MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Jonathan Allen Yabut became the first-ever winner of the reality TV show “The Apprentice Asiaâ€, topping 11 other contestants in the competition that stakes a job under business mogul Tony Fernandes.
Yabut emerged the winner after edging co-finalist Andrea Lo of Singapore in the contest’s final task, which is to spearhead a black-tie fundraiser for the AirAsia Foundation in Kuala Lumpur. It was aired as the show’s season-ending 11th episode.
Fernandes is the chief executive officer of AirAsia.
In winning the contest, Yabut, an Economics graduate from the University of the Philippines, secured for himself a one-year contract to work for AirAsia. The job reportedly comes with a salary of at least $100,000.
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He and Celina Le Neindre were among the two Filipino contestants in the show. Le Neindre, however, was "fired" in Episode 7 but was later offered a position at the AirAsia's Philippine office.
“The Apprentice Asia,†which tests the contestants’ marketing and sales savvy, made its debut episode last May 22.