2 Philippine pit stops
in 'Amazing Race 5'
Posted: 8:49 PM (Manila Time) | Jul. 03, 2004
By Joyce C. Abaño
Inquirer News Service

THE AWARD-WINNING reality show on television, "The Amazing Race" of CBS, is back with its fifth installment and it includes the Philippines as one of its pit stops.

According to AXN Asia, the Coconut Palace on Roxas Boulevard and the Lagen Island Resort of the El Nido Resorts in Palawan are the last two pit stops on the show. The Coconut Palace is made mainly of materials from the coconut tree mixed with other indigenous materials. The Lagen Island Resort is a self-contained island resort on four acres on the northern tip of Palawan.



The cast and crew of the show spent two days in the Philippines before going back to the United States, said AXN Asia. The other pit stop locations are Uruguay, Argentina, Russia, Egypt, Africa, United Arab Emirates, India and New Zealand.

"Choosing pit stop locations can be very thought-provoking," show host Phil Keoghan said in a phone conference hosted by AXN Asia. "A lot of people contribute ideas but we tend to gravitate to those places where we're welcome, where we know we can get what we need to put the teams in challenging situations."

In "The Amazing Race 5," 11 teams of two participants each travel 72,000 miles on six continents for approximately 30 days, going through a series of mental and physical challenges to win the $1-million prize. Pairs who are the farthest behind are gradually eliminated. The first team to arrive at the final destination wins the prize.

Stronger teams

While previous editions of the race got off to a fairly genial start, the fifth season is strikingly different, more daring and interesting as sparks fly and injuries and hard feelings surface among the contestants almost right from the starting line at Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles.

"This is the best series that we've ever shot, in my opinion," said the 35-year-old Keoghan.

The show won the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program in 2003.

"We've always had great teams," Keoghan added. "But (in this season) the teams are strong. All these teams deliver."

This season's lineup includes twins Kami and Karli French, brothers and restaurant owners Marshall and Lance Hudes, dating couple Colin Guinn and Christie Woods, married parents Chip and Kim McAllister, best friends Linda Ruiz and Karen Heins, dating couple Alison Irwin and Donald Patrick, once-engaged couple Dennis Frentsos and Erika Shay, father and daughter Jim and Marsha McCoy, cousins Charla Faddoul and Mirna Hindoyan, dating models Brandon Davidson and Nicole O'Brian, and Internet dating couple Bob Barron and Joyce Nicolo.

Delaying device

Keoghan said a new element called "Yield" has been added to the show. "It's a device that any of the teams can use once during the entire race," he said. "It allows a team to slow down a competitor."

As host, Keoghan travels all over the world with the contestants, gives the teams their instructions and is also the bearer of bad news.

"It's always hard to do the elimination," he said. "There are times when you feel you have more of a connection to one team than another and it really breaks your heart to see them go."

The fifth season is the toughest one they've had to do because the teams are getting more savvy, he said.

"We had to make stuffs that are much more challenging not only for the participants but also for the viewers," he said. "We had to make it more unpredictable and a bigger challenge."

Fulfilling dreams

Keoghan is working on a new show called "NOW (No Opportunity Wasted)," a new series that will be shown on the Discovery Channel in September. He is also on the verge of finishing a new book with the same title.

"It's a show where we give people 72 hours, 3,000 dollars and the chance to fulfill a dream, whether it's facing a fear or putting on a stage play."

The book is a self-help volume on his personal philosophy inspired by a near-death experience he had when he was 19. "I've gone on 'Oprah' and talked about this philosophy a couple of times, and I was approached about making a book out of it. I'm hoping to get back on 'Oprah' for a third time when I already have the book.

"I hope people who will read the book will make it their inspiration to go out there and do something with their lives," Keoghan said. "But of course, not when 'The Amazing Race' show is on."

"The Amazing Race 5" will run on AXN every Wednesday at 8 p.m., with a special 90-minute premiere on July 7, all over Asia.

ooh finally they are going to philippines! finally!

oh yeah, i'm so excited about this. i wonder what'll happen to them here. (:

I had to see the replay in Studio 23 every sunday at 7:30 pm.

Here is the Coconut Palace: A wonderful pitstop .
Coconut Palace
For a mere $10 million dollars, the Coconut Palace is a project built for Pope John Paul’s visit in 1981 thought up by former first lady Imelda Marcos. This house is 70% constructed from parts of the coconut tree. This structure is a phenomenon and unbelievable in size. Located in the Cultural Center, it faces beautiful Manila bay. It contains seven suites (after the lucky number 7) and is named and decorated after a different region in the country. The Pangasinan Room, features pineapple fiber bedcovers and pearl table sets. When celebrities visit Manila, many will often stay in one of the grandiose suites. You must make reservations to enter, so be sure to call ahead. If you do not want to enter the Coconut Palace, you can walk through the Cultural Center and view it from the outside. It is a remarkable architectural feat.



Coconut Palaca

wow! filipino pride again... PI will be seen by the world....

another exposure for pi.. hahahaha... ang saya saya!

Have you tried watching the "Amazing Race" ?
Try it on Channel 23 every sunday !
If you do not have AXN or cable.