HEROIC GUILTY PLEASURE

SUPERHERO MOVIE



First they gave us the successful series of Scary Movie. Then they experimented with something corny and shoddy like Date Movie and Epic Movie. Currently, they have Disaster Movie but I haven't seen it yet. Earlier this year a silent movie of the same hookup is a startling guffaw. Here comes our funny hero from the neighborhood: The Dragonfly. Oh gosh!



Teenage boy Rick Riker has always been bungling, sometimes with life-threatening consequences. As a young boy he tried to protect his parents when they were attacked, but it resulted in their death. He is now living with his uncle and aunt. After being bitten by a genetically-altered dragonfly, Rick develops superhuman abilities such as very fast reflexes, armored skin, and the ability to walk on walls and ceilings (although he cannot fly). Rick decides to use his new powers for good and becomes a costumed crime fighter known as "The Dragonfly." However, standing in the way of his destiny is the nefarious Lou Landers . Can he save the city and save the girl of his dreams “JJ”?



I admit that I dig spoof movies and even Bubble Gang. I'm ticklish when it comes to these. I maybe shallow but this is got to be one of my guilty pleasures. Spoof movies! It's astonishing that the idea in Superhero Movie pans out. I just couldn't stop from laughing even my younger siblings and some kids in our neighborhood were also cackling when we watched the DVD the other day. The scenes of course are not original but the mockery is nifty and farcical. There are some blah moments but they manages to dole out some unexpected side-splitting yakety-yak It's really haywire.



The whole plot is all about the parody of Spider Man and Mary Jane. Where's Superman and Wonder Woman? Unfortunately or fortunately, they aren't included here however the TBTP still pulls off to formulate a flawed but decent script for the ticklish spoof lover like me. Some X-Men and Fantastic 4 characters are also sprouting from time to time and they are really mirthful lynchpins in this movie. I'm also shocked that they included a scene from Batman Begins. Some scenes may not suitable for kids, well, just let them cover their eyes for a while. Some jokes are a little too crass for me as well. My favorite scenes? Hmmm... the school field trip inside the lab with their H2O, Rick's flatulent aunt, the bus scene ha ha ha the best!, and Tom Cruise's Scientology video. The cameo appearances are amazing too coz the timing is quiet adroit.



The actors do a nice job as well. Drake Bell who plays both Rick Riker and The Dragonfly is so cute and hilarious. Sara Paxton as Jill Johnson (jeered MJ) is charming and quiet funny. Leslie Nielsen as Uncle Albert is still the best on what he does. Marion Ross as Rick's Aunt is really good. Of course, their performances are not award-worthy but they honestly justify their side-splitting roles.



SuperHero Movie is not a trashy movie at all. Just ignore their crappy visual effects and lousy production designs and just focus yourself on the film's intention: to SPOOF. This ain't a sendup masterpiece to brag either but it's humor rocks. This is much hunky-dory than Epic Movie and Date Movie too. Give it a try and you'll be surprised to guffaw. It's not a complete waste of time and dough too.

RATING : 3.5 /5 *

SURVIVOR GABON (MEET THE CASTAWAYS)

SURVIVOR GABON CASTAWAYS




JESSICA ''SUGAR'' KIPER AGE: 29 OCCUPATION: Pin-up/actress (Gilmore Girls) HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, NY SUGAR SAYS: ''I want to make everyone fall in love with me. And I want to be friends with everybody. That's all I got:
my personality. I'm not strong.'' JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''She makes every decision from
her heart and not her head. She's very emotional, somewhat naïve, and I think when
you first look at her, the question is going to be, 'Can she hack it out here?
Does she have what it takes?' It doesn't take much for Sugar to break into tears.'



E

ACE GORDON
AGE: 27
OCCUPATION: Fashion photographer/Cartier salesman
HOMETOWN: Naples, FL (raised in London)
ACE SAYS: ''I watch the game, I know how to play the game,

I've done sales my whole life, I'm good with people,

and I'm physically adept. And I'm a manipulative *******.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''You would expect him to be like

a villain in a Bond movie who dies a horrible death at the end.

It's almost like a blind arrogance, and he's really fun to watch.

And I think his accent could work for him or against him,

but there is something about the accent that makes

everything he says seem smarter.''

CORINNE KAPLAN
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: Pharmaceutical sales rep
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA
CORINNE SAYS: ''Honestly, like, I'm a girl. We've all starved
ourselves here and there. I can starve for a little while.
I think there are no losers in Survivor: We all come home
skinny, detoxed, and tan. We're all winners.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Corinne is a self-proclaimed über-*****,
and she owns it. I think the meanest thing you could say to
Corinne would be to say, 'You're very pleasant.' She would
take that as an insult of the highest order.''
KEN HOANG

KEN HOANG
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Pro video gamer
HOMETOWN: Westminster, CA
KEN SAYS: ''Gaming will help me because I do well
under pressure. I always come through. I rarely choke.
I'm the underdog, I think all the fans will root for me to win.
I would root for myself if I was watching TV.''

JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Ken the gamer is one of my
favorite people who has been on the show in a long time.
He is convinced his gaming expertise is absolutely in
line with what it takes to win, that he knows this game
backward and forward simply because he's a gamer.
But Ken is a true nerd. I think when the show began
he weighed less than [China's] Courtney did.''



KELLY CZARNECKI
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Retail sales
HOMETOWN: Buffalo Grove, IL
KELLY SAYS: ''I'm funny, and I'm fun, and I'm energetic,
and I bring a positive vibe to the group — like a burst of sunshine.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''The way I would describe Kelly
is that she is part of the Text Message Generation.
And she speaks that way, she'll say 'OMG!' for 'Oh my God!'
That's Kelly. And just as a grown man looking at her
I could say, 'That's charming, she's young and has her whole
life ahead of her.' But as a tribemate I'd probably say,
'If she says OMG, I'll probably say GTFOH.'''

RANRANDY BAILEYDY BAILEY
AGE: 49 OCCUPATION: Videographer HOMETOWN: Eagle Rock, MN RANDY SAYS: ''I'll step on toes if I have to. These people
were not friends of mine last week and time will tell
if they'll be friends of mine two months from now.
But a million dollars is more important than their friendship.
Except maybe with that one blonde with the big t---. That might be worth a few hundred grand.'' JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Randy is crotchety and clever.
He's the guy who will come to Tribal Council and try to
challenge me, which is a huge mistake, because I'm
not playing for a million dollars. But I don't think he's
as evil as he wants you to think he is.''


CRYSTAL COX
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: Athlete (2004 Olympic gold medalist
in the 4x400m track relay)
HOMETOWN: Durham, NC
CRYSTAL SAYS: ''I will win Survivor because I have
the three Bs — brains, beauty, and blazing speed.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''I think Crystal's big dilemma
is going to be, 'What does she say that she does?
Who does she say she is?' Because it's obvious she's an athlete.
Crystal has a mouth on her. She does not edit. That makes
her great at Tribal Council, but a liability in the game.''


CHARLIE HERSCHEL
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
HOMETOWN: New York, NY
CHARLIE SAYS: ''I haven't really noticed any crazy people,
which kind of makes me nervous that either I'm the crazy
person or there are no crazy people.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Charlie prides himself on being
very bright and educated. And the question I'd say for
Charlie is, 'Can he stand up for himself? Does he really
have a voice?' Or is he just going to look for somebody
to hang on to and see how far they'll pull him along.''



PALOMA SOTO-CASTILLO
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: Student
HOMETOWN: Downey, CA (born in Chile)
PALOMA SAYS: ''I think I deserve it. I've worked
really hard in my life. I'm very competitive. I'm stubborn.
I'm compassionate, and passionate.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Paloma is sassy, cute.
My question for her is, 'Is her attitude real, or is it a put on?'
And if it is a put-on, how long will she be able to sustain
it when she starts getting hungry? Paloma's going to have
to pick the right alliance. Who you decide to team up with
early on has such an impact on how you do in the game,
because if you pick the wrong people, it can be hard to get out from under that.''



DANNY ''G.C.'' BROWN
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Maintenance supervisor
HOMETOWN: Portland, OR
G.C. SAYS: ''I will win Survivor because I need this million
dollars more than anyone out here.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''G.C. is a fish out of water.
Does he have the fortitude to really do this? Because
when I talked to him before the show it seemed like a
lot of nervous energy masquerading as confidence. But it was,
really, I felt, fear, like 'What am I getting into?' And that's
not a good place to be because what you're getting into is
a big ol' headache.''



GILLIAN LARSON
AGE: 61
OCCUPATION: Retired Nurse
HOMETOWN: Temecula, CA (raised in South Africa)
GILLIAN SAYS: ''I love doing all sorts of crazy things. It
doesn't matter what age you are. As long as you can
physically do it, do it! And hopefully they'll look at me
as a mom and you know, who would like to kick their
mother out of the game?''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Charm is her strength
because she's likable in doses, and that's her liability.
Does she know when enough is enough? You
can only hear someone say 'I'm from South Africa'
so many times before you want to say,
'Why don't you go back to South Africa!'''


MATTY WHITMORE
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: Personal trainer
HOMETOWN: Pacific Palisades, CA
MATTY SAYS: ''I'm a fierce competitor. I don't want to lose.
I was raised in the mountains and also in the city,
so I got the wilderness down and I got the humanity down.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''I think Matty will be one of the favorites
this season, someone people will absolutely love. I find him
to be one of the most endearing guys we've ever had on
the show to the point where it could work against him
because he can't hide anything. If he's confused, he says
'I'm confused.' If he's happy, he's smiling. If he's sad, he's crying.''


JACQUE BERG
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: Medical device sales rep
HOMETOWN: Santa Barbara, CA
JACQUE SAYS: ''It's kind of one of my natural instincts to flirt.
I don't mean to. That's actually going to be something
I watch, because I don't want a target to be on my back from the other girls.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''I think Jacque will be a bit of a dark
horse. I don't think she'll be a leader. I think she'll use her
looks and her charm to get in with the right guy and hope
that she can ride with that guy as far as she can.
If Jacque gets deep into the show I think she's a legitimate
threat at the challenges. She's pretty fit.''


DAN KAY
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
HOMETOWN: Walpole, MA
DAN SAYS: ''My Achilles' heel in this game will most likely
be trust. You have to have trust to win this game but you
have to know who is untrustworthy, and that's probably
the most difficult task.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''He's earnest, but he is his own
worst enemy. He means well and does not know when
to shut up. He's like a cocker spaniel, charming and
annoying at the same time.''



SUSIE SMITH
AGE: 47
OCCUPATION: Hairdresser/assistant teacher
HOMETOWN: Charles City, IA
SUSIE SAYS: ''The first player that I see going off thinking
they're gonna track an elephant or a hippo, I'm gonna kick their ***,
because we don't need them coming into our camp.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Susie is a mom, and she likes
to talk. That's definitely her biggest obstacle to overcome,
that she can't shut up. If I went in and played this game
and got teamed up with Susie, I would be wary of her hanging
in there with me, because she seems to go with the wind
and doesn't even seem like she's paying attention at times.''



MARCUS LEHMAN
AGE: 28
OCCUPATION: Doctor
HOMETOWN: Atlanta, GA
MARCUS SAYS: ''In addition to trying to be charismatic
and active in the challenges, I have a little additional problem,
which is that from society's viewpoint I have been very successful already.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Marcus is a physician, as
he likes to remind people. And he is a true leader, an
extremely bright guy. He's a hero. He is a huge threat
to win the game, for sure. He has looks, he's got smarts,
he's probably the fittest guy out there, so he's got
a lot of things going for him.


MICHELLE CHASE
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: Music production assistant
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA
MICHELLE SAYS: ''I will win Survivor because I'm the
bombshell baller. I'm bodacious, and I outwit, and
outlast, and outplay. And I need a million dollars
really bad.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''Michelle is a wild card for me
because I actually thought that Michelle had
a good solid energy coming into the game. But she's very
small and very young. I think her life experience is the
big question mark. What will she do when the going gets tough?''


ROBERT ''BOB'' CROWLEY
AGE: 57
OCCUPATION: Physics teacher
HOMETOWN: South Portland, ME
BOB SAYS: ''I'm a high school teacher. I enjoy younger people.
I'm not part of their group, age wise, but emotionally I'm about 12.''
JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''He's the oldest guy out there. And unfortunately,
that works against people all the time, even though
there's probably nobody better equipped for this game.
He's probably the guy who will be the biggest asset,
if they don't get foolish and vote him out.''

SASAKAY KA BA O MAGPAPAIWAN? EWAN?

I.T.A.L.Y. ( I Trust And Love You )

Noong nalaman ko na nag-shooting sila Jolens via cruise ng pelikulang tinawag na I.T.A.L.Y. sabi ko that time papanoorin ko talaga ito! Well, tinupad ko promise ko for Jolina. I am a fan of hers kasi crush ko talaga siya noon pa! Noong lumipat siya naging part-Kapuso na rin ako. I.T.A.L.Y is an ambitious film with full of love and ambition. Sasakay ka ba sa biyahe nila? Hmmm.... ako'y medyo naguguluhan kung isasama ko kayo sa kanilang paglalakbay.

Kuwento ito ni Destiny Pinlac. Nag-iisang babae sa apat na magkakapatid at siya ang panganay sa tatlong lalake. Ulila sa ina at ang ama'y paralisado sa paa. Siya ay nangarap na mangibang bansa tulad na nakakarami para maiahon sa kahirapan ang pamilya. Pero sa kanyang trabaho sa dagat bilang cabin girl ay may iba pa siyang hinahanap. Ang lalake sa panaginip niya! Mahahanap niya kaya ito sa Costa?

Sa mga OFW films na napanood ko ay ito na yata ang medyo nakakatuwa sa lahat. Pero medyo disagree ako doon sa trailer nila na “ang pinakamasayang OFW movie ever!” kasi medyo madrama pala ito! 5 characters ang naglalaro sa movie na ito pero kay Destiny talaga ang kuwento. Hindi magulo ang kuwento at kayang sabayan habang naglalakbay ang barko. Although, meron iilang eksena na medyo recycled from Hollywood movies like Titanic pero at least nakakatuwa naman. Hindi siya totally all-out fun na riot na riot sa kakatawanan. Hindi rin siya super kilig to the bones. Hindi rin siya mega drama na tuloy tuloy daloy the luha. Iba ang approach ng ITALY. It's just a simple movie.

Nag-eexpect ako na mag-eenjoy ako masyado sa mga views ng ilang European cities kaso medyo bitin kasi ambilis ng mga eksena although maganda mga places hindi nga lang stunning ang cinematography. Sana bumawi man lang sila doon. Yeah, inviting ang ilang European cities pero nakita ko na halos lahat ito sa The Amazing Race. Sayang din at hindi nila inikot ang buong interior ng Costa Cruise Ship. Limited lang masyado ang mga scenes sa barko. Medyo may mga scenes na kulang din sa lighting. Pero Mark Reyes tried to make it look good kaso hindi lang masyado glossy ang dating. Magaganda ang pasok ng mga songs sa movie. Tatatak sa isip mo ang mga kanta naman.

Hindi ko lang maintindihan bakit sinabi ni Destiny sa father niya na ang hirap ng buhay niya sa barko. Pero walang eksena sa movie na nahihirapan siya sa kanyang job. In fact, I want to work in that ship too kasi makakapasyal ka pala pag nag port-of-call ang cruise ship. In fairness nakakaaliw ang paghahanap niya sa kanyang man-of-her-dreams. Isa sa mga highlights ng ITALY ang bedscene nila Jolens at Dennis. No no no... it's a GP scene don't worry the kids will laugh at it. Huwag munang lumabas during end credits kasi may pabaon pa rin sila.

Let's talk about the cast. Of course I still love and trust Jolina. Carry niya ang role at bagay na bagay sa kanya. Nakakatuwa pa rin at talagang out na talaga siya sa pa-tweetums. Ang galing niya doon sa telephone scene with Pen Medina. Bravo Jolens! Si Dennis Trillo naman ay super seryoso. Sa kanya ang drama ng pelikula. Moving ang mga pag-luha niya dito. Si Rufa Mae naman as usual ay pasaway sa mga dialogues niya na galing sa mga lyrics ng songs. Kahit ginagawa niya ito palagi sa halos lahat ng pelikula niya eh medyo nakakatuwa pa rin naman. Of course agaw eksena pa rin Eugene Domingo. Versatile comedian at funny ang timing! Dapat matuwa ang mga mga nag-aaway ng mga fans nina Mark Herras at Rhian Ramos kasi wala naman pala silang chemistry sa pelikula. Dekorasyon lang sila dito pero I like Rhian kasi carry niya ang pagiging sosyal at si Mark ay cutie pa rin.

I went out the cinema just fine. Nag-eexpect kasi ako talaga na lalabas ako ng sinehan na all smile dahil tawa ako ng tawa pero hindi pala. Hindi rin naman namumugto eyes ko sa kaiiyak. Hindi rin ito pelikula para manghakot ng awards pero congrats dahil Rated B sila. ITALY is not that grandiose but it's really amorous. The movie has a heart. I'm just ambivalent about my recommendation. If you're a huge Jolina, Dennis, Rufa Mae and Uge fanatics just support them.

RATING : 3 /5 *

A TRADITIONAL GEM

THE ROAD TO EL DORADO



I'm still having the so-called LSS of David Archuleta's Crush right now but from time to time his version of When You Believe is also on heavy rotation in my playlist. That song of course is from the OST of “The Prince of Egypt”. I love that first animated film from Dreamworks! Then I immediately realized that I missed one of their traditional animated feature. Of all the four traditional animation from them, I totally ignored “The Road To El Dorado” in 2000. I decided to look for the DVD the other day and luckily I found their lost gem. This animated feature is a surprising brilliant film. It's just sad to know that the world shunned the golden bars of this film 8 years ago. This one is so effulgent!



It tells about two con men from Spain named Tulio and Miguel. During a dice game using loaded dice, they win a map that supposedly shows the location of the legendary city of gold in the New World. However, their cheating is discovered and as a result, they end up as stowaways on Cortes' fleet to conquer Mexico. They are discovered and imprisoned, but manage to escape in a boat with the help of Altivo, Cortes' war horse. After a storm and many famished days, they finally reach the shores of the New World. Do you think the city of gold is there? Hmmm....



The screenplay is well-written with lots of humor and nifty lines. I enjoy everything in the story. It's not boring and it's really side-splitting. The jokes are sometimes intended for adults that's why I loved it so much. When you look at Tulio and Miguel during their skinny dipping scene I thought something like Brokeback. Ha ha ha! Yeah, I think this is so gay or maybe not. It just depends on how you look at the film. Chel, the most flirtatious animated character I've ever seen in a coon's age totally erased my suspicion about “Brokeback El Dorado”. She's so bitchy but I like her so much. But I really think this is so queer. Ha ha ha! There are plethora of “man to man” moments here actually.



The animation is stunning from start to finish. It's flawless. The colors are bold and alive. It's totally pleasing to the eyes. It's the same technique they used in “The Prince of Egypt”. The art design is also splendid. The music really rocks the film. What can you expect from the collaboration of Hans Zimmer and John Powell? Of course, a beautiful score so fitting in every scene. I just don't get the songs from Sir Elton John and Tim Rice. I love the songs the minute I hear 'em but they are quiet forgettable after it ends. The songs are so catchy but it will give you an idea about rip-off from their previous work in The Lion King.



The voice talents are really smashing. Kenneth Branagh has the lovable voice of all. I love Miguel's character coz of him. Kevin Kline is so serious and he really empowers Tulio's character. It hurts Tulio a bit. Rosie Perez who voiced Chel is perfect for me. Armand Assante who voiced the high priest Tzekel-Kan does a good job as well. The Road to El Dorado is actually a flop film in the US. They did not earn their budget back. It's frustrating to hear this coz this film is really amazing. Please give it a try and I guarantee that you'll be craving for traditional animation again.



I'm recommending this film! Treasure this!

RATING : 5 / 5 *

SURVIVOR PHILIPPINES ( MEET THE CASTAWAYS ! )

SURVIVOR PHILIPPINES

Meet the 18 castaways of "Survivor Philippines"

GMA-7 has finally revealed the identities of the 18 castaways (originally 16) that will compete for the three million pesos cash prize—tax free—in the first-ever Survivor Philippines, hosted by Paolo Bediones.



The 18 castaways, nine males and nine females, were chosen out of more than 43,000 Survivor fans and aspiring castaways who auditioned nationwide. These people from diverse backgrounds—including a lingerie model, a labandera, a yaya, a waiter, a call center agent, a driver, a basketball player—were flown to Koh Tarutao island, also known as the Devil's Island, in Thailand to embark on their biggest challenge yet.



The 18 castways stayed in the Devil Island for more than 39 days.



Meet the 18 castaways of Survivor Philippines:



Kristina "Kaye" Alipio, lingerie model

Leona Rica "Nikki" Dacullo, call center agent

Jervy "Patani" Daño, 20, babysitter

Veronica "Vern" Domingo, 29, taekwondo coach

Vevherly Gador, 20, student

Chevyline "Chev" Macias, 26 years old, former GRO

Zita Ortiga, 46, laundrywoman

Maria Nona "Niña" Ortiz, designer/wellness coach

Anna Charisse Yacapin, 26, product officer



Marlon Carmen, 30, waiter

Crisanto "Cris" Cartagenas, company driver

Emerson Dino, 31, technician

Reynaldo "Jace" Chanco Flores, Jr., 19, gym instructor

John Anthony Lopez, 27, auto mechanic/model

Raymund Francis "Kiko" Rustia, model

Cesar "Gigit" Sulit, 48, web designer/mountaineer

Robert Vincent "Rob" Sy, sales officer

John Carlo "JC" Tiuseco, 23, basketball player



The 18 castways were initially divided into two groups: Naak and Jarakay, which means snake and crocodile, respectively, in Thai language.

Every three days, they will battle for reward and immunity. On the third day, one will be eliminated until only two or three castaways are left. From them the Jury, composed of voted-out castaways, will determine who will win the three million pesos cash prize and the title of the first Pinoy Sole Survivor.

Survivor Philippines host Paolo Bediones with the 18 castaways. Paolo says that each castaway has a unique personality that will make an interesting show on television.

Chevyline "Chev" Macias (Bisayang Palaban)

Life was never easy for Chev, 26. She always had to fight for herself,
especially during her dark days when she worked as a GRO
and got addicted to drugs. But every time she falls down, Chev
makes it a point to start afresh.

To escape poverty, she decided to marry a Thai national with
whom she had two kids. Chev lived in Thailand for six years
but her new life ended when she separated from her husband.
After losing the custody battle, she was also separated from her children.

Leaving her past behind, Chev put up a second-hand clothes
business to make a living. But deep inside her was the
burning desire to fight for her children and get them back.
This challenges Chev to do everything she can to win
3 million pesos and become the first Pinoy Sole Survivor.

Zita Ortiga (Ang Labandera) Washing clothes for a living seemed far from a ticket to join a reality show. But Zita's strong personality was more than enough to make her qualified for the game. Zita's strength was the byproduct of a life marred with hardship. Growing up in a poor family, she remembers having to exchange harvested vegetables and wood for pencil and paper she can use in school. Just like her mother, Zita ended up working as a helper from one household to another until she married one of her bosses in 1991. However, after having seven children, Zita discovered that she was also her husband's 7th wife so she decided to leave her family. Although she had multiple jobs, Zita had a financial crisis and incurred many debts. Still she hopes that she'll earn enough money to give her youngest child the education she never had. With her child's future on the line, the 46-year-old laundrywoman wants to do whatever it takes to win the grand prize.

Maria Nona "Niña" Ortiz (Sporty Mom) When she's not managing her design company, you can find Niña dominating the badminton courts. An active mom to three kids, she also works as a wellness coach to help others have healthier and stress-free lives. Her own life is like one big challenge. Niña finds satisfaction whenever she is competing and makes it a point to engage in extreme sports like mountain climbing and mountain biking. And now, Niña feels the time has come to raise her competitiveness to the next level: Survivor Philippines. Kristina "Kaye" Alipio (The Model) A sexy lingerie model with a solid Christian faith, Kaye is any guy's ideal girl. Beyond her good looks and natural allure, Kaye is also considered a role model by peers. She is described as a motivator and a counselor. Because of her pioneering work and active spiritual leadership, she was considered one of the youngest elders in their church. Left by her mom in the care of a baby -sitter when she was only three months old, Kaye grew up to be an independent girl. She currently supports herself through college where she is an HRM student. After 16 years of separation, Kaye was finally reunited with her mom in 2004. She dreams of buying her mother a new home and giving her a comfortable life. Kaye aspires to become rich so she can have anything she wants and still give to charity. Veronica "Vern" Domingo (Taekwondo Champion) Vern is a pretty takewondo coach who can kick any man's ***. She has various international and local titles and awards under her belt to prove it. She takes pride in her strength and athleticism which puts her at par with her male counterparts. As Vern is lucky in her career, she is just as unlucky in love. She hopes to break what she calls "the relationship curse" when she goes to the island. In addition to finding a new love, 29-year-old Vern, a Far Eastern University graduate, is confident that her champion moves can beat the guys in the game. Vevherly Gador (Farmer Girl) Born in Bariles, Cebu, Vevherly was brought up in the farm lifestyle. At first, this 20-year-old girl will strike you as quiet and timid, but once she warms up to you, she'll bravely speak her mind. Beneath Vevherly's charming and pretty face, however, hides a painful past. Since both her mother and father had separate families, Vevherly was hidden from relatives and friends for 10 years. When other people learned about her family, they looked down on her mother and regarded her as an illegitimate child. By joining Survivor Philippines, Vevherly, a 4th year Criminology student from University of Cebu, wants to bring honor back to her mother and to show her critics that fame can also belong to the farm girl. Anna Charisse Yacapin (Smart Babe) She works as a product officer in a telecom company but she knows she's pretty and smart enough to be the host of a noontime show. Charisse, 26, has always wanted to be a host of Eat Bulaga! After graduating from Ateneo de Manila University, however, she found herself working in the corporate world away from the spotlight. Being a natural kikay and fashionista, Charisse was often seen as a high-maintenance and finicky girl. She wants to prove therefore that more than being pretty, she's also a smart babe and a focused achiever. Being in Survivor Philippines gives Charisse the ultimate opportunity to prove that she has beauty as well as the brains. Leona Rica "Nikki" Dacullo (Call Center Cutie) Nikki works as a call center agent in Cebu City. Born and raised in Tacloban, Nikki's cute smile and pretty face once caught enough hearts to be crowned the hometown queen. She enjoys dancing and is obsessed about having presentable hair. She describes herself as a laidback person who likes to go with the flow. But when Cupid strikes, she claims she will do anything for the sake of love. She also believes she has a strong personality which will help her win the challenges in Survivor Philippines. Jervy "Patani" Daño (Ang Yaya) After failing to qualify in StarStruck, 20-year-old Patani believes that joining Survivor Philippines might just be her last ticket to showbiz stardom. Born and raised in Camotes Island, Cebu, Patani has always dreamed of becoming a big star. While working as a baby-sitter in her hometown, she strived to learn Tagalog by watching TV shows and practiced speaking the language whenever she was engaged in conversation. A funny character, Patani loves acting, hosting, and modeling. She said she went to every audition she could just to follow her dream. Now that she has become one of the castaways in Survivor Philippines, Patani believes she's finally got her chance to be the next big thing. Cesar "Gigit" Sulit (The Lone Rider) He treads his life path alone but Gigit is confident that he can tackle any challenge on his own. With his chiseled abs, you'll think Gigit is a 48-year-old man trapped inside a 28-year-old's body. A freelance web designer and mountaineer, Gigit considers his well-built physique as his biggest asset. He also describes himself as intellectual and free-spirited. With an unquenchable enthusiasm for life, Gigit is driven by his need for achievement and aspires to be forever young. Though he is the oldest castaway, Gigit is determined to prove that he can do just as well, or even more, as the others who are half his age. Emerson Dino (The Technician) Emerson knew he needed to fix his life if he wanted to provide a better future for his family. When he learned about the Survivor auditions, he knew it was his one shot to do just that. Bent on landing a spot as a castaway, Emerson went back and forth to the audition venue for three days and waited diligently in line. The 31-year-old technician's effort paid off when he qualified to be one of the castaways. With his experience in Survivor Philippines, Emerson hopes he can finally fulfill his dream of becoming a celebrity and providing a comfortable life for his family. Crisanto "Cris" Cartagenas (Driver) Cris drives through life with the swagger of a bad boy and the humor of a comedian. He is a Robin Padilla wannabe but is often likened to the late comedian Rene Requiestas. He currently works as a company driver and part-time taxi driver to provide for his three children. Separated from his wife, Cris believes he has failed to meet his father's expectations of him. He hopes to make his father proud by joining Survivor Philippines and winning the grand prize. John Carlo "JC" Tiuseco (Hardcourt Heartthrob) JC, 23, is a hunky basketball heartthrob of San Sebastian University. When he was younger, he was very passionate about basketball and dreamed of becoming a professional player. But as he grew older, JC discovered that he has a lot more potential to make it beyond the hardcourt. Banking on his athleticism and good looks, JC is sure that he has a good chance to capture the ladies' hearts and to bag the coveted title of Sole Survivor. Robert Vincent "Rob" Sy (Loverboy) With his lover boy sex appeal, Rob claims he can make any woman fall in love with him. Being a sales officer and businessman, Rob knows he does not only have good looks but also the wits to win the game. Among his family members, he considers his older brother as his greatest influence. Being the right hand in his brother's business, Rob says he owes all he has to him. However, Rob doesn't want to stay in brother's shadow and aspired to be successful on his own. By joining Survivor Philippines, Rob wants to prove that he can make it as a castaway using his own skills relying only on his own strength. Raymund Francis "Kiko" Rustia (Free Spirit) With his rugged good looks and eye-catching dreadlocks, Kiko Rustia is a total head-turner. In fact, he was featured as one of the hottest bachelors in a local women's magazine. Although he was born and raised in the city, Kiko fell in love with the island life and lived in Boracay for three years. He is a Bob Marley fan and calls himself the "Rasta Man." Kiko is described as a playfu l character but within him lies the toughness of a warrior. John Anthony Lopez (Ang Mekaniko) When you see John, you'll know he is not your typical auto mechanic. When not tinkering with nuts and bolts, 27-year-old John, a native of Bicol Province, can be seen strutting his stuff on the ramp. When his father left the country to work in Saudi Arabia, John automatically assumed the role of the man of the house. While supporting his family, John became business-oriented and put up his own auto-mechanic garage. He prides in his ability to adapt in any situation which he believes is his key to winning Survivor Philippines. If he wins the grand prize, John plans to build a bigger business and boost his modeling career. Marlon Carmen (Waiter) A waiter who will not wait for success to come to his table, Marlon, 30, is a determined go-getter. He knows his strengths and how to use them to get what he wants. Full of ambition, Marlon works very hard to achieve his goal at the risk of appearing ruthless. Despite his overconfident exterior, Marlon is described as insecure, sensitive, and afraid. But he uses these weaknesses to motivate him to win in Survivor Philippines. He plans to use his cooking skills to be in everyone's favor. Only then will he trap the other castaways into his wily schemes to work in his favor. Reynaldo "Jace" Chanco Flores, Jr. (The Hunk) Although he is the youngest among the castaways, 19-year-old Jace is confident that he has every edge to become the Pinoy Sole Survivor. He grew up with a well-rounded view of life having lived in Hawaii and the Palace in Brunei. His mom was a personal trainer for Brunei's royal family. Jace followed in his mother's footsteps and became a gym instructor and mixed martial artist. He also dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. He plans to use his discipline and strength to outplay the other castaways. VISIT THE WEBSITE AT: http://www.survivorphilippines.tv/ Photography: Courtesy of GMA-7 GOOD LUCK GMA-7!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK PHILIPPINES!!!! i AM SO EXCITED!!!!