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Metro x Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition: River Joseph

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River Joseph is a handsome conundrum. He’s the greenest of green flags for his ideals, proudly carries the color green for AZVer (his duo with AZ Martinez), but can also get quite naughty with his “green” jokes in playful moments with the housemates.His quiet, calm demeanor and charming smile may indicate his gentleness, but as fellow Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition housemate Ralph de Leon put it, “When River finally decides to flip that switch, good luck to everyone else when he does.” Initially deemed as one of the silent, smiley-faced and “safe” housemates, River—like the athlete that he is—flipped that switch and managed to step on The Big Night stage and achieved the 4th Big Placer Duo title with AZ. His rise in PBB showed how one went from being low-key all the way to earning a well-deserved spot in the Big 4 placement; it&#x27;s something that teaches you to never underestimate a person like him.River’s PBB moniker “Ang Sporty Business Bro ng Muntinlupa City” comes from his active interest in basketball and golf, as well as his Business Management degree from De La Salle University. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, he also runs his own business. Apart from that, you may have spotted his angelic face in several brand commercials as well as in his acting projects, including He’s Into Her Season 2, The Iron Heart, Unbreak My Heart, and Pamilya Sagrado.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754013020554metro exclusive pbb celeb collab river joseph embed 1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>River Joseph, as photographed by Dix Perez</div><div> </div>River looks back on his PBB journey, which started from a dream planted in his young heart.“I really wanted to join PBB. Ever since I was a kid, lagi kong naririnig at nakikita ‘yung PBB sa TV. So sabi ko, one day, sana makasali ako. Finally, when the opportunity came, I really wanted to join because I felt like my personal story could inspire and help so many other people. That was really my main reason for joining,” he shared. Just like entering a new sport or venturing into a new business, his PBB entry was met with a lot of compromises and adjustments.“One of the adjustments I had to make when I entered the house was definitely adjusting to everyone&#x27;s personality. Ang dami namin! We were 20 housemates, and we all had different personalities. So just having to live with each other and get to know each other, that was really a big adjustment,” River began.“But then, I think the food also was a big adjustment. There were weeks na we didn&#x27;t have any meat and weeks when we had food naman. Dati hindi ako masyadong magulay. Ngayon, dahil sa PBB, sobrang favorite ko na ‘yung gulay,” he fondly added.Though adjusting to others and the weekly tasks can be gruelling inside the house, his mind wandering about the outside world was his biggest challenge.“Every task was very challenging, but the biggest challenge was definitely being away from my family. No communication, hindi ko alam kung kumusta sila, kung okay ba sila, and s&#x27;yempre missing them. That was the hardest challenge out of all the challenges that we had inside the house,” he confessed.As a housemate, he wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable. His sincere sharing of his heartbreaking losses—losing his dad to cancer and his brother to mental health struggles and depression—moved viewers, especially since the experience changed him. His willingness to sacrifice inside the house because he doesn’t “want people to suffer” was rooted in that painful episode of his life.On a lighter note, River got the attention of viewers, who tagged him as a green flag when he told a housemate that he hopes to have a “one and done” relationship in his lifetime with girlfriend Gela Alonte. He also put a number 12 sticker on his tumbler inside the house to indicate his monthsary with Gela. Ever the romantic River, he also planned and asked his sister to send flowers to Gela during their monthsaries while he was away in Kuya’s house.When asked about what his most rewarding moment in PBB was, River beamed, “Most rewarding moment definitely was when me and AZ got a spot sa Big 4 pagkatapos ng Big Jump Challenge. After holding those blocks for more than seven hours, sobrang sakit na ng katawan at ulo namin. So finally, when we won that challenge and were able to step up on the platform for Big 4, for me, that was the most rewarding because it was like a summary of all the challenges that we did throughout the whole season, and it all led up to that moment.”Now, how did the PBB experience change him? He paused to think about his answer first.“I think it definitely changed me kasi every week, every day, we always have a new lesson to learn, and it really changed me. It made me more mature. It made me deal with situations or tasks in a different way na feeling ko here in the outside world, it&#x27;ll be easier for me to face those challenges kasi doon sa loob ng Bahay, kaya! Now I feel like I&#x27;m more mature and more capable of facing anything that&#x27;s thrown at me,” he expressed with confidence.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754032454092metro exclusive pbb celeb collab river joseph embed 2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/> On River: Knit overshirt by Uniqlo, knit polo shirt by H&amp;M, and trousers by 8seconds</div><div style="text-align:left"> </div>On the subject of issues being thrown at people, River took the opportunity to address a misconception about him.“Biggest misconception was probably na ginamit ko lang ‘yung connections ko para makapasok dito sa industry at makapasok sa Pinoy Big Brother. I&#x27;d like to address that in a way that I would say, I started from the bottom talaga. I didn&#x27;t use any connections. When I entered ABS-CBN, I really started with mga small roles, mga extra roles lang na from having no lines to having a few lines then to having more lines then to finally becoming a supporting character. I would say that for the past three years, I’ve really tried to work my way up to where I am now,” he clarified with conviction.Now that River is in the outside world, he hopes to convey an important message not just as an individual but also as part of AZVer.River Joseph pondered, “I want the viewers to remember to never give up talaga. Even if you&#x27;re being bashed, even if you&#x27;re looked down upon, even if you&#x27;re being ranked last—don&#x27;t let that get to you. Just keep fighting for what you believe in and focus on that. Remember to always have faith and to reach for your dreams no matter what obstacles may come your way. Just keep going.”River is currently seen on the iWantTFC series Love at First Spike and is actively promoting the digital movie The Four Bad Boys and Me.<div> </div><div style="text-align:left"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754038547417metro exclusive pbb celeb collab river joseph embed 2 (1).jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"> </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 and hairstylist: Chino Maniquiz Fashion associate: Carla BuyoEditorial assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel MatiasInterviewer and cover story writer: Grace DiezVideo producers: Giselle Interior and Tricia MatiasVideographer: NicePrint PhotoArt 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

"Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition" alum River Joseph represents the color green in more ways than one. Ready, set, go swoon!

" Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition" alum River Joseph represents the color green in more ways than one. Ready, set, go swoon!

Metro Exclusive: River Joseph Sets the Standard as the 'PBB' 'Green Flag'

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Metro Exclusive: River Joseph Sets the Standard as the 'PBB' 'Green Flag'

Grace Diez

Published Aug 01, 2025 08:45 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 01, 2025 08:46 PM PHT

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River Joseph

Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition

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