Filipina Soul

In the previous episode of Survivor Philippines, the members of the newly formed Chalam tribe worked on their joint camp. The strategizing began almost immediately after the merger, with the former Jarakay, seeking to weaken the loyalties of the former Naak to one another.

As Episode 33, which aired on October 29, 2008, opened, Kaye recounted her chat with Marlon to JC. Marlon had told her that there was no alliance in the new tribe. But at that point, Jace had approached Marlon and Kaye and cut their conversation short. JC said that Jace will not be able to get to him. JC told Kaye that he will keep the promises he made to Naak. Naak had worked hard to gain their victories.

Naak was hatching its own plan with JC toeing the line in the middle, just to get wind of what the Jarakays were planning. Castaways on both sides of the line, including Charisse and Jace, seemed to confide in JC.

That night, the Naak members JC, Rob, Kiko and Cris chose to sleep outside the shelter, beside one another.

The Immunity Challenge

Paolo reminded them not to trust anyone because everyone wanted only one thing, to win. They can be friends, but after Survivor Philippines.

The Immunity Idol was retired, and replaced by the Immunity Necklace. The castaway who possessed it cannot be voted out in the Tribal Council.

The immunity challenge had several rounds that was performed in a series of cages. The castaways had their hands chained together. In the first round, the first five to dig under the cage, get his/her whole body through and step on a mat went to the second round. In the second round, the five castaways dug out of the first cage. Each tied together several sticks to make a longer one to reach a key to unlock the chains. The first three to get into the third cage and step on the mat had to get through a barrier of sticks. The first to get through and step with both feet on the finishing mat won the Immunity Necklace.

Jace was first through the first round, followed closely by JC. Then Zita, Charisse and Vern. Cris, incidentally, helped Vern by helping her get her shorts unhooked. In rather comical side incident, Marlon had to be helped get free from under the cage, where he had been stuck for a long time.

The Winning Moment

For the second round, Zita and JC go through first, followed by Jace and Charisse. Patience and a well-made stick was needed to win this round. Zita got her key first, but it fell to the ground. She was able to slide it to her eventually and take off her chains. From the sidelines, Kiko shouted out a suggestion to Zita to use her chains to dig the hole under the cage. At this point, Vern was finally able to enter the cage and start on working on her stick. Zita was first to get to the third round, and work her way through the tangle of sticks, unchallenged! Paolo said that mommy Zita was showing that age doesn’t matter.

In a moment that evoked the old Rocky films, Zita ran in slow motion to the finish mat. Rob described it as “the best ever winning moment of all time!”.

Her Naak tribemates ran to hug and congratulate her, and she greeted them with “Mga anak!” (children).

Survivor Philippines Fan Question: Now that she was the first to win the Immunity Challenge, will the other castaways view Mommy Zita as more of a threat?

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