For Donny Pangilinan, his short stay inside the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) house was a “core memory.”
In an Instagram post on Saturday, May 3, the actor officially marked the end of his fleeting journey as a Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition house guest in the ongoing reality show, sharing a selfie of himself at the Big Brother house.
“So this happened... core memory. Thank you Kuya and housemates. Miss y’all… hanggang sa muli,” Donny expressed in the short yet meaningful post.
Prior to meeting the housemates, the Pilipinas Got Talent judge said that entering the house was his way to step out of his comfort zone.
“Pumasok po ako ng showbiz, siguro mag-te-ten years na pero medyo private rin ako bilang isang tao," he told Big Brother during their first conversation. "I don’t really share so much of my life. Ibang klaseng pakiramdam ‘to, and I’m just willing to step out of my comfort zone and obviously to meet the new housemates."
Donny’s stay in the house was filled with emotions as he was tasked to bring in the letters from the housemates’ families and loved ones as a messenger.
The actor's passion for sports, particularly basketball, became the highlight of his visit as he helped the housemates with their week task that had two accompanying rewards: the chance to read the letters sent by their families and the access to their weekly food budget.
WATCH: Day 54: Donny, nagbigay ng advice kina Shuvee at AZ | PBB Collab
‘Magaan kausap’
Donny became a source of advice and inspiration for some of the housemates who became emotional after reading the letters they received.
One of the housemates, AZ Martinez, said that the actor was “magaan kausapan” (easy to talk to) after they had a serious conversation where Donny gave some comforting advice.
“Thank you, Donny. Sobrang gaan mo kausap, napa-open up ako,” AZ said.
One notable piece of advice that the actor gave during his PBB stay was about forgiveness.
“It’s nice that you forgive someone,” he told another housemate, Shuvee Etrata. “It does more for you actually than the other person if you think about it. Kasi sa'yo, parang binigay mo ‘yun eh, kahit minsan iniisip mo hindi nila deserve. But also, don’t forget that you, as a person, also want to set your own boundaries, too.”
Donny also told the housemates to create “real connections” that they can bring outside when their PBB journeys end.
“Just my advice, even past the PBB house, past this whole game, hopefully when you get out of this, (you will have) real connections, real relationships,” he said. “Kasi alam ko naman, you’re competing for something but there’s so much to that and I hope you see that. I hope you see so much more to this experience than just a game and I'm sure you do."
WATCH: Day 54: Donny, nagkaroon ng game night kasama ang Housemates | PBB Collab
‘Sobrang laking tulong’
In his few days inside the house, Donny had been very vocal about how he easily developed connection with the housemates, saying he felt like a “real housemate.”
During their game night, Klarisse de Guzman expressed her appreciation for the actor for spending time with them despite his hectic schedule.
“Andaming niyang pwedeng gawin sa mga times na ini-spend niya sa atin pero still, pinili niyang makasama tayo [rito] at ma-experience ‘to. Thank you so much, Donny,” Klarisse said.
In response, Donny emphasized that his decision to become a house guest had a deeper meaning for him.
“I don’t agree na andami kong pwedeng gawin kasi for me, being here, I think ito talaga ‘yung kailangang mangyari rin sa akin. Kung sa tingin niyo I’m here just for the sake of it or whatever, hindi,” he clarified.
“For me, just like being able to bond with you guys and kind of get a glimpse of who you are at saka ‘yung mga pinagdaanan niyo, sobrang laking tulong din sa akin nun bilang isang tao kasi kailangan ko rin ‘yun eh. I look for real [and] genuine connections. And the fact that we’re isolated from everything, with everything out there being so crazy, I think this is exactly where I’m supposed to be,” he added.
WATCH: Day 50: Donny Pangilinan, pumasok sa bahay ni Kuya! | PBB Collab
Donny was introduced as a house guest during the reality show’s April 27 episode, replacing BINI members Jhoanna Robles and Stacey Sevilleja.