Here is the article on which people in the Philippines as well as elsewhere in Asia ahve learned about the results of the first leg of ARA3:
RP duo in 2nd spot on ‘Amazing Race Asia’
By Marinel Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:06:00 09/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines’ Geoff Rodriguez and Tisha Silang landed the No. 2 spot on the first day of a month-long competition for the reality program, “The Amazing Race Asia Season 3,” Inquirer Entertainment learned.
During the “Tara3” exclusive screening at the Inquirer offices in Makati City, we took a peek into what transpired in the day-long race that began in Bangkok and culminated in Chiang Mai in Thailand. Oliver Faivre, 26, and Mai Sarasas, 24, representatives of the host country, placed first.
On the first race day, all 10 teams were made to eat bugs, pound on rice grains and clean buses. More of these on the action-adventure channel AXN on Sept. 11 at 9 p.m.
The teams — two pairs each from Thailand, Malaysia and India, and one pair each from the Philippines, Singapore, Korea and Hong Kong — race to win $100,000.
In a statement sent to Inquirer Entertainment, AXN dubbed the new season as “The toughest race ever.” Fatigue level was so high, the statement said, that one production crew member was hospitalized. The race is said to be faster in pace, with shorter breaks, compared to the first two seasons.
Geoff, 26, and Tisha, 32, have been dating for three and a half years. “Nobody would have thought that we’d end up dating. We have very different personalities,” said Tisha.
The couple said they have huge shoes to fill, since TV host Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, as RP representatives last season, finished third.
Representing Hong Kong this season are best buddies Sam Wu, 32, university lecturer and Vince Chung, 32, comedian and host.
Eye candy
Also from Thailand are Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova, 26, and Pailin Rungratanasunthorn, 25, Miss Earth Thailand 2006. They are the “resident eye candy,” the AXN statement said. Last year, Natalie married Thailand’s highest ranked tennis player, Paradorn Srichaphan, and Pailin was one of her bridesmaids. “We love to try new things,” said Natalie. “Give us bungee jumping, parachuting, paragliding and para-sailing any day. We are competitive, we’re in shape and we’re going to kick ass.”
Cousins Neena, 24, and Amit Rai, 24, from India said they are “poles apart in everything but always manage to get along.” Amit, a real estate consultant, credits his cousin Neena, a commercial model, for getting him hooked on “Tara.”
The father-and-son team of Niroo Asrani, actor, 53 and Kapil Asrani, HR executive, 25, is from India, too. Kapil said joining the race was a chance to have some quality time with his father.
AXN has brought to Asian viewers reality programs like “Survivor,” “Fear Factor” and “The Contender.” With a total household reach of over 83 million across Asia (including 40 million on time-block basis in China), “The Amazing Race” has become its signature series.
Some are speculating that this is a deliberate leak by AXN to build audience for tomorrow night's premier episode.
