I'm Mentally Stronger Than Anyone Thinks

**Next:** | "Thanks for the Info, but No Thanks"

**I'm Mentally Stronger Than Anyone Thinks** is the eighth episode of *Survivor: Philippines*.

## Story

### Day 20

The Gubat tribe enters the challenge site and the Sapa tribe follows in right after. The Gubat tribe is shocked to learn that Luz is no longer in the game. Jeff explains to the Gubat that Luz has been pulled from the game due to an evacuation, making this the most evacuations in a single season. Jeff asks Jasmin how Luz's evacuation has affected the game, and Jasmin states the vibe at camp isn't the same and also mentions the Sapa tribe is down in numbers for a potential merge. Seth is asked how Luz's evacuation affects them and Seth repeats the same thing that they have the numbers to run the merge if there is one. Jeff indicates the evacuation has caused unforeseen circumstances, however, the game must go one. A map is thrown towards Jamir and the tribes are told that they are officially merged into one. The map holds the location to their new camp waiting their is a feast and their new buffs. The tribes drops their buffs and start celebrating.

The tribes grab their belongings and start heading to their new camp.

As the new merged tribe arrive to their camp, they notice their belongings are already there as well with a large feast and a basket in the center. The tribes gather rather the table, opening the basket to reveal purple buffs.

Kieran and Jamir take the lead with opening the basket and passes around the new purple buffs. As he's passes the buffs out, Jamir notices a note at the bottom. He grabs the note and hides it under a buff that he places next to him. He and Kieran continue to pass the rest of the buffs out.

Without anyone noticing, the tribe continues to go around and introduce themselves officially. They pass around the food, beverages and exchange stories for the first nineteen days of the game.

They start to discuss what they should be called going forward as the merge tribe names. Multiple names are thrown out until Mao mentions that in the Philippines they speak tagalog and one of the words she knows is Yaman which translates to wealth. The tribe appreciates the tribe name and decides to stick with that.

As the feast excitement dies down and everyone becomes stuffed with the food, the tribe makes their way away from the feast table and to their new camp where they need to start over with building a shelter. They all decide that a group will start a fire, another will catch some food, and the last group will get supplies to build the shelter. Kieran takes the leadership role to divide everyone into groups. He sents Oren, Nick, Seth and Grant to catch food, and Mao, Cristina and Rashad will start the fire while he, Jamir, Jasmin and Danna will get the shelters to build a camp. With no objections, everyone begins their tasks.

Kieran, Jamir, Jasmin and Danna agree to look for anything that can find to help build the shelter. Jamir tells the group that he might've saw some bamboo near the feast that he's going to take a look at. The tribe agrees to look around for anything in case he doesn't find it. As soon as the group separates, Jamir takes off running into the woods.

Jamir opens and reads the note that begins to sound like the clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol.

Jamir runs to the trees that form the V shape. He starts to dig in the center and within minutes he finds the package of the immunity idol. He checks his surroundings before putting the immunity idol in his pants.

Jamir makes his way back to his group where he finds Danna and Jasmin first. They immediately asks him if there were bamboos over there. He does confirm that there was bamboo that they could use the shelter. Jamir begins to lead the way. Danna reassures Jamir and Jasmin that she trusts them the most in the game and would love to go to the final three with them. Danna reiterates that the original Sapa will be sticking together, but she throws out the idea of them forming a final three within that alliance. Jamir and Jasmin agree to the alliance.

Meanwhile, back at the camp, Cristina, Mao and Rashad attempt to start a fire with the flint that they have.

Rashad shows Cristina and Mao the secrets to starting a fire quickly. He is able to get a spark quickly that turned into a fire shortly after. He proceeds to let Cristina and Mao attempt to do their own fire, which after a couple minutes they do start fires.

After starting a fire, Rashad steps away from the girls for a moment, leaving Cristina and Mao alone. Cristina and Mao begin to discuss their options now that they are on the merged tribe. Cristina asks Mao if she's willing to flip on the Gubat tribe and take out a physically stronger player like Nick. Mao reassures Cristina that she trusts her more than she does the guys, but she doesn't think it's the right time to flip the game. Cristina promises Mao that she's not going to flip unless they do it together.

Meanwhile in the ocean are Grant, Nick, Oren and Seth trying to catch fish. Oren is in the water diving down to catch fish with a spear with Nick while Grant and Seth stay back closer to the land.

Oren caught a couple fish then decides to switch with Nick. Nick dives into attempting to catch a couple fish. Meanwhile on shore, Grant and Seth decide to trash talk Oren and how he's only catching little fish. Unaware that Oren is able to hear them, Oren remains quiet.

After a day of working to catch food, start a fire and a build a shelter. The tribe is able to accomplish all of it before the sun starts to go down. Danna, Jasmin, Mao and Oren decide to talk a walk down the beach to catch the sunset at their new camp. Jamir sits in the newly built shelter looking at everyone who is remaining.

Jamir gathers everyone around and throws out the idea to stick together for the first merge vote and vote out one of the four that left the camp.

Kieran takes the lead for the group and tells Jamir that as long as they stay loyal to them that they won't be targeted at the first tribal council.

### Day 23

The new merged tribe enters into the challenge site for the first time as a new tribe. They asked for the tribe name which Mao responds with the name has been determined, Yaman. The tribes are informed that they will be competing in "Philippines Catering" and are immediately split into groups. For the first round, Kieran, Oren and Rashad compete against each other, ending with Oren finishing first and moving on. Cristina, Grant and Mao compete in the second round and Cristina advances to the next heat. Jamir, Jasmin and Seth compete in the third round and Jamir finishes first and advances. Danna and Nick go head to head and Nick finishes first. In the final round, Oren, Cristina, Jamir and Nick compete against each other. Cristina finishes her plate first and wins individual immunity. As for the remaining ten, they are at risk of being voted out of the game. The tribe heads back to camp.

Upon arriving back to camp, Kieran pulls everyone together and let's them know no matter what happens at tribal council, everyone should be proud of themselves for making it this far and competing in the merge stage of the game. Everyone agrees.

Grant shares a story about his brother who passed away three years ago.

As Grant begins to tell his story, he tears up and Seth leans in and gives him a hug. Grant tells Seth that as long as they stay in the game tonight no matter what happens they'll be fine.

Meanwhile, Jamir meets with Nick, Cristina, Kieran and Rashad to discuss who they want to take out of the game. Kieran tells the group that he's going to honor his promise and keep everyone here safe. Jamir and Rashad ask the group if they'll be willing to take Mao out of the game first in order to even the playing field then they can vote out Sapa members. Kieran pushes to think about it for a while.

Nick chimes in and adds that they can get rid of Mao the next tribal council, but they should consider taking Jasmin out of the game. Nick views Jasmin as someone who can fly under the radar all the way until the end and win out. As the conversation continues, Seth and Grant make their way over. Grant throws out the idea of taking out Oren. The group discusses whether they should take someone out to level the playing field, someone under the radar or a physical threat.

Back at camp, Danna and Jasmin are discussing who they should target at tribal council. Danna believes Mao would be the best person to take out of the game because she's a strategic threat. Jasmin pitches Nick to go home because he'll be a physical threat down the road.

Meanwhile as soon as Jamir and Rashad leave the group, Seth pushes for Jasmin to go home to the Gubat alliance. Mao walks around the corner, joining the conversation and agrees with Seth. Seth throws out the idea that they could be trying to play us. Kieran continues to ponder the thought over.

Jamir makes his way to Danna and Jasmin discussing who they need to vote out tonight. Danna asks Jamir to break the tie between them on whether they vote for Mao or Danna. Jamir fills them in that if they want a chance to flip the game that they need to vote out Mao. Jasmin concedes and lets them go ahead with voting Mao.

Danna leaves the group to find more information on who they're voting. As soon as she disappears, Jamir calls over Oren and asks him who he thinks needs to go home. Oren says the smart move would be to take out Seth. Oren lets them know that Seth is in one of the most powerful seats in that alliance. Jasmin asks Oren if they should take out Mao or Nick. Oren heavily pushes for Seth to be the one to go. Oren tells them that if Seth goes home, the alliance will break apart.

As the sun starts to set even more, Cristina and Rashad are walking back to camp discussing their options tonight. Rashad asks Cristina if she's going to be down to jump ship and vote out Mao like the group agreed. Cristina tells Rashad that if she flips on her tribe, they're going to come for her next. Rashad promises to look out for Cristina if she does decide to make the switch.

The sun is setting, the tribe begins to grab their torches and head to tribal council.

At Tribal Council, Jasmin was asked first the mood of the new merged tribe. She said the odds for anyone from Sapa going home is extremely high since they don't have the numbers. Kieran agreed that Gubat does have the numbers tonight, but it's not necessarily Gubat versus Sapa. To Mao's surprise, she adds that she hasn't been approached by anyone about an alliance from anyone from Sapa, inferring she could be the one going home.

Danna was asked about idols, and she proposed that she knows that there definitely idols in play, but the Sapa idol was played at the first tribal council, leaving the question of whether Gubat's idol was found. Jamir adds that Gubat's idol adds another layer of protection to their tribe, giving Sapa a lower chance of surviving tonight, but also add he's not one to be a pessimist and is optimistic that the plan he was told is going to be the plan that goes through. The tribe then votes.

Jeff asked if anybody wished to play a Hidden Immunity Idol. Jamir looked around the merge tribe before reaching into his bag to grab his hidden immunity idol, he mentions "It's time to level the playing field", then proceeds to play the idol on Jasmin. The Gubat tribe struck with fear, Mao's panics and pulls out her hidden immunity idol to play on herself, bringing shocked faces to multiple members.

The six votes were read for Jasmin, bringing glum faces upon the Gubat tribe, and the following two votes were read for Mao, lifting their spirit up to shocked and happy. However, the following vote was read for Seth, having the Sapa tribe exchange smiles and the Gubat tribe looking defeated once again. As the second to last vote was read for Seth, confirmed his elimation, the Sapa tribe exploded in cheers and high fives as Seth grabbed his torch. Seth's torch was snuffed and left tribal council, becoming the eighth person eliminated from Survivor: Philippines and the first member of the jury. Jeff leaves the merge tribe saying, "Sapa wanted the playing field level, and now they have it."

## Challenges

**Immunity Challenge:** *Philippines Catering*
Castaways would have to eat exotic dishes in which they must eat all of it in their mouth and show their empty tongues to finish, in which a certain number of fastest finishers would advance to the next round. The castaway that finishes all stages wins immunity.
**Winner:** Cristina Wong

## Tribal Council

 Jasmin(used Hidden Immunity Idol)
 Seth (3 votes)
 Mao(used Hidden Immunity Idol)
 VOTED OUT:Seth Ryan

## Trivia

* The episode's title comes from a line said by Cristina Wong about people doubting her after winning individual immunity.