A tale of two houses — and one historic season

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There’s always something oddly reliable about a “Pinoy Big Brother” season. It’s that feeling of peeking into someone else’s life — watching them cry in the dark, crack jokes in the kitchen, fall in love by the pool, or erupt into an argument over eggs. You’d think, after so many iterations of the format since 2005, we’d all have tired of it by now. But, as everyone will agree, the show has a way of staying relevant, especially when it dares to do something new.

Kapamilya housemates (from left) Kira Balinger, Xyriel Manabat, River Joseph, Esnyr Ranollo, Brent Manalo, Ralph de Leon, Klarisse de Guzman and Bianca de Vera PHOTO FROM ABS-CBN

Kapuso housemates — (standing, from left) Michael Sager, Dustin Yu, Will Ashley, Josh Ford and Vince Maristela; (seated, from left) Ashley Ortega, AZ Martinez, Mika Salamanca, Charlie Fleming and Shuvee Etrata PHOTO FROM GMA NETWORK

Enter the just-concluded “PBB Celebrity Collab Edition,” which made waves not just for its mix of personalities but for the history it made: ABS-CBN Kapamilya and GMA Network Kapuso stars sharing one roof in the former’s most iconic reality home.

It was, quite literally, the collab we didn’t know we needed — until we did. And now that the season’s over and its alumni are back in the real world, the stories they bring from the once-in-a-lifetime experience are just as compelling.

The Kapamilya core: grateful, grounded and giving back

If there’s one thing that became clear during the Star Magic Spotlight reunion on July 14, it’s that no one leaves “Bahay ni Kuya” quite the same.

For the Kapamilya Big 4 — Brent Manalo, Ralph de Leon, Esnyr Ranollo, and River Joseph — along with ex-housemates Kira Balinger, Klarisse de Guzman, Xyriel Manabat, and Bianca de Vera, the experience was more than just a TV stint. It was a crucible of growth, faith and gratitude.

Big Winner Brent Manalo reflected on the journey with a mixture of awe and humility. “The experience was overwhelming — like a fever dream,” he said. “I didn’t expect that many people would show up for all of us. Before, whenever I did mall shows, maybe around 20 people came. But now, there would be hundreds, if not thousands.

“I hope this feeling never ends. I’m always going to be grateful, and I promise to repay all the love they’ve given me. I won’t stop working hard in my career,” Brent added.

Meanwhile, Ralph spoke from a place of spiritual transformation. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to trust God’s perfect timing,” he shared. “I’ve come closer to my faith here in the house, because when I can’t run to anyone else with my problem, who else better to go to [that Him] right?”

For Esnyr, the proudly gay content creator who first won hearts with his hilarious online skits, PBB became a turning point — not just for visibility, but for personal power. “More doors of opportunity opened up for me and for my family,” he said. “When I entered the house, I didn’t really have much strength. But when I came out, I can truly say that I’ve become strong.”

River, whose calm demeanor and sincerity made him a fan favorite, carried more than just his composure from the PBB house — he carried a label. Early in the season, Big Bro­ther held a challenge where housemates rated each other’s authenticity. The highest-rated individuals were given a literal green flag, the lowest a red one, and the rest a yellow one. Ri­ver earned that green flag — not just on paper, but in the court of public sentiment, too. Social media buzzed with praise, calling him a “green flag guy” and celebrating his kindness, integrity, and reliability.

Far from being rattled by the praise, the soft-spoken housemate took it in stride. “There wasn’t much pressure,” he said. “I just stayed true to who I was the whole time.”

To cap the reunion, Star Magic Head and PBB’s de facto godfather, Laurenti Dyogi, offered heartfelt advice to the group: “I hope you all remain humble as the people loved you. And I hope you hold on to that love as a core memory. The public will never forget you because of the unity and love you showed for one another.”

And with the Big PBB Collab Concert: “PBB Collove” sche­duled on August 10 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the PBB Star Magic housemates are stepping into yet ano­ther stage — this time, one where their authenticity and chemistry shine even brighter under the lights.

The Sparkle set: rising fast, glowing brighter

For the Kapuso housemates, stepping into PBB was like walking into the unknown — but walking out, they’ve emerged with clearer visions and fuller schedules. On Thursday, at a media conference held at Harold’s Evotel in Quezon City, the Sparkle stars spoke candidly about how their time in the house shaped them — and how the world responded once they stepped back into it.

Mika Salamanca, this season’s Sparkle First Big Winner, said the PBB experience taught her the delicate art of balancing authenticity with privacy. “Even inside the house, we still had a sense of privacy,” she said. “I’ve always believed you don’t need to bare everything about yourself just to prove who you are. There should still be bounda­ries, especially when it comes to your family and personal life. And now that we’re back in the real world, that privacy matters even more.”

Actor Michael Sager described the entire journey as life-changing. “Before we went into ‘Bahay ni Kuya,’ our lives were very different,” he said. “Now that we’re outside, [the opportunity] was impactful. It taught me many life lessons — how to be a better person, a better housemate, and a better actor.”

Michael, who had long dreamt of being in showbiz, credited his PBB stint for finally making him feel seen. “For the first time in my life, Michael Sager is now on X’s trending list. All I can say is, wow!”

Ashley Ortega, despite being the first to leave the house, found blessings in her early exit. “I thought being the first evicted was like a huge embarrassment. But when I got out, it was the other way around. I was loved and supported by so many,” she gratefully shared.

Today, Ashley is thriving with endorsements and upcoming projects, including a movie and an animated feature. “It really changed my life,” she said.

Dustin Yu, too, entered with zero expectations and left with a renewed sense of purpose. “I wasn’t expecting anything at all,” he said. “But now, I just feel so lucky because PBB is a huge help to my acting career and even my restaurant business.”

Their fellow housemates, from AZ Martinez and Shuvee Etrata to Charlie Fleming and Josh Ford, are just as busy, balancing new projects with fast-growing online fan bases. Social media has truly become a second stage for many of them, with fans eager to celebrate every win and milestone.

And with Sparkle GMA Artist Center guiding their careers, the stars who once shared a room now share a common vision: to keep growing while staying true to themselves.

As this unique PBB chapter closes, what remains is more than just a successful ratings experiment. It’s proof that even in an industry divided by colors and channels, it’s still possible to build something together — something honest, human and maybe even historic.

The Sparkle housemates will also take part in the upcoming Big PBB Collab Concert, “PBB Collove,” and reunite with their Star Magic counterparts.