Filipinos in PH, US watch Survivor Philippines

My first try in writing for print back in 2012. 

Published originally Manila Mail

@30PTCAIT - Filipinos in PH, US watch 'Survivor Philippines'

@12 PTLA - By Pink Karen Biticon

WASHINGTON D.C. -Tens of thousands of Filipinos in DC area and the United States will be glued to their CBS Channel 9 TV screens every Wednesday  to watch the hit reality TV series  which is located in the picturesque island of Caramoan in Camarines Sur.

The 25th season of the series, dubbed "Survivor Philippines," was premiered last Wednesday, September 19,  with host Jeff Probst and 15 new and 3 returning castaways. The castaways were divided into three tribes named after Pinoy animals, Tandang (rooster), Matsing (monkey) and Kalabaw (carabao). As expected, the castaways will battle and brawl, outlast and outwit one another to be deemed as the Ultimate Sole Survivor and bring home the 1-million-dollar price. Yet for the first time in 11 years, Survivor USA is held in the Philippines’ Caramoan island, which was described by the show as the most treacherous location Survivor has yet undertaken.

“We are in the most beautiful and remote location in the world, the Philippines. Here thousands of islands scattered over the South East Asian sea are home to waters and rainforest filled with countless animals both beautiful and dangerous.”  Probst said in the opening intro during Survivor’s season premier.

He also added, “Amidst the serenity of this majestic landscape, furious storms can arrive without warning, it is here where (15) Americans will begin their adventure of a lifetime.”

Although this may not be the first for our country to be the location for the prestigious tv franchise,  the USA’s Survivor Philippines is expected to be watched by more Filipinos worldwide. Aside from the US, it is shown internationally. In the Philippines, it is aired via satellite through GMA News TV.  

Department of Tourism Secretary, Ramon R. Jimenez recognize how Survivor Philippines can aid in the country’s tourism, “We look to shows such as this to help us achieve more tourists from the mainstream US market to meet our target of 10 million arrivals by 2016,”  he said to Manila Mail.

He also added that foreign production visitors could truly experience the Department’s tagline “It’s more fun in the Philippines!”  He says, “Remember that the Philippines also has the friendliest and most thoughtful hosts in the Filipino people. That accounts for the claim that it’s more fun in the Philippines.”

While DOT recognized how we can potentially benefit from the Survivor Philippines in terms of tourism,  Camarines Sur Governor Ray Villafuerte recognized how it helped the province’s locals. He said that the “Survivor USA” production hired 400 locals “They pay them daily wage, they are hiring sasakyan, bangka at lahat ng local supplies doon ay binibili nila so grabe ang business in the locality,”

Now that the newest season is airing, like Survivor’s signature tribal council, many Filipinos  have spoken,

GMA 7’s Executive Producer Jeconiah wrote on his facebook account, “After seeing gritty Manila on Bourne Legacy, I'm now seeing the paradise that is The Philippines on Survivor. Can't take away the Pinoy Pride in me. (Had goosebumps when I saw my fave Caramoan island posted here.)”

Some Filipinos also became an instant fan and viewer of the latest Survivor, US based IT expert Mario Sese said, “it is nice to see American castaways experience the beauty of our native land and have a taste of our culture too!”

Others were jokingly fascinated by how Probst pronounce the three tribes in his American accent, user @ProfessionalHeckler wrote on his twitter account, “Jeff Probst had me at 'ten-deng' (Tandang tribe)”

There may be several different reasons why many Filipinos are happy on this newest season of Survivor, but to top it all, many Pinoys feel a deep sense of pride. It’s an affirmation that in a third world country like ours, there’s a hidden Paradise, and Caramoan islands are just few of the many.

The islands of Caramoan was never popular until just recently. It is one of the 25 municipalities of the province of Camarines Sur in Bicol Region.  The island lies in the heart of the Caramoan peninsula and is isolated from the rest of the province. Though it has been open to tourists, the island remains its magnificent status as a hidden paradise in Luzon, serene and unexploited.

Caramoan islands also boast of its clear turquoise water and very rich marine life which led the Survivor production to the island. Survivor gave fans what they’re raving about, more water challenges this season!

“It actually came as a slam down from Burnett.  ‘Get us back in the water.’ So we’re here in the Philippines and I love it!” Probst said when interviewed by EW.com.

The filming of Survivor in Caramoan was first confirmed by  Gov. Villafuerte, in a report on abscbn.com last March 27,  though at that time, he did not confirm that it was Survivor USA, “Actually may 'Survivor' doon (Actually, Survivor is there). It's a really big production but I cannot [give more details] because I signed a confidentiality agreement. It's is being filmed right now and it's going to air in September”

But Survivor USA is not the first production to set foot on the island. In fact, Caramoan became the house for castaways of different Survivor franchises. Survivor France, believed to be the second largest franchise of the series, was the first to shoot in the islands in 2008. Caramoan’s beauty also bedazzled other Survivor franchises like Israel, Bulgaria, Serbia, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Sweden and India.