Survivor Philippines Palau: Who will emerge as Sole Survivor?

CEBU, Philippines - Survivor Philippines Season 2 Palau is now down to three castaways—Amanda Colley Van Cool, Jef Gaitan and Justine Ferrer—but only one will take home the P3 million prize pot. Tonight is finally, verdict night and the jury, comprised of embittered castoffs, will reveal who they think has ultimately outwitted, outdone and outplayed all 16 castaways.  

Among the three final castaways, who do you think played the game better? Who is much deserving?

The viewers have either changed or remained firm with their bets because of last Tuesday and Wednesday’s episodes. Alas, the emotional chaos had brought out the inner villains in them. We saw betrayal, confrontation, and wickedness. There was catfight, with Justine starting the verbal rumble.

Day 38 (Inferno)—a day before the verdict—turned out bloody hell for the castaways. During the last immunity challenge, businessman Charles de Vera Fernandez emerged as the winner—one thing that Amanda feared the most. She burst into tears thinking she’ll be the next castoff, fully aware that her three companions have sealed an alliance. Yet, she pushed her luck by talking to Jef and Charles.

“Binigyan ko siya (Jef) ng scenario. Kung kay Justine niyo ibibigay (ang immunity necklace), kung kayong tatlo ang top three, wala ka nang chance na makuha ang three million and if you want a fighting chance, i-vote off si Justine,” Amanda told the TV crew.

Jef, who was obviously willing to hold on to what has remained of their friendship by deciding to resurrect her alliance with Amanda, told Justine and Charles she can’t afford to vote out Amanda “kasi love ko na siya eh.”

Let’s backtrack a bit: Construction worker and probinsiyanang tisay Amanda, sexy chef Mika and girl-next-door Jef had sealed alliance earlier in the game. However, when transsexual beauty queen Justine, the first castaway to be voted off the island, made an amazing comeback after surviving all the challenges in Isla Purgatoryo, including defeating six castoffs, Jef went to Justine’s side. Amanda and Mika played devil’s advocates, trying to win Jef back but to no avail. Soon enough, Mika was sent home.

So when Justine learned how Amanda tried to lure yet again Jef and also Charles in last Wednesday’s episode, she exploded: “Akala ko ba tanggap mo na. Alam mo, napaka-plastik mo. Hindi mo tanggap. Bakit hindi mo aminin sa sarili mo? Talunan ka na di ba? Umaasa ka pa na may kakampi sa yo. Sa tingin mo ba meron pang maniniwala sa yo? Alam mo hindi na sana ako magsasalita kaya lang sayang ang effort mo. Bakit hindi mo ‘ko prangkahin. Ako ba iboboto mo? Mamatay man ang buong pamilya mo? Ngayon isumpa mo sa harap ko, mamatay man ang buong pamilya mo.”

“Hindi ako marunong non!” said Amanda. “Sa ngalan ng pamilya mo ganyan ka, katapat ng pera. Akala ko ba friendship hindi nabibili ng pera? Bakit pamilya na ang katapat ngayon nabibili na ng pera?”

Amanda found the argument pointless. Justine further let her tongue loose by pointing out that Amanda was half-Filipino, and to any viewer, that statement comes off discriminatory.

According to Jef: “Galit na galit si Justine na bakit kinausap pa ako at si Charles. Bakit humabol pa siya (Amanda)? Nagsabi na siya na tanggap na niya na uuwi siya pero ba’t ginawan pa niya ng paraan. Parang yun yung ikinasama ng loob ni Justine na alam na nga nya na madali kaming makuha ni Charles. Bat pa niya kinayang agawin ang alyansa from her (Justine).”

Goody-goody Jef is utterly indecisive. Frankly speaking, it was her alliances with Amanda-Mika and Justine-Charles that had carried her all the way to the end and not because of how competitive she was during the challenges.

If Jef stuck with her alliance with Amanda and Mika, for sure she would not have made it to the top three since Mika already has an existing agreement with Charles. For her moves, she is not as stupid as many of us would think.

Justine to Jef: “Ikaw lang naman kasi ang nagpagulo eh. Pumapasok-pasok ka sa kompromiso ng isang alyansa tapos hindi mo naman pala alam ang patakaran! Nakakainis eh. Alam mo sa simula’t sa pol inconsistent ka.”

Jef to TV crew: “Ang OA na. Ayoko kasi ng ganung klaseng iskandalo. Wala ng poise. Ang gulo na. Parang impyerno na nung place, lahat ng sama ng ugali, lahat ng katarayan lumabas. Si Justine yung ang dami-daming sinasabi, galit na. Hindi ko na nasundan.”

Amada to TV crew: “I fear for my life kasi hindi ko alam kung san nanggaling ang ugali niyang yun (referring to Justine). Ayoko na dito, mga demonyo yung mga kasama ko, like naglabasan na yung mga totoong sungay nila.”

At the 7th Tribal Council as the merged Sonsorol Tribe—the second to the last Tribal Council—the riot of arguments went on. Charles eventually gave the immunity necklace to Justine to acquire the condo unit and was later on cast off from the game after the first tie-breaker challenge with Amanda.

So, tonight, expect the final three to face the jury in one explosive and exciting Tribal Council. Will it be Amanda, Jef or Justine who will be named Sole Survivor?

In the first season of Survivor Philippines, rumors already surfaced that JC Tiuseco won the contest while the season was still airing. Even host Paolo Bediones denied the leak. Among the second season’s top three, Justine, despite the tactless statements and strong reactions at the latest turn of events, has proven his worthiness of the coveted title. Amanda, on the other hand, is no wallflower either as she won two consecutive immunity challenges. Jef may be perceived by viewers as the least deserving of the three, yet, according to leaked reports, she is the winner. As what happened in the first season, these speculations might prove to be true now that we find Jef as among the final three contenders.

Witness the Live Grand Finale that will bring triumph to the Pinoy Sole Survivor this evening, November 13, and the Reunion Special to be aired over SNBO timeslot this Sunday after Show Me The Manny over GMA Network.