Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition big winner Brent Manalo has had his fair share of struggles as an introverted guy who entered into the limelight.
During his recent guest appearance on Bianca Gonzalez’s Paano Ba To? podcast, the actor spoke about how he conquered the challenges that come with being an introvert.
“(Ang) hirap... [mahirap] talaga lalo na nung una po. Lalo na sa showbiz, you’re often mistaken as snob or arrogant ‘pag tahimik ka or ‘di ka namamansin,” he said.
Living up to the demands of show business can be mentally and emotionally taxing, but thankfully, Brent has learned to adapt.
“Natutunan ko magkaroon ng switch,” he said. “Pag alam kong trabaho... tulad ngayon, ‘pag mag-isa ako hindi naman ako magsasalita nang ganito karami, parang akong armalite ngayon. Pakiramdam ko mauubos ang battery ko after nito. Yun, parang switch din talaga.”
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“Not naman I’m playing a role pero siguro na-try kong i-file' yung mga personalities na parang if I’m alone, I’m gonna be this Brent, if I’m at work I’m gonna be this Brent. So right now, I’m Mr. Professional Brent,” he added.
Bianca echoed the actor’s sentiments as someone who underwent the same ordeal as an introvert herself.
“I also feel meron siyang element na you have to remember na it’s not being not you, or parang it’s not betraying your core or your real self when you know introvert ka but you're acting as an extrovert. But kumbaga it’s like a switch like you said, I also see mine as a switch as well or like a different hat lang that you have to wear. Hindi naman ‘yun sa hindi ikaw or hindi ka nagpapakatotoo. It’s just a different side of you na ine-e-exaggerate mo, ino-OA mo lang ‘yung isang side,” she explained.
Brent shared a piece of advice for his fellow introverts who are placed in work environments that call them to come out of their shells, emphasizing that there is no “right template on how to do it.”
“Ang ma-a-advise ko lang is gradually, you have to teach yourself how to do it kasi lalo na pag-work, may mga makaka-misunderstood talaga kahit anong gawin mo. And ‘yun din, it’s work, so you have to work for it."
In the same interview, Brent admitted that even he was surprised that he lasted long in a reality competition.
“It was such a struggle for me na makihalubilo talaga,” he recalled. “Lalo na parang I’m one of the biggest introverts sa industry natin. And ‘yung tumira sa isang bahay, isang kwarto palang, kasi nasanay po ako, I’ve been living for more than 10 years now. Even sa family home namin, I have my own room. Pero having to share one room with nine other people, it was such a hard thing to do.”
Although he entered the house with high walls, he gradually let those walls down and eventually emerged victorious alongside his duo partner, Mika Salamanca.