Driver Cris Cartagenas voted off "Survivor Philippines"

As Survivor Philippines nears its end, driver Cris Cartagenas failed to make it into the Top 3 when he was voted out in tonight's Tribal Council. Cris got three votes versus his one vote against JC Tiuseco.

JC together with Rob Sy and Charis Yacapin complete the Top 3.

Cris, on the other hand, became the 15th person to be voted off and the seventh member of the Jury, which will decide who will win the three-million cash prize and the title of the first-ever Pinoy Sole Survivor. The other members of the Jury, as of now, are Jace Flores, Kiko Rustia, Vern Domingo, Marlon Carmen, Kaye Alipio, and Zita Ortiga.

It was actually JC who won the Immunity Challenge—a combination of their past challenges—but host Paolo Bediones made him choose between the Immunity necklace and a brand-new car. After giving it much of a thought, JC chose the car, which is the biggest reward or prize that Survivor Philippines has given to a castaway, aside from the P3 million that will be awarded to the Sole Survivor.

In exchange of the car, JC had to give the Immunity necklace to one of his tribemates in Chalam. As expected, even by Cris, JC gave it to his closest ally Rob.

JC won the Immunity challenge almost unopposed. After JC finished digging seven blocks in the sandpit, Rob, Cris, and Charis watched him complete the puzzle and raise his flag without any challenge.

During the Tribal Council, Rob reiterated that the Immunity necklace was given to him by JC without him asking. "Hindi ko hiningi, ibinigay sa akin," JC said with so much intensity that made his tribemates, particularly Cris, and the Jury laugh.

JC, on the other hand, was confident that despite giving the Immunity necklace to Rob, his alliance with Rob and Charis would keep him safe from being voted out. And his strategy obviously worked.

Although accused by Cris as "ampaw," Rob managed to win the Reward Challenge—obstacle course and firemaking—for the second time. When Paolo asked him to bring along one of his tribemates to a massage and spa reward, he chose JC, who never failed to tag him along also every time he wins Reward.

On Monday's episode of Survivor Philippines, JC, Rob, and Charis will have their final Immunity Challenge. The winner of this challenge gets to choose who will sit beside him/her in the Final Two.

Amazingly, Charis managed stay on the game this far despite her lack of physical prowess and not having a strong alliance in the beginning. But somehow, she managed to survive and now, she is the only remaining member of the old Jarakay tribe and the last woman standing.

If she wins the last Immunity Challenge, it will be interesting to know who she'll bring along in the Final Two. Will it be JC, who seems to be well liked by most of the Jury, or Rob, who have developed enemies among the Jury?

If Charis loses, it's almost guaranteed that JC and Rob will bring along one another to the Final Two because of their strong alliance and "trust" to each other. But will one of them betray the other in their quest for the three-million prize?

All these questions will be answered in the final week of Survivor Philippines.

Erwin Santiago