Paolo Bediones: Survivor in Many Ways

If Paolo Bediones were to audition for Survivor Philippines, perhaps the country’s riskiest and most daring reality TV which he’s hosting and which will premiere its second season next Monday, Aug. 17, on GMA 7, he would probably introduce himself this way:

“I am Paolo Antonio Barba Bediones, 33 years old, standing 5’11" and weighing 175 lbs., an AB Interdisciplinary Studies graduate from Ateneo de Manila where I was a consistent Dean’s Lister, a fashion and TV model before I became a TV host.

“I have won several awards and recognitions, too many to enumerate here (will submit the complete list if requested to), I endorse several products, dabble in all sorts of sports — name it and I am into it...mountain-climbing, trekking, scuba diving, sky diving, badminton, beach volleyball, basketball, rapelling and running — and I’ve interviewed Hollywood celebrities including, to name a few, Pierce Brosnan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Demi Moore, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck, Patrick Dempsey, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

“I am involved in the following companies: Esthetica Dental Center (as CEO), Arrow Home Vis-Min (president), Mindgram (CEO), Red Eye Studios (proprietor) and Xinapse (vice chairman).” 

And, may I add, very much single, having recently broken up with perennial beauty-pageant contestant Abby Cruz, his girlfriend of two years.

Paolo and I kicked off our Conversation on the affairs of his heart before we segued to the 45 days he spent with the 16 castaways in Palau where the show’s second season was shot.

Did the fact that Abby Cruz lost in the recent Bb. Pilipinas pageant affect your relationship with her?

“Of course not! When that story came out nga, I found it very funny.”

But you have broken up, haven’t you?

“Yes, we decided to...how do you put it? Well, we decided to remain friends. I don’t want to use mga words na ‘we broke up’ or ‘we called it quits’ or ‘we decided to cool off.’ I think the best way to call it is, ‘yon na nga, ‘we decided to remain friends.’ We’ve been into a lot and the healing process will take a little time, kasi two years din naman kami.”

Had Abby won one of the titles (she didn’t make it to the semi-finals; the first time she joined the same contest, she finished a runner-up), you might have been “on” up to now.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say that. The decision for us to give each other space and what not had nothing to do with whether or not sumali siya or whether or not she won or lost. In fact, from Day One, I encouraged her in everything she did — showbiz, modeling and joining beauty contests — in the same way that she’s the one who’s encouraging me now.”

Is “surviving happily alone” the right way to describe your current state of being?

“But I’m never alone. I live with my sisters. I’m focused on my work and my business. But yes, I am a survivor in many ways.”

With that aspect of your life sufficiently cleared, let’s talk about Survivor Philippines. How many showed up for the auditions?

“More than 35,000, compared to last year’s 43,000. There were nine audition venues nationwide with 18 audition dates. We thought that less applicants would come because they saw it na in the first season na baka mahirapan sila. Wala, eh, nagdagsaan pa rin sila. But we are proud to say that we have come up with high-standard castaways, people who could really play the game well and give us reason to say na, ‘O, tama ang desisyon namin’.”

What were the criteria?

“Siempre we had to go for personality at bonus na if they have looks. We had to check over and over again who we would take in. Finally, when we winnowed the number down to the final 70, that’s when our giyera started. We had to argue and fight with one another which ones would be good for the show.” 

Did you have to check if the applicants were physically fit?

“The first three stages of the audition process, sali-salita lang ‘yan. But the next stages involved mental, physical and psychological tests na. Some looked good but they failed the mental and the psychological tests.”

Was there also a medical test? Dapat their blood pressure and their blood-sugar, etc. should be okay.

“Yes, there was also a medical test. Dapat walang heart ailment, etc.” (A few weeks ago, a Survivor Bulgaria middle-aged castaway died of heart attack during the “challenges” in CamSur.) 

What happened to Janina San Miguel (the 2008 Bb. Pilipinas-World who gave up her crown)? I thought she was in.

“She could have made it. We actually considered taking her in because technically she’s not a celebrity per se...one of the criteria kasi is for the castaway not to be a celebrity. She had the personality, no doubt about it, but at the last minute she decided to back out. She could have been a shoo-in.”

How difficult is the set of challenges this year compared to that of last year’s?

“Last year kasi we had to adhere to certain tried-and-tested challenges used in Survivor America. That’s what happened in the first season. Aalalayan ka nang todo-todo. But in the second season, they allowed us free rein and creativity to come up with whatever challenge we want to. This time, proudly Filipino ang challenges.”

Last year, the setting was Thailand. Why Palau this year?

“We didn’t want the set to be too far from the Philippines. We chose Palau because, aside from the fact that it’s near the Philippines, it’s an environment seldom seen on television — the color of the water, the island and the scenery which are very ideal for the challenges. It’s the favorite location of Survivor America. They shot two seasons there. The host said that Palau is his favorite location. I agree with him. Nakaka-inspire ‘yung lugar.”

How different is hosting Survivor Philippines from hosting other shows?

“I think Survivor Philippines is the one show that I’m most involved in. Sa Extra Challenge, I was also involved but not as much. Survivor Philippines is a dream project. I never thought that GMA would buy the franchise but when it did, I made sure that I would involve myself in it. I work on the show 10 months of the year, from the preparation to the actual shooting to the airing.”

You spent 45 weeks in Palau. How did you prepare for it?

“It’s challenging, physically, because maaga ang call time mo, you travel from one location to another, but I would say that we were more relaxed this year because we already knew our job. Ang kalaban na lang namin ay adjusting to a new location. The good thing is that everybody cooperated, everybody worked very hard. There was no problem with the food and the amenities, better than in Thailand na wildlife reserve ang location. In Palau, we had simple quarters that allowed us to do whatever we needed to do. Not five-star accommodation pero tama lang.”

What provisions did you bring with you?

“Multivitamins, medicines, etc. But there was a medical team with us so walang problema doon. There were also stores in case we needed to buy food with our extra allowance.”

What did you learn from hosting Survivor Philippines about life and yourself?

“That there’s always room for improvement. How unpredictable life can be. You have to always hope for the best even if you expect the worst. The most important lesson is love for your work. That it’s important for you to respect the people you work with, and vice-versa, and that you enjoy each other’s company.”

If you were a castaway, do you think you would win?

“Honestly? I don’t know. But all I could say that in my 13 years in television, I have survived all sorts of challenges, wala akong inuurungan. If you ask me to jump, I will jump. If you ask me to swim, I will swim. If you ask me to take any kind of risk, I will take it. Come to think of it, I know the game so well in Survivor Philippines and I don’t think I will last.”

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