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!!!!