Asia’s First Apprentice Emerges on AXN
Filipino marketer Jonathan Allen Yabut wins The Apprentice Asia
Singapore / Manila, 31 July 2013 – Tony Fernandes has picked Jonathan Allen Yabut of the Philippines as his Apprentice in AXN’s latest made-in-Asia-for-Asia original production, The Apprentice Asia!
Over 11 gruelling episodes, the 27-year-old senior product manager beat 11 other contestants who made the cut from applicants across Asia. The series culminated in the nail-biting final showdown between Jonathan and Singaporean lawyer Andrea Loh in their final task to organize a black tie charity fund-raiser for AirAsia Foundation, which aired earlier this evening at 9.05pm first and exclusively on AXN.
Finally hearing the triumphant declaration ‘You’re hired,’ by the face of the show, Tony Fernandes, Yabut received the priceless opportunity to work at one of the enterprises owned by the aviation tycoon and Forbes Asia’s 2010 ‘Asia Businessman of the Year’. Fernandes is best known for turning around AirAsia and breaking even within a year of taking over.
The University of Philippines Economics graduate out-gunned everyone through 10 boardroom trials and countless tests of ability in sales, negotiation, creativity, management, marketing, leadership and mettle.
“It has been a very humbling experience to compete against some of the region’s best brains in business. I treasure the opportunities I had to learn from my fellow contestants, as well as Mr. Tony Fernandes, and his advisors Mr. Mark Lankester and Ms. Kathleen Tan. Winning The Apprentice Asia is the perfect springboard to build a fulfilling career and I am excited to work for Mr. Fernandes. I thank AXN for the opportunity to be on The Apprentice Asia which has been the most thrilling experience of my life so far,” said Yabut.
“I hope The Apprentice Asia will inspire the many aspiring young talents in our region to become Apprentices in their own right, to dream and to make it big,” he added.
Shot in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the Asian adaptation of the U.S. reality series was helmed by reality TV guru, Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor) and FremantleMedia Asia, a leading global entertainment company. The Apprentice Asia’s 12 contestants from Singapore, Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines came from backgrounds as diverse as entertainment, food & beverage, hospitality, information technology, law and finance. Contestants quit jobs, delayed weddings, and set their businesses aside to accommodate the one month-long production.
“Following four seasons of The Amazing Race Asia, as well as Cyril: Simply Magic and Cash Cab Asia, The Apprentice Asia represents AXN’s next milestone in creativity and innovation. The success of the series reaffirms AXN’s leadership in producing original content that audiences love,” said Hui Keng Ang, Senior Vice President, Business Operations, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.
“On behalf of AXN Asia, we congratulate Jonathan for becoming Asia’s first Apprentice, and thank Tony, Mark and Kathleen for their unyielding commitment and dedication to the series. We also want to express our deepest gratitude to the sponsors of The Apprentice Asia for sharing our creative vision and passion to entertain and engage viewers,” he added.
The Apprentice Asia is presented by Expedia, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, AirAsia, IG Markets, official smartphone Blackberry and official car Volkswagen.
Below are my photo coverage, taken using Olympus E-PL1 camera
