Inside the “Pinoy Big Brother” house, the journey is never just about weekly tasks or surviving nominations. It’s also about the relationships that quietly form in between challenges---the bonds, the comfort, and sometimes, the unexpected sparks that catch everyone by surprise.
This was exactly the energy in the “Kuan on One” episode last December 9 where former “PBB Celebrity Collab Edition” housemate AZ Martinez looked back on her moments inside and outside Bahay ni Kuya with fellow housemate Ralph de Leon.
AZ didn’t shy away from admitting what she felt with Ralph even before---something even host Melai Cantiveros-Francisco jokingly said she could never do. When asked about her first impression of Ralph---whether it was love at first sight---AZ shared a story that instantly lit up the room. She recalled how Ralph’s presence and the way he spoke immediately caught her attention.
“Si Ralph kasi kapag nagsasalita siya, parang ‘Oh my God!’ Mapapaganun ka dahil grabe siya magsalita. As in smart siya, gwapo, makikita mo talaga na may values siya. Alam mong maayos siyang lalaki.”
But AZ made it clear that her admiration for Ralph goes beyond his charm. What truly drew her in were his values, “Ayun, parang na-admire ko siya dahil sa kanyang values. Like, how he is, he's very level-headed. Kasi ako… kailangan ko kasi na may magaganun sa akin. Minsan ay masyado na akong [mataas] at minsan naman ay ganito ako [mababa]. Siya ang tumulong sa akin para kumalma.”
How Ralph helped AZ inside the “PBB” house
When asked, “Sa journey mo sa loob ng ‘PBB,’ ano ‘yung mga sitwasyon kung saan masasabi mo ay nakatulong si Ralph sa’yo?” AZ didn’t even hesitate. According to her, Ralph was a big help all the time.
But she was quick to clarify that it wasn’t just Ralph who supported her. Kapamilya housemate River Joseph, who eventually became her final duo, also played a huge role in her growth inside the house. And viewers appreciated him for choosing AZ, believing in her, and standing by her when it mattered.
AZ recognized that she and Ralph made choices that may have been misunderstood. There were moments when Ralph’s decisions came off as confusing to their fans, especially when he did not choose AZ to be his final duo---but the Kapuso artist explained that context matters.
AZ looked at the situation from a different perspective. Despite the mixed signals, she emphasized how much she appreciated River for choosing her as his final duo. She revealed that she wasn’t blindsided when Ralph didn’t pick her. “Actually, noong hindi ako pinili ni Ralph, alam ko na ‘yun. Sa first few weeks pa lang, balak na nila ni Will [Ashley] maging final duo. Sila talaga ang naging malapit sa loob ng bahay.”
She had seen the bond between Ralph and Will early on, and she genuinely supported it. For her, it made sense---they were best friends, and she wanted them to succeed together.
Instead of dwelling on what didn’t happen, AZ chose to move forward and focused on her partnership with River during that time.
How AZ and Ralph's friendship continued to grow
Outside Bahay ni Kuya, AZ and Ralph managed to maintain and even deepen their friendship. “Masasabi ko na close kami ni Ralph sa loob, pero iba ang closeness namin ngayon.” This revelation from AZ instantly sent the studio into a chorus of screams and kilig reactions.
Their closeness is evident even beyond the show, with social media posts showing how comfortable and connected they remain. “Sa loob ng bahay, nandoon lang naman lagi si Ralph para sa akin, hanggang ngayon.”
Melai, ever the curious host, didn’t hesitate to ask the question everyone was thinking, “Alam kong nagustuhan mo ang kabutihan ni Ralph, anong nagustuhan mo sa kanya sa pisikal na katangian?”
AZ answered without hesitation, “Gwapo at mestiso siya,” to which Melai praised her for being straightforward. “Sinasabi mo talaga at okay lang ‘yan. Si Ralph naman ay may respeto and very vocal din siya sa nararamdaman niya sa'yo at ayaw ka niyang masaktan dahil kailangan ito ng sapat na oras.”
Melai admitted she wanted to understand what exactly was going on between AZ and Ralph. In the outside world, they seem to have strengthened their friendship even more.
AZ and Ralph's first bonding post-“PBB"
When asked, “Ano ang unang bonding n’yo paglabas ng ‘PBB?’” AZ shared that their first get‑together was a simple dinner with their fellow housemates. Despite their hectic schedules, they always find ways to reconnect. “Kahit gabi na, pagkatapos ng trabaho, nagbibigay kami ng oras. O kung biglang rest day namin sa susunod na araw o kung cancelled ang work, magkakayayaan kami [mag-bonding].”
Melai praised this dynamic---the camaraderie, the loyalty, and the genuine love they have for each other, whether inside or outside the Big Brother’s house. Even with the noise and issues stirred up by fans in the outside world, none of them managed to strain their relationships.
Later on, Melai circled back to the topic that had everyone curious: had AZ and Ralph gone on a bonding moment just the two of them after “PBB”?
AZ paused for a moment, prompting Melai to tease her again and ask “Napag-usapan n’yo na ba ni Ralph ang nangyari sa loob ng ‘PBB’?” AZ admitted that they talk about it from time to time. “Pero, alam kasi namin kung ano ang nararamdaman namin para sa isa't isa. Totoo ang mga sinabi namin sa loob ng bahay, totoo ang mga intensyon namin.”
Do AZ and Ralph have callsigns for each other?
AZ couldn’t help but laugh first, which only fueled Melai’s curiosity even more. AZ eventually shared what many fans already know, “Ang tawag niya [ni Ralph] sa akin ay ‘Z.’ Ang tawag ko naman sa kanya ay ‘RDL’.”
When asked to name the top three things she admires most about Ralph, AZ didn’t hesitate, “His mind, his heart, and his family.” She revealed that she had met Ralph’s family during several events, especially during the Big Night, and she described them as warm and kind---just like him.
“Maiintindihan mo kung bakit ganun si Ralph dahil ganun ang pamilya niya. Pinalaki siya nang maayos.” It’s clear that as time passed, AZ and Ralph’s friendship didn’t just survive the outside world but it also matured.
Melai later asked whether AZ and Ralph had ever tried speaking in Bisaya together, or if AZ had taught him the dialect. AZ explained, “Sa loob ng bahay, [yes], noong may secret room kami. Dito sa labas, siguro may iilang mga salita kapag nabi-bring up, pero hindi kami nag-uusap in Bisaya dahil hindi niya maiintindihan.” Still, she shared that there are moments when she says certain Bisaya words and Ralph will ask what it means and she happily teaches him.
Enjoy new episodes of "Kuan on One" every Tuesday on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel and on iWant.