MissBackpacker

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Bien and I went to Greenhills to buy the attire requirement for the taping. No sleeveless, denims, and sneakers. White, Black, Gray, and Dark Blue colors are not allowed as well. My initial plan was to buy slacks and blouses as per advised of MeriAn. We had a hard time looking for a slacks that would fit me so switched to plan B: Dresses!

Wasn't able to wear the pink dress.

After raiding Greenhills, we had our lunch at TokyoTokyo and a burger from Brothers Burger. As we were about to go back inside the center to look for a photocopying machine, a cop, yes a cop, yelled "Huy, ano yan?!?" referring to what's inside our bulky daypacks. Just imagine, we already were inspected by the guard at the entrance for him to yell like that. Talk about power trip. Effing cops! Never liked one since I was born.

Anyway, Bien dropped me off in ABS-CBN's Mother Ignacia main gate where the meeting place was. At 1:45, the event marshalls let us (contestants) in after checking the contents of our bags. The staff was expecting to finish three episodes that day. At the studio, contestants immediately harried themselves to the dressing room as if they knew what to do. But hey, they really did know what to do! And here's the score why.

We were 40 participants to be exact, with one as the defending champ for November 26 episode. Five were reserved players, and I was a part of them. Most of the other 35 players have gone thru the process of being a reserved player so, inde yun ang first time na pumunta sila for the taping. Confusing?

Eto Tagalugin ko. Sa isang game, 40 hopefuls ang isasalang sa set. Via electronic raffle, lima lang ang mapipili kung walang defending champion. Kung meron, apat lang. Yung matitira would have to wait for the next game hanggang sa matawag sila. Hence, kung hindi matawag name mo, babalik at babalik ka. Ang use ng reserved player: sa isang game, apat ang matatanggal (or more depende kung me matanggal sa unang round pa lang), sya yung papalit dun sa mga mawawala for the next game. Magulo pa rin? Bahala na kayo! Haha

Ayun, reserved player ako for the first two episodes. Third episode, I intended not to change dress since I wasn't informed yet that I would be playing. Ann, one of the reserved players, lent me a blazer to cover my top. Before I even went out of the dressing room, Mr. Joey Paez asked me to remove the blazer because I would be provided with a number in the studio. Sayang yung pink dress inde ko nasuot! I was given number 21 and became a part of the 40 hopefuls. It was my first time to be there, unlike others, so I was very lucky to be called by Chairman Edu Manzano and answered the question for Round 1. Rest is history. Just realized one thing after the game, I am brave.

Bawal camera pero pasaway ako!

And btw, I have given Ya Chang a new name. Watch Pilipinas, Game KNB? December 1, 2008 episode and find out what it is.

* Pics here

Yeyz! Game na game na ako!

"Congrats, Kapamilya! We are pleased to inform u that you've met Pilipinas, Game KNB? eligibility requirements & you are scheduled to PLAY tom Thursday, November 27; 2PM calltime. Check ur guide sheet 4 requirements & procedures. Reply wid FULL NAME & PLEASE COME ON TIME! CU & Good Luck! - JOEY PAEZ:-)" says the text message I received from the show's producer.

It was just a month ago when Ms. Mae, one of our HR representatives in HTMT, made a comment that my next stop would be the television after a picture of me with my name on it got published in Manila Bulletin, October 12, 2008 ish. I don't have a scanner hence this is the closest and clearest I could show you.

Manila Bulletin, Classified Ads Section (October 12, 2008)

Win or lose, I'll still get to play in national television at primetime pa! Break a leg Budiday!

CANON IXUS 80 IS

Dahil nga inde ako makaisip ng magandang welcome post, eto na lang. Kakatuwa lang kasi I was at ABS-CBN last Wednesday. HINDI. Wala ako balak mag-artista o sumali sa Wowowee. I was there for a screening exam for Pilipinas, Game KNB?

To exactly quote the text I received, "Hi, this is Aida Gonzales of Pilipinas, Game KNB? & u have been pre-selected via electronic raffle thru ABSCBN Interactive. You're scheduled 4 a SCREENING EXAM Tom Wednesday NOVEMBER 19, 10am.please proceed at Center road gate Mo.Ignacia st., Q.C. Pls bring valid ID's and ballpen. reply with ur full name to CONFIRM ATTENDANCE.Thank u very much."

At first kala ko joke time lang kasi private number yung nag-text but I still deliberately went to ABS and took my chance. Ayun, di naman pala sya bogus.

Was there since 9:30 and waited until 11 something before the exam begun. And then blood shed everywhere. NOSEBLEED MEN!!! Sa actual na game di ba questions seem easy. The screening was a bit tough. Lemme give you some of the questions.

1. Anong masakit sayo kung meron kang AHITO? (Don't even know if I spelled it right.)
2. Saan makikita ang lugar na Hague?
3. Sino ang amo ng pet na si Jaguar?

I was like, WTF?!? I joined Game KNB? and not Battle of the Brains! Pero swerte ko, I was one of the 26 out of 70+ hopefuls to pass the first exam. Second set was even harder. Inde ko na nga mataandaan yung mga question kasi bukod sa sobrang ginaw sa loob ng studio, blanko na yung utak ko.

Ayun, fun experience. I've been wanting to join that show since college. Nagulat lang talaga ako sa text kasi I wasn't expecting it and it's been ages since I last registered.

Anyway, one thing I've realized is that makikita mo na marami talagang umaasa sa luck, people from different classes. Me mukang katulong (no offense meant), me mga galing sa probinsya, me naka-DM's, me MILF (LOL), me geek squad at me Average Joe rin. Yung iba run, according to their stories, eh ilang ulit na sila sa Game KNB pero inde pumapasa ng first set. Di ba, the effort.

Yung passers ng second set would have to wait for a call or text from the producers. If I won't get any message from them within the next two weeks, err, TRY AGAIN. Fingers crossed. Sana makuha ako as studio player. Kung di man, at least naranasan ko kung pano yung ginagawa ng iba.