PNS — MICHELLE Madrigal looks so thin and dark at the launch of “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown.” She also showed us her scars on her arms and legs. “Insect bites ito na nakakamot ko unconsciously while I’m asleep,” she says. “Pati kasi langaw du’n sa island, nangangagat, not just the mosquitoes. Pumayat ako kasi wala kaming makain. Nanghuhuli lang kami ng crabs at clams sa mangrove. Kung minsan, we get rice pero walang ulam. I felt like ‘yung mga batang pulubi ng may dumating na boatmen sa isla, naghihingi ako ng slice of bread. Wala rin kaming higaan kundi damo. Matindi sikat ng araw, biglang babagyo. Binabaha pa ‘yung damong higaan namin so natutulog akong nakaupo. Walang ligo, walang toothbrush. May multo rin sa island kasi na-tsunami na ‘yun, may barkong lumubog na doon napunta ang bodies ng passengers. So sa gabi, you’d hear voices whispering pero wala namang tao. But no regrets, I enjoyed the experience. Tuwing pinanghihinaan ako ng loob, iniisip ko yung P3 milyong premyo.”
Did she know her boyfriend Jon Hall will also be a castaway? “No. Lahat kasi, dapat secret. I didn’t know we both got invited to audition. Nu’ng malapit na kaming umalis, du’n lang namin nalamang pareho kaming kasali kasi nagpapaalam kami sa isa’t isa. Du’n sa island kami talaga naging close, kasi before that exclusively dating lang kami.”
Aubrey Miles, Jon’s ex, is also a castaway. “No problem kasi 2003 pa sila nag-on at may asawa na si Aubrey. Kami nga magkatabi sa plane at nagkukuwentuhan kami.”
But we heard she and Aubrey had a fight in the island? Is it because of Jon? “Abangan nyo na lang what happened. Di puedeng ikuwento. Di naman ma-avoid ang misunderstandings. Pero anuman ‘yun, naiwan na ‘yun sa island at okay na kaming lahat pagbalik dito sa Manila.”