Nagbabalik ang reality show ng GMA-7 na Survivor Philippines para sa ikalawang season nito, ang Survivor Philippines: Palau.

Kung sa first season ng Survivor Philippines ay sa isang portion lang ng Executive Lounge sa 17^th floor ng GMA Network Center ginanap ang presscon at piling-pili lamang ang mga inimbitang entertainment press, ngayong second season ay sa napakalaking Studio 5 na ng Kapuso Network ginawa ang grand launch nito kagabi, August 13.

Last season ay ang host ng programa na si Paolo Bediones lang ang humarap sa press nung presscon, at nakausap lang ng press ang mga castaways matapos silang ma-vote out. This season, nagpakita at nagpakilala mismo ang 16 castaways ng Survivor Philippines: Palau.

Pero pagkatapos ng presentation nila ay hindi na pinahintulutan ang entertainment press na kausapin o magtanong sa kanila. Sinabi ni Paolo na makakausap lamang ng press ang castaways kapag na-vote na sila upang masiguro ang confidentiality ng magiging outcome ng show.

Pagkatapos ng presentation ng 16 castaways ay isa-isang sinagot ni Paolo ang mga tanong ng entertainment press tungkol sa Survivor Philippines: Palau.

Binanggit ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Paolo ang pagkakaiba ng presscon ng first season ng Survivor Philippines sa presscon ngayong second season. Mas malaki at mas marami ang inimbitang entertainment press. Tinanong namin kung ang ibig bang sabihin nito ay mas mataas ang expectations ngayong season at kung confident sila na mas maganda ito kumpara sa first season, na naging very successful.

"I think when all of us, when we started the second season, we knew expectations will be high," sagot ni Paolo. "And at the same time, we're very happy that in the first season, we were able to prove that it was possible that we can make this successful... And with the ratings, and with the reception, and with the response of the people, nakita nating talaga namang karapat-dapat na may pangalawang season... We knew the expectation would be high, and just like the castaways, we take upon the challenge. Sobra akong excited sa season na 'to because it's bigger, better, and more exciting."

THE NEW LOCATION. Kung ang first season ng Survivor Philippines ay ginawa sa Thailand, ngayong second season ay sa Palau naman dinala ang 16 castaways. Ang Palau ay bahagi ng Micronesia at isa sa island nations sa Pacific Ocean.

Ipinaliwanag ni Paolo kung bakit ang Palau ang napili nilang location para sa ikalawang season ng Survivor Philippines.

Aniya, "Palau is one of the most favorite destinations of... Even Survivor CBS host Jeff Probst, he was asked what destination would you like to go back to for vacation, for work, he mentioned Palau. So we had several options ready, but we wanted a place that was nearby and yet the environment is unlike anything you see on TV.

"Yes, you see it on travel shows. But you see it on Survivor Philippines environment, it totally changes the look of Palau, the feel of Palau for us as a viewer. When we were there, sobrang inspiring yung tubig, the location and the challenges... It's unbelievable! We cannot wait to see what it looks like on TV.

"Palau, we chose also because of its practicality. Mas malapit sa Pilipinas, 500 miles away lang. There were flights every other day to get to Palau. There were also the people we have worked with, yung mga tinatawag nating Palauans, the natives of the country. And we got the support of the president of Palau, Johnson Toribiong... Matindi ang suporta ng Palau sa Survivor Philippines. Lahat kami, naramdaman namin talaga na they wanted us to succeed. So they gave us the support that they could.

"We shot in an island called Peleliu, which is about south of Koror, where the plane lands. Peleliu is about an hour away from Koror, and we had to isolate ourselves para walang mga nagmi-miron. Again, to avoid possible leakages or any possible information that would be kept out unofficially."

Dahil pangalawang season na ito ng Survivor Philippines, mas nadalian ba si Paolo at ang staff and crew, o may na-encounter pa rin silang mga problema?

"The difficulties would be, I think we can trim it down to two," sabi ng veteran TV host.