Ryan back on the wheel of ‘only cab that pays’
Ryan Agoncillo is not playing any role when people see him wearing a blue driver’s suit, maneuvering a taxi cab and plying the busy streets of Manila.
Ryan is back anew as driver-host of the second season of Cash
Cab Philippines, the local version of Singapore’s Cash Cab Asia. The first season was obviously a primetime hit, that’s why AXN produced a second season that will feature some celebrities as contestants.
Airing every Thursday night on AXN, Cash Cab Philippines invariably makes passengers as contestants in an on-the-spot game show that happens on the road and right inside a cab.
Ryan is the “manong driver” of the only cab in the Philippines that pays its passengers. That’s the challenging line he says as a come-on to get into his cab. The cab is tailor-made for passengers who are given a chance to win money while on the road. Yes, “the only cab that pays” its passengers.
Ryan picks up passengers and offers to bring them to their desired destination. However, they must successfully answer general knowledge questions along the way. The questions cover all topics ranging from sports and science to geography, pop culture and entertainment (music, TV and movies).
What is the capital city of Australia? While Sydney is known perhaps as the most popular city, Canberra is the capital of Australia. Which big country is closest to New Zealand? Answer is Australia. Sweden is in which continent? Europe. What is the present name of Saigon? Ho Chi Minh. The United Nations headquarters is situated in what city? New York.
For entertainment questions, here are some which made it to Ryan’s on-the-spot list. Who played the female lead in the movie, Eat, Pray, Love? Julia Roberts. What is Nora Aunor’s character in the classic film, Himala? Elsa. Who is the Canadian singer whose fan base is called Beliebers? Justin Bieber.
This season, noted celebrities are slated to flag down Ryan’s cab. Participants in The Amazing Race Asia Season 5, married couple Eric and Rona Tai, hopped in for the quiz ride, but did not have much luck. Fellow TARA contestants, beauty queens Maggie Wilson-Consunji and Parul Shah, are also slated to be seen in Cash Cab.
Former TARA participants Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, as well as actor-brothers Epy and Ronnie Quizon, Iza Calzado and boyfriend Ben Wintle will also join the quiz show on-the-wheels.
If the passenger is on a winning streak, before he alights from the cab, he is offered the option to double the money he has if he gives the correct answer to the final question. Otherwise, he loses everything. If the passenger does not want to risk his winnings, he can take home his cash on hand and end the game.
Since traffic in the city is a perennial problem, Cash Cab
Philippines noticeably traverses the less-congested routes like Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Macapagal Boulevard or the Malate area. Ryan is ideal to host Cash Cab
Philippines. He makes an effort to keep the program witty and entertaining. Not a dull moment when he’s in front of the cameras and behind the wheels.