming predictable, with Airai continuously trouncing the lame Koror tribe.

Louie needs to go first because he is targeting my eye candy, Marvin.

Survivor Philippines Palau: Week 1 – Who Got Voted Out?

Survivor Philippines Palau castaway Justine, the Beauty Queen, the first transgendered/transsexual contestant of Survivor Philippines also got the distinction of being the first voted out in Survivor Philippines Season 2.

Did the discussion at Tribal Council focused too much on Justine’s sexuality? She’s a person, not a freak so however it came about that she’s had a penis in a former life should have had just a passing mention. Once again, it underscores transgendered people being a curiosity instead of ordinary people.

Anyway, it was too early in the game to get emotionally invested in any of the contestants, so I didn’t care whether it was Justine or Charles who got booted out.

However, it’s not too early to start feeling the hate on some of the contestants. I would have liked to see Tara, the Taray Queen, get voted off to shut her up. She and her sister whatshername from Season 1 would have been the first sisters on reality TV to get voted off first during their respective seasons. Tara, Maricel Soriano called. She want's her title back.

Tara talks too much, and in an affected way, that I find irritating. And hello she’s too emotional for this game. She went off on poor Charles, who is just too stupid to know better than to be truthful about the name he’s going to write down on the parchment paper.

FYI, Tara. If you ask a question and you demand a truthful answer, then don’t expect to like the answer. Shut up, will you? There’s someone who’s going to be voted off every week and expect your name to come up every time.

I hope Airai loses immunity next week so I can hope that Troy, the Mentalist, gets his comeuppance for being so feeling gwapo. Pwede bang dakpin ito ng pulis kasi manyak siya?

I thought mentalists are entertaining, but I’m thinking it would be entertaining to see Troy black and blue courtesy of the male family members of Mika, the Chef from Palawan.

So, how awesome is Amanda, the Construction Worker? She’s one of my pre-game faves and she’s turning out to be capable, survival wise. Contestants like Amanda are usually not too long for this game because they are viewer as a threat and voted off at the first opportunity, unless of course Amanda turns out to be thinking player who’s got her social and mental game.

Another person who I think will see her torch snuffed out soon is Carol, the Teacher. Hello, Carol wala ka sa classroom! Hindi mo estudyante or anak ang mga kasama mo sa island. Carol can’t simply read a room and keep her opinions to herself.

Next week, the twist. I hope it’s not someone who got voted out coming back to have a second chance. If that’s the case, what happened to “once your torch is out, you are too?”

Survivor Philippines Palau: Season 2

The Republic of Palau was the chosen location for Survivor Philippines Season 2. An island nation lying in the Pacific Ocean, it is located at 500 miles east of the Philippines and 2,000 miles south of Tokyo.

Hosted by Paolo Bediones, Survivor Philippines Season 2 will premiere on August 17.

Pre-game Favorites

Amanda Colley Van Cooll, the lady construction worker, and Maya Segovia, mother, military pilot and mountaineer. Just because these two ladies seem to be cool, with careers in male-dominated fields.

Marvin Kiefer because we have to have an eye candy to make up for those annoying castaways. Instead of throwing a hard object at the TV, just turn your gaze on your eye candy.

Early hate

Louie Ang. Louis calls himself a “chickboy” and “bad boy”. Enough said.

Vlad Nesas. Vlad calls himself an “alpha male”, a dominant guy who always gets what he wants. A man who calls himself an alpha male is a tool. Trust.

Introducing The 16 Castaways

ECHO CACERES
20 YRS. OLD, CALL CENTER AGENT
BICOL

“I’m a real survivor because I am an all-in-one package person who knows my strength and knows when to use it. I am not only physically strong and witty but I know how to deal with different people even in difficult situations and I am able to easily adapt to any environment whether city or island life, making it with full determination.”

LOUIE ANG
24 YRS. OLD, IT TECHNICAL
PASIG

“Survivor ako kasi 5 girlfriends ko at hindi ako nahuhuli.”

Louie Ang is a typical guy-next-door, living his happy–go–lucky life with a constant goofy grin on his face.

His main reason for joining Survivor Philippines Palau could not be any simpler, “Matagal ko nang gustong sumali, para makita ko ang sarili ko sa TV,” Louie said.

When asked to describe himself, Louie declares that he is a “chickboy” and “bad boy”.

JUSTINE FERRER
29 YRS. OLD, BUSINESSWOMAN
KALOOKAN

“Well, I can say that I’m a real Survivor because I have been the breadwinner of my family for 10 years now. Also, I am providing for my nephew’s education and am helping my friends and relatives as much as I can. For me, winning their respect and love made me a real survivor.”

Justine Ferrer worked in Japan as a singer at the age of 19 and since then has become a breadwinner of the family.

As a businesswoman, Justine helped her father in a buy-and-sell business and managed a baby ultrasound company.

SUZUKI SADATSUGU
21 YRS. OLD, STUDENT/MODEL
TONDO

“Survivor ako kasi kahit malayo ako sa parents ko, kaya kong labanan ang lahat ng challenges sa buhay ko… kahit hindi lahat ng tao, naiintindihan ako, sinisigurado ko bago matapos ang araw ay nakilala ko sila at nakilala rin nila ako at naiintindihan ang pagkatao ko.”

Suzuki Sadatsugu lived in Japan for 18 years but still managed to stay true to his Filipino roots.

He usually visits his relatives in Manila, the reason he’s very familiar with the country and knows how to speak Filipino quite well.

Fondly called “Piko” or “Zuki”, he is taking up BS Criminology at Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila.

TARA MACIAS
19 YRS. OLD, KOREAN ENGLISH TUTOR
CEBU

“I am not afraid to die, to suffer and to get lost, and with that mindset, over-all fear has no place in me as I fear no evil and that makes me a real survivor.”

At the age of 16, when their father passed away and their family business had to be closed down, Tara imposed upon herself to be self–supporting and to help her family get back on its feet. She has been working as an English language tutor to Koreans as well as a call center representative.

CHARLES DE VERA FERNANDEZ
21 YRS. OLD, BUSINESSMAN
DAGUPAN

“Survivor ako sa lahat ng trials sa aking buhay. Nakapagtapos ako ng studying ko through sipag at tiyaga sa iba’t ibang raket and sa direct selling business.”

“Madaldal, malakas ang loob at makapal ang mukha.”

That’s how Charles of Dagupan city would best describe himself and he was able to make good use of those traits to achieve the things he wants in life.

At the age of 18, Charles decided to become independent and live on his own without asking support from his parents.

He has probably sold everything direct-selling business could offer – from shoes and clothes to cosmetics.

And because of his perseverance, persuasiveness and talkativeness Charles was able to finish studying at the University of Luzon in Dagupan City.

CAROL GEMENTIZA
45 YRS. OLD, PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER
ILOILO

Carol Gementiza, a public school teacher for 20 years, is the oldest among the Castaways of Survivor Philippines: Palau.

She said that it was her children that encouraged and motivated her to audition for Survivor Philippines Palau.

Her experience as a teacher taught her patience and perseverance, which would seem enough to make her fit to become a Castaway.


MARVIN KIEFER
18 YRS. OLD, MODEL
CAGAYAN DE ORO

“I’m a Survivor because at any time of any day with just my backpack in hand, I am ready to go anywhere in the world.”

It seems that this Swiss–Filipino teenager hailing from Cagayan de Oro just has too much time on his hands.

Born in Switzerland and raised in CDO since he was three years old, Marvin Kiefer always had a passion for learning, adventure and experiencing different things.

AMANDA COLLEY VAN COOLL
25 YRS. OLD, CONSTRUCTION WORKER
MINDORO

“Survivor ako dahil bilang isang construction worker sa mundo ng mga lalaki, kinakaya at ginagawa ko ang trabaho, enjoy ko pa!”

Amanda Coolley Van Cooll works as a general labor construction worker in Alaska.

Name a work in construction and she’s done it all – from driving trucks to mixing cement.

“I love building things and working with my hands,” Amanda said when asked why she chose a career considered for men.

Amanda said that she got bored working in a bank, doing the same things everyday.

Amanda grew up a probinsyana and is accustomed to island life. She is confident that her experiences prepared her enough for the game.

CRIS BOLADO
39 YRS. OLD, BASKETBALL CLINIC INSTRUCTOR
QUEZON

“Survivor ako dahil gusto kong maibalik ang mga nawala sa akin before, especially money. It’s sad but I know there will be hope na darating for me to build again all my dreams.”

Cris Bolado retired from professional basketball in 2003 because of injury. Since then, he has kept himself busy coaching in basketball clinics all over the country.

MAYA SEGOVIA
32 YRS. OLD, MILITARY OFFICER
BATANGAS

“I’m a survivor in the truest sense. I survived all life’s challenges. I can accomplish anything inspite of all the personal problems I’m going through. I’m a mom, a military officer, a military pilot and a business woman. I can do multi-tasking and get the work done well.”

Captain Maya Segovia, a military officer and a pilot of the Philippine Air Force has always thought of herself as a man trapped in a woman’s body.

“Kahit na emotional pa rin ako bilang babae, kaya kong makipagsabayan sa mga lalaki,” the mother of two said.

Maya has been a pilot for seven years and she believes that it is her destiny to be a part of the profession ruled by men.

“Flying is really one of the things that make me happy,” she added.

Always competitive and physically active, Maya has been a mountaineer for 16 years and has also participated in triathlons.

She is also a taekwondo black-belter.

Despite all her credentials, Maya prepared herself for Survivor Philippines: Palau by studying people politics through reading books on psychology.

SHAUN RODRIGUEZ
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE
ZAMBALES

“Naranasan ko nang ma-bankrupt dati dahil sa negosyo as in wala natirang pera sa akin tapos ang dami kong utang. Pero hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa.. namasukan ako sa isang shipping line. 2 months pa lang ako nagte-training, kinuha na kong waiter sa barko ng isang international cruise, hanggang sa unti-unti, nabayaran ko ang utang ko. Ginawa ko lahat ng best ko at hindi ako sumuko. Survivor Ako!”

Shaun works as a Public Relations staff at the City Council’s Office in Manila where he is engaged in dental and medical missions and feeding programs among other public service affairs.

“I have really become sympathetic to the plight of the less fortunate,” Shaun said. “Masarap tumulong sa mahihirap lalo na pag na-a-appreciate nila ang kahit kaunting tulong na naibigay mo sa kanila.”

To prepare himself for Survivor Philippines: Palau, Shaun focused on improving his endurance by running for hours from the Quirino Grandstand to Roxas Boulevard.

TROY PEREZ
27 YRS. OLD, MENTALIST MAGICIAN
MANILA

“Since my childhood, it’s been my obsession to be different from my playmates, classmates and friends through magic and real life adventures. In joining this game, it will further bolster my longing for more adventure. It will open a wider horizon for the fulfillment of my dreams.”

It is second nature for Troy Perez to entertain people, the very reason why he got into performing as a magician or, as he prefers to be called, a mentalist.

After taking up BS Biology in Manila, he landed a job in a bank and his mentalist tricks came in handy as he usually got invited to corporate shows.

“Bago pa man ‘yung show, I practiced remote viewing or visualization,” Troy said. “I already imagined the situations I could possibly face and my reaction to those situations,” he added.

JEF GAITAN
22 YRS. OLD, PRINT AND COMMERCIAL MODEL
LAGUNA

“I’m a real Survivor because I survived on my own in real life. I took the risk to be independent at a very young age. I survived growing up in the city alone. I became a parent to myself and a teenager at the same time.”

Jef Gaitan may be sweet, friendly and approachable but her charming demeanor and her stunning looks should not be construed as signs of weakness.

VLAD NESAS
24 YRS. OLD, PROFESSIONAL MODEL
LAS PINAS

“I consider myself a real survivor because I have been through a lot of challenges in my life. Growing up, I always felt insecure. Pakiramdam ko ang pangi-pangit ko. This is the reason why I improved my body, my looks, pati na ang dating ko sa mga tao.Tingnan mo naman ngayon, hindi lang ako nag-improve, model pa ako ngayon.”

Vlad Nesas calls himself an “alpha male”, a dominant guy who always gets what he wants. He is confident that this is going to be his ace in winning the title of Pinoy Sole Survivor.

Vlad is a graduate of Industrial Design, Major in Fine Arts at the University of Sto. Tomas where he was also a varsity swimmer.

He considers Joining Survivor Philippines: Palau as his major test of character.

“Kapag nakayanan ko itong Survivor, made na made na talaga ako” Vlad said smugly. “To prepare, talagang pinaganda ko ang katawan ko… sinanay ko ang sarili ko sa hirap. Grabe, six times a week na nga ang pagwo-work out ko. Kaya ba ng iba yun?”

He also knows that the cash prize and the title would drastically change his life, that’s why he is giving his all in the game.

“Hindi ako nagpapatalo. Hindi ako madaling mauto o mapaikot. Hindi rin ako takot manggago. Kung nabilib sila kay Marlon noon… well, hindi pa nila nakikilala si Vlad!” he said.

MIKA BATCHELOR
25 YRS. OLD, CHEF AND RESTAURANT OWNER
PALAWAN

“I consider myself a Survivor because I am not afraid to meet life head-on and I never back away from a challenge as what does not kill me makes me stronger.”

Mika Batchelor is a 25-year old chef and restaurateur from Palawan.

Although she is representing the beautiful islands of Coron, Mika grew up in Boracay.

The beauty of these two beautiful Philippine beaches made her fell in love with the ocean and the outdoors.

Among her adventurous hobbies include surfing, sailing and rock–climbing.

But she faces challenges everyday as she takes charge of her restaurant by herself.

“Being a restaurant owner, I really learned leadership by dealing and socializing with people,” Mika said.

To prepare herself for Survivor Philippines Palau, Mika ate lots of high–protein food, fruits and vegetables.

“We have a hill in Coron with a cross at the top; it’s about seven hundred steps. I run there back and forth every day for my endurance,” Mika added.