Nineteen years in and Bianca Gonzalez still treats every "Pinoy Big Brother" live show like it’s her very first. You’d think that after nearly two decades, she would have this whole gig down to muscle memory, but for Bianca, mastery only means raising the bar even higher.
And with "PBB Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0"—the sequel of the hit "PBB Collab," this time featuring a new generation of Kapamilya and Kapuso stars—coming in hot, Bianca is gearing up for another season that’s sure to remind her why hosting this show really feels like home.
At this point, calling Bianca a “PBB” host almost feels like an understatement as she's already so much more than that. She's earned that status where she can share input on the program, so deeply invested that she’s calling herself the "honorary creative consultant" of the team. "Every little task, execution, mayroon akong sina-suggest sa team. Kahit minsan sa setup ng camera, lahat, mayroon akong suggestion sa team," she said in an episode of Kapamilya Chat, grateful that the production has always been open to her ideas and collaborative spirit.
Still, even Bianca didn’t expect the show's comeback to happen this soon. They all had a feeling "PBB Collab" would get a follow-up after its huge success, but she assumed it would take a little while. It wasn’t until the Big Night in July that she found out herself, while reading her script, that the next installment would be happening just a few months later.
Bianca has practically witnessed every housemate and all kinds of drama in Bahay ni Kuya, and she admits she has her biases. When asked for her top three housemates, she starts right away with Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, whom she fondly calls the “Big Winner of all Big Winners.” Melai won in 2010 for the "Double Up" edition and has since become her ultimate source of good vibes both on and off cam.
Next on her list is Kim Chiu. How could she not be? Apart from being one of the most iconic Big Winners ever, Kim’s “Teen Edition” era in 2006 was extra special for Bianca, as it was the very first “PBB” season she hosted after appearing as a housemate herself during the first "Celebrity Edition" that same year.
And just as you’re about to guess, yes, Robi Domingo completes her top three. "He's my little brother," she gushed, calling him the Big Winner that never was. He finished as second placer in the "Teen Edition Plus" back in 2008.
Fast-forward to today, and the housemates she once introduced are now her co-hosts. Bianca says hosting with them reminds her that when you’ve got the right team, it never feels like work. They always lift each other up and enjoy their chemistry no matter how hectic things get. "Sobra kaming tulungan every time there's a live or a big show. I love working with them."
It’s easy to see Bianca commanding a live stage with ease, but what audiences don’t see is the meticulous process behind it. She makes it a point to get the script ahead of time, study the rhythm, and even rehearse the timing of lights and music, especially if it's an eviction night she's gearing up for, because all these elements must click in sync to capture that perfectly compelling "PBB" moment.
Veteran, yes. Complacent, never. For someone who’s been doing this for years, you’d think she would finally let herself relax, but honestly, she refuses to rest on her laurels. If anything, her experience has made her more exacting with herself. "'Yung parang pag pauwi na tapos lagi akong nag-iisip, 'Dapat ganito pala 'yong sinabi ko.' I'm always like that even until now," she confessed.
Even the country’s top hosts get creative dilemmas, and Bianca is no exception. One of her constant challenges is making her hosting style feel different from one show to another. She always wants the audience to see something new from her every time she holds the microphone. In that sense, the program’s mood helps her adjust. For instance, the digital talk show "BRGY" feels more relaxed and conversational, while "PBB" is all glam and high energy.
It’s a craft she’s still refining and enjoys figuring out, constantly looking for ways to give each project its own version of “Bianca” that feels fresh and exciting to watch.
Bianca is back with Robi Domingo, Kim Chiu, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, Enchong Dee, and Alexa Ilacad, along with Kapuso hosts Gabbi Garcia and Mavy Legaspi, for "PBB Collab 2.0," premiering this October 25.
Viewers can watch it online via live streams on Pinoy Big Brother's YouTube Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and iWant.