Saida racing for new start

MANILA, Philippines - After many televiewers were left to wonder about her sudden exit from Eat, Bulaga! several months back, former EB Babe Saida Diola makes her presence felt once again as one of the contestants vying for the P2M prize on TV5’s The Amazing Race Philippines (TARP), the Pinoy version of the hit reality show The Amazing Race.

Saida says she is fully aware of the issues that cropped up following her permanent absence in the noontime show: That she was reportedly involved with Vic Sotto and another was due to jealousy.

“When I learned about the issues, I just laughed them off,” begins Saida during the show’s preview party. “Let’s assume na may pinanggalingan because Bossing and I were together in Eat, Bulaga! and it seemed there was closeness but it’s not right to say that he was only close to me, as he was close to everybody. Ganun talaga s’ya kabait pag kakilala mo na s’ya, tapos yun...”

How about the jealousy thing? “Ah ‘yun, ako di naman nagselos kasi mas nauna naman ako na-link ha,ha,ha,ha, hindi joke lang. Hindi naman ako nag-selos kasi I’m happy for them (without mentioning who she is referring to)...kay Bossing na magiging masaya na s’ya ulit.” 

It has been 10 months now since televiewers last saw her grooving to a beat. According to her, she resigned because she wanted an “extreme change in life.”

“I grew tired of dancing because I always thought during those times that I wasn’t improving, di ako gumagaling sumayaw. I told myself, perhaps dancing is not for me, that I can do more in other fields.”

Saida, one of the contestants of The Amazing Race Philippines: If given the chance, I want to try acting — Photos by VER PAULINO

After she resigned, the 24-year-old Saida found the time to relax and travel. She, too, went to John Robert Powers School for personality development. Her five-year stay with Eat, Bulaga! had been fruitful and happy, though, Saida still decided to leave the show “probably because as we get older, we want new things to happen.”

Thus, when her best friend Jervi broached to her the idea of joining in the reality show, Saida agreed right away. “I told myself this, perhaps, is God’s plan for me.”

Luckily, she and Jervi were chosen as one of the 11 competing teams of TARP whose endurance, intelligence and patience will be put to test as they race to the finish line. The teams need to hurdle the different challenges in each leg of the competition.

Asked about her Amazing experience, Saida shares that the show has become instrumental in conquering her weaknesses. The chance of discovering the beauty of the Philippines, she adds, is enough reason for every contestant to be thankful for having joined the race.

Together with host Derek Ramsay, the teams shot in different parts of the country for a month. It was stated in the press release that the Pinoy edition’s high-quality production value sees the collaboration of the Kapatid network’s passion for excellent Filipino programming and the expertise of the franchise’s executive producer and director Michael McKay. Having led The Amazing Race franchise to Emmy victory, McKay was commissioned by TV5 to direct the Filipino version’s production — ensuring the same adrenalin rush is present in TARP.

Does Saida’s stint in TARP also signal her return to the entertainment scene?

“That’s one of the reasons why I decided to join Amazing Race. I hope that my exposure serves as an avenue for a possible comeback. If given the chance, I want to try acting.”

The Amazing Race Philippines will premiere on Oct. 29 after Wil Time Bigtime.