Cast(ed) away

I just received a call, "Is this Nadia Anne Minguez? This is Luz from GMA 7, I'm sorry but you didn't make it to level 3 of the Survivors Philippines."  I just answered, "Ok lang po, salamat".

Yeah I'm thankful, cause honestly for the past week, I couldn't work well because I kept on thinking about my strategy, the Tribal Council, and how I will defend myself on the final Tribal Council that will surely give me my 3 million pesoses. Funny cause I already have a script to get the jury vote. Most of my time was spent on watching Survivors on YouTube. Finally, I can now rest. I got so into Survivor China, Fiji, and Fans vs Favorites that I didn't allot more time for work (OMG! My funds are disappearing fast). I got this deep feeling inside that if I am a castaway, I do have a big chance. I can identify myself as Amanda (good girl-bad girl of China) and Yau-Man (surprisingly amazing). I will beat the guys on the challenges and I’ll be the back-biting-/trash-talking villain BWAHAHAHA, oh I so miss being evil! (the producers will love me much!)

I know right after the interview that I won't make it. But I was still hoping that is why I still prepared myself by watching too much Survivor but I think my preparation was too late. The preparation should have been before the audition. I know what I did wrong and I swear I will not do that again.

First wrong move was not to be the first half on the audition line. Waiting for 9 hrs to have my interview blew it. I really hate waiting. I didn’t prepare myself to wait that loooooong, I thought it would just be some hours.

Second, I should have work out weeks before the audition not just a day before. Really, they will tell you that looks doesn't matter in the show. But hey it's still show business, if you got the looks and the body, you will look great on cam and that will be enough to get viewers. The show is a chance for you to win big money but it will be your job to get them solid viewers and rake up the ratings. It's not only audition for Survivors but for future GMA/Q-TV shows as well.

Third, I should have eaten a lot and forgot about my belly. I realized hunger makes me emotional lol.

Fourth, was not to take off the board shorts. I was thinking the day before the audition and right before the interview that I will take off my board shorts in front of the panel (ala Cass of Pinoy Big Brother) but really, I forgot my plan when I got to the microphone. I know they really want me to show my bottom but I was too conscious and thought it will not matter as long as I say I will wear a bikini bottom at the show. If you don’t have it, you still need to flaunt it!

And lastly, my ultimate blow, I didn't stay on character. This is again due to the waiting and hunger. Instead of being the "Macho Sexy Gurl", I become the "Pa-tweetums Nag-Dedeleryo Gurl". I forgot to project and gave my confident smile! To be on the show, you need to have a very strong and unique character. I know I got that but I wasn't able to show it.

(Bittersweet) Well, at least I got to the top 100 of Cebu. It's a big accomplishment already beating out more than 11,000 people. I don’t think this is the year for me. If I would be away for the show itself, I will worry much leaving Huhnee all by himself in our (kinda-evil) community. And then I put on the castaway form that I’m going to bring Beery as my luxury item and there was no taking back!  I realized if I will, he won’t be able to survive the harsh environment. I love my obnoxious cute bear, he’s already aging fast, I don’t think the 3M is worth to have his life at risk (I know I’m crazy).

So watch out next year for the new improved Macho Sexy Gurl!

No-Bake Tahong

Baked Tahong (baked mussels) is Angelina's favorite food even though she doesn't like eating fish and seafoods. Since we do not have an oven, I made up this quick-no-bake-mouth-watering recipe that any damsel in distress can handle.

Ingredients:

1 caltex* of tahong or mussels (approx. 1/2 kilo)
1 cup kakang gata (coconut milk)
minced garlic
1 small onions
2 tbs oil/butter/margarine
grated cheese

Procedure:
1. Wash and clean the tahong by scraping the shells from any foreign object. I saw Martha Stewart cleaning tahongs by shaking them on a basin of water with cornstarch. The tahongs open up their shells and thus expel impurities.

2. Heat frying pan (but not too hot or the butter will burn). Add oil, butter or margarine.

3. Saute garlic and onions until aromatic.

4. Add tahong and mix well.

5. Cover the tahong for 3 mins or until shells open.

6. Pour in the coconut milk, grated cheese and stir. Sometimes, I cannot find coconut milk so I dissolve powdered milk in water hehehe. Cook until cheese melts.

Get your family and feast on the creamy and cheesy tahong you made!

*Caltex is an improvised dipper cut from used or empty Caltex galoon. And even if it's an empty Shell or whatever oil company container it is, we still call it "caltex". Tahongs and other commodities like salt are sometimes sold by "caltex" not by kilo (onli in da Philippines!).