Wacky missions, bone-chilling winter await ‘Running Man PH 2’ cast

One of Miguel Tanfelix’s biggest concerns upon joining the second season of “Running Man Philippines” was fitting into a group that already has an established bond and chemistry. As an introvert, initiating conversations is something the actor struggles with. “I get shy approaching new people. I saw the entire first season and I felt intimidated by how close they all are,” Miguel said at a recent press conference for the local adaptation of the long-running South Korean game show.

The Philippine version, which is coproduced buy GMA 7 and Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), features Mikael Daez, Glaiza de Castro, Lexi Gonzales, Kokoy de Santos, Buboy Villar and Angel Guardian. Miguel replaced Ruru Madrid, who couldn’t return for the show’s second season because of prior commitments.

“I just told myself, ‘Bahala na si Batman.’ No expectations. I just had to trust them and how they will accept me,” Miguel said.

Shooting lasted 43 days in South Korea. And at first, Miguel didn’t think he would be able to endure being away from home that long. “I was like, ‘My God, 43 days … Kaya kaya ‘yun?’ I will miss a lot of people—my friends, family. It was hard leaving the Philippines,” he said.

Fortunately, he said, his fellow “runners” were very welcoming and put him at ease in no time. “Once I managed to adjust and got to know each of them better, the days felt easy and flew by quickly. Before landing in Korea, I was thinking that I would be there just for work. But it didn’t feel like it,” Miguel said.

Guard down

If there’s one thing he’s thankful for, it was being surrounded by a zany, energetic bunch of people, which helped him break out of his shell. “I learned to laugh more. I’m always scared by the uncertainties in life. But sometimes, we have to be more open to things that can bring excitement to your life,” Miguel said.

This is a sentiment Glaiza resonated with. As someone who takes her craft seriously—sometimes, to a fault—she realized that it’s okay to let her guard down in front of the cameras from time to time. Not everything has to be done by the book.

“I’m too serious about work. And they know this. I get rattled when I’m not prepared. But being part of ‘Running Man’ broke that; it taught me that I can also go with the flow. The experience helped me loosen up and enjoy the moment and be present,” she said.

“Ang saya pala na ‘di ka masyadong seryoso sa buhay,” she added, laughing. “It’s okay to forget about your responsibilities as an adult for a while … People will get to see our individual characteristics and strengths; the crazy, weird sides that they don’t see on television.”

Dead of winter

“Running Man Philippines” airs Saturdays and Sundays starting May 11. The new installment had the runners playing outrageous games and going on demanding missions in various locations, including Seoul, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Mokpo and Jeju Island. Viewers can also expect appearances from celebrity guests Sandara Park, Nancy of Momoland, Haha of “Running Man Korea” and Josh Cullen of SB19.

To make things even more challenging, filming was done in the dead of winter.

“It wasn’t easy, especially for some of us who had never experienced winter. We were brought to a place where it was -22 °C. It didn’t matter how much layering you did—you would still get cold. We survived on heat packs. But we just tried to enjoy ourselves with the missions. Before long, we had forgotten how cold it was,” Angel said.

“I get cold just being in an air-conditioned room. So, I felt like I was in a freezer in some of the challenges,” Buboy said. “But I just told myself that this experience is something I can only have in this show.”

The games and missions—with such themes as “Winter Olympics,” haunted school, Korean military training, beauty pageant, and prison break—kept everyone on their toes.

Curve ball

Just when they thought they were about to do something physically taxing, they would get thrown a curve ball that tested their mental and emotional limits instead. “The challenges this time were more creative and diverse,” Mikael said.

The military-themed mission they did near the Korean Demilitarized Zone—the border barrier separating North and South Korea—was especially memorable for Lexi.

“It was physically demanding. But it also showed the heartwarming part of what we do in the show,” she said.

Angel, who was hailed “Ultimate Runner” in Season 1, made sure to enjoy herself more this time around—but without sacrificing competitiveness. “Last season, I came in wanting to give it my all. But now I have a different mindset. Of course, you still have to give your best for the audience. But I also want to show that I’m enjoying myself,” she said.

But more than the competition, it’s the friendship and the dynamics among the runners, Mikael said, that ultimately makes the show compelling. “I think our friendship shows from the teasers alone. And that’s a big thing in how the missions develop,” he said.

Hopefully, people can feel the closeness we have built and make them realize that it’s fun to be a kid again,” Glaiza added.