Ok lang... Wala lang.
I didn't really think they would last too long.

NOOOOO!!!!!!!! I love them. Tsaka sila pa naman ang first place sa first leg. Sayang naman! I really feel they could've gone a long way. They have the strength, the wits, the bonding, the charisma. Shucks, this is what's bad with TAR, isang malas na mali lang like mawala, wala ka na!

DIE YE EVIL ONES + AND THEN THERE WERE SEVEN

[Mar 24 2005, 06:50 AM]

Ugh, now I have even more reason to dislike Rob and Amber! I concede... ang galing ng schemes nila. But it's really not endearing. Not the least bit.

Ang masasabi ko lang sa episode tonight:

* Sobrang malas nina Alex and Lynn. Grabe, sayang! They had the advantage and they got it going pero minalas talaga sila. Ayon nga kay alex, "Well, luck is part of the game. What can you do?"

* Parang kulang dahil wala ang tough chicks na sina Debbie and Bianca! I sure would have loved to see Debbie telling that assh*le Rob off one more time!

* Feeling ni Ray!!! 'Yung mga comments niya about the oldies sobrang reflective of a pathetic need to be taught some manners. Sobra kung magsalita, hindi naman magaling. He doesn't deserve to be grouped with those at the bottom raw eh quitter naman siya! FYI Ray, nasa last teams kayo kasi 'di niyo kinain 'yung 4 pounds of meat. So you do deserve to be there. Ha! Kainis!

* Ibang klase ang bouts ng mother and gay son. Fighting again and again with one clinging on to every bit of hope while the other having adopted a "realistic" view and given up, I'm not surprised they lost.

I'm looking forward to next week's episode. Exciting ang preview. May nahulog at nagdugo. May car accident. Totoo kaya 'yun or nasa editing lang nila like 'yung nahulog si Uchenna sa horse? Whether its true or hyped up, ka-abang-abang!

SUPER AMAZING EPISODE + AND THEN THERE WERE SIX

[Mar 31 2005, 03:55 AM]

This week's show is to date THE BEST AND MOST EXCITING EPISODE OF THE AMAZING RACE 7!!!!!

Kaya naman pala special back-to-back 2 hours.

Sobrang dami kong comment. I don't know where to start. O.M.G.! Here we go:

* Ang tindi ng kapangyarihan ng KARMA!!! After saying things like "I'm not letting a 70-year-old man and his wife beat me. Not even in checkers. No matter what, we've got them beat..." and "These people are not in our game level (something to that effect)" Ray and Deana got what they deserve! A boot out! Sobrang saklap pa. From first place (which they only got 'coz they got lucky with a FAST FORWARD) to last place! Bwahahahahaha!!!! Nalampasan sila ng previously last place and na-aksidente pang old couple na linalait nila. By two levels! Not one! But two! Serves 'em right! Yabang kasi ni Ray eh. All talk naman. Parating pinapagalitan si Deana pero si Deana naman gumagawa ng majority ng tasks, lalo na mahihirap.

* I now have sobrang respect for Meredith and Gretchen. Inisip ko talaga matatanggal na sila but they were able to hang on for two more legs. I doubt they'll get far pa (siguro 1 or a few episodes na lang) but I think that they've already achieved so much. For one, considering that they're old and minamaliit ng iba at tinatayaang matanggal, they stayed on quite long. Secondly, kahit na-aksidente tuloy pa rin. Moreover, with no money and no possessions they survived pa. Ibang klase talaga!!! And they're always so kind to everybody, so supportive of each other (unlike Ray and Deana who bicker 90% of the time), and so determined kahit nasa bottom pack na. I wish them all the best! Kahit ma-eliminate na sila, they've proven their worth.

* The brothers are starting to grow on me. They're so funny kasi. I like 'yung maling sulat sa clue, yung "Go home to your mother, give her a nice warm hug, eat all the enchaladas you can until you enter a food coma..." Haha!!! Kulit talaga! Tapos yung T-shirts pa na binili nila sa kids WWF. Dami nila hirit all throughout the show.

* Lynn and Alex gain points in my book for saying "We're people first, racers second." Tsaka "The money is the prize but being here is a price in itself (something to that effect)." They gain even more points by living up to it. It was awfully nice of them to go down the car and the brothers out when the truck flipped over. Yes, it's a race pero what's a few minutes naman to check up on people's safety/people's lives? Sobrang bow ako sa kanila for that.

* And super minus sa already negative impression ko kay Rob and Amber for simply passing by (hello, kahit binuksan lang window for ONE FRIGGIN' MINUTE like the rest of the teams did just to ask, "Are you ok?" Wala talagang konsensiya! Ano kaya kung sila ma-aksidente!!!) It's one thing to be strategic. It's one thing to want to win. But it's another to be mean, manipulative, and downright evil!

* Pansin ko rin, ROMBER are not really as "great" players as some people think they are/make them up to be. Ako lang ba nakakapansin? Rob sucks at tasks and he always chooses the "more sissy" one. Sure, they have moments! Like the taking-books-to-the-library move but for the most part, hindi sila kagalingan. Mas tough pa nga yung POW tsaka si Uchenna. Rob was last sa shooting arrows thing. Naunahan pa ni grandpa tsaka ni Joyce! 'Yung sa ibang nakakalamang sila, they're only able to do so because they use their fame in getting people to help them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that they are good but only in comparison to the other players and because of lucky breaks. But they are in no way exceptional. AR is different from "Survivor" you meanies! Stop injecting it in.

"Surving" the Race

* Natawa lang ako kay Joyce. Kasi dun sa shopping, sabi niya agad kay Uchenna "I don't want to do it. You do it." Pero volunteer naman siya sa arrows. Kakaibang babae! Hahahaha...

* Andaming "evening the game out" points sa 2 leg na ito. Long waits, same bus ride for all, activities by batch, etc. Siguro the producers are spicing it up. Gotta admit that it's working. This has got to be the closest and most exciting season! Paiba-iba talaga positions ng mga teams.

* Questions lang po: Bakit wala pa ulit yield? Bakit kaya nagbago rule sa non-elimination? (pati naman gamit! sobrang kawawa ng players) Hindi ba 3-4 ang non-elimination? (eh di malamang meron next week matatanggal after nun non-elimination ng baka 2 sunod. hmmm....)

Whew! haba na nito! Anyway, to wrap up, basta for me astig talaga ang episode na ito! Thrice ko pinanood. Palipat-lipat ako ng konti sa "American Idol" pero objectviely, as fans ng pareho, natabunan ng AR ang AI this week.

FAMEWHORES VS. GAYS

[Mar 31 2005, 09:44 PM]

Fact 1: Lynn and Alex hate Rob and Amber.

Fact 2: Rob and Amber hate Lynn and Alex

The result = more competition

Thus more excitement for us viewers! So yipee! Magpatayan lang sila! Sige lang. Hehehe... Joke!

ON THE CONTESTANTS

[Apr 1 2005, 06:32 PM]

I just love dissecting and discussing the episodes.

I actually wasn't looking forward to the summary. But since there are never-before-seen footage included, I'm interested. I wonder what the contestants do in "lull times" like waiting sa airport. And i want to see them do/say crazy things.

Sa totoo lang kasi, sa last episode lang nag-focus talaga and we learned a lot about the contestants. That's when we've seen the oldies' strength and determination, Uchenna and Joyce's soft side, Lynn and Alex and Brian and Gregg's closeness to each other, etc. I want more of that.

I've only noticed the POW and pageant queen Ron and Kelly recently. Actually, they're kinda good. Silent workers. But kinda boring. I hope they spice things up.

The brothers are definitely funny. I bet they're good company.

TOP FIVE + SUMMARY

[Apr 8 2005, 07:08 PM]

I really really like this season. Panalo! Usually kasi at this point, the game gets a little boring na tapos magpi-pickup na lang ulit ang pace when it's already the final 3. But nooo! Daming exciting na nangyayari. Parang buhok na ginamitan ng *toot* shampoo, it just keeps getting better and better. Hehe...

First off, kaka-windang naman 'yun! 2 teams ang nagkamali at pinabalik. Akalain niyo ba? Exag!

Buti na lang pasok pa rin sila. I really like Uchenna and Joyce. That couple shows strength and teamwork sa mga challenges. I mean, wow! They were the only ones who were able to do the native "carry it" task. That's aside from Uchenna being the first to finish the 4 lbs. of assorted meat eating task some episodes back. I like Meredith and Gretchen too because of the determination they are showing. It's quite something that they made it this far considering their age and the penalty from the last non-elimination. Paulit-ulit kong sasabihin, kahit matanggal na sila sa next episode, astig na talaga sila para makaabot ng ganito.

Pero sa computation ko, non-elim next week.

*praying for the oldies to keep holding on*

Secondly, I'm sad that the brothers were eliminated. Dang! Wish this was a non-elimination leg. Would B&G really have finished the race with only their boxers on? Scary but amusing thought. ;P

They'd definitely go down as one of the most lovable and funny players. I know maraming may favorite sa kanila. Tsaka benta sa marami mga jokes nila. They're consistently fun! Got booted out in style! Say niyo?!?

Lynn and Alex were also very funny putting layers of clothes on feeling na mahuhuli sila at non-elimination ito. Sabay sila, "What???" when Phil announced they're team #4.

Kulit talaga ng mga players na ito! Making fashion statements and coming up with so many quotable quotes.

On the summary episode:

Mas lalo lang ako nabuwisit sa ROMBER seeing how dinaya nila ang super bet kong sina Debbie and Bianca. (I missed the early half of that epi kasi) Kainis talaga! How could Rob put a straight face on the time the girls were being very kind and diplomatic nakikipagbati when he knows na may ginawa siyang masama sa kanila? Evil talaga! Hindi 'yan mananalo. Makakaabot siguro sa top 3 but karma will find a way. Mala-Colin and Christie. The good players, the truly deserving people, will push through!

On the lighter/non-hating side... naging close pala talaga sina B&G sa blondies. Yihee! I want to see them together sa finale ng TAR.

Last 5 teams in!!! I'm counting on 2 more non-elims so there's an extension in someone's stay, a yield, and harder challenges! So excited!!!

Wow! :) That's something to tell her grandchildren about. But I think they're growing tired and losing money (because of the non-elimination punishment) so it's okay if they hang their caps. But even if it's too much to hope for, M&G making it to the finale and winning would be a real treat! Good luck oldies!

I liked Kelly last episode but I'm back to not liking her again. What was that commitment argument all about??? This girl needs to think before she speaks. Ron got out of the army by being a POW??? Does she know what being a POW means? I'm sensing that she hears the ticking of her biological clock so she's getting desperate.

Still, I give Ron and Kelly props for being the only team to choose the mental challenge (the one with posts, numbers, and a chest) and getting it done quickly and efficiently.

Now that they only have passports and the clothes on their backs, they need to rise up to the challenge like M&G did. They need to prove themselves.

This leaves the "Survivor" team. The chance of me rooting for ROMBER is close to zero. Not unless Rob undergoes a complete attitude makeover and Amber grows spine.

But I guess they'll make it to the top three. That's okay. At least they're interesting to watch even if they make my blood boil. And I know some people like them so they have fans, unlike Ron and Kelly whom most people find bland.

So with these, I cheer, "Go for the win Uchenna and Joyce!"

I'm curious to see what kind of luck the 4 teams will have for the next episode. Just one more elimination to go before we get the top 3 for the big finale... I certainly hope the deserving people make it to the end. Calling on karma... Please be there again.

TRIBUTE TO MEREDITH AND GRETCHEN

[May 4 2005, 11:32 AM]

Waaahhh!!!!!!!!

This is so sad. :(

It's the end of the line for Meredith and Gretchen.

Akala ko pa naman makakalusot sila ulit with a non-elimination. Tsk, tsk... Sayang talaga out na sila! They sure looked determined to hang on. Sinubukan talaga nilang makapasok pa sa finale with the stronger teams. For that alone, I commend them. I must say, the sight of a 70-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman dragging boats tugged at my heart. The couple looked very pained. They had a difficult time as they lacked the brawns the younger ones still have but they cooperated with each other to complete the task. They worked together, with no complaints, with full trust, just like they always do.

But what is there to say? Sometimes life is like that. You give everything you can but it is still not enough.

* sadness *

Still, I am very very proud of them! They really put a game on. No one can accuse them of quitting or playing dirty or bickering with each other. They had none of that.

Here's my little tribute:

After keeping things together despite being broke and stripped of all possessions;

after staying on for more legs after that and surprising everyone week after week;

after Gretchen didn't make a fuss over the wound she got from that bad fall in the cave;

after Meredith so sweetly let his wife take a nice ride on the elephant thing in India not minding that the additional weight and less manpower made things harder for him;

after displaying their support for each other that instance Gretchen asked for a hug to be able to keep on searching for the clue;

after getting as far as second place;

after exhibiting camaraderie with the other teams (especially Uchenna and Joyce) and being nice to everyone;

after the clean game they played;

after never giving up;

after rising up each new leg, full of hope;

after that one final good deed of lending Ron and Kelly some assistance, a way of giving back for the time the POW and pageant queen helped make their non-elim punishment lighter;

after all of that...

Meredith and Gretchen have proven that they are AMAZING individuals with their character and strength as well as a truly AMAZING couple with their love and dedication.

I'm sure their family, friends, and fans are proud of them.

Cheers to this very inspiring team! They have made "The Amazing Race" season 7 very exciting and a real treat to watch!

MEREDITH AND GRETCHEN!!!!!

TAR FORMAT

[May 4 2005, 12:46 PM]

According to other TAR fanatics, there is news na "family edition" ang TAR 8. If ever it is true, that ought to be interesting.

I love the twists and surprises the network comes up with to make "The Amazing Race" even more amazing. We don't know, baka in the future they decide to include other nationalities.

ON THE TOP THREE

[May 4 2005, 01:42 PM]

Gotta hand it to those 2 teams (team ROMBER and team GO AMERICA!) for taking a risk. Like they say, you have to risk it to win big!

Kudos to Uchenna too for being so nice and trying to the oldies with carrying the boat!

My only criticisms:

* I wish Ron and Kelly would tone down their bickering.

* I also wish that ROMBER would stop getting people every leg to be their "tourist/slave/pointer/whatever" each and every time and try to make it on their own.

PHOTO STORY

[May 7 2005, 04:42 PM ]

I have a treat for you guys. :)

Here are some pictures I got from the official "The Amazing Race" website at CBS.com. I thought they'd be fun to share with you fellow TAR fans.

Here they are with my matching comments... Enjoy!

Kelly's "The Devil made me do it" artwork

I seriously don't know what to think about this.

On one hand, it is funny. ;P ROMBER deserve it since they have done "evil schemes" since the race's start. It's predictable 'coz I'm sure Ron and Kelly were really pissed (which is funny 'coz I know those two teams were aiming at each other and they both know it, so why the drama?).

On the other hand, it is a very childish thing to do. And so unnecessary. It's not like Kelly got something out of it. If anything, it exposed her biyatchness to the TAR viewers.

ROMBER with one of their many ferns all throughout the race

While I do appreciate the Survivors' charisma in getting people to follow them around, give them directions, help them, etc. and while there is no rule that prevents teams from asking for help, I don't like the lack of independence, use of "Survivor" fame (an unfair advantage), and occassional coercion.

I'd be more impressed with Rob and Amber if they try to make it on their own. They could ask for basic information. But getting someone to navigate for them from one detination to another and yet another is laziness and lack of skill. Why don't they use their skills the right way?

But anyway... It's not like I can do anything. So I'll just leave ROMBER alone with such style. It's their game. I can only not like them for it. Let's just see if they get a fern in the finale or not and whether that would affect their performance or not. The finale will be the ultimate test and judge.

Sherlock Holmes hands a clue

I liked this challenge. For me, it's one of the best for this season.

I wish they have more challenges that require thinking, really explain something about the destination and the culture there, and is just interesting. Like this.

FAIR GAME

[May 18 2005, 08:15 PM ]

Life finds a way of giving people their just dessert. It may be right away or far into the future. The person may recognize it or not even notice it. It may be in terms of a small, daily, trivial thing or it may be a big, grand , life-altering event. Whatever form it takes, the bottomline is that the universe has a scheme where everything is in order and justice prevails.

I truly believe that, which is why all throughout TAR 7, and in everything actually, I maintain that both goal/endpoint/vision and process are important. Kaya nga bilib ako kina Meredith and Gretchen, Brian and Greg, Debbie and Bianca tsaka Uchenna and Joyce.

1st place: Uchenna and Joyce

Uchenna and Joyce truly deserved to win. Panalo talaga sila for their skills, teamwork, strategy, principles, spirit, etc. It's really nice how the race has brought them closer and how now they have a chance to get a baby. Mabuti silang tao kaya pinagpala sila. I'm so happy for them. I really admire them for not giving up even if they didn't have any money or possessions. Bow rin ako sa hindi na lang nila pagtakas or pakikipagsabwatan sa driver (though I think hindi pwede, nasa rules ng TAR na you can only say you're in a race hindi pwede mag-name drop tsaka kailangan tapos lahat ng tasks and obligations kasama na ang transpo duties). That was a great testament to their strong sense of what is right and care for others. Aside from that syempre ang magandang relationship nila with the others and helping Meredith and Gretchen out. Tsaka they never gave up talaga. Uchenna and Joyce are winners in every sense of the word!

2nd place: Rob and Amber

I congratulate Rob and Amber for finishing second place rin. It's a very good slot, certainly commendable! Even if I'm not a fan of theirs, I can say that they deserve it. It is a product of their skills, teamwork, and strategy. Gaya ng sabi ni Phil, they're competitive players and they made TAR 7 exciting. 'Yun nga lang, they lacked that "winning factor" - the unique combo Uchenna and Joyce have, to get the gold medal and take it all. Parang ironic na nagulo at nahirapan sila sa paghahanap nung king of the havanas place whereas Uchenna and Joyce found that part easy because this time, it was them who had a fern. The driver really helped them. Blessing from heaven that he asked the question in spanish so the couple was led there without problems. Too bad for Rob and Amber!

3rd place: Ron and Kelly

Sina Ron and Kelly naman, nakakaawa. They didn't win na nga, nagkalabuan pa. I really hope they find a way to make things work. Maybe Kelly can lower her pride and bawasan ang kaartehan while Ron can be more sensitive and learn to deal with issues--Kelly's, his, and theirs as a couple. Kung hindi naman eh di at least learning experience ang TAR. Anyway, third is good too. Out of eleven. Ron and Kelly displayed the smarts, the strength, and the skills all throughout the race.

So really, all in all, I'd say it was fair. I'm happy with the results. I only wish that the next TAR (the family edition) would be as, if not even more, exciting. and I hope all the players are happy.

TAR 7 is truly unforgettable!!!

Note: Posts have been modified to suit blog format. For the original version and to read the complete discussion of the topic, visit:

[Pictures from The Amazing Race at CBS]