For the first time in the 20-year history of “Pinoy Big Brother (PBB),” the ever-elusive Kuya whom viewers have not seen yet on TV, opened up in a rare and insightful, one-on-one interview with Rico Hizon in the Confession Room of the “Pinoy Big Brother” house.
“Beyond the Exchange” on ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel) presented a deeper look into the heart and mind beyond the voice that has guided countless housemates over the past two decades.
Rico entered the house for the first time and got to interview Kuya inside the Confession Room, the place that has seen tears and laughter over the past 20 years. Kuya does not leave the house and is never seen in the outside world.
“Lagi lang akong nadito,” Kuya told Rico. “Ako ay laging naka-abang sa aking mga housemates. Lalo na at meron pang ongoing na season ngayon. Ang bahay ko ay bukas para sa lahat.”
Except for the housemates and their occasional guests, no one is allowed access inside the iconic house. The voice addressed the questions of Rico, who initially asked how Kuya selects the housemates every season of “PBB.”
“Pinipili ko ang mga housemates base sa kanilang mga personalidad at may mga natatanging kwento,” said Kuya. “Pero hindi lang ito ang basehan ko.
“Binibigyang halaga ko rin ang posibleng maging ugnayan, koneksyon at relasyon nila sa isa’t isa. Sa madaling salita, pinipili ko ang mga housemates hindi lang dahil sa kanilang individual na pagkatao, kung hindi sila bilang isang grupo.”
Rico asked how Kuya maintains the neutrality of the kind of advice that he shares with the housemates.
“Ang mga payo ko naman ay base sa kung ano ang mga karanasan nila,” said Kuya. “Kung ano ang nararamdaman nila at kung ano ang kailangan nila.”
Rico commended Kuya for the weekly tasks that the latter gives to the housemates. Rico said he finds the tasks really challenging.
“Ang bawat tasks at idi-disenyo para subukin hindi lang ang lakas o galing, kung hindi pati ang puso, character at samahan,” said Kuya.
“Pinipili ko ito base sa mga kailangan ng mga housemates. Ano’ng leksiyon ang maaring ituro o kung ito ay makakatulog sa kanilang personal na pag-unlad.”
The “PBB” viewers see the personal growth of the housemates who remain inside the house. Every week, the audience votes who remains and who gets evicted.
Every season has its different challenges. Every group who enters the “PBB” house faces different tasks that they go through.
“Mapanubok, sa tuwing may mabigat na emosyon at matinding tension na namamag-itan sa kanila. Pero isa itong bagay na kina-kailangan hayaan upang sila ay matuto. At dahil dito ay mas malaki na rin ang responsibilidad bilang housemate.
“Sa shared experience ng bawat grupo, mas makikilala pa nila ang kanilang mga sarili. Mas natutuklasan ang mga ugali at mga damdamin at prinsipyo na lumilitaw lang kapag may nagtutulak at nagpapakita o nagsasalamin sa atin. Dito nakikita o lumalalim ang tunay na samahan.”
In the present “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition,” now on its 20th season, that started last March, Rico asked Kuya the important lessons that the housemates learned.
“Generally, pakikisama, pakikitungo sa mga kasama nila at pagtanggap sa pagkaka-iba iba nila,” Kuya pointed out.
To this day, after four months of “PBB,” there are housemates that remained from the very beginning and are still inside the house. They have not been eliminated nor nominated for elimination.
So what does Kuya tell the housemates to be able to uplift their spirits and inspire them?
“Pinapa-alala ko lang din sa kanila kung ano ang halaga at totoong dahilan sa pagpasok nila sa bahay ko,” Kuya said. “‘Yun ang kanilang magiging motivation para makapag-patuloy sila as housemates.”
Rico found it “surreal” that Kuya says his name and he is inside the “PBB” house, when he has been watching the widely-followed reality show for the past 20 years.
In all the edition that Kuya witnessed, he said the most important purpose of a housemate is a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.
“Naniniwala ako na ang isang housemate ay epektibong plataporma upang maging huwaran sa maraming Pilipinong sumusuporta sa ‘PBB’,” said Kuya. “Ang pagiging housemate ay natatanging instrument para maipa-malas ang kakayahan, galing, talent ng mga Pilipino na pwedeng maipagmalaki sa buong mundo.”
Aside from the physical challenges that Kuya gave to the housemates, the challenges that test the emotion, strength and belief of the housemates are the ones that create an impact to any of them, according to Kuya.
Admittedly, the big boss inside the “PBB” house has met a lot of different housemates the past two decades.
“Hindi madaling kalimutan ang mga taong naging inspirasyon hindi lang sa kapwa housemates, kung hindi sa manonood din,” Kuya said. “Ang mga naging housemates ko, hindi ko makakalimutan. Lahat ay may espesyal na lugar dito sa bahay ko.”
Like every other individual, Kuya has other things to get busy with, but he keeps himself fit and healthy. “Pero sa sahat ng oras, ako nay nagmamasid sa aking mga housemates,” Kuya said. “Nage-exercise din ako. Balanced diet and enough sleep are important.”
Through the years, Kuya regards each and every moment with the housemates “remarkable.”
“Hindi naman ako laging seryoso,” said Kuya. “Hindi naman ako robot.”
In this memorable collab edition, Kuya witnessed the collab not just of celebrities from different content companies – Kapamilya Channel (ABS-CBN) and GMA. He also witnessed the collab of different personalities.
“Kung paano magkaroon ng unawaan at matututo sa isa’t isa,” said Kuya. “At pahalagahan ang paniniwala at paninindigan ng bawa’t isa. Para sa akin, ‘yun ang mahalagang aral na babaunin ng mga housemates ko.”
