HOST Derek Ramsay (center) with the 11 teams racing for the R2-million grand prize of ‘The Amazing Race Philippines.’

We witnessed the grand launch of TV5’s “The Amazing Race Philippines (TARP)” last Oct. 18 at Something Fishy Seafood Restaurant in Eastwood City. The show’s host, actor and sportsman Derek Ramsay, rappelled from an eight-story building prior to the launch.

Presented at the presscon were the 11 teams (composed of interesting mix of characters) who competed for the R2 million in the Filipino edition of the world’s most awarded and most successful reality show, “The Amazing Race (TAR).”

They are: Celebrity best friends LJ Moreno and CJ Jarabata, mag-bayaw Dayal Chowdary Jr. and Fausto Reyes, gym buddies Marc Duñgo and Kat Tan, amigas Jervi Lisaba and Saida Diola, reunited friends Sheena Vera Cruz and Gee “Speedy” Canlas, Alabang housewives Pam Spella and Vanessa Ishitani, mag-ama Ed and Angel Movido, mag-kumpare Boom Vergara and Cheng Enriquez, football brothers Armand and Anton del Rosario, bombshells Dani Castano and Mish Van Ruyven, and dating couple Crystel Castro and Mykey Lacson.

Perhaps one of the most hardworking actors today, Derek is back on TARP after hosting the London 2012 Olympics in July for TV5 and AKTV. Unknown to the public, Derek and the TARP team secretly shot in different parts of the country for a full month.

A self-confessed TAR fanatic himself, Derek said: “If there’s anything I can take away from this experience, it’s that I know firsthand what the teams had to do to win the R2 million. There were also times while filming that I could not help but stop and appreciate just how amazing the Philippines is. No wonder everything is more fun here.”

Touted as Kapatid Network’s most ambitious reality show to date, “The Amazing Race Philippines” starts primetime domination today, Oct. 29, after “Wil Time Bigtime” and Saturdays after “Talentadong Pinoy Worldwide” on TV5. The Kapatid network teamed up with ActiveTV, the same company behind the Emmy-nominated and two-time Asian TV Awards winner “The Amazing Race Asia,” for the actual production of “Amazing Race Philippines.”

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Baby Femme San Pedro Tops 2012 Facebook Liking Tilt

Ona Angela Femme Roxas San Pedro recently won the 2012 A Baby’s Corner Facebook Photo Liking Contest conducted by A Baby’s Corner Philippines, a leading online retailer of baby’s clothes and apparel based in Cagayan de Oro City.

With 3,370 valid likes, the seven-month-old Baby Femme topped the field of 134 participants from all over the country.

She received assorted baby’s items and accessories as prizes, including clothes and apparel from A Baby’s Corner catalog.

Baby Femme is the daughter of Oscar Philip “Ice” Z. San Pedro II, a training professional and public relations practitioner, and Maria Ana Roxas, a teacher by profession.

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Villa Medica Opens Philippine Office

Here is good news for those who wish to undergo Fresh Cell Therapy (indicated for anti-aging and rejuvenation and cure of various diseases): Villa Medica, the leading provider of Fresh Cell Therapy (FCT) is set to open its Asia office in the Philippines. In fact, it has registered its presence in the country with the incorporation of Villa Medica Asia Inc. with Janise Tang Piap as Country Manager-Philippines.

Through its state-of-the-art procedures, Villa Medica has proven itself a leader in preventive health care, rejuvenation and revitalization. Among prominent Filipino celebrities who’ve benefited from their procedures include former President  Joseph Estrada and former First Lady now Rep. Imelda R. Marcos.

Led by CEO Niwat Kittichaiwong and Group Managing Director Michael Loh, Villa Medica’s flagship clinic in Edenkoben, Germany is one of the few institutions in the world approved to conduct FCT.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 29, go to “King of Talk” Boy Abunda, PPL’s Angelika dela Cruz, Digna Santiago, Maridel Villavicencio, Louie Kierulf, Mrs. Flor Salvador, Laarni Laxamana, Linda Luciano, Sessy Garcia, Atty. Apple Daza, Alberto Magabo, Roda S. Azarcon, Edna Buenaventura, Jeannette Reyes, photog Lorna Llanes, Zenie Batino, Bang Hyun Soo, David Jude Sta. Ana, Filipina Diga, Annalyn Jusay of Pagcor, Shirley Pua, Marcelo “Buboy” Co, and Manual Chua of Star Magic… Belated b-day greetings to Anne Jhelu “Allure” Padua (Oct. 27) and Ma. Fatima Ramos Dumalagan (Oct. 28)… Happy wedding anniversary to Elmer and Cora Vizconde; K.B. Balasubramanian and Doris Velasco; and Boyet and Linda Pasco…