Truth bombs dropped in the latest episode of “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0” as the ‘Ultimate Tapatan’ resumed.
The Ultimate 8 members faced questions from the public and from the evictees. Like the housemates before him, Joaquin Arce was cross-examined by host Bianca Gonzalez about his mantra word. He was asked to share an instance when he embodied “pag-unlad” or growth, which led him to recall initiating an open forum among the housemates in the past to address their alleged “issues” about him.
“I wanted to know 'yung mga criticisims ng ibang housemates tungkol sa akin. Nakinig naman ako sa mga sinabi nila, and I took the necessary steps, courses of actions that I could take to improve myself from those specific criticisms,” Joaquin opened up. The jury comprised by the 12 ex-housemates delivered a split verdict on his answer—half “truth,” half “lie.”
The next question came from evictee Anton Vinzon. “Kino-consider mo ba ang sarili mo na isang nepo baby? Or na-influence ka lang ng pamilya mo? Or sadyang ibinotoka lag gamit ang kanilang pera?”
Joaquin confronted the issue head-on and explained that he had instructed his family not to spend money on voting for him. “Everything na I want to achieve in this industry as an actor, because it is my dream to be an actor, gusto ko na deserve ko siya. Kasi lagi akong tinatanong, 'Do you want to work with your stepmom [Angel Locsin]?' Lagi kong sinasabi na, I think it's a prize to work with her. I think I have to deserve it. I think I have to be a good enough actor to be able to act with her.”
“With that being said, I think if I were to win and if I were to deserve a spot, I think I have to deserve it. Dapat taumbayan ang pipili sa akin.”
For Anton, Joaquin’s statement rang as “truth.” However, for the rest of the ex-housemates watching from an isolated room, it failed to convince. Out of the 12 ex-housemates, Joaquin received eight “lie” results. When asked about his reaction to the numbers, he said, “I could say with all my heart na that's coming from my heart.”
Joaquin was then grilled by the batch's first evictee, Reich Alim,“Is your connection with Lella legit? Or is it all for show?”
He clarified that his bond with Lella is real as they had already been friends even before entering the house. “We've been friends since outside. We're good friends. There's nothing much I could say,” maintained Joaquin, to which Reich clapped back, “I'm asking you if dumidikit ka kay Lella just because you did your research before going here and alam mo na malakas ang ships sa outside world?”
Joaquin shook his head, “That's false. And all the times I've been with Lella are all genuine times. I stick with her and I stick to her because she's my best friend. I trust her more than anyone here,” and then smiled when Reich raised her “lie” board in front of him. Meanwhile, ten more ex-housemates were unconvinced by his answer.
Is Joaquin your pick for Kapamilya Big Winner? Cheer him on at the Big Night this February 28.
Catch the remaining episodes of "PBB Collab 2.0," available online via livestream on the PBB YouTube Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and iWant.