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Metro Digital Cover: "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition" Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca

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<div>“OA! Sorry kung natapakan ‘yung paka-loveteam ninyo!”</div><div> </div><div>“Good morning, y’all!”</div><div> </div><div>“Sa atin-atin lang ha? Maganda ka pala.”</div><div> </div><div>“Siya ang perfect na example ng TDH…(Tall.Dark.Handsome.)”</div><div> </div><div>“I want it badly!”</div><div> </div><div>“If I could tell you one thing…”</div><div> </div><div>“It’s fine, it’s you.”</div><div> </div>These are just some of the iconic lines from the different housemates in an absolutely iconic season that are just so fitting to mark the 20th year of Pinoy Big Brother (PBB).It’s been a wild, exhilarating 119-day ride of PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition, and the craze is not yet over even after The Big Night.This PBB edition is considered historic and unique since it marked the first collaboration between the two giant networks, ABS-CBN and GMA. The season began with 20 housemates—all promising Kapamilya and Kapuso stars who were each armed with their own goals, dreams, and reasons for participating in the reality show.The PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition put a twist by pairing housemates as a Kapamilya-Kapuso duo that viewers can choose to save to continue their journey inside the house. During the show’s run, 50 duos were paired and rooted for by loyal followers and avid viewers.The result was an exciting, messy, chaotic, dramatic, twist-filled, challenging, triumphant, and heartwarming journey that bonded the colorful characters and personalities of the housemates in this PBB edition.Among all the talented, lovable, skilled, and strategic housemate duos, the tandem dubbed the “Selfless Duo,” BreKa (Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca)—or MikBrent, as coined by their fans—was ultimately crowned the Big Winner Duo of the intensely competitive PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition.The good-looking and gentle-hearted BreKa duo finished first among the Big 4 Duos that include RaWi (Ralph de Leon and Will Ashley), CharEs (Charlie Fleming and Esnyr), and AzVer (AZ Martinez and River Joseph). BreKa received 33.03% of the votes from the public and won P1 million each as the grand prize.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753491839799METRO BREKA BRENT MANALO MIKA SALAMANCA FINAL COVER.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Mika Salamanca and Brent Manalo, as photographed by Dix Perez</div><div> </div>Here, Metro.Style lets you in on some fast facts and exclusive conversations with this season’s Big Winner Duo.<div> </div><div>Brent Manalo: &quot;Ang Gentle-linong Heartthrob ng Tarlac&quot;</div>Mysterious, pensive, and someone who gives off a gentle countenance, Brent Manalo, a self-confessed introvert, pulls off a major life twist by being one-half of the Big Winner Duo of the PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition.Often spotted quietly reading a book in the cozy corners of Kuya’s house, Brent’s quiet moments dramatically turned into a big, loud winning moment when he faced the crowd during The Big Night.Before he became a PBB housemate, Brent was a studious student who graduated valedictorian at Wellspring High School and cum laude at De La Salle University in Manila, armed with a degree in B.S. Advertising Management. He’s also a fashion influencer and content creator who caught the eye of starmaker Johnny Manahan (Or Mr. M). This led to him being invited by Mr. M to audition for Star Magic. While the pandemic impacted his budding career, he was able to redirect his energy toward creating YouTube lifestyle content. He made his acting debut in the iWant series Ampalaya Chronicles, followed by roles in The Broken Marriage Vow and Beach Bros.For the chronically online, Brent also earned massive attention when he appeared in fellow housemate and content creator Esnyr’s High School Heartbreak series as the cute ex of Precious before entering the PBB house.We asked Brent what motivated him to join PBB, and the actor got candid. “Actually, at first, I didn&#x27;t want to join PBB. I knew back then that once you join PBB, it’s either you’re going to make it or you’re going to break your entire career. I guess, I just really wanted to introduce myself to people. The entire point of me joining is really for self-discovery and to introduce myself to more people,” Brent shared.For an introvert like Brent, he admitted being a housemate was quite an adjustment for him.“The hardest part for me was having to live with 19 other people because I’ve lived alone for 10 years ever since I was 16. So, it’s my first time ever. Even having a roommate, because back in my family home, I also had my own room. So having a lot of people was the biggest adjustment,” he smiled shyly.From a “soloista” to someone who was able to survive living with different individuals and to finally thriving as a Big Winner, Brent has truly come a long way.Today, Brent is living life in the outside world with an important lesson from Bahay ni Kuya.“[I’ve learned] that it’s okay to be vulnerable. Because I’ve always been really shy about showing my emotions or even crying. I remember during the first few days of my stay at PBB, I would try to hide it. When I would cry, it was really on the bed. But I guess it was really okay for male housemates [to be open] with their emotions. I think I took that as something that I shouldn’t be shy about. Kuya encouraged me [during my time in the] confession [room],” he pensively stated.Brent will be seen next in the upcoming film The Four Bad Boys and Me, which is set to be released on July 31 at ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753492887219batch_metro breka mikbrent brent manalo mika salamanca metro cover embed 1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Mika&#x27;s ruffled dress and Brent&#x27;s suit both by Fatima Beltran</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Mika Salamanca: &quot;Ang Controversial Ca-babe-len ng Pampanga&quot;</div>Just when you thought Mika Salamanca’s PBB win was enough of a happy pill, especially for her loyal followers, things took hilarious turns when her kiddie videos, either singing or acting, went viral online promptly after The Big Night.Mika gleefully addressed the funny videos that have been surfacing online in an exclusive chat with Metro.Style.“&#x27;&#x27;Yung mga viral videos ko po na lumabas online, &#x27;yung ‘Mika Liit’ na tinatawag ng mga netizens po, are mga old videos ko po simula bata na baka ipinapadala po namin sa mom ko at saka sa mga tita po namin abroad. Kasi lumaki po ako sa lola ko. Before po, hindi pa po uso talaga &#x27;yung Facebook, Skype and stuff. Ang pinakanagagawa na po namin was magpadala ng videos sa mom ko. So &#x27;yun po ‘yung way namin para maipakita sa kanya ‘yung mga performances ko na hindi niya nakikita. Ang ginagawa po namin, nire-record po namin siya sa labas ng bahay namin,” she shared, laughing.The virality of her “Mika Liit “childhood videos is like a poetic, heartwarming turn from experiencing the traumatic past of being bashed online during the pandemic for breaking quarantine protocols in Hawaii. Today, the digital world is drowning in content of Mika’s cute videos from childhood, her redemption arc in PBB, and finally being proclaimed as part of this edition’s Big Winner Duo.PBB was destined to be a part of Mika’s colorful life journey. She auditioned for the reality show when she was just 15, but did not make it at that time. She then finally found her place as an influencer and YouTuber who gained attention for her lifestyle updates and song covers. Though seemingly stable with her content creator life, Mika shared her thoughts on what moved her to join this PBB edition.“I would say na pangarap ko po talaga siya simula bata. Pero ngayon po, mas nagkaroon at mas nag-make sense po siya para sa akin. Mas kailangan ko po siya ngayon dahil ‘yun nga po, sobrang daming controversies na pinagdaanan. &#x27;Yung mismong goal po talaga is, one thing po is pangarap ko siya, pero what&#x27;s more important for me was to redeem myself,” Mika confessed.Though she willingly submitted herself to an audition, she admitted it wasn’t easy to be in the house.“Pinaka-biggest challenge siguro na na-encounter ko sa loob ng Bahay ni Kuya was makipag-connect. Kasi bubbly ako, yes, pero kasi iba kasi kapag kailangan mo nang tumira sa isang bahay kasama ‘yung maraming tao e. &#x27;Yung adjustment na pinakamahirap siguro sa akin doon was humanap talaga ng core ko sa loob ng bahay.“Although, s&#x27;yempre, it&#x27;s a collaboration. Kailangan mo talaga makisama sa lahat ng nakakasama mo. Pero kahit saang panig ka ng mundo, kahit nasaang position ang buhay mo, kailangan mong magkaroon ng [kung saan ka] comfortable na mga tao sa buhay mo. Doon ako pinakanahirapan. Kung sino talaga ‘yung totoo para sa akin o sino talaga &#x27;yung totoo na makikihalubilo sa akin,” she opened up. Thankfully, Mika eventually found her core inside the house, and that was what she also found the most rewarding part of her PBB experience.“Pinaka-rewarding din was ‘yung mga tao nakasama ko. As much as nahirapan akong humanap ng core ko sa loob ng bahay, nahanap ko pa rin sila. And I&#x27;d say na lahat ng mga tao nakasama ko doon sa loob ng bahay, may special place sa heart ko,” she thoughtfully said.“Kasi hawak ko rin, hindi lang ‘yung mga challenges na hinarap namin sa loob ng Bahay ni Kuya, pati ‘yung mga kwento nila about sa pamilya nila, struggles sa buhay, and sila mismo. So, sila [the housemates] ‘yung pinaka-reward na nakuha ko sa loob ng Bahay ni Kuya. Sobrang dami kong natutunan sa kanila,” Mika shared.Mika is currently seen on the GMA primetime series Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre and is set to release an album under Star Music.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753493185203batch_metro breka mikbrent brent manalo mika salamanca metro cover embed 2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>On Mika: Off-shoulder gown by Fatima Beltran</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>BreKa: From ‘Selfless Duo’ to ‘Big Winner Duo’</div>It was a long and challenging—but ultimately rewarding—journey for BreKa to be declared as this season’s winners.Also known as MEnt during their first time as a duo and MikBrent as a PBB ship (relationship formed by avid fans), BreKa is a testament to the power of redemption.From the ashes of Brent being named as a least desirable Kapamilya duo partner and Mika receiving a red flag for seemingly being an inauthentic housemate, who would have thought that they would eventually emerge as the Big Winner Duo?The two stood out for being the gentle strength and the heart inside the house; they would usually be seen bonding together either in the kitchen, on the couch, or in the garden. The duo, in their selfless nature, even thought of giving up their Big 4 Duo seat and sacrificing it for their good friends ShuKla (Shuvee and Klarisse De Guzman).For Mika, Brent’s selflessness took her aback. “Si Brent kasi sobrang selfless niya talaga. Kasi noong una, kita mo na mabait naman. And ’yun naman talaga ’yung i-expect mo sa lahat ng taong makasalamuha mo. Mabait sila pero with Brent, kaya niya talagang i-sacrifice even the hardest things and even ’yung mga kailangan niya para sa mga taong malapit sa kanya,” Mika said.It can be remembered that during “The Big Carnival Concert,” Brent secured a golden seat for his mom but decided to give the win to Mika just so she could have the chance to talk to her mom via a video call. Mika and her mom appreciated Brent’s sacrifice and gesture. It clearly made a mark in Mika’s heart.Brent, on the other hand, appreciated their duo’s strengths, which he also attributed to Mika’s admirable traits.“Si Mika, I would say, she’s very intelligent, also emotionally. Not just sa utak lang. She knows how to handle kung anuman ‘yung presented to her,” he began.One of the surprising things Brent learned about Mika was how she can be easily moved to tears.“Walang araw talaga na hindi umiyak si Mika. Pero noong naging final duo na kami, kayang-kaya na niya talagang i-handle ang emotions niya. Grabe ‘yung naging growth niya doon sa loob ng bahay. As I’ve mentioned, sobrang iyakin niya at first. Pero towards the end, na-handle na niya nang maayos &#x27;yung emotions niya at mas nare-regulate na niya,” Brent said, still in awe of Mika’s journey.For Mika, especially since BreKa went through all of the gruelling Big Jump challenges before eventually making it to the Big 4 Duos, she is especially proud of their endurance.“Strength siguro po namin ni Brent is endurance. And with that, na-e-endure rin namin ‘yung isa&#x27;t-isa. Kasi sa duo namin, feeling ko… ako po, personally, kung iba &#x27;yung ka-duo ko, hindi ako matatagalan kasi sobrang emotional ko. Same goes with Brent. Feeling ko, kapag iba &#x27;yung naka-duo niya, hindi niya maipapakita ‘yung siya masyado. Kasi nga naiintindihan namin ang isa’t-isa. Para kaming nananalamin sa isa&#x27;t-isa talaga,” Mika gushed.We asked what they would like BreKa to stand for and to be remembered for. Brent gave it a long thought and sincerely stated his take.“Right now, I think we’re coined as the selfless duo. And gusto namin ‘yun panindigan even sa outside world. So, ’yung gagawin namin is we&#x27;re going to continue showing people that we can make sacrifices without feeling like we&#x27;re losing,” Brent concluded.BreKa, the Big Winner Duo that they are, is set to donate their PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition winnings to charity. A selfless act, indeed, that positively impacts people and gives their win a deeper meaning.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753493598675batch_metro breka mikbrent brent manalo mika salamanca metro cover embed 3.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><div>Stay tuned for more Metro.Style exclusives on Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca.</div><div> </div>Photography by Dix Perez<div></div>Metro head: Christina LopezSittings editors: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-Cruz<div></div>Creative director: Chookie CruzStylist: Edlene Cabral, assisted by Bullet Reyes<div></div>Makeup artists and hairstylists: Mariah Santos and Arvin Santos (Mika), and Mycke Arcano, assisted by Jam Jacobe (Brent)<div></div>Fashion associate: Carla BuyoEditorial assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel MatiasVideo producers: Giselle Interior and Tricia MatiasVideographer: Charisse Tinio&#x27;s NicePrint Photo teamArt director: Alfred AmadoShoot assistants: Danni Lagdameo, Mariana Xerez-Burgos, Sophia Ancheta, and Katrice CuasonSpecial thanks to Pinoy Big Brother, Marcus Vinuya, Patch Bungubung, Charina Fernandez, Pia Laurel, Sparkle GMA Artist Center, Thess Gubi, and Star Magic

Dubbed the "Selfless Duo," BreKa (Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca) ultimately emerged as the Big Winner Duo. And even outside of Big Brother's house, the two want to continue showing people that we can make sacrifices without feeling like we're losing.

Dubbed the "Selfless Duo," BreKa (Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca) ultimately emerged as the Big Winner Duo. And even outside of Big Brother's house, the two want to continue showing people that we can make sacrifices without feeling like we're losing.

From ‘Selfless Duo’ to ‘Big Winner Duo’—What Makes Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca True Winners

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From ‘Selfless Duo’ to ‘Big Winner Duo’—What Makes Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca True Winners

Grace Diez

Published Jul 26, 2025 12:00 PM PHT

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