Paolo Bediones reveals some vital details about "Survivor Philippines"

Last week pa nagsimulang dumating sa GMA Network ang mga nakapasa sa auditions ng Survivor Philippines mula sa Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, Dagupan, Baguio, at ang mga nakapasa rin sa SM North Edsa at SM Manila. Hindi pa nakukuha ng PEP ang exact numbers ng mga nakapasa sa first round ng audition ng Survivor Philippines, pero ayon sa host ng reality show na si Paolo Bediones ay puwedeng umabot ito from 120 to 130 participants. 

Ang Survivor Philippines ay franchise ng sikat na reality show sa Amerika at iba't ibang panig ng mundo, ang Survivor. 

"Magugulat ka talaga sa dami ng mga nag-apply for audition," sabi ni Paolo sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). "Pero nakakalungkot nga lang na hindi naman sila makakapasang lahat. Matindi rin kasi ang pagdadaanan nilang process bago talaga mapili ang 16 castaways na susubok sa reality show."

THE PREPARTIONS. Ano ang paghahandang gagawin ng mga nakapasang contestants?

"They will undergo different tests and orientations. Bukod sa physical and medical tests, dadaan din sila sa psychological test. Ang orientations nila will include ang mga possible na mangyayari sa site-kung may snakes, crocodiles, kahit ‘yong pagdating ng monsoon rains, kung ano ang gagawin nila, just in case na may ganoong calamity na dumating. 

"Number one na magiging problem nila ay food, dahil hindi ito laging available. Kailangang paghirapan nila para sila kumain. Maraming isda, pero sila ang huhuli at magluluto. Sa tubig, may deep well naman doon, may mga fruit-bearing trees, pero dapat ang kainin nila ay ‘yong mga familiar fruits lang sa kanila.

"Hindi rin sila dapat magreklamo, dahil kung gusto nilang manalo, dapat ay gawin na lang nila lahat ng challenges na ibibigay sa kanila. But of course, siniguro na namin na safe ang lugar dahil nakipag-usap na kami sa government ng country na pupuntahan namin. Kaya lang, hindi pa rin natin alam kung may unavoidable circumstances na mangyayari. Pero naka-ready naman kami dahil walang available communication, maliban via satellite for emergency purposes," mahabang paliwanag ni Paolo.

THE LOCATION. Saan ba gagawin ang kauna-unahang Survivor Philippines?

"May napili na kami, somewhere in South Asia. Pero hindi namin puwedeng sabihin kung saan exactly ‘yon," saad niya.

Paano kung ipagsabi ng mapipiling 16 castaways ang location nila?

"May contract silang pipirmahan na hindi nila puwedeng sabihin kung saan sila pupunta," sagot ni Paolo. "In fact, hindi nila malalaman kung napili sila dahil tatawagan lang sila two weeks bago sila umalis. Nasa kanila ‘yon kung sasabihin nila, dahil puwede silang matanggal o mapalitan kapag nalaman namin na nagsalita sila. Nakakatawa nga na kung saan-saan ang sinasabi nilang lugar na nasa mga blogs sa Internet."

THE HOST. Ano naman ang paghahandang ginagawa ni Paolo bilang host ng Survivor Philippines?

"Napanood ko ang 16 episodes ng American Survivor at talaga namang matindi ang pinagdaanan nila. Kaya kahit ako, kailangang handa ako. I need to last longer, kailangang malakas talaga ang stamina ko. Kaya nagsimula na akong mag-undergo ng cardio, ng workout.

"Hindi lang preparation to be physically fit ang pinaghahandaan ko. Kasama rito ay gabi-gabing prayers na hindi Niya ako pababayaan at palakasin lagi ang katawan ko. Hindi kasi ako puwedeng magkasakit sa duration ng contest. Hindi ako puwedeng magkaroon ng injuries dahil makaka-hamper ‘yon sa trabaho ko bilang host. Ako lang kasi ang puwedeng mag-judge sa ginagawa nila. Hindi ko sila puwedeng pabayaan. Nakatutok sa kanila ang eight big cameras and many handycams kaya mare-record ang lahat ng gagawin nila.

"I will bring everything na kailangan ko—my laptop, my personal camera dahil kailangan kong i-record lahat ‘yon, wala akong PA [personal assistant]. I will be staying in a small, abandoned hotel. At ang lamang ko lang siguro sa kanila, yung makakaligo ako, can eat three meals a day but not in excess.

"I will be a different Paolo, strict, I cannot hang out or chat with them [castaways]. Kakausapin ko lang sila kapag nagbibigay ako ng instructions. If may castaway na hindi na makaya ang challenges at gusto nang umuwi, hindi namin sila pipigilan. Pero ipapaalaala namin sa kanila ang three-million cash prize, tax free, na matatanggap nila. Kung mayroong mae-eliminate, by batch sila uuwi. Mauunang uuwi yung first six castaways na mae-evict."

THE BIBLE. Inamin ni Paolo na napakahigpit ng bible ng Survivor at hindi nila ‘yon pwedeng baguhin o palitan. Kailangang mag-stick sila to the letter.

"Ang nakakatuwa lang," sabi ni Paolo, "dumating dito sa Pilipinas si Julia Dick, she's British, at consultant ng Castaway Productions. Natuwa kami nang sabihin niyang ang Pilipinas lang ang only country na naka-prepare ng lahat ng requirements nila within four months. Samantalang yung ibang countries daw, pinakamabilis silang naka-prepare ay nine months. 

"Siya ang nag-approve ng lahat ng gagawin namin, kahit ang backgrounds ng show. Natuwa rin siya na sa pagpi-present namin, kasama na rin dito ang lists of advertisers. Hindi siguro kami nahirapan dahil nasanay na kami sa Extra Challenge at mahusay naman ang marketing department ng GMA Network," pagmamalaki pa ng TV host.

Isa pang itinanong ng PEP kay Paolo ay kung paano kung may magka-inlaban among the castaways at mayroong mabuntis.

"Hindi mo naman mapipigilan kung may mai-in love dahil day in and day out, sila ang magkakasama. Kung may mabuntis, hindi naman siguro siya manganganak na hindi pa tapos ang show dahil 39 days lamang naman tatagal ang contest," natatawang wika ni Paolo.

Mauunang umalis si Paolo at ang production staff ng Survivor Philippines kesa sa mga castaways. Sa June 18 na ang alis nila. After two weeks, saka pa lang susunod ang napiling 16 castaways. 

Nalaman din namin kay Paolo na sa mga maiiwanang castaways na finalists, hindi nila malalaman kung sino sa kanila ang mananalo sa pagbalik nila sa Pilipinas. Live daw ang announcement ng winner sa final episode ng reality show gaya ng ginagawa talaga sa Survivor.

Press: Paolo is a 'Survivor'

Paolo Bediones felt he had reached the peak of his career as a TV host.

That was his state of mind a few months ago.

Today, Paolo — the veteran host of numerous shows — is back in the loop.

The model-turned-TV host is no stranger to hosting reality shows. He was the face of "Extra Challenge" which went off the air when it was at the top of the ratings game.

Paolo holds corporate seminars on hostings and teaches taught GMA Artist Center talents on hosting for quite some time now.

Paolo is again back in the game as the country’s top reality show host. He has been chosen to host GMA 7’s newest and biggest project to date — "Survivor Philippines."

Deemed to be the grandest franchise ever purchased by GMA Network and by any local TV network so far for Philippine TV,

"Survivor Philippines" is a huge challenge for Paolo.

Paolo would live with the chosen 16 castaways for "Survivor Philippines," the staff and crew for 39 days in a remote island.

So far Paolo Bediones has started prepping for his new show by watching old episodes of "Survivor." He is even learning the show’s production bible by heart and has been undergoing physical training to be his fittest for "Survivor Philippines."

So where is this island?

Paolo said that it is an island outside of the Philippines since the host country cannot hold it in its own territory. Part of the franchise agreement stipulates that the location should be outside of your own territory. This is to ensure that all the 16 castaways would experience the "unfamiliar territory" atmosphere and surroundings. And since it would only be the first season of "Survivor Philippines," the island would only be in Asia.

Paolo Bediones explains that what he could only share about "Survivor Philippines" (because they are strictly bound by a Confidentiality Contract), what he is doing to survive and his fears among others.

Did you audition for the job or how did you end up with it?

Last December,2007, I’ve already heard rumors that GMA Network will be buying a "Survivor" franchise. When I heard that

I was already hoping and praying that they would consider me for the role. And my hopes were kinda dashed when they said there was a shortlist of about 20.

But I guess it is my experience with that particular format with "Extra Challenge" way back and then I guess also the credibility of having worked with the News and Public Affairs already as well as having done these challenges already probably got me the role. Because what Castaway Productions, the owner of the franchise, were looking for, I guess was credibility and certain bearings or stature to be able to act particular tasks and at the same time pakikinggan siya. To be able to join tribal council and bring out certain elements of the game that normally it would be hard for people to open up. I think that’s what really got me the role yung experience ko.

Were you expecting the part to be given to you?

Like what I said, I wasn’t that confident that it would go to me. Actually I even felt that okay I guess I hit my peak and that’s it. And it’s time to take it easy and take whatever comes na lang. And I wasn’t hoping for any big break or what.

When the call came around 11pm about two months ago, that’s when I said "Wow!" it’s not over.

Have you been to the island?

No there were advance parties and they arrived a few days ago and their report is not favorable for either one of the castaways or the production staff. It’s really Spartan conditions, meron din kaming rice shortage doon pag kumakain. It’s going to be tough for all of us. We’ll be away from our love ones for a long time.

So how about your girlfriend Abby Cruz?

She is excited because she knows that I’ve been waiting for another break or another show. So finally when this came along we were just so excited...now we’re on that stage of planning of what we’re gonna do since we can’t communicate.

Describe the pressure.

The pressure in terms of the format is simply multiplying "Extra Challenge" by seven! Because the longest we’ve been shooting for "Extra Challenge" straight is six days. So in terms of the duration it is times seven. In terms of the challenges, I’m part of the "dream team" the group that tests the challenges out to make sure that they are safe and they’re also a fair gauge of their kakayahan ng mga castaways...I’m excited and at the same time nervous because I don’t know if I can last in the island.

What are the other pressures you are feeling?

A production this big does put a big pressure on us. And since we haven’t done anything at this scale there’s always this pressure of what if, what if. But we’re headed to the challenge with the mindset that we’re making history and we’re going to pull this off. And it’s not going to be easy well nothing good ever came easy, but we’re going to take on each and every challenge.

Do you think you will survive?

Honesty we all don’t know if we can. None of us have been away that long. Ang advice sa amin is we should put on a few pounds so we have a couple of excess energy that we can tap into every now and then...We were joking na sana we won’t get in each other’s nerves but I’m sure we will kasi ganun katagal, gutom ka rin, pagod ka rin sa init ng araw ng mga shoot, anything can happen.

(Although Paolo will be working with the same group as "Extra Challenge" it’s the first time talaga that they have a production manual that is so intricate and so specific that their rules can’t be broken. Paolo revealed that they will undergo Survival Training, swimming seminars and group dynamics session to make sure that their group is bonded.)

Muslim hunk audition passer, aims to promote the good image of our Muslim brothers and sisters

One of our friends who went to SM Davao to audition for Survivor Philippines shared with us her experience...

There are 3 rooms that each auditionee will pass through:

• ROOM1 - PAUTAKAN - It's a 25-items Abstract Reasoning Quiz that you need to answer within 2 minutes.
• ROOM2 - PAGALINGAN - It's a test of Strength and Endurance with a time duration of 5 to 10 minutes.
• ROOM3 - PATATAGAN - This is the panel interview ala Tribal Council. Beware for some tricky questions. Time frame: 2 MINUTES!

NOTE: Our informant added that the audition maybe was not comfortable for some. No chairs, tables for them to write in - most of them went on the floor or walls writing.

The auditionees will surely be asked if they have passports already. Better if they have. It might help also if the hopefus have some background about the Survivor show, how the show goes and what kind of challenges and strategies the teams mostly does.

Meanwhile, one Muslim hunk passer - a 6'3" basketball player, who happened to have an artista appeal, aims to change the image of Muslims that the media depicts as not-so-good.

Fear Factor, to pit against Survivor

ABSCBN acquired the rights for Fear Factor, to pit against Survivor Philippines on GMA7. There's no clear and final title yet as of writing as the management is choosing between, Pinoy Fear Factor or Fear Factor Philippines.

In the US, the show pits contestants against each other to complete a series of stunts better and/or quicker than all the other contestants for a grand prize of US$50,000. From Seasons One to Five, the contestants were generally three men and three women, all playing for themselves, but in Season Six, the show moved to a permanent format of four teams of two people, each with a pre-existing relationship with one another, all playing for a shared prize of the same amount. Choices to host the show are Ryan Agoncillo, Derek Ramsey, Willie Revillame, Cesar Montano and Edu Manzano.

3M Pesos Cash Prize at stake for the Sole Pinoy Survivor

During the first leg of auditions at SM City Davao, Survivor Philippines host Paolo Bediones confirmed that the show will give 3 Million Pesos (tax-free) Cash Prize to the first Pinoy Sole Survivor - according to him, the biggest cash prize ever in the history of Philippines reality TV. Paolo, however, did not confirm the other prizes at stake other than the cash prize (if there are).

The host also added that the show will NOT be held within the Philippines territory, stating as per strict compliance to Castaway Productions regulations - just like any other Survivor country franchises.

Survivor Philippines will also boast the biggest number of production people and contestants that will be brought out of the country - 80 in the Production team and 16 Castaways, in the span of 39 days.