By Paolo R. Reyes
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–There we were, 35,000 feet above the air, aboard a bumpy flight bound for Singapore, when the throaty cockpit voice of Captain Culanculan came crackling through the speakers: “Passengers … please fasten your seatbelts … we are about to make our final descent.”

As we returned our seats to the upright position, while dolled-up attendants wheeled away Duty Free carts containing tins of tobacco (or “tow-bay-ko,” as the P.A. system so eloquently announced) and handsome boxes of hard liquor, it was easy to imagine how the very novelty of travel — the unfamiliar scent of foreign soil, the labyrinth of alien streets, the indecipherable accents of strangers — can easily be lost on those preoccupied with way more important things.

Like a fiercely competitive race around the world. Or earning a ticket to early retirement-ville by way of a brag-worthy cash prize.

Be it for $100,000 (or P5 million, more or less) or simply for the glory of being crowned as the winners of “The Amazing Race Asia,” no amount of anxiety-abating downers will ever dampen the adrenaline of those taking part in the riveting, Emmy Award-winning reality TV series.

Last week, during a star-spangled bash at the Indochine Forbidden City in Clark Quay, action-adventure channel AXN finally unveiled the spanking new lineup of teams that will be slugging it out in the “The Amazing Race Asia 2.”

With a television-friendly roster that includes a hearing-impaired Singaporean gym junkie, estranged siblings from Japan, desperate housewives (and ex-dancers) from Malaysia, hot young starlets from Hong Kong, and two Pinoy teams (including the brawny pair of Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez), the second season promises to be an intense, no-holds-barred scramble to the finish line.

Along the way, of course, expect your weekly dose of bratty tantrums, testosterone-induced clashes, and some serious flirting between the contestants.

“The teams in the second season picked themselves, they beat out 2,500 applications from all around Asia,” shared Michael McKay, the show’s executive producer and director, at Café del Mar in Siloso Beach, Sentosa. “In the first season, everyone was quite nice to each other. But this time around, the competition is much more intense. Any one of them could win.”

“To be honest, out of the Philippines alone, we could have picked seven teams,” McKay added. “They were all knockouts. Marc and Rovilson, hands down, had the best audition video we’ve ever seen. It was the same for [the other Filipino team] Terri and Henry Reed. The first 10 seconds of their video was already off the charts. I don’t know what it is about the Philippines, they’re some sort of reality TV factory!”

Full of tricky Road Blocks and deceptive Detours, “The Amazing Race Asia 2” is tipped to be another adrenaline-fueled odyssey through the heart of adventure. Witness these 10 feisty teams battle it out over language barriers and time constraints as they race through a multi-country arena spanning Asia and beyond.

Will the obstacles be too hot to handle? Or will they prevail upon the final Pit Stop, proud and patriotic, as the winners of the world’s most celebrated reality-adventure show? Tune in to AXN this November.

MARC NELSON & ROVI FERNANDEZ
Connecting flight: Best Buddies
Country of origin: Philippines

Declaration form: They lovingly slam each other with put downs and insults, all in the name of friendship. Both love a good laugh and share an equally wicked sense of humor. Though they both have day jobs as TV hosts, there is a slight difference. “I’ve got hair,” Marc shares.

TERRI & HENRY REED
Connecting flight: Married for 13 years
Country of origin: Philippines

Declaration form: Based in Cavite, the couple describes themselves as “borderline dysfunctional.” They talk, then argue, then smile, laugh, and talk, then argue again. “We plan to destroy our competitors by any legal means necessary,” Henry quips like a true US Navy officer.

DIANE DOUGLAS & ANN TAN
Connecting flight: Dancing Mums
Country of origin: Malaysia

Declaration form: They are the dancing, desperate housewives of Malaysia — desperate for a stress-free vacation away from their husbands and children, that is. Ann, 40, and Diane, 33, are long-time dance buddies that enjoy moving their feet to hip-hop and funk jazz.

PAULA TAYLOR & NATASHA MONKS
Connecting flight: Childhood Friends
Country of origin: Thailand

Declaration form: Both 24, childhood BFFs Paula and Taylor are a sight for sore eyes. Paula works as a VJ and movie actress in Bangkok. Natasha, a self-described “single girl” who likes “playing the field,” works for a mining company where she deals with, uh, explosives.

KINARYOSIH & BRETT MONEY
Connecting flight: Dating for two years
Country of origin: Indonesia

Declaration form: Based in Jakarta, these good-looking lovers have been described as “glamorous” and “beautiful.” 28-year-old model Kinaryosih (like Sting or Sitti, she has no last name) is a rising actress, while 26-year-old Brett (her boyfriend of two years) is a physiotherapist.

DAICHI & SAWAKA KAWASHIMA
Connecting flight: Siblings
Country of origin: Japan

Declaration form: Japan finally joins the cast through the mild-mannered pair of Daichi and Sawaki, estranged siblings who were only recently reunited. (Daichi married a European lass, resulting in a bloody family feud.) They are keen to put their differences behind them.

VANESSA & PAMELA CHONG
Connecting flight: Sisters
Country of origin: Malaysia

Declaration form: These fetching Eurasian siblings are more than meets the eye. Vanessa is an artist manager. Pamela is a professional dancer. They have perfected an evil laugh, which — when coupled with their identical voices — sounds freaky when they laugh in unison.

MONICA LO & EDWIN LO
Connecting flight: Dating for 10 years
Country of origin: Hong Kong

Declaration form: These high school sweethearts like to call themselves the “Rob and Amber” of the race. Edwin, 26, is an event organizer, while Monica, 28, is a former beauty queen and a popular actress with 17 Hong Kong movies and a slew of TV dramas under her belt.

COLLIN LOW & ADRIAN YAP
Connecting flight: Gym Buddies
Country of origin: Singapore

Declaration form: Having met at the gym only a few months before the race, Collin and Adrian became fast friends thanks to their passion for fitness. But they hold a secret: 27-year-old Adrian is deaf and relies on sign language to communicate with his partner.

AURELIA CHENG & SOPHIE CHENAT
Connecting flight: Ex-housemates
Country of origin: Hong Kong

Declaration form: Aurelia is a bubbly and outgoing model. Sophie is a serious and reflective writer. A love-hate relationship, by all accounts. Aurelia notes that Sophie is the “neatest person I ever met,” while she is the messiest person Sophie has ever come across. ’Nuff said.