Hindi pa rin makapaniwala at overwhelmed ang kauna-unahang itinanghal na Pinoy Sole Survivor na si Amanda Colley Van Cooll nang ma-interview at batiin siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at iba pang entertainment press pagkatapos ng live Finale ng Survivor Philippines: Palau kagabi, November 13, sa Studio 5 ng GMA Network.

"Thank you very, very, very much. It's very emotional. And I didn't think I would be emotional. I thought I'm ready for it, you know, win or lose, I'll be okay. But now I'm really overwhelmed. It's crazy to be the first Pinay Sole Survivor," bulalas ni Amanda.

Matapos ang pakikipagtunggali sa 15 pang castaways sa loob ng 39 days, 24 challenges at 40 Tribal Councils, isinuot na sa leeg ng tinaguriang Probinsiyanang Tisay ang winner's necklace na higit pa sa Immunity necklace na kanilang pinaglalaban sa isla.

Mismong ang first Pinoy Sole Survivor pa na si JC Tiuseco ang nagsuot sa kanya ng necklace. Ang tseke naman para sa grand prize na P3 million tax-free ay iniabot nina GMA Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores at Assistant Vice President Clyde Mercado.

Nanalo si Amanda sa botong 4-3 sa kalabang si Justine Ferrer. Wala namang nakuhang boto ang isa pang member ng Final 3 na si Jef Gaitan mula sa jury na binubuo nina Mika Batchelor, Charles de Vera Fernandez, Shaun Rodriguez, Suzuki Sadatsugu, Echo Caceres, Tara Macias at Marvin Kiefer.

In-expect ba niya na siya ang mananalo?

"No, I'm not. Possibility, 50-50 pa rin, it was really 50-50. But I was always positive and optimistic that I'm gonna win this. But also I'm ready to lose because I don't want to expect that much. But, of course, I want to win."

PLANS. Ano ang mga plano ni Amanda ngayon?

"Sandali lang, ha, kasi katatapos lang nito," nabibigla pang sagot ni Amanda.  "I don't know right at this moment. I'm just gonna enjoy this winning moment right now with all the castaways and with my family. And then decide later on. But I do have plans for the money.

"Of course, like I said, I need to pay all my debts. And I did change my mind about the chicken farm [una niyang plano]. I'm hoping to just having a little mountain resort  from our property that we always have in Mindoro. The rest we'll invest it in somewhere else like business."

Papasukin din ba niya ang showbiz katulad ng first winner ng Survivor na si JC Tiuseco?

"Showbiz? I'm not showbiz type but if the opportunities come my way, I will give it a shot. And if it doesn't work out for me, then it's okay.

Hosting ang sa tingin niyang mas babagay sa kanya, sa mga shows na katulad ng Born To Be Wild.

"But, I mean, I don't want to take over Kiko's (Rustia, Survivor season one castaway) job," agad niyang sambit. "Ayokong agawan si Kiko. Pero something na ganun where you get to travel, experience and learn new things throughout the country."

LESSON LEARNED. What's the best lesson she learned from her Palau experience?