MANILA, OCTOBER 19, 2012 – TV5 launched “The Amazing Race Philippines” yesterday with a whole-day event and press conference held at Eastwood City. The latest salvo in the Kapatid Network’s quest for broadcast dominance, “The Amazing Race Philippines” is the newest franchise of the international hit program and is being dubbed the biggest reality show to ever hit local TV. Host Derek Ramsay thrilled gathered media and onlookers by rappelling down the side of a building fronting Eastwood Mall, before gamely posing for photos with fans. Throughout the day, Ramsay had been present, cheering on invited guests in a series of mini “Amazing Race” challenges held throughout Eastwood’s outdoor area.
TV5 vice president and head for Creative and Entertainment Production Percy Intalan was also on hand for the launch. At the press conference held at Something Fishy, Intalan told adobo magazine, on the challenges of bringing “The Amazing Race” to the Philippines, “It took a long time, a lot of meetings with the producers and owners of the shows to discuss the format, casting, challenges and budget, but the process helped make the show more local…we were able to explain to them what Pinoy audiences look for.”
The press conference was the official introduction of the contestants to media, a motley mix of characters and personalities from various backgrounds, including celebrity best friends LJ Moreno and CJ Jarabata, magbayaw Dayal Chowdary, Jr. and Fausto Reyes, gym buddies Marc Duñgo and Kat Tan, amigas Jervi Lisaba and Saida Diola, reunited friends Sheena Vera Cruz and Gee “Speedy” Canlas, Alabang housewives Pam Spella and Vanessa Ishitani, mag-ama Ed and Angel Movido, mag-kumpare Boom Vergara and Cheng Enriquez, football brothers Armand and Anton del Rosario, bombshells Dani Castano and Mish Van Ruyven, and dating couple Crystel Castro and Mykey Lacson.
Filmed in secret over a period of a month in locations all over the Philippines, “The Amazing Race Philippines” is a co-production with ActiveTV, the production company behind the Emmy-nominated, two-time Asian TV Award-winning “The Amazing Race Asia”.
*The Amazing Race Philippines premieres on TV5 on October 29 and will air six nights a week.
