'Survivor' host in Phl for 25th season shoot

MANILA, Philippines - American “Survivor” host Jeff Probst arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 1 yesterday morning for the filming of the reality show in the country.

Probst, who arrived on Cathay Pacific Flight CX 907 from Hong Kong at around 10 a.m, said he would be in the country for six weeks.

The 25th season of the US reality show dubbed “Survivor: Philippines” recently wrapped up filming in Gota beach in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Probst said at least 400 locals were hired for the shooting of the reality show last March.

“We really worked hard for this season, we did everything possible to get the approval of the producers of this reality show,” Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte earlier said.

Villafuerte said the filming of the show in Camarines Sur means huge exposure for Caramoan Island and the province, and is expected to boost tourism in the country.

“Survivor” has been consistently among the top 20 most watched shows in the US. The show reportedly had 13 million to almost 30 million viewers.

It was the top-rated show in America during its 2000-2001 season.

Caramoan Island is the top destination for water sports and recently chosen as one of the 10 best island beaches in the Philippines by CNNGo, a television and online travel magazine of the Cable News Network.

Caramoan is known for its turquoise waters and lush vegetation and jungle areas.

The island was also a favorite site of other “Survivor” editions, including those of Serbia, Israel, Bulgaria, Sweden, and France.