A group of British women traveled to remote parts of the Philippines to face grueling challenges for a reality show in the United Kingdom. The female athletes endured difficult tasks in different parts of the world to prove their physical and mental prowess, two of which involved stick fighting in Luzon and raft racing in Palawan.

Competing for the title of "Last Woman Standing", participants had to go through an intense selection process to demonstrate their skills, experience, health and fitness. Five women were selected from England, Northern Ireland, and Kenya, including Lesley Sackley, 27, Alex Alam, 19, Anna Campbell, 23, Joni Swanston, 23, and Natalie Smith, 29.

With strong athletic backgrounds, they form an impressive list of achievements in various sports like rugby, boxing, wakeboarding, horse riding, running, body building, cycling, kite surfing, netball, and rock climbing.

The contenders were sent to different countries where they trained and competed in indigenous activities, immersing themselves in tribal communities as they learn and gauge their capabilities.

'Try out Kali'

As part of their challenge, they engaged with a Filipino martial art commonly used as self-defense by tribal women from the mountainous regions of Luzon. Kali, which was also used to ward off foreign invaders, is a complex fighting system using bamboo sticks.

Before competing against experienced local fighters, they had to endure a series of endurance trials to develop resilience, strength and technique. One of the participants recalled the experience as one of the hardest tasks they had to complete, because it was physically demanding and “very tough”.

They also visited a seafaring community in Palawan, where they had to build their own bamboo rafts and compete on a 12-kilometer race over strenuous choppy waters. They had to master the art of rafting and prove that they have stamina and determination.

On their Facebook blog for the show, the girls revealed that some of them enjoyed the task more than others: “The Tagbanua women are at home with the ocean. Much of their time is spent on bamboo rafts half submerged in water whilst fishing to provide for their families. Natalie and Lesley don’t like deep water much, but Anna, Alex and Joni love [being in] the water.”

Whilst in the Philippines, the contestants were introduced to a rare local ‘snack’, the Tamilok worm, which can be found inside tree trunks on wetlands. The women were brave enough to try the raw delicacy, but later commented that “it tasted like a big phlegm”. Another one said that “it’s not that bad, but it tasted like ass.”

Pinoy hermits

In an interview with DJ Jo Whiley on Radio One, the athletes revealed that one of the most interesting experiences they have had involves an encounter with a mysterious Filipino hermit.

“We didn’t really believe in magic, but this man was just something special. He lived in the mountains, and he was a hermit. He lived there for a year just living off herbs and moss growing on rocks. The kind of thing you read about in books. He has a real aura about him”, they explained collectively.

They continued: “We have these necklaces that we still wear today that will give us luck and keep us protected. He took us to this mountain, which was a really long climb, and he blessed it for us. It was a really spiritual experience, and an incredible thing to be part of.”

The women also participated in Huka Huka Wrestling and Xavantes Log Race in Brazil, Water Buffalo Racing in Indonesia, and Tarahumara Endurance Race in Mexico.

"Last Woman Standing", which airs on BBC Three, follows in the footsteps of a similar series from 2009, "Last Man Standing".