For many "Pinoy Big Brother" fans, a “Kabataang Pinoy” celebrity edition was long a dream, and now, it’s finally that era. "Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0" just made its grand premiere on October 25, reuniting ABS-CBN’s Star Magic and GMA’s Sparkle, two powerhouse homes of the stars, once again.
This season, all eyes are on the Gen Z housemates, aged 16 to 20, as they open up their youthful, unfiltered selves and totally relatable stories inside Bahay ni Kuya.
The opening number perfectly captured the spirit of collaboration, with Star Magic’s BGYO and Sparkle’s CLOUD 7 joining forces as they debuted the newest, Gen Z-fied version of the theme song "Kabataang Pinoy. The performance was staged right at the façade of the famous yellow house and extended to the pool area, turning the prod into a high-energy mini concert that perfectly captured the night's Gen Z vibe.
And of course, it wouldn’t be “Pinoy Big Brother” without the Pamilya ni Kuya! Returning as hosts are Alexa Ilacad and Mavy Legaspi (for the online segment), and Melai Cantiveros, Gabbi Garcia, and Bianca Gonzalez for the main show. Though the family felt a little incomplete that night (we missed Robi Domingo, Kim Chiu, and Enchong Dee, who had prior commitments), the show made up for it with a huge surprise—an iconic comeback that had fans buzzing online.
After years away from the “PBB” stage, Luis Manzano is officially back! And who better to welcome him than Big Brother himself inside the confession room? Luis first hosted PBB during "Celebrity Edition 1" in 2006, when Bianca was still a housemate, and later returned for "PBB Teen Edition Plus" in 2008, where Robi was one of the teen housemates.
It’s been a while since we last saw Luis inside Bahay ni Kuya, and even he admitted he was feeling a little nervous stepping back in, knowing "PBB" hits different for viewers. Still, he calls it a blessing to be back, telling Big Brother, “’Yung Luis na nakasama mo dati ay isa nang asawa at ama." Of course, Kuya was proud of how far he had come and he's certain that Luis’ signature wit would bring more colors to this edition. He wouldn’t be called the “Pambansang Host” for nothing, right?
Luis and Melai together again was chaos and comedy gold right away. Who else is looking forward to more hilarious Luis-Melai core moments? Even the two 'bunso' of the family, Gabbi and Mavy, looked extra hyped to share hosting duties with Luis for the first time. If this is how fun the premiere already is, imagine the rest of the season!
All twenty housemates—ten from Star Magic and ten from Sparkle—were already in. Leading the pack of the Kapuso squad was Sofia Pablo, 19, dubbed the “Strong-Willed Sunshine ng Cavite.” In her video introduction, Sofia described herself as bubbly and someone who loves living life to the fullest. But behind that sunny personality is a story that many children could relate to. Sofia grew up without her dad, who left when she was three, so her mom became her rock and best friend. In showbiz, she’s faced bashers and memes, but instead of letting them break her, she uses them as motivation to grow. Stepping inside Bahay ni Kuya, Sofia is out to prove that there’s more to her than meets the eye.
Next up was Kapamilya heartthrob Joaquin Arce, 18, the “Rising Dreamer ng Muntinlupa,” who is always doing his best and eager to learn. Joaquin has lots of close friends, but his ultimate bestie is still his mom, the one who raised him and whose advice basically serves as his compass. Even if he didn’t grow up with his dad, filmmaker Neil Arce, Joaquin never carried any resentment. In fact, he sees him as a mentor in showbiz, along with his stepmom, Angel Locsin.
Another familiar face entered next—Marco Masa, 18, the "Wonder Brother ng Antipolo." You’ve probably seen him on TV growing up, as he started doing commercials at just four years old, but everyone remembers him best as “Nathaniel,” the little angel who stole our hearts in the hit Kapamilya series of the same name. During the pandemic, Marco found a new outlet for his creativity through gaming and live streaming. These days, he continues to appear in both series and films. For Marco, every project is a blessing for his whole family because everything he earns goes straight to helping them, especially his older brother with special needs. Literally, a "wonder brother," right?
"Tawag ng Tanghalan" fans, this one’s for you! Carmelle Collado, 18, the "Riles Diva ng Camarines Sur," was the fourth housemate. She grew up in a house right by the train tracks, hence her moniker. Carmelle might be an only child, but with her relatives living close by, her childhood was anything but quiet. Music has always been part of her story, from singing in church as a psalmist to belting on the world stage at WCOPA. Just earlier this year, she even bagged the title "Tawag Ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown" champion.
Luis and Bianca welcomed the first batch of housemates in the garden area before handing Carmelle a task letter. As Carmelle and the three others entered, they were greeted by the newly renovated house, some food, and—wait for it— a cake. But what’s the cake for?
The next group of housemates came in, and we met someone who’s equal parts charming and competitive—Heath Jornales, 16, the "Fighting Prince ng Taguig." He’s the only boy among three siblings (sandwiched between two sisters). He began doing commercials at nine years old and now dreams of mastering action roles just like his dad, actor and martial artist Michael Roy Jornales. Heath dreams of following in his dad’s footsteps someday, but for now, he’s stepping into a different kind of arena, the one with Kuya's tasks. And he's ready to fight with heart.
Representing the Waray community pride loud and proud was Krystal Mejes, 17, the "Wishful Waray ng Samar." Born in Samar, she moved to Manila to chase her dream of becoming an actress, and to find her dad. The reunion didn’t happen, but Krystal’s story is far from over. As a young actress, she’s already made waves internationally, winning Best Actress at the 2023 Paris Film Awards.
Entering the house wearing his cute smile was Miguel Vergara, 18, the "Adorable Smasher ng Antipolo." Miguel started acting at five and already has MMFF and FAMAS Best Child Actor awards under his belt. Now he’s balancing showbiz with his passion for tennis.
Make way for Princess Aliyah, 17, the "Royal Songstress ng Bulacan." This girl’s got pipes! She joined “The Voice Kids” on ABS-CBN, performed on stage in theater, and even had her teleserye breakthrough. But for Princess, her biggest win in life is growing up surrounded by a happy, complete family, though recently, life tested them when her beloved grandpa, whom she’s super close to, faced a health battle.
After their introduction, the second batch of housemates finally entered and immediately met the first group who were already chilling in the living room. The excitement was off the charts!
Meet Anton Vinzon, 17, the “Astig Anak-tion Star ng Baguio!” Being the child of the one and only Roi Vinzon comes with pressure, with some doubting his skills and calling him just “the action star’s son." Anton is proving otherwise by taking acting workshops. Off cam, he loves cooking and singing
Another housemate from the Kapamilya camp was Eliza Borromeo, the "Determined Darling ng Cavite." She was literally just shopping at the mall when someone scouted her for a go-see at ABS-CBN, and then, destiny unlocked. The timing couldn’t have been more real. Her dad just lost his job then, so she and her sibling had to stop schooling for a while. But instead of giving up, Eliza took that as fuel to step up for her family.
Stepping in with pure positive energy is Rave Victoria, 18, the "Optimistic Apo ng Tarlac." His love for working out started as a way to stay healthy, but it soon became his ticket to new opportunities. As his parents separated when he was seven, his grandma took on both parental roles and became his biggest inspiration. Everything he does, including this “PBB” chapter, is for her. Now he's ready to work out his dreams inside Bahay Ni Kuya.
Alongside him was Waynona Collings, 18, the "Ate de Pamilya ng Quezon City." She’s been in showbiz since she was 14, but her real-life role as big sister taught her more about courage than any script could. When her parents faced challenges with their business, Waynona stepped up for her family.
This batch’s first meeting was peak cuteness, as they gave their first impressions like they were just in a barkada movie. Rave said Waynona looked "sobrang ganda at mukhang mabait," while Eliza thought of Anton as "mukhang sweet na mahinhin."
Talk about timing—Iñigo Jose, 20, the "Caring Kuya ng Parañaque," was actually born the same year the very first edition of "Pinoy Big Brother" aired! His first love is basketball, but his personality screams soft boy-slash-protector. He’s super close to his siblings and naturally looks out for people around him. Inside the house, we can see him becoming everyone’s Kuya figure.
Meanwhile, Caprice Cayetano, 16, the "Demure Daughter ng Quezon City," is no stranger to the spotlight. She joined showbiz at five (because she was that good at crying on cue) and nine years later, she’s still gracing our screens. Her parents were teens when they had her, but they stepped up and raised her well.
Bringing a burst of energy into the mix was Lee Victor, 16, the "Energetic Son-bassador ng Cavite." Half-Pinoy, half-British, but 100% mama’s boy, Lee grew up with just his mom, who chose to focus on raising him after separating from his dad. He started modeling at a young age before becoming an actor, and he’s also got a soft spot for singing, but his proudest achievement yet is becoming an AnakTV Ambassador because his ultimate goal is to be a positive role model for the youth.
We also got to meet Lella Ford, 19, the "Blooming Bunso ng Tacloban." A certified sporty, she loves volleyball (you’ve probably seen her at the Star Magic All-Star Games!) and even dabbles in martial arts. But beyond her sporty side, she’s super fun and “makulit.” As the daughter of Karla Estrada and sister of Daniel Padilla, Lella admits there’s pressure to live up to the family name. Still, she’s here to show that she’s more than just a celebrity kid.
Before stepping inside the house, Lella and Lee shared the one golden rule their moms told them to live by in Bahay Ni Kuya: “Magpakatotoo.”
Closing the lineup are the final four housemates. John Clifford, 19, the "Dutiful Langga ng Cebu," is the only son in a super close-knit family. He left home at 15 to chase his showbiz dreams in Manila. Last year tested their strength as a family when their business caught fire and his dad battled prostate cancer. Thankfully, his dad recovered, and that moment changed John’s perspective completely as he realized how much he wants to give back to the people who’ve always believed in him.
Joining him is Reich Alim, 20, the "Dependable Darling ng Makati." Her parents had her later in life, so she grew up being treated as the "miracle baby." She’s been hustling since day one to make them proud, but in 2022, she lost her dad, who sadly never got to see her project, the Kapamilya mystery-drama series "What Lies Beneath" on air. Still, Reich keeps going, carrying his love and strength wherever she goes.
Fred Moser, 18, the "Courtside Charmer ng Albay," is half-Swiss but 100% Pinoy at heart. He grew up here, fell in love with showbiz early, and started with modeling before shifting to acting. But when he’s not in front of the camera, you’ll find him on the basketball court chasing his dream of playing collegiate hoops. For now, he’s swapping jerseys for Kuya’s tasks.
Many netizens had been wishing for Ashley Sarmiento to join the edition—and wish granted! She really did close out the lineup. Ashley, 18, and dubbed the "Longing Sweetheart ng Las Piñas," has practically grown up before our eyes, having started her career as a child star. With twelve years in the industry, she even landed a lead role at just eight years old in the Kapamilya drama "FlordeLiza," acting turned her into a young breadwinner. But behind her bubbly aura is a story that will tug at your heart. She's never met her dad in person. She once reached out, only to be left “seenzoned.” Still, Ashley chooses to keep smiling and fighting
The final minutes of the episode revealed that the mystery cake inside the house was actually for Fred’s 18th birthday. What a way to kick off Day 1! The housemates finally got to hear Kuya’s voice for the first time this season as he welcomed them all and wished them to build real friendships and happy memories inside his house.
Carmelle then opened the letter for their very first task, which is going to be a major teamwork test right off the bat. The challenge is to form a human chain stretching from the living room all the way to the garden and safely transfer Fred’s birthday cake onto a podium.
How did the housemates do on their first task together? We’ll find out on the next episode!
Viewers can watch "PBB Collab 2.0" online via live streams on Pinoy Big Brother's YouTube Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and iWant.