there are a few things in the world that can actually make me cry.

my girl, that really cute movie, didn't.
graduation from college didn't.
getting into my dream law school didn't.

and no matter how amazing my mom's palanca letter for me was in my grade 7 recollection, or how romantic the setting was when pat asked me to be his girlfriend, neither of the two prompted my tear ducts to produce salty liquid.

strangely enough, last night's replay of the amazing race, did. i was glad that i was alone in my room; i didn't know how i'd explain to anyone why i was tearing up by the time the internet couple was eliminated.

now, 12 hours later, i think i can attempt an explanation.

more than the amazing places they go to, the difficult stunts they attempt, and the $1M cash prize, the race is actually all about relationships. those who were fans in the past sometimes didn't really care who won in the end, but we all applauded zach's patience for all of flo's whining. we all hated the harvard law school roommates, just because, well, they didn't seem like they really liked each other. the married gay couple, chip and reichen, had this amazing devotion for each other, and who can forget that goth looking son and his dad who, at the end of it, actually realized a lot of things about each other.

this season's pairs are quite ... well, for lack of a better word ... amazing. there are teams you hate (the bowling moms, charla & mirna) and teams you love (the military dad and his daughter, brandon and nicole, chip and kim).

and last night's replay, where they were all stuck eating caviar, was the best TAR episode ever. at the end of it all, right before they were eliminated, when bob and joyce were on the sleigh ride, both kept saying in their voice overs that they've been given a second chance at love and that they're glad they found each other. during the roadblock, brandon never complained when nicole had to sleep of the wooziness brought about while eating a kilo of caviar before actually finishing the stunt. one of the twins told the other twin that if she could, she would do the roadblock herself. (of course hateful charla just kept asking mirna to shove it down her throat, argh.) after watching 9 gruelling episodes of couples fear factor where everyone just kept fighting with their partners, TAR episode 4 brought back my faith in relationships.

and so last night, as pat and i were eating a late dinner at serye, i looked over at him and told him that should i get the chance to join TAR, i'd pick him to be partner.

his reply?

"that's so sweet, kasi yung girlfriend ni jong-jong (his cousin) ang gusto salihan nila, temptation island."