The Amazing Bike Race in Pasig City

I just came from The Amazing Bike Race event held earlier this morning at the Plaza Rizal, Pasig City. Mayor Bobby Eusebio formally opened the first ever Amazing Bike Race to some of Pasig’s wonderful places. This event is of course, inspired by the popular TV series, The Amazing Race.

Several biking enthusiasts from different barangays of Pasig City participated in this event. Each team is made up of 3 bikers representing each and every barangay of Pasig City. Unfortunately, 1 barangay got eliminated at the starting line because their representative didn’t show up.

Each team was given a shirt and Certificate of Participation by Honorable Mayor Bobby Eusebio. He also served as Phil, the host of the race, who gives each team the next clue on where to go next. The winners of this event, by the way, will receive a wooden statue of a biker. I’m not sure if there are monetary prizes but the wooden statue is an amazing prize.

Aside from the bikers, the event was also attended by some members of the Pasig Shutter Bags (PSB), the Pasig City Band, councilors, barangay officials, Noel Rivera (director of the Tanghalang Pasigueno) and several spectators.

I salute Mayor Bobby Eusebio and the Pasig City Council for coming up with such a brilliant idea. I sure hope that the bikers of Pasig City would continue to grow in numbers and promote biking as a means of exercise. This Amazing Bike Race in Pasig City is truly an amazing event.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a bike that I can use to follow the participants to the wonderful places in Pasig City but hopefully, the other members of Pasig Shutter Bags (a photography group) would post these locations.

Pasig City Mayor Bobby Eusebio speaking to The Amazing Bike Race participants.

Technorati Tags: The Amazing Bike Race,Pasig City,Mayor Bobby Eusebio

The Philippines in The Amazing Race Australia

I was watching a re-run of The Amazing Race Australia yesterday and I was surprised to learn that the first episode of Season 2 (and the first pit stop) was shot in the country particularly in Quiapo and in Albay.

This is where the balot-eating challenge of The Amazing Race Australia took place – in Plaza Miranda, Quiapo.

After the race started in Australia, the 11 teams flew straight to Manila, the Philippines via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. I felt chills when I heard the racers read the Route Info and mentioned "Manila, the Philippines".

From NAIA, the 11 racers drove taxis to Plaza Miranda and ate 8 pieces of Balot. I also loved the way the host described Manila and introduced the challenge. I love the way foreigners pronounced the word "balot". There's a half-Filipino amongst the candidates and it's his first time to eat balot. I actually envy him because I haven't eaten a balot yet. I’ll tell you more of that story soon.

Anyway after the balot-eating challenge, the racers drove to Cubao to a bus station. It was my first time to hear such bus company. They were divided into 3 groups that left Cubao at 30 minutes interval. They went to Cagsawa Ruins to celebrate in the town fiesta. It's also the venue for a Detour -- a choice between two tasks. The first task is "agawang-baboy" (I love the way Grant Bowler pronounced all the Filipino words) and the other choice is to participate in a dance ritual called the Ibalong Dance.

It was my first time to hear such a dance festival that I even Google it. Only 3 teams selected the dance challenge but the panel of judges (dressed in baro’t-saya) was a bit strict that the 2 teams were forced to do the other Detour choice. The third team who choose to stick with the dance ritual were the hippies and they got it by the 2nd or 3rd tries. I was surprised that the blonde girls (who danced gracefully) didn't pass that challenge.

Most of the teams choose the "agawang-baboy". They are required to catch 4 pigs per team but it seems that the racers only caught 1 pig per member. I love the way the pig pen was designed -- circular, made of bamboos complete with banderitas. The venue even featured the "poso" and drum as a means to wash away the dirt from the "agawang-baboy".

After the challenge, the racers took a marked Jeepney on the way to Mosboron beach. Again, it's my first time to hear such a beach. Their next challenge is raft-making. They were supplied with bamboos, blue containers and abaca rope to make a raft and paddle their way to the other beach which is the pit stop. Some teams aced the raft-making challenge while others needed help from locals to make the raft.
I also loved the way the female greeter at the pit stop (at Misibis Bay) greeted the racers -- "Mabuhay! Welcome to the Philippines". She's like a Bb. Pilipinas candidate dressed in elegant Filipiñana. I might need to Google her name to know more about her.

The Amazing Race Australia introduced a new twist to the game -- the Salvage Pass. It is the prize for the winners of the first leg. This is their version of the Express Pass of the US version. The Salvage Pass can be used to gain 1 hour lead time in the next leg or to salvage (save) the last team from elimination. The winners of the first leg, Ross and Tarryn used their Salvage Pass to save the last team from elimination.

I believed that The Amazing Race Australia did a fantastic job in presenting the Philippines as a tourist destination. The show also featured the Pinoy culture -- balot, Quiapo, salakot, Cubao, Mayon Volcano, town fiesta, "agawang-baboy", Ibalong Dance, Mosboron beach, baro't-saya and our national greeting -- Mabuhay! 

Pictures (except Quiapo Church) were taken from The Amazing Race Australia website.

Technorati Tags: The Amazing Race Australia,Albay,Cagsawa Ruins

So You Want To Join The Amazing Race Philippines?

I’m a big fan of The Amazing Race TV series. When I heard that TV5 acquired the rights to have the Philippine version of the race, I got excited. I would love to watch how Filipinos complete in such a race.

The Amazing Race is a very successful TV show. It’s most recent Season 20 just finished in the US and right now, the Norwegian version of the race is being aired. Too bad the Norwegian version (called The Amazing Race Norge) has no English sub-title. The Norwegian version is already being shot in High-Definition whereas the US version took 17 seasons before it was finally filmed in HD (starting with season 18). I wonder if The Amazing Race Philippines would use HD technology in filming (I hope so).

After watching 8 seasons of The Amazing Race (12-20) and if the producer would strictly follow the format of the US version, these are some of the skills (in my observation) that would propel the racers to be the first winners of The Amazing Race Philippines:

• Attention to details
• Team player
• Sharp eye for the Red and Yellow Flags and markers
• Good memory
• Stamina and perseverance
• Willpower
• Luck (specially with Taxi drivers)
• Driving skills with both left and right-hand vehicles
• Swimming
• Knows how to count accurately and solve simple Math problems
• Good balancing skills
• Is NOT afraid of heights and speed
• Can learn dancing routines quickly
• Can solve puzzles and abstract questions
• Follows the clues and instructions to the letter
• Knows how to book airline tickets on the Net
• Good at arts and crafts
• Biker
• Can play musical instruments
• Observant
• Has big appetite and can eat exotic foods
• Knows Geography
• Can speak English and other major world language like Chinese, Arabic or Spanish

I would love to audition for this race but I lack the most basic skill needed: driving. I would also love to see the profiles of the successful racers to the much awaited Amazing Race Philippines. I can’t wait for the first season.

Do you have any idea who are the famous celebrities that auditioned?

BuzzNet Tags: The Amazing Race Philippines,TV5,TV Series

My Favorite Amazing Race Team

I am so sorry for the lack of update about my relationship with Glenn. Don’t worry, everything is okay between us. Our relationship is getting stronger and we’ll be celebrating our 2^nd monthsary next week (every 18^th).

BTW, this blog post is about my favorite team on The Amazing Race. Yup, you’re probably tired about hearing this US TV show which I’ve been blogging the past few days. If you’re my Facebook friend, you probably unfriend me already. My recent wall posts are all about The Amazing Race.

Yup, my TV marathon of this award-winning reality game is still on. I just finished the finale of Season 20 (Rachel and Dave won) and I already finished watching Season 19 down to 16. I’m now downloading Seasons 12-15. I’ve been watching the re-runs every day for more than a week now.

So far, my favorite team from Seasons 16-20 is “The Cowboys” – brothers Jet and Cord McCoy. They are the coolest real cowboys I’ve ever seen on TV! I watched The Amazing Race backwards – from Season 20 down to Season 16. I first saw them on Season 18 when they returned to race for the 2^nd time. Well, I first notice them because they’re cute and they remind me of Brokeback Mountain because of the cowboy hats. They’re both straight by the way and they are brothers.

I wasn’t impressed with their performance in Leg 1 (Season 18) when they landed 11^th place. They were slowed down by the puzzle on decoding messages using nautical flags. I thought they’re cute and strong but no strategy or intellect. My impression changed during the entire Season 18.

The Cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy proved to be an independent team. They do their own business and they don’t quarrel with each other. They don’t curse and they don’t explode in anger over disappointments. They are very competitive, resilience and they don’t argue with other teams. They hold the title of the first team that came from last place from one leg to become the 1^st placer in the following leg.

I love everything about Jet and Cord. They play the game fairly and they didn’t resort to dirty tactic. I love their accent! I also love their expression when they’re happy (“Sweet!”), their expression when they’re sad (“Oh my gravy!”), and their expression when they’re about to start the game (“Saddle up!”). I also love their smile and their positive attitude to finish the game.

So after watching Season 18 (where The Cowboys from Oklahoma got U-Turned, eliminated, and landed 6^th place), I watched Season 16 (where they ended 2^nd place). I saw how they acquire skills very fast like making noodles with ease, balance a huge flagpole in the forehead, and learn to beat the drum fast. They have no problems with navigation, swimming, running, biking, giving directions, manual labor, and of course, throwing the lasso!

They don’t speak much and don’t put so much drama on TV. They’ve very calm in facing their road block and very gentlemen in every way, including dressing up well. I admire their signature cowboy hat and I love it when one of the cowboys’ bungee jump with his cowboy hat on. Like he said, a true cowboy hat doesn’t slip from one’s head.

They truly inspire me to be quiet, calm and be a deadly opponent to beat. I want to be a real cowboy like them.

BuzzNet Tags: Jet and Cord McCoy,The Amazing Race Season 16,Season 18