Ervic Vijandre actually thanks Karen delos Reyes for calling him "batugan" because it has given him a tag besides "Marian Rivera's ex."

The power-player henchman to "mastermind" Aubrey Miles—and now a guy everyone seems to hate—reached the Final 4 of Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown, together with Aubrey, Akihiro Sato, and Solenn Heussaff.

The live finale will be shown on December 3, Friday, and is hosted by Richard Gutierrez.

They will face the jury composed of Jon Hall, Aira Bermudez, Michelle Madrigal, Ahron Villena, Elma Muros, Moi Bien, and another castaway who will come from the Final 4.

At the very first press conference of this GMA-7 reality show held August 30—a week before it premiered on air—Ervic was worried that he would only be asked questions about his relationship with ex-girlfriend, Marian Rivera.

That's now water under the bridge for the former De La Salle basketball player-turned-model.

"Ayokong masabing ginagamit ko siya sa pagpasok ko [sa showbiz] kasi matagal na yun. May kanya-kanyang buhay na kami," said Ervic at the pocket presscon on the Final Four held last Wednesday, November 24.

ACCIDENTAL MEETING. Ervic and Marian are okay now. In fact, two years after having no communication, they met, by accident, at the lobby of GMA-7. Marian was with her manager Popoy Caritativo.

"Nagkagulatan kaming dalawa," said Ervic.

"Natulala ako, hindi ako nakapagsalita, hindi rin siya nakapagsalita.

"Si Popoy ang nag-break ng ice. Sabi niya sa akin, 'O, Ervic, batiin mo naman si Marian.'

"Binati ko [siya], so that was it."

All's well that ends well for a relationship that lasted seven—or was it eight years—and which began when they were both teenagers.

Ervic said, "Nag-split kasi kami ng isang taon noong pumasok siya sa showbiz, tapos nagkabalikan ulit. Tapos, nag-split noong nag-Dyesebel siya."

Ervic is single and not looking to hook up with anyone at the moment.