As the intense grilling with Boy “Tito Boy” Abunda continued in the July 2 episode of "Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition," the Big Four duos were able to redeem themselves from the negative opinions thrown at them by the outside world, pouring out their thoughts and hearts in answers that showcased their personal growth and the strength of their bond as duos.
The housemates faced the “Defend Your Duo” segment, where each duo had to address harsh comments from netizens, but the partner of the housemate being criticized would be the one to respond on their behalf.
Ralph de Leon finally heard what the public had been saying about him using his knowledge of the outside world for strategy. Tito Boy read, "Ralph, simula nang lumabas ka, malaki na raw ang naging advantage mo. At nang makabalik ka, naging strategic ka na masyado. At nakalimutan mo nang maging tao. Karapat dapat ka pa bang maging Big Winner?"
Will Ashley had 30 seconds to defend his duo partner, and he firmly countered the accusation by saying that what people outside think is the opposite of what’s really happening inside the house. "I think hindi po lahat ng tao sa labas ay alam po ‘yung nangyayari dito sa loob ng bahay. Para sa akin, si Ralph sobrang naging consistent niya dito at pinakita niya kung sino siya. Ever since na bumalik siya, never ko po siyang nakitaan na ginamit niya yung knowledge niya about outside world dito sa loob ng bahay. Para sa akin, ginawa niya po ‘yung best niya to prove ‘yung sarili niya kung bakit siya deserving dito sa Big Four."
Will, meanwhile, received comments questioning his inconsistency when it came to his closeness with housemate Bianca De Vera. Tito Boy asked, "Will, what happened sa sinabi mo kay Bianca after noong boys' night out ninyo na mas mag-e-effort ka na bumawi at maibalik ang malapit na pagkakaibigan ninyo noon? Bakit natapos ang edisyon na hindi nagbabalik ang closeness ninyo?"
The tandem exchanged knowing smiles, as if Will was saying Ralph already knew the truth. Ralph then explained that Will simply wanted to respect the special connection that Bianca was building with their co-housemate, Dustin Yu. "[Dustin and Bianca] were friends with Will outside. Both of them have certain relationships with Will outside. Pero in this house, they wanted to build something for themselves. And Will chose to respect that and give them that space," said Ralph.
In the next round, each duo had to work together to answer the question within 30 seconds. It was up to them how they would divide the time, but ideally, both partners must share their thoughts.
RaWi faced allegations of being overly competitive to the point of arrogance. Tito Boy said, “Yung over-competitiveness ninyo ay kinikwestiyon ng ilang netizens na tipong ang pagiging palaban ninyo ay nauuwi na sa yabang na parang kayo lang ang may karapatang manalo.” Within the 30 seconds, Will allowed Ralph to speak more, where Ralph responded, “Para po sa akin, itong over competitiveness namin ay hindi nauuwi sa yabang dahil we never wave it to anyone else’s face. For us, our success is between the two of us and it’s something to be proud of because we’ve worked hard for it.” Before time ran out, Will added that they were simply doing their best in every task.
Next up in the “Defend Your Duo” round were AZ Martinez and River Joseph, also known as AzVer. For AZ, Tito Boy said, “You are labeled as being manipulative and backstabbing. Ginagamit mo ang pagiging emotional mo para makuha ang gusto mo.” AZ was visibly shocked upon hearing the comment, but her partner River immediately stepped up to defend her, saying that he actually sees AZ as someone who takes accountability. “I personally never saw AZ as someone being manipulative. She is someone who thinks a lot, who contemplates on her thoughts a lot. And sa pagiging backstabber, I think that's just her trying to clarify those thoughts to other people and to express what she's feeling inside. But eventually, she will tell that person that she's having a problem with, straight to their face, and talk about what their problem is and have that conversation and try to fix it afterwards. So I don't think that's being manipulative or being a backstabber.”
Later on, inside the confession room, AZ opened up about the questioning and shared that she knew people were referring to her past conflict with housemate Mika Salamanca, a conflict she knows they had already resolved. She explained that she admitted her mistakes and took the initiative to make amends with Mika, “Alam ko na din Kuya na okay na kami. I've made sure to be honest with her about kung anong pagkakamali ko sa kanya at anong mga nasabi ko."
River, on the other hand, received the criticism, “Mayaman ka lang daw at may koneksyon, kaya ka naging artista. A comment said that you are talentless and weak-minded.” Defending her duo, AZ responded, “I believe River did all of this through hard work. He went through all of the process of audition." She added that River often shares stories about the struggles he’s faced during auditions and go-sees just to land a role in a teleserye or commercial. She also said she doesn’t believe River is talentless, because he was able to show his real talents during his stay in Bahay ni Kuya.
For their question as a duo, Tito Boy said, “Kung sakali man na kayo manalo sa kompetisyong ito, tila mas nababagay daw sa inyo ang titulong Beg Winner kaysa maging Big Winner dahil sa madalas n’yong pag-iyak at pagiging overly emotional.”
AZ responded with quiet strength, “For me, we deserve this spot. We did our best. We were true the whole time.” She added that they were simply being genuine, even during moments when they cried or became emotional, because that was what their hearts truly felt. “And if people don’t accept that, that’s okay.”
River then continued, “If we were emotional, that’s what we were really feeling at that time. That’s us not hiding whatever we feel.” He firmly closed by saying, “And it’s okay to be emotional.”
Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca also defended each other from the negative comments of netizens. To recall, the evictees, including Kira Balinger, returned to the house as Duo Challengers and were given the task of interrogating the remaining housemates. Kira questioned Brent’s authenticity by bluntly asking him, “Who are you?” Brent was clearly taken aback by the question and retorted, “Who are you to say that to me? Nobody cares about Kira Balinger, that’s why you’re evicted.” His response drew criticism online, with many netizens disapproving of how he answered.
But defending her duo, Mika explained that they were both shocked by the challengers’ confrontational questions. “I understand na we could have chosen better words, pero nung time kasi na ‘yon, sobrang na-bombastic kami sa lahat ng salita ng housemates na nasa harapan namin. And I think ‘yun din ang bubog ni Brent and naging vocal naman siya about doon sa loob ng bahay and nagulat lang din kami sa tanong na ‘yon.”
Meanwhile, Mika received comments that labeled her as playing safe, boring, or even fake—criticisms that questioned her authenticity. Responding on behalf of his duo, Brent explained, “Having gone through so much way before PBB pa, ang dami niyang pinagdaanan, and yung pagpasok niya dito is the opportunity to redeem herself. Siyempre, noong una, natakot siya na ipakita yung totoong sarili niya. Pero I would say ngayon, napapakita na talaga niya. At yung pagiging playing safe na tingin nila, I would say now, nagpapakita na siya ng galit, ng inis, ng lungkot.”
Brent added that if people still see Mika as playing safe despite how much she’s opened up, there’s nothing more he can do to change their minds.
The question Tito Boy posed to Brent and Mika as a duo also revolved around authenticity. He read out comments asking, “Bakit may nagsi-ship sa inyo? Love team ba kayo? Where is the chemistry? Hindi ba planado at orchestrated lang ito?”
The two exchanged confused, almost amused looks. Mika responded, “Dito sa loob ng bahay, never namin pinush o pinilit ‘yung chemistry, kung meron man. It’s all platonically and friendship talaga yung nabuo namin dito sa bahay.” Brent added with candor,“Honestly, Tito Boy, may mga times nga na nagki-cringe kami sa isa’t isa ‘pag nagiging sweet kami o kailangan namin magsabi ng words of affirmation sa mga ka-duo namin.”
In the previous episode, Charlie Fleming and Esnyr, also known as CharEs, had already confronted the outside perception that they were playing the “paawa” card to gain sympathy and votes. Esnyr clarified that what others call “paawa” is actually their lived reality,“Siguro po Tito Boy, sa paawa na sinasabi nila is kami po ay taga-probinsiya, kami po yung ‘di comfortable dito. For them it’s paawa, but for us it’s reality. That is why andito po kami, to show everyone na this is reality and this is not just a card for us to pull.”
Charlie reinforced Esnyr’s point, emphasizing they’re simply being true to their journey, “We really are representing who we are and what we came from. We know that we are not comfortable in our lives, and yes taga-probinsiya kami, breadwinners kami, but it’s also to raise a flag that even if taga-probinsiya ka you can have a chance here in Manila.”
As the interview with Tito Boy came to a close, he offered the Big Four duos a piece of advice. “I have been listening to you. This is not the beginning nor the end of a journey. It’s not going to be easy. Hindi madali ang pinapasok n’yong mundo,” he told them. “I’ve been watching. There’s so much determination.”
He continued, “Madalas sa ating buhay dito sa industriyang ito, matatagpuan natin ang mga sarili natin into that space na hindi ka sigurado, uncertain, unknown. Show up. Be present. And do not be afraid to dive into that space. It is in that space where magic happens.”
Back in the Confession Room, Tito Boy shared his experience of talking with the remaining duos, noting the authenticity and fighting spirit he saw in each of them. “Anybody who wins among the four duos is deserving,” he said.
In the episode, the Big Four duos also learned about their final task called the “One Million Vote Challenge,” which will give them a chance to earn extra votes for the Big Night. The additional votes they will earn will depend on their ranking in each part of the challenge. However, each duo can only secure the additional votes if they successfully complete the challenge.
For the first part, a total of 400,000 votes are up for grabs. Meanwhile, in the second part, 600,000 votes are at stake.
In the first part of the challenge, each duo must walk across a giant seesaw. Starting from their designated point, they need to cross to the other end to place a ball, one by one, into the Big Brother’s Eye. They must do this alternately, but they can only switch turns if the previous player has successfully placed their ball. When switching turns, the partner must be off the seesaw completely, with no part of their body touching or resting on it.
Each duo has ten balls they need to transfer to the other end, marked with either a “POSITIVE” or “NEGATIVE” sign, corresponding to the type of comment they chose to hear from the outside world. Before the rules of the task were revealed, the duos had already chosen their combination of positive and negative comments. AzVer chose 7 positive and 3 negative; RaWi chose 5 positive and 5 negative; BreKa went for 8 positive and 2 negative; and CharEs picked 8 positive and 2 negative.
The additional votes at stake for this first part of the challenge are 200,000 votes for the 1st placer; 100,000 votes for the 2nd placer; 60,000 votes for the 3rrd placer; and 40,000 votes for the 4th placer.
Watch as the challenge begins in the next episode!