After more than three months of twists, tasks, and emotionally charged moments, Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition is set to make history as it crowns its first-ever Big Winner Duo tomorrow, July 5, live from the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City. This landmark season marks a monumental collaboration between ABS-CBN and GMA Network, two giants in Philippine television, coming together for a reality show event like no other.
Premiering on March 9, 2025, PBB Celebrity Collab Edition is the third celebrity season and the eighteenth overall installment of the beloved reality series. It is also the first full celebrity edition since 2008, and notably, the first PBB season not to air on ABS-CBN’s traditional domestic channels—Kapamilya Channel and A2Z. Instead, the show aired on GMA Network, making it the first time a season was hosted on the Kapuso network.
But this season wasn’t just about networks shaking hands—it was about unity, diversity, and the spirit of competition. The house welcomed celebrities signed under Star Magic (Kapamilya) and Sparkle GMA Artist Center (Kapuso), each one bringing their own charm, story, and strategy into the iconic Big Brother house.
The Final Four Duos
After surviving the highs and lows of Big Brother’s game, four dynamic duos emerged as finalists:
- RaWi – Ralph De Leon and Will Ashley De Leon
- BreKa – Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca
- ChaRes – Charlie Fleming and Esnyr Ranollo
- AzVer – AZ Martinez and River Joseph Manalo
Each duo has shown resilience, teamwork, and growth, earning their place in the finale through a combination of public support, competitive grit, and strategic play.
A Season of Twists and Turning Points
This season was filled with game-changing twists that kept housemates—and viewers—on their toes:
- The Immunity Shield, introduced on Day 9, gave its holder protection from nomination, shaking up the weekly dynamics early on. Winner here is Bianca and Mika.
- On Day 64, the Big Comeback was announced, allowing evicted housemates (except Michael and Emilio, due to prior commitments) to compete for re-entry through a public vote on Maya. One Sparkle and one Star Magic housemate were selected, with the results revealed on Day 71. Highest votes goes to Ralph and Charlie.
- The Big Intensity Challenges on Day 72 intensified the rivalry, pitting Sparkle housemates against Sparkle, and Star Magic against Star Magic. Not only was immunity at stake—one housemate from each side was evicted by week’s end.
- On Day 79, the Secret Room twist surprised everyone. Winners of the Intensity Challenge—AZ, Esnyr, Shuvee, and Ralph—were moved into isolation, where they could interact only through a morphed version of Big Brother’s voice. Their mission included managing a ₱1,000 budget and completing tasks to eventually save the nominated housemates, with help from special houseguest Jane de Leon.
- By Day 99, the game welcomed duo challengers, who secretly observed the remaining housemates and eventually confronted them with situations designed to test their integrity and loyalty. Both the challengers and housemates voted on who deserved a place in the Big 4, a vote that would decide the first official finalists.
- The legendary Big Jump to the Big Four, revived from previous seasons, returned on Day 107. After Charlie and Esnyr (ChaRes) secured their slot, the remaining four duos battled in three intense challenges to claim the final three places in the Big 4. And the last duo evicted was DusBi (Dustin Yun and Bianca De Vera)
Let the Public Decide
Now, with the final four duos named, it’s all in the hands of the public. Voting has officially opened, with the familiar system of BBS (vote to save) and BBE (vote to evict) back in play. A contestant’s final tally will be the result of their total BBS votes minus their BBE votes—placing strategic emphasis not only on fan support but also on avoiding backlash.
Adding to the stakes is the One Million Votes Challenge, inspired by the Ten Million Diamonds Challenge of Kumunity Season 10. The four duos are currently competing in special tasks to earn a share of one million bonus votes, which will be added to their public vote totals during the finale. The first duo winner for this challenge is BreKa.
A Show of Unity, Growth, and Milestones
Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition is more than just a reality show—it’s a cultural milestone. It’s the first time ABS-CBN and GMA have worked hand in hand on a prime-time reality project, symbolizing the potential for unity in Philippine entertainment.
With each episode averaging nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube, the show’s daily virality proved its strong grip on Filipino pop culture. The mix of familiar PBB hosts—Bianca Gonzalez, Robi Domingo, Kim Chiu, Melai Cantiveros, Enchong Dee, and Alexa Ilacad—alongside new co-hosts Gabbi Garcia and Mavy Legaspi, added fresh energy to the franchise while honoring its roots.
The Countdown Begins
As the finale draws near, emotions are running high, both inside and outside the house. Who will be crowned as the first Big Winner Duo of this groundbreaking season? Will it be the fire-forged bond of RaWi, the charm and grit of BreKa, the humor and heart of ChaRes, or the intensity and determination of AzVer?
The stage is set. The choice is yours. Vote wisely, and prepare to witness history.
