Last week on Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown, TribongTala was defeated by the Bulan tribe during the immunity challenge.
For this reason, the members of Tribong Tala had to undergo another Tribal Council wherein they would have to vote out one castaway.
But before voting started, host Richard Gutierrez had a chat with the remaining members; namely Stef Prescott, Chuckie Dreyfuss, Carlo Gonzales, Mara Yokohama, Arnold Aninion, and Maey Bautista.
Richard asked them the changes that they observed being on the island for the past fifteen days.
Stef Prescott readily answered, "Para sa akin, naging mas stronger ako. Ang dami na nangyari sa akin dito sa isla.
"Pero super thankful ako dahil I wouldn't change a thing dahil marami akong natutunan."
For Chuckie Dreyfuss, he said "Iba yung hirap. Iba rin yung gutom...nararamdaman mo yung gutom at wala kang magagawa. Minsan, may mga araw na magigising ka nanlalambot ka."
Carlo Gonzales opened up by saying, "Medyo impatient akong tao. Siguro yung tinuro sa akin ng Survivor, mas mahabang pasensiya. At in terms of physical, yun nga nakakapanghina."
The host then directed the question to everyone: "Did you think Stef would return after her snake bite accident?
The StarStruck alumna was bitten by a poisonous cobra snake and had to undergo immediate treatment in Manila.
Mara Yokohama admitted, "Kami ni Arnold, very confident kami. Alam namin na kung gaano kagusto ni Stef to be here sa Survivor. Boat crash pa lang, di siya sumuko. Maraming nangyari kay Stef. Yung sunburn na nga lang. Alam namin ni Arnold babalik siya."
Richard's next question was for Stef. He inquired what was going on in her mind when all these "misfortunes" happened to her.
The young actress replied, "Nung nalaman ko na kinagat ako ng ahas, parang may sumampal lang bigla. Kailangan kong pumunta ng Manila.
"Buti na lang may anti-venom. Because within two hours, I could've been gone.
"Para sa akin, it meant a lot, yung will power ko. It kind of kept me sane habang nararanasan ko 'yon... Kailangan kong bumalik dito sa Survivor."
"What motivated you to come back, pursue the game and stay strong?" was the host-actor's follow up question to Stef.
The actress disclosed, "Growing up, no one taught me how to quit... I was never born a cheater or a quitter. I grew up around sports.
"So para sa akin, it's either you win or lose, basta hindi ka lang nag-quit."
Richard asked the castaways how they felt about the recent tribal shuffle.
Philippine Volcanoes' athlete Arnold Aninion admitted, "I was really shocked. I just lost the words. I didn't know what to feel.
"When the shuffle happened, I was really beginning to miss the tribe, but I knew at some point, it was going to happen.
"I just embraced this new tribe and became Tala afterwards. It wasn't easy. I was upset...
"But after that, they really made me feel at home and I'm really happy to be here."
Carlo Gonzales was asked if the tribal shuffle became a hindrance to the plans they laid out as a tribe.
Carlo commented, "Di kami nag-i-stick sa plano talaga. Napag-uusapan namin na dapat solid tayo... Alam ko naman na inevitable na magkakaroon ng shuffle.
"Noong dumating yung panahon na 'yon, nadiskaril kami ng kaunti. Galing nga. Mabilis na nagkasundo kami kaagad especially si Arnold, pareho kami ng ugali. Pareho kaming mag-isip. So right away, we hit it off."
Chuckie, on the other hand, said, "Malungkot. Siyempre, nagkahiwa-hiwalay kami ng mga pairs namin, partners namin. Halo-halo ang naramdaman ko.
"Isa, ang mga nakasanayan naming makasama ang mga kasamahan namin sa Tala. Papaano sa challenges, kailangan naming kalabanin yung mga dati naming katribo.
"At kung dumating sa point na immunity challenge man 'yon, masayang manalo, nalalagay naman namin yung mga dati naming katribo sa panganib na matanggal."
The Survivor host wanted to find out from the ex-Bulan members, namely Mara, Arnold and Stef, who joined the Tala group the differences between their former group and Tala.
Arnold was quick to say with a smile "They [Tala] are more organized, they have better shelter. Mas malinis and meron silang organization sa mga cooking, getting wood...
"For us sa Bulan, mga bata kami, we tried and do stuff..."
Mara, who agreed with Arnold, added, "Gusto ko lang suportahan yung sinasabi ni Arnie. Noong una, ayokong iwanan ang tribong Bulan, doon na ako naging comfortable. Iniisip ko lang lumipat ako sa Tala, kailangan kong mag-adjust. And, nag-adjust ako...sobrang bilis lang. Sobrang winelcome kami ni Carlo, Chuckie, Maey agad. Pinakain kami agad. Tapos nakita namin ni Arnie na ibang-iba talaga."
"Siyempre noong una, Bulan talaga and akala ko, paglipat ko ng Tala, akala ko ang puso ko, Bulan pa rin. And now that we're Tala, we have to be Tala. "
For Richard's last question before voting time, he wanted to find out what would be their basis in voting out a member.
"Lagi naming pinag-uusapan...kung sino ang mapipili o mapapatanggal, laging kapakanan ng tribo ang iniisip. Yung mas makakatulong has to stay. Kailangan malakas yung tribo pagdating sa mga challenges. Pagdating sa camp life, maraming magagawa," was Carlo's explanation.
Arnold pointed out, "The thing is to keep the tribe strong and not to start thinking about the moves ahead. And everyone's trust and confidence. I have a great deal of respect for Carlo and the way he plays the game and to everyone in Tala."
Stef added, "Hanggang hindi pa tayo nagme-merge, dapat isipin yung tribe. Malay mo mag-merge kung konti na lang. Nawala yung malalakas o yung binoto mo na kalaban mo o personal na kalaban mo o threat mo baka mamaya, yung tribo naman ang masisisi, kawawa sa challenges."
SAVED BY THE IMMUNITY BRACELET. Soon after the discussion, the Survivor host informed everyone that anyone with an immunity bracelet could use it that night for protection for that night's Tribal Council.
Arnold readily gave his immunity bracelet to Stef and told her, "You deserve it."
Nominated that night were Stef and Carlo.
But since Stef decided to use the immunity bracelet, she could not be voted out by the rest of the members.
Richard announced that Carlo became the fifth castaway of the reality show.
Before exiting the island, Carlo's parting words were: "Nagulat ako first and foremost. Masakit sa akin dahil alam ko kung sinong bumoto sa akin. May magandang usapan, akala ko, mapagkakatiwalaan ko kayo.
"Dito sa laro sa Survivor, makikilala mo kung sino ang totoong tao o hindi. Noong paalis ako, alam ko na buong-buo ako na survivor ako...napaalis ako dahil ako ay isang threat."
TRIBES MERGE TO BECOME APOLAKI. To date, the pairing scheme has already dropped in Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown.
The castaways from the warring tribes of Moon goddess Bulan and Stars goddess Tala merged to form the tribe Apolaki, the Sun god.
The ten castaways—Chuckie Dreyfus, KC Montero, Gino dela Peña, Mara Yokohama, John Odulio, Stef Prescott, Maey Bautista, Betong Sumaya, Arnold Aninion and Arthur Solinap—were all surprised when host Richard Gutierrez, after ordering them to dig up a wooden cylinder each, announced the merging of the tribes.
The castaways, now all wearing green buffs, were treated to a merge feast featuring the castaways' favorite food including lechon, pizza, batchoy, chicken with pineapple, bacon cheeseburger, lasagna, spam and eggs, and kare-kare. Aside from the feast, the castaways were also surprised with a fire dance performance from Rachel Lobangco.
This Monday, December 19, get to know more of the Apolaki members as Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown relive the rollercoaster-ride journey of the top ten castaways: from their exciting first day on the island, to all the physical challenges, emotional struggles, unforgettable camp life, life-threatening experiences and even how they end up as one of the top ten castaways.
Will there be more betrayals and unexpected changes in alliance just like what happened to former Tala tribe when then castaway Carlo Gonzalez, who was made to believe he was safe going into the tribal council, got voted off at the last minute?
Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown airs weeknights after Munting Heredera on GMA-7.