There are more than a hundred staff members working behind the cameras of Survivor Philippines: Palau. Their days on the island are probably as difficult, at times even more demanding than those of the competing Castaways.
On set of one of the water challenges
The Team that Challenges
Katie Dalmacio, one of the executive producers of the show, has conceptualized the reality show’s challenges this season. She shares some of the reasons why Survivor Philippines: Palau promises to be bigger and better for Filipino viewers here and abroad.
SP.TV : What were your inspirations in coming up with these new challenges?
Katie : 90 percent of the challenges this season are original. Some of the challenges were inspired by native Filipino games, some are talagang lumabas lang sa mga brainstorming ng group namin.
L-R: Elaine Tima (producer), Rica Torres (researcher), Paolo Bediones, Katie Dalmacio (EP for Challenges), Christian Julao (producer), Earl Guico (researcher)
SP.TV : How do you think would these challenges compare when it comes to creativity and difficulty to other challenges of the Survivor franchise?
Katie : Hindi fair na i-compare sa US version, aside from the fact that the US has been doing Survivor for years. But still, we tried our best to come up with challenge concepts that are of the same standard. I would like to point out na importante rin ang teamwork sa challenge team. While the producers cook up ideas to make the games more exciting, the art department, yung mga gumagawa ng set, makes it a point to create fantastic set-ups and props.
SP.TV : How long did it take for the team to conceptualize and finalize the challenges?
Katie : We finalized the concepts a month before flying to Palau to build the sets. Siyempre, marami rin ang revisions as we went along, hanggang sa ma-execute na ang challenges.
Making of the set of the first challenge.
SP.TV : What do you think was the toughest part of your task for the show?
Katie : Our number one concern was safety. We made sure that all challenges were safe, no matter how difficult or easy they were. Another crucial part was the mechanics of the game. Dapat talaga walang butas, walang puwedeng mangyaring dayaan. Most of all, dapat fair to all Castaways. Para masiguro ito, we tested the challenges several times using our ‘dream teamers’.
We recruited dream teamers based sa physical characteristics ng mga Castaways. May malaking dream teamer to represent Cris, may maliit na dream teamer for Carol, may athletic for Marvin, etc.
SP.TV : Has there been any incident where the "dream team", the first to try out the challenges - was not able to accomplish them and you had to redo things?
Katie : I think, there was just one time that we had to redo a challenge. But we also considered if the “dream teamers” were just not motivated enough. Unlike the Castaways, there’s no three million pesos at stake for them.
L-R: Rica Torres (researcher), Katie Dalmacio (EP for Challenges), Elaine Tima (producer), Earl Guico (researcher) and Christian Julao (producer)
SP.TV : Who came up with the appropriate rewards for the challenges?
Katie : The Reality Team. We came up with the challenges first, then the Reality Team figured out the rewards to be given.
SP.TV : What’s your greatest reward for surviving Survivor Philippines?
Katie : For me, the greatest reward was to work with the team that has become my good friends. It always felt like we were not working anymore the entire time. I never felt any stress, I just enjoyed our work. We never felt homesick and the place was just so beautiful you almost don’t want to leave. While waiting for the Castaways to perform their challenges, our team was just having fun – playing loud music, having some picnic and barbecue and lots of swimming. I can’t really ask for a more rewarding experience than that.
Reality Team also trying out the ammo crate challenge
The Realities of the Reality Team
Lloyd Navera, executive producer, heads the group mockingly called ‘the tsismosos and tsismosas na mga kapit-bahay’ (neighborhood rumormongers), or the Reality Team. They consist of eight segment producers who observe and document everything that happens to the castaways on the island – 24/7.
SP.TV : What exactly are the tasks of your team for the show?
Lloyd : We are the storytellers of the show. We plot the twists, document the drama, and write the storylines based on what actually happened on camp, challenges and tribal council.
Direk Monti Parungao giving cameramen directions before a challenge.
SP.TV : What do you think was the toughest part of your task for the show?
Lloyd : The editing. Since there were several cameramen shooting in each camp simultaneously (24/7), each segment producer has to view hundreds of tapes and come up with a short but complete storyline. They have endured several sleepless nights for this.
SP.TV : There are still many skeptics out there when it comes to the credibility of "reality TV". How would you convince the viewers that Survivor Philippines: Palau is indeed unscripted?
Lloyd : If we wanted this to be scripted, we should have auditioned for actors. We got our Castaways from the long lines of auditionees in several locations. These are real people from the streets of Manila and the provinces. Kung scripted ito, magaling pa sila sa mga totoong artista?! Wow! ang gagaling naman nilang umarte!
E.P. Lloyd Navera heads the group mockingly called ‘the tsismosos and tsismosas na mga kapit-bahay’.
SP.TV : For Survivor Philippines: Palau how different is this going to be compared to the first season shot from Koh Tarutao?
Lloyd : Season 1 had a lot of firsts for the Filipino viewers, but Season 2 prides itself of more exciting twists and surprises both for the castaways and the viewers. For this batch, we have really good players that came prepared with impressive strategies. We have more "Marlons" this season.
The Reality Team: Jerome Chua, Producer; Leah Borlongan, Researcher; Gerard De Castro, Production Assistant; Alex Dionisio, Producer; Precious Bucud, Producer; Lloyd Navera, Executive Producer; Barbie, Reality Team's Mascot (seryoso to); Lizeth Apostol, Producer; Carol Tan, Producer; Brian Geli, Producer; Joy Mendoza, Producer; Rommel Aquino, Producer
SP.TV : How difficult Survivor Philippines was it really for the Castaways to survive life on the island?
Lloyd : There were several instances wherein some of the Castaways thought of quitting the game. It was torture for them to live with no food supplies, electricity and a toilet. For this season, insect bites were a major problem not just for the Castaways but for the staff and crew as well. A number of Castaways had their whole bodies literally covered with itchy "niknik" bites (insect bites)!
SP.TV : How did you come up with the "twists" for this season?
Lloyd : I also got some suggestions from Castaway Productions and my boss. It was like coming up with an art painting or writing a book. I had to lock myself in a room and think, think and think. Think of something new and original... something that will twist the Castaways’ minds.
Some of Survivor’s staff and crew at the technical tent.
L-R: Doc Zoe Arugay ( Resident Physician ), Leah Borlongan ( Researcher ), Laila Hernandez ( Make Artist ), Domingo Manalastas ( Audio Man ), JR Andrade ( Associate Producer ), Aleli De Guzman ( Production Assistant ), Pat Del Castillo ( Marine / Travel Coordinator ), Jenny Bulatao ( Technical Coordinator ), Monti Parungao ( Director ), Apolinario San Mateo ( Engineer ), Rommel Aquino ( Producer ), Jerome Chua ( Producer ), Gerard Dave De Castro ( Production Assistant ), Joy Mendoza ( Producer ), Japs Rayos ( Sandugo Rigger)
SP.TV : How do you keep the excitement going for the show?
Lloyd : The Castaways are the ones really keeping the excitement going. That is why we had a rigorous selection process in the audition. We had to come up with a good mix of diverse characters and personalities that will make an interesting batch. And it is our job to just keep up with them and make sure we don’t miss anything that could spice up the show.
The Reality and Challenge Teams
They are just some of the people behind the best reality show on TV. How about giving them a toast for their dedication and hard work while making our primetime viewing experience all the more exciting and full of surprises! - Happy Camper
