Survivor Philippines has just begun and one castaway has already found their torch snuffed.  In last weeks episode the group was divided into three tribes: Tangdang, Kalabaw and Matsing.  Each of these tribes given a past contestant who was forced to leave the game due to medical conditions: Mike Skupin, Jonathan Penner and Russell Swan.
In this first episode Tangdang seemed to get off to a very good start.  They worked well together at camp and almost came in first in the immunity challenge.  The new players all seem to really admire Mike and the young group of RC, Pete and Abi-Maria reached out to him hoping to form an alliance.  While this happened Mike really wanted to form an alliance with teen movie star Lisa Welchel.
The fact that Lisa is on this season is actually interesting to me.  Although I have never heard of her in my life and the fact that only a couple castaways know who she is is quite interesting.  She seems like a good fit for the show to play the older woman on the tribe.  In my opinion I can see her going very far in the game.  Not only because she has been promoted for being on the show this last month but because she has a very trusting personality and seems to be weaker in the challenges that others will see her to be the perfect person to bring to the end with them.  My bet is that she will wow the viewers and make it deep into the game with Mike.
Kalabaw in my opinion was rather boring on the first episode.  The only players that seemed to do anything were Penner, Dawson and former MLB player Jeff Kent.  Penner was predictable and searched for the hidden immunity idol almost immediately.  He was never able to actually find it but Dawson was the one to catch on to the fact that Jeff is a former MLB player.  Instead of doing what most would do, she decided to keep this important information in her back pocket incase she may need to make a deal with Jeff or turn everybody else against him.

Matsing was the entertaining tribe of this episode.  Russell right of the bat said he did not want to be the leader of the tribe but two minutes later he starts telling everybody what to do. This left both the viewers and the other castaways confused.  Russell, if you don't want to be the leader then shut up!  Later on he still could not keep his mouth shut when he told everybody what to do in the challenge.  Stupidly, after Angie tells him she sucks at puzzles he makes her in charge of the puzzle.  After Zane admits to quitting smoking the day before coming out here, Russell puts him in charge of the running portion.  Then he puts the older woman of the tribe, Denise, in charge of pulling out a 200 lbs. box out of the ocean!  Where the heck is Russell's logic?  Did he lose that when he almost died in Samoa?  Due to Russell's dumb decisions, his tribe didn't even come close to winning.
At camp that day, Denise and Malcolm formed a strong alliance that seems unshifting.  Zane also made an alliance with every single player on his tribe.  I know stupid right?  Maybe Russell is not the dumbest guy on his tribe.  After asking his tribe to vote him off, Zane tried to persuade the group to blindside Russell.  Seems very smart at the moment until he tells them that Russell has the idol (which he doesn't).

At tribal that night, out of paranoia Zane finds himself becoming the first person voted out this season 5-1.
Now for my thoughts that are going to happen next!
Rumors have said that the WHOLE Tangdang tribe will make it to the merge!
For Kalabaw, I'm feeling Penner will become the leader of his tribe along with Jeff Kent by his side.  They will most likely favor Carter for being the other guy so first boot from Kalabaw will be either Katie, Dana or Dawson.  Dawson seems like a very strong strategist though which Penner might see either as dangerous or helpful for later on.

Matsing NEEDS to pull their act together.  My advice is to next time get rid of Russell!  The Angie, Roxy and Denise need to take lead from Malcolm and they might be able to make it to the merge as a group of four.  Unfortunately though they are clearly the weakest tribe and my guess is Malcolm and Denise will stick together.  It then becomes a competition between Angie and Roxy to see which gets closest with them two.  From what I have heard sounds like Angie will figure that out in episode two.  Apparently Angie makes moves on Malcolm!  Can't wait to see!