(Published Aug. 2, PDI-News)
By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Contributor
“You can never be too small to dream big.”
Jonathan Allen Yabut, the winner of the first season of “The
Apprentice Asia,” posted this comment on his Facebook page Thursday morning,
hours after his victory was announced in the final episode of the reality show
that aired on cable channel AXN.
Yabut, an Economics graduate of the University of the Philippines ,
bested 11 other contestants from different Asian countries.
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| Jonathan Yabut and Celina Le Neindre (Photo by Riz Pulumbarit) |
The 27-year-old product manager won a yearlong
apprenticeship under AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes, the show’s “Donald
Trump.”
“Looking forward [to] my first day with the big boss, Mr.
Tony Fernandes,” Yabut said in the same post. “Got 14 days to go before my
first day and I’m so excited!”
In the season finale, Fernandes chose Yabut over Andrea Loh
Ern-Yu, a Singaporean lawyer.
Mark Lankester, CEO of Tune Hotels and one of the show’s
advisers, praised Yabut for his conduct during a charity auction organized for
AirAsia Foundation, which was shown in the same episode.
During the final deliberation, Fernandes said that choosing
between the last two contenders was difficult.
“But on the balance of everything that has been put in front
of me, seeing you perform, hearing your passion … Jonathan Yabut, you’re
hired,” Fernandes said.
“The win is for the
He is likewise proud to have been pitted against tough
contenders. “I think that aside from Andrea, both Sam (Nallaraj, from India )
and Alex (Bauduin, from China )
could’ve been [my last competitor]. They were very deserving,” Yabut said.
Other Filipino participant
The other Filipino participant, Celina Le Neindre, was
eliminated in the seventh episode. But Yabut was grateful for her presence,
even when they competed with each other during certain tasks.
“Celina is the epitome of beauty and brains,” he said.
“She’s very strong, she’s a go-getter. Her being a Davaoeño came into play.
She’s a very strong and creative person.”
Le Neindre, a commercial model-turned-food and beverage
consultant, was ecstatic about Yabut’s victory.
“I’m absolutely proud, not just because he’s Filipino,” she
told the Inquirer in a separate phone interview. “I’m proud of his
accomplishments. I share [the victory]. It’s unique to be able to contribute to
the success of Filipinos. It’s amazing… he always credited me for the hard work
I did.”
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| Jonathan Yabut (Photo by Riz Pulumbarit) |
The first season of “The Apprentice Asia,” an original
production of Sony Pictures Television, ran for 11 episodes. Both Le Neindre
and Yabut were thankful to have been chosen to participate.
“It’s transformed me in many ways,” Le Neindre said. “I’ve
learned so much. I think I’m a better-rounded person now. I have more drive and
passion. I’m definitely going in that direction. It was a good opportunity to
dream big.”
“It’s been 11 weeks of tasks,” Yabut said of the “tough”
competition. “I was asked, would I do it again? No! It’s like 10 stressful
years of corporate challenges compressed in 11 weeks.”
Yabut is very much appreciative of the experience and the
show’s Asian viewers: “I think it’s nice that [apart from singing tilts],
there’s a show like ‘Apprentice Asia’ and audiences have the social maturity to
watch such an inspiring and different show.”
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