‘Survivor’ Cagayan beats ‘Idol’ in US television ratings

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The 28th series of the American reality TV show “Survivor,” which was filmed in Cagayan’s Palaui Island last year, posted the highest viewership among TV shows in the United States last week.

 According to www.deadline.com., Survivor Cagayan even edged out Fox’s “American Idol” for the first time among adult viewers on March 12.

The report said the reality show topped the 8 p.m. television show ratings with 9.9 million viewers compared to American Idol’s 9.6 million and ABC’s “The Middle,” NBC’s “Revolution” and CW’s “Arrow” with 7.2 million, 4.7 million and 1.2 million viewers, respectively.

Produced by Mark Burnett with Jeff Probst as host, Survivor Cagayan series – “Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty” – was filmed mostly in Palaui Island in Santa Ana town with few segments at the Callao Caves in Peñablanca town from March to August last year.

Barely six months after its filming, Survivor Cagayan began airing in at least 156 countries late February.

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) facilitated the filming of the Survivor series as part of its tourism development and investment plans.

“CEZA is very proud of this achievement,” said Joyce Marie Jayme, CEZA public relations chief.

Palaui, an idyllic island located northeast off Luzon along the West Philippine Sea, is described as one of the world’s best beaches and eco-tourism destinations because of its unparalleled natural beauty and rich biodiversity.

Last year, CNN Travel ranked Palaui Island as one of the world’s 10 best beaches, the only one from the Philippines and the entire Southeast Asian region to make it to the prestigious list.

“Producers of the Survivor series chose the setting of the reality TV show because of the innate beauty of its beaches,” said Lope Juban Jr., president of the Philippine Film Studios Inc., which took part in the production of the reality show.

Among the Palaui areas included in the filming of the Survivor series were Anguib Beach, Pozo Robo Beach, Siwangag Cove and the centuries-old Spanish-built Cape Engaño Cove.