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Metro x Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition: Brent Manalo

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Brent Manalo may have entered the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) house as “Ang Gentle-linong Heartthrob ng Tarlac,” but to most fans and viewers, he is the embodiment of “The Perfect Wattpad Guy.” For the fans, his demeanor is reminiscent of male leads on the social storytelling platform Wattpad, who are quiet and nonchalant, but are actually dependable and secretly sweet.Before joining the Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition, Brent was a familiar face as a model, content creator, and an up-and-coming actor who appeared on shows like Ampalaya Chronicles, Beach Bros, and The Broken Marriage Vow. He also earned his official PBB moniker because of his academic achievements, which include graduating valedictorian at Wellspring High School and cum laude as a B.S. Advertising Management graduate from De La Salle University.Admittedly, Brent’s entry into Kuya’s house was initially filled with hesitation.“At first, I didn&#x27;t want to join PBB. I knew back then that once you join PBB, it&#x27;s either you make it or you&#x27;re going to break your entire career. I guess I just really wanted to introduce myself to people. The entire point of me joining PBB was really for self-discovery and to introduce myself to more people,” he told Metro.Style.As he made himself at home in Kuya’s house, Brent confessed he had to adjust to the chaos and noise of living with other people since he got so used to living alone as early as when he was 16. Thankfully, despite the initial discomfort and adjustments, he formed deep bonds with fellow housemates like Mika Salamanca, Vince Maristela, Charlie Fleming, and Klarisse De Guzman. Brent was quick to add, “Actually, I’ve bonded with all of them [the housemates].”Asked what he considered the biggest challenge inside the house, Brent readily gave his response:“Maybe the toughest week for me was the three Big Jump challenges. I wasn&#x27;t eating. I wasn&#x27;t sleeping well. It&#x27;s like once you fall down, it&#x27;s all over. I worked so hard. Had I lost that challenge, we would have suffered. We worked so hard. And before that week, we were really giving up our spots already to Ate Klang [Klarisse] and Shuvee [Etrata], so we had to readjust our focus from wanting to sacrifice to having to fight for the [Big 4] spot. It was hard,” he confessed.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753794941937metro exclusive pbb celebrity collab edition brent manalo embed 1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Brent Manalo, as photographed by Dix Perez</div><div> </div>Likewise, his introverted and quiet nature served as a wall that prevented him from initially confronting his feelings. The journey inside the house taught him one of his biggest lessons in life.“[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],” Brent shared, adding that he would sometimes take an hour just talking to Kuya inside the confession room.Inside the house, Brent finally allowed himself to be vulnerable and for his walls to crumble. Viewers saw how he wondered why no one was checking up on him when he was nominated. “I think most of the housemates thought I was strong and didn’t really need support. Maybe they took it as that, but I’ve learned that so many of them were really concerned.” He cried when some housemates were evicted, notably when he took over rice cooker duties when Ralph [De Leon] was voted out, and when BreKa lost the third Big Jump challenge and hid his crying inside the boys’ bedroom, wondering if he was really deserving to be a contender.His hard times were ultimately rewarded with something he did not expect—the highly coveted win at The Big Night.“[The most rewarding moment] I would say would be when I got the title of Big Winner at the biggest edition of PBB. I never really thought it was possible coming in. I said that even just one month [of stay], I’d be happy. By God’s grace, Mika and I got the Big Winner title,” he smiled, looking elated and satisfied with their finish.Truly, it was a colorful 180-degree turn for Brent from being voted the most hated classmate when he was a child, and as the least desirable Kapamilya duo, to winning this edition’s Big Winner Duo.“Until now, I&#x27;m still processing lahat ng nangyayari kasi imagine four months—119 days inside the house is no joke. I really had no idea kung ano ‘yung fan support sa loob ng Bahay. Makakarinig ka, I think once a week na may sumisigaw. I really thought kung may supporters man siguro, nag-gain ako ng 1,000 followers. Ganoon ‘yung naging notion ko when I was inside. But then, when I went outside, I didn&#x27;t know that many people were cheering for us. I think it&#x27;s a testament talaga to what we showed inside the house, kaya hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in until now,” he said, thankful for the major support and love that he and his duo partner Mika have been receiving.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753796921793metro exclusive pbb celeb collab brent manalo embed 3.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div>Brent also gamely answered some of Metro.Style&#x27;s questions about his fellow housemates.Most organized: “I would say, it’s AZ. [Even] the towels, naka-hanger pa. Her stuff and her clothes were segregated. I don’t know if OC siya, but she had a rule—we weren’t allowed to touch her bed with outside clothes. Never siyang uupo sa labas nang nakapantulog.”Best cook: “Of course, Ate Klang. Lahat ng luto niya kahit &#x27;yung mga hindi ko kinakain, napapakain ako kasi sobrang sarap. First time kong kumain ng munggo sa loob ng Bahay.”Most thoughtful: “Parang lahat naman pero s&#x27;yempre, I would say Mika sa akin kasi siya &#x27;yung naging best friend ko sa loob ng Bahay.”The housemate you look up to: “Ate Klang. She’s the eldest. Nasanay talaga ako na, since ako ‘yung eldest, I have to be responsible all the time. Having her with me, parang nawalan ako ng responsibilidad. Ang galing na na-handle niya kami at nabuhat niya kaming lahat.”Favorite celebrity houseguest: “Donny [Pangilinan]. Marami kaming masayang na-experience. If one day visitor, si Ate Heart [Evangelista]. Sobrang insightful. Marami soyang na-share sa amin na natutunan niya sa industry.”Now that he is in the outside world, there are many things that Brent is looking forward to, including working with his duo partner Mika.“[I would like to do] rom-com. &#x27;Yun din talaga &#x27;yung pinag-uusapan namin inside—na hopefully we get to work together. Kung hindi man series, brand, or campaign. It would be nice to work with your best friend. Imagine that,” he smiled.Overall, how did Brent’s stay in the Big Brother house change him? “Hindi pa rin pa ako madaldal.&quot; But, he added, &quot;Siguro at first, I really thought coming in that no one was going to like my personality kasi nga I&#x27;m so quiet and I&#x27;m so timid. But then gradually, I realized that some people won&#x27;t like you, but some people will learn to love you. And para sa akin, kahit ano&#x27;ng ipakita mo, basta it&#x27;s your realest self, may tatanggap at tatanggap sa‘yo,” he meaningfully concluded.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753796999950metro exclusive pbb celeb collab brent manalo embed 2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div>Photography by Dix PerezMetro head: Christina LopezSittings editors: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-CruzCreative director: Chookie CruzStylist: Edlene Cabral, assisted by Bullet ReyesMakeup artist/hairstylist: Mycke Arcano Fashion associate: Carla BuyoEditorial assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel MatiasInterviewer and cover story writer: Grace DiezVideo 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, Thess Gubi, and Star Magic

Brent, one half of the Pinoy Big Brother Big Winner duo, had a brief hesitation before finally deciding to move into Kuya’s house. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Brent, one half of the Pinoy Big Brother Big Winner duo, had a brief hesitation before finally deciding to move into Kuya’s house. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Metro Exclusive: Brent Manalo Shares Why Vulnerability is a Strength

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Metro Exclusive: Brent Manalo Shares Why Vulnerability is a Strength

Grace Diez

Published July 30, 2025 06:15 PM PHT

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Updated July 30, 2025 06:17 PM PHT

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