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The entire PBB nation was delightfully surprised when, during the pilot episode of “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition,” Ivana Alawi appeared in Kuya’s confession room and was introduced as a houseguest with a secret task.
Well, it seems she came prepared, as she actually got some insider tips from none other than “PBB Gen 11” Big Winner, Fyang Smith, before stepping inside Kuya's house. The two bonded over a fun mukbang and Q&A session on Ivana’s vlog channel, where Fyang shared what it’s really like to be a housemate. So, let’s rewind a bit and check out what went down in their pre-PBB collab.
While munching on street food—Fyang’s favorite—she and Ivana tackled random questions and topics, including their dreams outside showbiz (Fyang wants to be a general surgeon), their first impressions of each other, and even how they envision their future weddings since both of them fancy getting married in a church.
They also went through Fyang’s tattoos and discussed their dream teleseryes and co-stars, saying they’d love to work with Kathryn Bernardo, Anne Curtis, and even each other. Ivana also added a project with Piolo Pascual to her bucket list. Meanwhile, Fyang mentioned she wishes to work with Vice Ganda, whom Ivana has already worked with in the movie "Partners In Crime." Fun fact: Fyang revealed that the "PBB Gen 11" housemates actually watched the movie inside the Big Brother house at one point.
Fyang also gave Ivana a crash course on what it’s really like inside Bahay Ni Kuya. Ivana was shocked to learn that housemates only get five minutes to shower. Looks like that info came in handy, as she was recently seen finding a way to shower outside in the garden—whatever it takes to stay fresh.
Fyang also gave Ivana a heads-up about the house’s weekly budget system. She explained that the housemates' budget takes a big hit whenever they fail their weekly task, which means limiting their food options. Most of the time, they had to survive on vegetables since they were the most budget-friendly option. This was a big adjustment for Fyang, who never ate veggies before but had to learn how to love them just to get by.
Fyang also reminded Ivana that being a housemate isn’t all fun and games. She even came close to making a voluntary exit during the controversial Teen vs. Adult weekly task because it took a toll on her mental health. What really saved her was one conversation with fellow housemate JM Ibarra, who made sure to talk to her after noticing that she wasn't okay. That conversation gave Fyang the strength to stay in the game.
Once you become a housemate, dealing with haters is pretty much inevitable. It’s a competition, after all, and people have their own favorites. But Fyang never lets the negativity get to her. Instead, she stays grateful, knowing that not everyone gets the kind of opportunities she has today.
She also admitted that she never expected to win. In fact, she thought Kai Montinola would take the title. Ivana, on the other hand, was rooting for Fyang to win but also saw Kai as beautiful, kind, and just as deserving.
When asked for her advice to the new batch of housemates in "PBB Celebrity Collab Edition," Fyang talked about authenticity: "Huwag kayong matakot ipakita 'yung sariling ugali n'yo talaga. Kasi ako, kahit unang pasok ko pa lang, pinakita ko na talaga." And even if some people won’t like you, it’s okay. "Choice naman nila 'yun kung ayaw nila sa'yo... Hindi naman lahat talaga maa-appreciate 'yung ugaling meron ka, pero ipakita mo lang kung ano ka. Mas maraming magmamahal sa'yo." This was the same advice she picked up from "PBB Lucky Season 7" Big Winner Maymay Entrata in an old interview. Now, she’s passing it on to the next batch of housemates.
We also learned that Ivana actually auditioned for PBB almost a decade ago but didn’t make the cut. In hindsight, she understands that maybe it just wasn’t the right time for her and that the universe had other plans. Now, she’s finally inside Big Brother house—as a houseguest.
Stay tuned to see if Ivana could successfully complete her secret task of convincing the official housemates that she’s one of them.
Catch “PBB Celebrity Collab Edition,” featuring Kapamilya and Kapuso artists, airing weeknights at 10:00 p.m. and weekends at 6:15 p.m. on GMA Network. Viewers can also watch online via live streams on Pinoy Big Brother’s YouTube page, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and iWantTFC.