Search on for new survivors

CEBU City , Philippines  — They think they have what it takes to outwit, outplay and outlast the others.

As soon as the Survivor team mounted its Cebu leg on March 15 and 16 (calling on all those 18 years old and above, physically and mentally fit and can survive in an island for 39 days), the eager Cebuanos trooped to SM City Cebu where the auditions and screenings were held.

They could not wait any longer.

GMA 7’s reality show Survivor Philippines, which has been holding auditions starting last week of February in Dagupan, Baguio, Naga, Iloilo and Davao, is again on the hunt for castaways who will go through the rigors of the second season of mind-boggling, and strength-zapping challenges which are seen in every home.

Around 2,500 hopefuls from different walks of life waited patiently, lining up at the mall’s activity area for a crack at the much-prized title of Sole Survivor. Seeing the success of Cebu natives Nikki Dacullo, Jervy “Patani” Daño, Nanay Zita Ortiga and Vevherly Gador, fellow Cebuanos need not doubt they can make it too this second season.

Screening program manager Neil Gumban reveals that as soon as auditions started on the first day, four contenders showed strong personality and originality. Hosting the reality show again is Paolo Bediones who rested for barely two months since the first season of Survivor Philippines concluded last December with JC Tiuseco winning the title of first Pinoy Sole Survivor and the prize of P3-M tax-free. Paolo so loved the show that he even joined the screening committee in interviewing the hopefuls during the first day of auditions and found out that there are a lot of interesting individuals with distinct personalities from this bunch.

“We’re hoping that through these auditions, makuha namin ‘yung mga gusto namin. For this season, we will focus more on the quality rather than on the quantity,” says Paolo.

“Here in Cebu, we always have a good harvest naman. The turnout was pretty good. Cebu has always been very consistent in terms of volume. And also what I noticed with this particular batch is there are a lot of mga dayo galing Ormoc, Leyte, others from Iloilo na and Manila who went here for some reasons.” Paolo also wants to have more fun in hosting the show. “Siguro during the challenges I’ll just add a little more tongue-in-cheek, a little more humor kasi parang I’m a bit serious,” he quips.

In terms of challenges, Paolo reveals the Survivor production team already has the right to conceptualize its own techniques, unlike before where it was limited to the tried-and-tested ones used internationally that Castaway Productions approved of.

Asked what’s the best lesson he has learned from the show, “Pakikisama, it’s so important because when you’re on an island for two months, day in and day out, you’re seeing the same people. So, you have to really love them,” he says.

Watch for the remaining auditions before Survivor Philippines 2 goes to a yet–to-be-named island. The auditions will be held today at SM City Lipa, on March 27 and 28 at SM North Edsa, and at SM San Lazaro on March 29 and 30.