AMAZING RACE SEASON 25 IS IN THE PHILIPPINES!

Finally, the US version of The Amazing Race is back in the Philippines. I remember that the last time that the show visited the Philippines was way back in Season 5 when I was still a college student in 2004. Ten years later, it took 20 seasons before TAR is back in my home country.

The first place that they visited was Baclaran Church where teams needs to find a flower vendor to receive their clue.

They were next instructed to take a jeep to the Rosario Municipal Plaza and look for Salina's Special. Here is a peek at the jeepney experience of the teams:

The next clue was for a detour, a choice between Catch or Coach. In Catch, teams get to experience to be a fisherman a fill 3 container full of fish. Only the wrestlers did this task:

In Coach, teams needs to assemble a tricycle before they receive their next clue. This task was chosen by the dentists, the candy girls and the surfers:

They were then instructed to go to the rice fields were they were asked to do a same challenge that was done in Season 5 where Colin had his very famous "My Ox is Broken" breakdown. This challenge was also done in the current season of the Amazing Race Philippines. Teams have to search for a clue in a rice field by plowing into it.

The next is a foot race to the nearby pit stop and as expected, this is a non-elimination leg. Teams are just a few minutes behind each other. I think this is the first time that I see all teams together in the same pit stop.

I think this season really provided a more realistic image of the Philippines as compared to Season 5. Some of the teams liked it here, some of the teams don't. One of the best things in this episode is the fact that they took different modes of transportation common in the country (cab from the airport, jeep to Rosario and tricycle in Cavite). 

Here are the teams reactions on their experience in the Philippines so far.

The next leg is still in the Philippines, and it looks like teams will have to experience pedicabs and basketball.

All videos are from the Official The Amazing Race YouTube channel.

THE AMAZING RACE SEASON 25 IS IN SINGAPORE, GUESS WHO IS THE PIT STOP GREETER!

The US version of the hit reality show The Amazing Race, now on its 25th season, aired its 9th leg today. The leg is in Singapore and I saw a very familiar face with Phil Keoghan at the pit stop.

So who is this familiar face?

It is Singaporean actress Melody Chen, who was a racer from the 1st season of the Amazing Race Asia. She raced with her bestfriend Sharon, and finished 7th in that season.

It is nice to see that the Amazing Race franchise is merging the different versions in different kinds of ways.

And guess where they are headed next? They will be in my home country, the PHILIPPINES! They will be coming here for the 2nd time, and after 20 seasons! And to top it all, they will be bringing back the unforgettable PLOW detour task in Leg 11 of Season 5, where Colin coined the famous line, "My ox is broken!".

Can't wait for the next episode!

meet the cast of the 25th season of the amazing race

cbs announced the new cast of the silver season of the amazing race. this season 11 teams of 2 will be racing around the world and they are:

• adam and bethany, married surfers
• dennis and isabelle, dating couple
• brooke and robbie, couple / professional wrestlers
• keith and whitney, engaged couple
• kym and alli, friends / cyclists
• lisa and michelle, sisters / realtors
• maya and amy, friends / scientists
• michael and scott - friends / firefighters
• misti and jim, married dentists
• shelley and nici, mother & daughter
• tim and te jay, dating couple

notable contestants are bethany, the one-armed surfer who survived a shark attack; and whitney and keith who previously appeared in survivor south pacific and eventually became a couple after the show.

here is the meet the cast video from the official youtube channel of the show:

the show also had its first public starting line in las vegas earlier this year. they will also introduce a new twist, "the save". this will be awarded to the first team to finish in the first leg and will allow that team to save themselves from elimination. the show will also have a new timeslot (fridays 8pm) and will premiere on september 26 (september 27 in the philippines).

ps - rumors is that they will be having 2 legs in the philippines! this is only the 2nd season that they will have pitstops in the philippines. the last time they were here were legs 11 and 12 in season 5 where they went to manila, cavite, laguna and palawan.

image is from : http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/photos/1002236/meet-the-cast/ 

video is from : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQK4imtNQmg