Seven sexy participants out of a total complement of 12
unexpectedly arrived at the venue of The Fiercest of Them All media launch, at Ka Tunying’s Café on Timog Avenue, Quezon City, in the discomfort of a motorcade of firetrucks from a San Juan City fire fighting unit.
Traveling under the harsh midday sun and ultraviolet rays, they lived up to the title of the search for the fiercest. Not necessarily the fairest, of course.
“Nakakaloka na, nakakaiyak pa; nakakabaliw at nakakatuwa rin.” This is how the Tagalog-English-speaking Brazilian actress, model and former Eat... Bulaga! host Daiana Meneses entices viewers to follow the new fantasy-reality television show that pilots on March 5 at 9 p.m. and airs on Sundays over GMA News TV. “The ‘fiercest’ girls will be going through amazing challenges so sana panoorin po ninyo!” she expounded.
Television is in search of a fresh format, the reality show being the most successful last variant that spawned several versions. The small screen has always been a medium for versions of entertainment, one distinct genre being fantasy. Until The Fiercest of Them All, no production company has successfully blended fantasy and reality in a workable and exciting concept. And it is here now to test and prove its viability.
EXEMPLAR. Daiana is exemplar of the fiercest. “Ito ang pinakamagandang project na nagawa ko sa buong buhay ko, and I’m very proud. It feels like I shot 13 different movies sa editing (ni Direk). Kapag nakita ninyo ang materyal namin, hindi siya biro. I went to film academy before, and I haven’t seen something that is designed for TV, but looks cinematic. I’m very proud to be a part of this,” she enthuses.
Nothing can make her be the gentlest, even her new love life. Still smarting from the termination of her marriage to Benjo Benaldo months after a Nevada court granted her divorce, she claims to be “wiser” now from the experience. “I should love myself more than give myself to somebody else,” she maintains. But nothing can make her budge to reveal who he is as she firmly believes he deserves privacy as he’s not a public person.
“Siguro ang masasabi ko lang ang tagal ko bago nauntog. I should have done it before pa, but I don’t regret any of it kasi kung hindi nangyari ’yun, wala siguro ako ngayon sa kinalalagyan ko,” she adds without nervousness. “Natuto na ako sa experience ko. Hindi na ako mag-re-reveal kung sino ang ka-date ko. Makikita n’yo rin naman kasi kung sino ang ka-date ko. I don’t hide. It’s just like I don’t think the person (should) be talked about.”
Dubbed “the craziest modelling competition on TV,” Daiana finds the show unique. “You know what, we’re not actually in search of a model, but ‘yung magaling na tao, ‘yung totoo, ‘yung may talent, ‘yung kaya lahat, ‘yung hindi mag-gi-give up. Kasi ‘yung kagandahan nawawala ‘yun. Kapag tumanda ka na, nawawala ‘yun. Minsan, maaksidente ka mawawala ‘yun. Pero kung ugali mo maganda, ‘yun na ‘yun. So, kakaiba siya,” she explains.
Director Martin Aviles tags the show as a “Fantareality” that unfolds like a full-length feature. And, no, it’s not a beauty contest at all. “It’s a competition that tests the contestant’s character amid challenges. “What makes this special is it is a legitimate reality show, but at the same time may fantasy angle alongside being reality show.”
Daiana says, “The Fiercest Of Them All has got it all. “Alam mo ’yung parang walang arte, puwede naming gawin lahat. That’s why I’m thankful getting this opportunity. I hope the audience will enjoy the show as much as the cast and crew enjoy it.”
MEET THE JOINERS. The following are some of those who dare display their aggressiveness in the one-of-a-kind series.
Aya Sarmiento is a registered nurse working as a promo girl and model, a demure Filipina who can easily switch into a vicious fighter.
Christine Basadre is a mixed breed (half-German and half-Filipino), who grew up in Germany and returned to the Philippines to pursue her dream to be an actress, beauty queen and model.
Candice Ramos is a beauty queen title holder, popular pageant host, UP college graduate and MA student, a smooth mix of the hero and the anti-hero.
Krisha Francisco is an online casino dealer, promo girl and model. Frank and funny, she is the “pare” of The Fiercest of Them All team.
Tanya Lingat is a petite model who is a Law graduate from Pampanga. She is a go-getter, someone who will pull and push until she achieves her goal.
Peru Morena is a fitness model who grew up in Canada, the daughter of an OFW from Batangas, the youngest in a brood of 10 known as “the Animal” when competing.
OPERATIVE. “Fierce” being the show’s operative word yes, in various degrees and permutations be ready for the physical, emotional and intellectual challenges and twists it will offer. Better believe it is possible and viewer-friendly. There is only The Fiercest of Them All in the entire universe and it is in the Philippines.
Martin Aviles explains the concept otherwise called “fantareality” as a combination of America’s Next Top Model and Survivor.
“Daiana plays the character of a queen who is searching for the fiercest of them all. There is a story. It just makes it more fun also for the audience, especially for the kids. We want not only to show this to grown-ups, we also want kids to be excited about it, why she is making them go through these challenges?... There’s a hidden narrative — hidden to the girls. Even the girls don’t know about it’” Martin reveals.
“Staying true to the definition of a reality show means it has to be unscripted. We’ve seen how other shows are halatang scripted. You won’t see that here. What makes this special is you will see the aspect of a reality show pero may fantasy narrative. You’ll have to watch it to understand it. We set up challenges that’s planned, but what happens within and after the challenges, we don’t know. It’s all organic,” Martin outlines what makes The Fiercest of Them All exciting.
Daiana joins up the fierce ladies in the test-your-character challenges that put them in intrigue situations among themselves. The equally ferocious squad of judges who also appeared during the launch are fitness trainer and model Matthias Rhoads, stylist and fashion writer Bea Jocom and fashion designer Doggficher. To win the Fiercest title, the winner must get their nods.
“I’ve been in the fashion industry for a while now and I watch all these shows — as in lahat, bata pa lang ako. Never pa akong nakakakita ng tulad nito. Kami mismong judges, nasa-shock sa mga nangyayari. It’s something different,” Bea shares about the show’s unique selling proposition.
If The Fiercest of Them All clicks with the Filipino audience and indications are it will, cast and crew would have developed a fresh television concept worth franchising worldwide. Its format can be easily adapted to local conditions and situations of the franchisor country. For sure, this will be its fiercest accomplishment!
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The fiercest, not necessarily the fairest
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