Love might just win the 'Amazing Race'
September 11, 2008 ushered in the third season of AXN’s The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) showing Thursdays at 9 p.m. In the first season, two gorgeous girlfriends Aubrey Miles and Jacqueline Yu represented the Philippines. Unfortunately, the two weren’t lucky enough to even be in the last leg of the finals. We were luckier in season 2 with Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez topping almost every race but eventually bagging third place. Marc Nelson claims that life after TARA is just like the race — very hectic. Maybe it’s because regional exposure on the high-rating show opened a lot of career opportunities in and out of the country. He’s practically speeding up like he never had before, profession-wise. He is quick to admit though that TARA’s greatest rewards are the experience itself and newfound friends (or girlfriend). While there is not a single drop of Filipino blood in him (Marc is a combination of English, Burmese, and Chinese), he is a permanent resident who considers the Philippines his home. Maybe he believes in the Philippines more than other Filipinos, as he predicts that one day, the Philippines will be the number one tourist destination in the world. That remark will surely make Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and Usec Cynthia Carrion smile. The untiring dynamite team is currently promoting “Embracing Health and Wellness in The Heart of Asia,” which they say will be Asia’s biggest tourism and medical wellness summit. This will be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza from October 22 to 25 this year with powerhouse speakers (more on this in the coming weeks). I just came from the media conference, but more than that, there is a strong link between sports and wellness tourism and the Amazing Race concept that was developed in the USA in 2001 by Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster. They successfully merge physical activities with the wonderful discovery of new cultures, places, and friends. The reality series, averaging 10 million viewers, has won all six of the Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Reality Competition Program since that category was created in 2003. With the simple concept of the first to arrive in the finish line wins, the producers use limited cash and time for the participants to accomplish tasks revolving around the culture of a certain country or place.
There are 10 couples in a series of races that result in progressive elimination. The last team to arrive at a designated checkpoint or pit stop leaves the game. Teams follow clues and instructions, and make their way to checkpoints around the world, eventually racing back to a finish line. Tasks include Detours or an option between two tasks of various difficulties, Roadblocks or a task that can be done by only one member of a team. When a pair reaches a marker first, they are rewarded with a Fast Forward, which allows them to skip remaining tasks and go ahead to the checkpoint, a Yield or the ability to delay another team for a short period of time or a U-Turn, which is the ability to force another team to do the other detour they didn’t choose.
The Asian edition of the race, hosted by Singapore-based Chinese-American actor Allan Wu, came via the franchise given to AXN Asia in 2005. For the first time this season, a pair from Korea joins two teams each from Thailand, Malaysia, and India, and a pair each from Singapore, Philippines, and Hong Kong for a total of 10 teams racing to win US$100,000 (the original US version gives a cool one million). The third edition is dubbed “The Toughest Race Ever” with fatigue levels so high, one production crew ended up in the hospital. There are also shorter rest periods, increasing the pace between challenges (and the tension among participants). If you really look closely, it is not only a match of fitness and stamina but also of mental and emotional health. It is a total well-being race!
Steps To Success
Critics say that there are six steps to winning the race. One, be a linguist or know how to speak Spanish at least. The race is just in Asia, so Spanish and other languages may not be necessary. Although when the race is held in the provinces, English proficiency of the locals may be wanting.
Two, make sure you know how to drive a manual vehicle. Three, train physically beforehand. You have to be at your healthiest state when you join, full of energy, speed, strength, and stamina.
Four, live on a backpack (pack light).
Five, respect each other, whether you are the driver or the navigator since both are crucial tasks.
Six, read and understand each clue thoroughly. A lot go home because they misunderstood the clue.
The third pair from the Philippines is none other than romantic couple (on their third year of being steady) Tisha Silang, who was the 1998 Bb. Pilipinas Universe but eventually had to give up the crown because of her Canadian passport, and ex-Powerboy dancer and model Geoff Rodriguez. While Marc did say that friendships make the race worthwhile and while romantic and platonic liaisons are indeed formed in and after the show, some couples and friends also split up because of it. Hence, prize aside, this race can either strengthen the couple’s relationship or ultimately break it. More than just testing and pitting each other’s abilities and strengths, the real-life drama or comedy lies in how the couples who join with existing relationships (friends, siblings, parent-child, couple, spouse, etc.) triumph or succumb to the tension and pressures of the race. In short, the race is not only a test of strength and skills. It is also a test of love and friendship.
“Tisha is the most competitive girl I know. That’s probably why we gel together. We push each other to greater heights,” Geoff admits.
Says Tisha, “What I love most about Geoff is that he can drive me to do things I never thought I could accomplish!”
Even their courtship was a competition. “What attracted me first to Tisha was the fact that she didn’t like me,” Geoff explains.
Complete opposites, Tisha and Geoff balance each other. Hopefully, that would work to their favor.
“Tisha doesn’t get mad. I am the one that’s always mad and stressed. She has to worry about calming me down,” Geoff confesses.
Gearing Up For The Race
Tisha believes that it would take an equal balance between physical, emotional, and mental strength to win the Amazing Race. It is also a plus that she is happiest under the sun, as most of the challenges are outdoors.
“I took a crash course on driving a manual car and I got a LASIK eye surgery,” she says as last-minute preparations.
The race was so intense that Geoff and Tisha lost a lot of weight after the first leg of the race. He goes to the gym two to three times a week, and his favorite exercise is the incline bench press. He also tries to play basketball, volleyball, and billiards. In the gym, he focuses on his “chicken legs,” but believes that his back gets developed faster than any other body part.
Asked about his diet, Geoff says “eating well before and immediately after the gym is my diet.” While he does take supplements, he believes that eating well is always the best way to stay healthy. “I follow a balanced diet, well, most of the time. You need to enjoy what you are eating, not crucify yourself,” he adds. “I loooove midnight snacking, usually ice cream or chocolate,” Geoff smiles when asked about his cravings.
Geoff and Tisha believe that their attitude was their best weapon in the race. After the experience, Tisha has this to say, “The secret to winning the race of life is faith.”
* * *
Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph.
