Pinay Raiderette making waves in the Bay Area

BY ARNEL SAN PEDRO
CORRESPONDENT

Aubrey Aquino, who is related to the Aquino political clan wanted to be a �role model.� �I want the youth to see themselves in me.� Catch Aubrey at the ESPN�s reality show �Beg, Borrow and Deal� which will run until November. (Photo by raiderdrive.com)

SAN JOSE, Ca. - �TRAFFIC� literally becomes her.

This after twenty-five year old traffic reporter Aubrey Anne Aquino of NBC 3 on KNTV took the road less traveled by having joined the reality show "Beg, Borrow & Deal� and immersed in the action-packed and tortuous route from East Coast to West Coast for 30 grueling days - without money, credit cards or other resources except for their licenses and clothes they are wearing. The show which premiered on September 17 at ESPN will have its reruns until November 5.

Aubrey, which is related to the Aquino political clans of Tarlac and the Makabulos, said the back-breaking reality show adventure started at the Times Square in New York and ended at Alcatraz, in San Francisco. The two teams, each with four individuals (two boys and two girls) and strangers to each other raced to complete 10 tasks among a list of 40 tasks.

Among the tasks described as comical and hilarious included: �Giving a bath to any college mascot lasting at least 20 seconds - must be in uniform....or live animal� or �Play any state governor in a game of twister in his office.�

Although permitted to wear a watch, the two teams were not allowed to have jewelry, including rings, necklaces or bracelets, personal effects such as toiletries or personal hygiene products, food or other nutritional items or cell phones, pagers or other communication devices.

�The hardest part of the �reality show� was getting along with other people because it was really hard to make decisions and they were complete strangers,� said Aubrey who teamed up with Katie and Julian, both of West Hollywood, Ca. and Tony, of Waterbury, Connecticut.

Aubrey, however, said that this is the type of game she wants, being on teams with other people for support.

Aubrey was the only Asian with Julian the only African American in the �reality show� and the team�s diversity caught the attention of the people in the remotest places they had traveled. �In some places, there are no Filams and they thought I�m Chinese.�

�I definitely thought that finding a mascot would be easy,� according to Aubrey saying that �to go out in the wild and catch a lobster or a fish� would be next to impossible. �Fishing and wild life activities aren�t something I�m exactly good at.�

Through their ordeal, Aubrey said she missed the comfort of her soft bed. �There were times when I wanted to quit, when I missed my mom. I didn�t even have a toothbrush, a contact solution. There are so many things you don�t think about. I did have a hair tie, but it broke on me. I was scrounging around looking for rubber band, little comforts like that you just don�t think about that.�

�Sometimes I would say, �Why I am doing this to myself?� I wanted an adventure; I wanted to play the game. When it got rough I�d say, �this is a game and I�m playing it but this isn�t my life.� In real life I have a car and enough money to pay for my own food. To be totally dependent on strangers was really hard. It wasn�t anything like I expected; it was really rough,� Aubrey said.

For all her travails, Aubrey, probably the first Filipino American to have joined a reality show said the adventure was a �unique experience.� �I was the only Asian cast member and you don�t see a lot of them in US. I was able to represent the Filipino Americans because I�m from the Bay Area.�

Aubrey who was born in Santa Clara, finished her BS in Radio/TV Journalism and a minor in Humanities at the San Jose State University in May 1998. She has worked on the campus newscast at SJSU, which aired on PBS station KTEH, while pursuing her studies. She also worked as a TV writer/producer for a local station in Sacramento while she danced for the Sacramento Kings and for a time worked as an anchor/reporter in southern Oregon.

She got back home after making the Raiderette squad for the second time that eventually led her to her job at NBC 3.

On being a Filipina, Aubrey said �I am proud of my Filipino heritage. I am not ashamed of it� with a winsome smile that would melt the hearts of anyone.

Aubrey said she wanted to be a role model and to show the world that Filams can have an �impact� in the community. �We have a place here and we should not be ashamed where we came from.�

For all and sundry, Aubrey is curving her name in the firmament of success. As an aspiring broadcaster, she was taking the steps of her lolo Claudio Aquino�s cousin - the late senator Ninoy Aquino, a former reporter of the pre-Martial Law Manila Times and her aunt Kris Aquino, who dabbled as actress and game show host.

Like the proverbial duck to water, Aubrey is now basking in the world of broadcast journalism and TV shows.

Aubrey was able to meet Ninoy in San Francisco just before he was gunned down at the old Manila International Airport (MIA) upon his arrival from US. �I remember how my parents felt. Dad cares for the Filipino people and he tries to (get) involve as much as he can. I�ve grown up with that awareness. It is important to us.�

�Who is this man (Ninoy), he seemed so important?,� asked Aubrey as a little girl.

Aubrey exhorts the Filam youths to follow their dreams to become successful in life. �If you have dreams hold on to them and keep pushing because it will happen. If you want it enough it will happen for you.� �I want to be a role model. I�m hoping that younger people can see themselves in me.�

Aubrey is a genuine Raiderette, a group of fine young women imbued with substance and finesse. The FilAm community particularly the Kapampangans in the Bay Area are proud of this another Aquino girl in their midst.

With her credentials, she could easily breeze into the Philippines showbusiness and broadcasting world.