Pinoy Fear Factor Updates: October 2008

LJ Moreno - The daredevil chick

>> Thursday, October 30, 2008

LJ Moreno

Age: 27

Origin: Marikina

Occupation: Preschool teacher, actress

Greatest fear/s: Deep water, cockroach

After appearing in TV commercials and gracing magazine pages at a young age, LJ ventured into acting on TV and movies. But she decided to leave behind a stable showbiz career to focus on other things that are also important to her. When her parents got separated and her mother migrated to the US, LJ became a sister and mother to her younger siblings. While doing her responsibility to her family, she finished a degree in early childhood education

LJ tried to live a different life away from the limelight. During this time she grew fond of competitive sports like racing, wakeboarding, and the likes. Given all the physical and emotional challenges she had gone through, LJ believes that she has what it takes to be the first El Ultimo Participante of Pinoy Fear Factor: Argentina, South America.

Phoemela Barranda - The glam goddess

Phem Barranda

Age: 27

Origin: Parañaque

Occupation: TV host, model, actress

Greatest fear/s: snakes, insects

Phem is the beautiful face that brings the latest entertainment news every night on TV Patrol World and every Sunday afternoon on The Buzz. This sexy and glamorous gal has graced the covers of various magazines and billboards. But Phem doesn’t want to be known as just a mere ‘celebrity’ because she believes she has more to offer beyond her attractive face and body.

Many don’t know that Phem never had an easy life growing up. She was born in a ‘second’ family, and in the Philippine setting, people tend to have unfair judgment to children who doesn’t belong in a ‘normal’ family.

Phem believes that Pinoy Fear Factor is her chance to break the ‘usual celebrity’ image people put on her. She is ready to get down and dirty to become the first El Ultimo Participante.

Marion dela Cruz - The Austrian balikbayan

Marion dela Cruz

Age: 21

Origin: Austria/Valenzuela City

Occupation: Student

Greatest fear/s: Heights

Marion’s father was a driver in an embassy while his mother was a cleaning lady in another embassy. He was born in Vienna and spent most of his life in Austria. Nevertheless, his parents managed to teach him to speak Tagalog and live the good Filipino values. Marion met a lot of women in Vienna, but never had a serious relationship with any of them. He said he still prefers the conservative Filipinas over the liberated Austrians.

Marion was a good soccer player but later became unfit to play any sport after getting into lots of vices and troubles. He frequently got into fights because of racism and would often drink and smoke. When his parents couldn’t handle him anymore, he was sent to the Philippines to live with his grandmother.

Starting a new life in the Philippines was challenging at first for Marion. But because of his lola, he got used to doing lots of households chores and going to the palengke. Now, Marion is up for a much greater challenge as a Participante of Pinoy Fear Factor. He is ready to face whatever kind of challenge to win the top prize so he can convince his parents to live with him here in the Philippines.

Janna Dominguez - ang flawless girl ng Dagat-Dagatan

Janna Dominguez

Age: 18

Origin: Dagat-dagatan, Malabon/Quezon City

Occupation: TV host, sales agent

Greatest fear/s: spiders, closed spaces

Janna looks like an actress from a Koreanovela on television. But in her case, the drama of her life story is real. Janna’s biological mother left her and is now living a good life in Japan. Her father married a 25-year old woman who not only became her step-mother but also her best friend. Since life is still hard for their family, her father continues to work in a construction in Japan.

Dreaming to provide the best for her family and an enjoyable retirement for her father, Janna is ready to take on any opportunity and challenge. She is determined to conquer Pinoy Fear Factor and write a better story for her life.

Ram Sagad - the basketball hunk

Ram Sagad

Age: 23

Origin: Quezon City

Occupation: Model, student, ex-basketball player

Greatest fear/s: Heights, unusual and exotic edibles

Ram considers basketball as his first and greatest love. He was playing for NCAA but had to let go when he felt that he wasn’t being given the recognition he deserves. It was difficult for Ram not to be able to play, but he was happy with his choice to keep his self-confidence.

After leaving the court, this six-plus footer figured he was too young to take life seriously. He devoted his time to his family, school, playing video games, and going to bars with friends. But Ram decided to go on a different kind of adventure by joining Pinoy Fear Factor. Going to Argentina was the first time he was separated from his family and from the things he loved. He hopes that his athletic background will give him the advantage in facing his fears, like heights and eating exotic edibles, and winning the two million pesos and the brand new house and lot for his family.

Elmer - ang promdi veterinarian

Elmer Felix

Age: 25

Origin: Pampanga

Occupation: Veterinarian, medical representative

Greatest fear/s: drowning, deep water, unusual and exotic edibles

Elmer could still recall how he struggled for the professional board exam to get his license. He failed twice in the exam, but instead of giving up, he decided to pursue with his dreams. Elmer eventually passed on his third try and got his license as a veterinarian.

Underneath the average looks of this Kapampangan is a competitive and persistent spirit. A few years ago, Elmer used to be very skinny. He decided to hit the gym and put on some muscles for more extra pogi points. After years of religiously working out five times a week, Elmer now has the body of a hunk.

Elmer is ready to once again prove that persistence is the key to success. He is prepared to take on any challenge and add another title to his name: El Ultimo Participante of Pinoy Fear Factor.

Gail - si Ms. Body Beautiful

Gail Nicolas

Age: 25

Origin: Quezon City

Occupation: TV, commercial, and ramp model; nail artist

Greatest fear/s: heights, dark places

As the winner of Mossimo Bikini Summit 2007, Gail is undoubtedly one hot woman. She has graced numerous TV commercials and fashion shows. Her beauty, charm, and physique are her tools as the breadwinner of their family. When Gail was 17, her father’s relatives forced them out of their house, and not long after, her father passed away. Since then she has assumed the responsibility to provide for her family, and she even helped her older brother finish school.

Gail used to play volleyball in college. She believes that being athletic is her edge in conquering all the challenges in Pinoy Fear Factor.

Jommy - ang alaskador model

Jommy Teotico

Age: 24

Origin: Manila

Occupation: Model

Greatest fear/s: cockroach, feeding on insects

Jommy grew up in the streets of Manila and made fun of his classmates and cracked a lot of jokes. He liked making people laugh. He was an easy-going person who frequently got whatever he wanted, especially the girls. Jommy was called an ‘alaskador’ and ‘playboy’ by his peers.

But fate played a funny trick on him when, after getting drunk, he woke up in bed with a married woman beside him. Although he was sure nothing happened, the woman’s relatives bea him senseless. From then on, Jommy valued his second chance at life and vowed to change. He is no longer the known playboy but Jommy kept his humorous side with him.

Jommy used his talent in making people laugh to his advantage during the contest. Watch out for his wise cracks to distract the other Participantes. For his family, Jommy is determined to emerge as the first El Ultimo Participante of Pinoy Fear Factor.

RJ - ang kargador Tondo dad

Bernabe ‘RJ’ Calipus Jr.

Age: 20

Origin: Parola, Tondo

Occupation: kargador

Greatest fear/s: heights

RJ was born from a Filipina woman and a French man. However, he never met his biological parents. His mother had him adopted because she can no longer support him. RJ then lived a fast-paced life as a Tondo boy. He became a father at a tender age of 17, and just a few months ago, his partner gave birth to their second child.

Although RJ is ready to face any difficulty, he could not bear to see his daughters go hungry or sick. That is why he is willing to take on any job just to make a decent living. But since he only finished second year in high school, he had no other choice but to work as a wharf porter and ‘kargador’ in Divisoria. RJ also takes automotive classes at night.

RJ hopes to win the top prize for the sake of his family. Joining Pinoy Fear Factor gives him a lot of ‘first times’ in his life: his first time to ride a plane, first time to leave the country, and first time to be seen on television. Will he become the first El Ultimo Participante?

Manuel - the struggling businessman

Manuel Chua Jr.

Age: 27

Origin: Cabanatuan City

Occupation: Self-employed

Greatest fear/s: failure, crocodiles

Before becoming the good son and an able father to a four-year old daughter, Manuel first had his share of troubles. He used to have a lot of vices, being a womanizer and a speed junkie. After a series of mistakes and car accidents, Manuel was blessed with a daughter from his current partner. From then on, he promised to work hard to be a good provider to his daughter instead of leaving everything up to his partner who is a lawyer and is from a well-to-do family.

Manuel is running an appliance store business which he inherited from his father. They used to have 36 store branches all over Luzon. But when his father died of liver cirrhosis, they were left with just three stores. Now, Manuel continues to struggle to keep their family business afloat for the sake of his family. He aims to win the two million pesos and house and lot from Pinoy Fear Factor which he will save their business and to give his daughter a bright future.