BB FANS

'Pinoy Big Brother' will wow RP, says TV host
abs-cbnnews

It's survival of the toughest.

This was how TV host Willie Revillame summed up the challenge awaiting 12 contestants of ABS-CBN's "Pinoy Big Brother" - the country's most awaited reality TV show for 2005.

Revillame told DZMM Friday that the network's latest show, which was franchised from Holland, is not for the weak.

"Kailangan dito psychologically, mentally normal ka (You have to be psychologically and mentally normal for this)," Revillame, one of the program's three hosts, said.

He added: "Dumaan sila sa psychiatrist [ng show] kasi baka may suicidal or violent tendencies (They had to go through the show's psychiatrist to check if they had suicidal or violent tendencies)."

The comedian, who hosts the top-rated noontime game show "Wowowee", said the final 12 contestants who will play housemates for 100 days on national TV were chosen from about 35,000 individuals from all over the country who auditioned for the show.

He boasted that "Pinoy Big Brother" is the Kapamilya Network's grandest show to date. He said the "Pinoy Big Brother" house cost P18 million, while the technical requirements for the show added another P128 million.

Indeed, the network giant spared no expense in bringing the show that took the world by storm to the Filipino audience.

It had Filmal Realty Corp. build a cozy two-story house for the contestants at the Eugenio Lopez Drive in front of ABS-CBN’s The Loop.

The house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room-kitchen, a spacious living room, a swimming pool and a "confession room" where each contestant could communicate with "Big Brother."

The contestants will be allowed only on the ground floor of the house; the second floor will be used by the show’s staff.

For 100 days, the housemates will have no contact whatsoever with the outside world.

The show has banned TV, telephone, cell phone, radio, newspaper, computer, watches and any other means of communication with the contestants' loved ones.

The participants will be given daily tasks, weekly assignments and challenges that will display their true feelings and test their abilities to win over an allowance to buy anything they wish such as cigarettes and chocolates.

Their every move will be monitored by 27 cameras in every nook and cranny of the "Pinoy Big Brother" house.

"Pinoy Big Brother" will be adapted to local culture. There will be no nudity allowed like in the international versions where some housemates are even shown making love. And since we’re Catholic, the local house will be the only one with an altar in it.

Viewers can text in which of the 12 housemates should be "voted out" and "text to stay." The housemates will also "vote out" a fellow housemate every week and the two housemates who will get the most number of votes will be the final nominees for eviction.

Viewers will have to send "text to stay" to save the housemate they wish to remain in the show.

The grand winner will walk away from the show with P1 million, a house and lot, and a brand new Nissan Frontier Titanium 3.

Toni Gonzaga will be the primetime host of the show from Monday to Friday; Saturday live eviction airing will be with Gonzaga and Reviilame. Daily updates and late night shows will be hosted by Mariel Rodriguez.

Studio 23 will air "Pinoy Big Brother" every Monday to Thursday and Saturdays, with Asia Agcaoili as host.

The show will have a 24-hour webcast on the website www. pinoybigbrother.com.

The official launch for "Pinoy Big Brother" starts on August 20 and 21, which will feature a live street fiesta in front of the "Pinoy Big Brother" house. Kapamilya stars will welcome the 12 housemates before they begin their 100-day stay inside the house.

The "big brother" concept is based on George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty- Four, published in 1948 and taken to be a warning against totalitarianism, in which the state spies on the activity of every individual.

The Philippines is the 31st country to have its own edition of the "Big Brother" show, but is only the second country to buy a franchise of the show after Thailand.

abs-cbnnews
By DENNIS LADAW



Saying that this house doesn’t offer any privacy to its tenants is an understatement. It’s ensconced in a thriving commercial district, opposite the compound of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. on the Eugenio Lopez Drive in Quezon City.

The interior itself is a giant fishbowl, what with almost 30 cameras strategically installed to capture every activity of its 12 inhabitants. After all, this is the house that ABS-CBN built for its newest reality series, "Pinoy Big Brother." As you probably know, the show is the local version of the American hit "Big Brother," which has six women and six men living in a house together for 100 days.

The show’s producers pulled all the stops to make a dream home for its contestants. It stands on a 1,600 square meter property owned by the network. The exterior and façade suggests an American restaurant attempting to provide that special "homey ambiance" to its diners. It fits right in with its neighbors -- a number of other restos along the bustling street.

"An old house was torn down and a new one was built," architect Arnold Austria told The Sunday Times Magazine. "We started from scratch, unlike the other editions of the show [in other countries] which merely refurbished an available house."

The place was completed in three months. Total cost was estimated between P12 million and P13 million, another producer said. The hefty figure was shouldered by the contractor, which also happens to be one of the show’s sponsors.

The house is airy and spacious. Air-conditioning is centralized. For those who want to breathe some fresh air at some point in the 100 days, there’s a big yard at the rear where a giant Jacuzzi has been installed.

The first room from the main entrance is the "confessional room," where each contestant is interviewed from week to week by the hosts, Willie Revillame, Mariel Rodriguez and Toni Gonzaga. It resembles the kind of psychiatrist’s clinic we see in Hollywood films, complete with a lazy boy chair.

There are only two bedrooms. The boys’ room is painted in blue while the girls’ room features a bright orange shade. There is only one shower room and one restroom -- both are equipped with cameras.

The network’s resident production designer Nancy Arcega did the interiors. A veteran of many TV shows and films ("Spirit of the Glass"), she said she chose to paint the house with bright, cheerful colors. "And we made sure a lot of natural light could get in. This way, the place wouldn’t look dark on TV. There are no studio lights in this house," she explained.

The layout follows the original plan of the American house, which is very modern. Arcega’s furniture is also modern but the Filipiniana flavor is noticeable.

"I chose to use local materials, local colors. Noted Filipino artists made some of the conversation pieces. Like the house in the American version, this has a hammock in the backyard. But ours is made of macramé, of course!" she said.

Arcega has no idea how much the interiors cost, since every piece of furniture, appliance and accessory she put into the house is also sponsored.

However, there’s a big room to the left of the foyer that doesn’t look like anything Arcega had designed. It’s the technical control room, or Big Brother’s viewing lair, where dozens of monitors display nearly every corner of the house. This is where the crew will be taping and editing the drama that will unfold beginning tomorrow.

The lair is like a high-tech security room or a tetchy-voyeur’s haven -- it’s not unlike the voyeur’s room in the movie Sliver.

Arcega worked closely with Austria to make sure the house felt like a real home, without the photographic gadgets making too much of an interference. "But when it came to the interiors and accessories, I worked alone. Arnold prefers earthy colors. I like my colors feminine. My own house looks like this. I could live in this house for 100 days, but without the cameras!"

In contrast, Austria said he’d take the house and the cameras. "I have nothing against frontal nudity," he quipped.

As for the rest of the production team, they hope to the highest heavens that the Pinoy Big Brother home will be TV’s newest viewer hotspot for the next 100 days, what with its promise to mount the "grandest reality show in the country."

Meet the real-life drama participants Sunday night in the final primer for "Pinoy Big Brother," "Ang Party ni Kuya."

ABS-CBN

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for including me in this forum! Well, I'm here to talk about the newest Big Brother franchise -- Pinoy Big Brother.

The show has taken the Philippines by storm. It's like everyone I know is talking about it. Although BB has been around for quite some time, the concept is something new here. Today I believe, the first housemate will face eviction. The housemates are an interesting mix of personalities. Most are goodlooking with great bodies, most notably Cassandra, the pretty, kind-hearted country girl, and Rico, who takes off his clothes almost too often. There is also Racquel, the chubby teacher who just recently voiced out her insecurities about her physical appearance. And Uma, the half-Israeli, half-Filipino goofball who likes dressing up as a woman and does a terrific impersonation of Mr. Bean.

So far, the episodes have been more about teamwork and cameraderie, and yes, shedding of outer wear in the process. In my country we have a censorship bureau, but so far they have kept quiet since nothing too untowardly has happened -- yet. I promise to post more updates here, to give you guys the latest scoop on the show. I post articles regularly about Pinoy Big Brother on my weblog -- Chikadora.com, which includes many screen caps of PBB. Please give it a shot! Thank you and more power to all the other BB's in the world! Ciao!

Hi Chikadora, welcome to BBFans.

Thanks for the link to your weblog, I have no doubt a lot of our members will have a look.

August 30,
Manila Standard

I have been getting a lot of complaints, mostly from parents, against ABS-CBN’s reality show, “Pinoy Big Brother,” about 12 young men and women living together in a house for 100 days with 26 cameras following them around as they develop relationships.

The complaints range from indecency to obscenity, and foul and vulgar language to crass immorality and values about the relationships of the young.

It’s for this reason why my wife and I decided to tune in over ABS-CBN’s primetime to get a glimpse of the show. Sure enough, I was scandalized at the show, especially at primetime when all members of the family sit before the idiot box before bedtime. Imagine me being scandalized, a journalist for more than half a century!

I saw, for instance, boys and girls bathing each other inside the bathroom, sometimes handcuffed at that, girls in a body-painting session painting the crotch area of the boys. Yes, they wore briefs, but that’s outright obsence, indecent and scandalous.

There were also midnight and after- midnight conversations and sessions between the boys and girls about using female condoms, talking about boobs moving up and down, and their first sexual intercourse.

If Movies and Television Review and Classification Board Chairman Marissa Laguardia lowered the boom on other shows about indecent scenes, and obscene dialogues and footages, Big Brother should be cancelled outright and its producers and the station penalized.

***

When I read that Pinoy Big Brother had already gotten a stern warning from the MTRCB for airing “objectionable dialogue” and footages of female contestants in “skimpy” outfits, I said, “It’s about time.”

But, more than improper speech and attire, the show demeans and degrades Filipino values and way of life, with male and female contestants conversing in the dining table and in the living room almost naked and putting up their feet, scenes that are un-Filipino. Can you imagine what foreigners think of us Filipinos when they watch the show? To think that ABS-CBN shows this abroad over its Filipino channel. I have seen other indecent and vulgar TV shows over ABS-CBN and its rival, GMA-7, but Big Brother takes the cake.

Sometimes I wonder if the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines ever watches telenovelas and teleseryes demeaning the Filipino sense of morality and values. Instead of running around the streets of Metro Manila where the lack of oxygen has perhaps affected his brain, Fr. Robert Reyes should have his skewed sense of priorities placed in proper perspective and campaign for decency and morality in television shows.

Or, perhaps Archbishop Oscar Cruz should concentrate on campaigning for Filipino values and morals over television, like a priest that he is should, instead of acting like a petty politician he has become in trying to link the First Family to jueteng. How about it Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales? Do something, good fathers.

But, going back to the stern warning by Laguardia to ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother, the MTRCB should lower the boom and cancel it outright. The show, a copycat of an American show, has no redeeming factor at all.

Santa Banana, ABS-CBN has even made it a Sunday to Monday show on primetime with repeats during the day and night. The tragedy here is that it’s all for ratings. How low can ABS-CBN get just to get ratings in its “war” with GMA-7 and recover from its losses? Have the Lopezes also lost their sense of values and morality?

***

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First posted 05:43am (Mla time) Sept 03, 2005
By Nestor U. Torre
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A2-3 of the September 3, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

DESPITE a growing sense of disease and boredom, we made it a point to watch the daily telecasts of the new reality show, "Pinoy Big Brother," on its first week, to make sure that we would get a good overview of what it was about.

Well, after that long first week, we sense that the show is trying to show the evolution of human relationships in a stressful situation, like the 12 "residents" of the show's house-resort-prison. There are valuable lessons to be learned from such an "experimental," "laboratory" illustration of human psychology.

Positive attributes

Unfortunately, the show's potentially positive attributes and results are compromised by several negative factors: First, most of the 12 young men and women chosen aren't interesting as people-especially not when viewers are encouraged to gawk at their daily activities and proclivities for more than three months!

Many of them soon come off as immature, peevish, egocentric, and not very caring or imaginative-so, where's the attraction there?

Second, most of the big house's residents, especially the women, appear to have been chosen for their "liberated" attitude, so the show's worthy psychological intent is roundly and rudely upstaged by the residents' loose behavior and skimpy clothing.

Third, while the residents are given a variety of "interesting" things to do and challenging tasks to accomplish, their interest value isn't sustained because the 12 housemates' reactions and comments are generally predictable and shallow.

To balance the picture, the show does score plus points with its "confessional" portion, in which the residents talk to their mini-society's Big Brother, and unburden themselves of their private and personal hurts, resentments and angst.

Insights

But, the psychological insights gained from this portion are diminished by the voyeuristic attitude that the show encourages in viewers. Thus, the intent is not really to understand human nature, but to poke one's nosey proboscis into other people's affairs, to sniff out fetid controversies and scandals.

Compounding this cynical propensity, the residents were encouraged (until a recent clampdown, after some viewers complained) to be quite graphic in their conversations.

We get the feeling that the show is adding to its sizzle in these ways to generate controversy, thus viewership, thus high ratings, thus more commercials, thus bigger profits.

This is par for the TV course, but some viewers have been complaining because of its negative effect on young viewers.

To really turn the show around, it has to stress psychology over self-serving sizzle, and to make its proceedings genuinely interesting and eventful. The question is, does its production team have what it takes to do this?

The Manila Times (9/4/2005
abs-cbnnews

Housemates Rico, Racquel and Franzen face a tension-filled week following their nomination for eviction from Pinoy Big Brother's house on Saturday.

Racquel and Franzen were nominated for eviction by their housemates, with the teacher from Batangas garnering 11 votes and the jobless from Sampaloc getting seven thumbs down.

Rico was nominated by Pinoy Big Brother last Tuesday for his unruly behavior.

The chances of the three to remain at Big Brother's house are now in the hands of the viewers, who can text votes the nominee who should be saved from being booted out of Big Brother’s house.

The nominated housemate who will get the least number of votes will be evicted automatically from Pinoy Big Brother’s house.

Eviction night is on Saturday, September 10.

How the voting went

Most housemates had a hard time naming their nominees, but had to comply with the rules. Based on the rules, a housemate who refuses to make a nomination must leave the house.

Each housemate was given three points for nomination. For their two nominees, they had the option to give two points or one point depending on the degree on how much do they want to oust the housemate from the house.

Those who voted for Racquel were Rico, Uma, Cass, JB, Say, Jenny and Franzen, who have a common reason for nominating Racquel. They said that they didn’t like Racquel’s attitude of acting like a teacher.

Although they nominated her, the housemates gave Racquel credit for trying to change her bossy attitude.

The housemates who voted for Franzen were Chx, Cass, Jenny and Racquel.

They said that Franzen was having a hard time relating to the group. They want to reach out to him but he seems hesitant.

Other’s who got nominated

Aside from Racquel and Franzen, Bob, Cass, Uma, Nene, JB and Say also got nomination points.

Bob got five points. Cass, Uma and Nene each received three nominations. Lovers JB and Say got one nomination each.

The only housemates who did not get any nomination points were Chx, Jason and Jenny.

Pinoy Big Brother did not allow the housemates to nominate Rico since he was already nominated by Kuya last Tuesday after showing unpleasant behavior inside the house.

mb.com.ph

There’s certainly much curiosity still playing in the minds of televiewers about ABS-CBN’s newest reality-based TV show "Pinoy Big Brother," now on its second week.

So know more about the show through the following frequently asked questions, answered by the network’s PR department:

1. What is "Pinoy Big Brother?"

"Pinoy Big Brother" is based on an internationally known reality television format wherein a number of contestants (typically 10 or 12) try to avoid being evicted from a communal house to win. The 12 contestants in "Pinoy Big Brother" are called "housemates."

2. What is unique about "Pinoy Big Brother?"

Controversial. That is what "Big Brother" and "Pinoy Big Brother" is all about. Never have people been put to the test in this manner. The show has all the ingredients of intense television. It is innovative, exciting and dramatic. But at the same time human, recognizable and touching. For approximately 100 days, the viewer will sympathize with the 12 housemates — crying, laughing and fallin in love with them.

3. How many auditioned for the housemates?

The nationwide auditions for the housemates of "Pinoy Big Brother" began in May with an overwhelming 25,00 turn-out of "housemate hopefuls."

4. What is the difference between our local "Big Brother" and the international version?

"Pinoy Big Brother" is different from international versions. There will be no "strip to bare back necessities in which they live. "Pinoy Big Brother" will have "daily tasks" and "weekly assignments" during their stay in the "Pinoy Big Brother" house and the "dairy room" is now called the "confession room" wherein the housemates are required to use everyday for five minute just to air their sentiments, grievances or whatever emotion they have. The "Pinoy Big Brother" house is also the only "Big Brother" house with an altar in a corner of the house.

5. Do you anticipate any MTRCB problems because of possible nude scenes?

"Pinoy Big Brother" is molded within Filipino norms so nudity will not be permitted. ABS-CBN will not air sensitive or even obscene footage, upholding self-regulation to abide by the rules of the MTRCB. Even if there are cameras inside the bathrooms, the footage will not be recorded or aired on TV, cable or internet. The housemates are informed of the presence of cameras inside the bathrooms and are advised to protect themselves from exploitation.

6. What happens inside the "Pinoy Big Brother" house? What is the role of the Big Brother (Kuya)?

Big Brother is the only one to directly communicate with the housemates (except for unavoidable events such as medical attention). Inside the house is a "confession room," where housemates could communicate with Big Brother and express their feelings toward their fellow housemates or the circumstances they are in. The conversation will be strictly confidential from the other housemates.

7. Other than ABS-CBN 2, where else can we view "Pinoy Big Brother?"

There is a daily primetime telecast on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida, after "Kampanerang Kuba," with Toni Gonzaga as host. There is a Saturday live eviction aired after "TV Patrol World" hosted by Willie Revillame. Daily Big Brother updates will then be presented by Mariel Rodriguez, three times a day — before "Homeboy," after "Wowowee" and before "Meteor Garden." Mariel also hosts the Big Brother Up Late at midnight.

On Studio 23, Pinoy Big Brother airs every Monday to Thursday, 6:30 p.m. with Asia Agcaoili. There are also Saturday shows that present highlights of the "Pinoy Big Brother" episodes for the week.

"Pinoy Big Brother" can also be viewed 24/7 for the whole season via a 24-hour cable channel for only R1,500,or $40 for the whole season.

"Pinoy Big Brother" can also be watched the whole day for one season via a 24-hour cable channel for only R1,500.This can be seen on Channel 53.

8. What compensation will the 12 housemates get after devoting their 100 days solely for the show?

The housemates are given a weekly allowance for the whole 100 days.

9. How does the eviction process work?

There are two processes: The 12 housemates will go inside the confession room after being called by Big Brother to"vote out a housemate." After tallying, the two housemates with the most number of votes will presented as the "nominees for eviction." The viewers will then choose the two nominees and will have to "text to stay" to save the housemate they wish to remain inside the "Pinoy Big Brother" house.

10. Will the housemate get anything after being evicted?

Evicted housemates will get consolation prizes — a TV set from Promac, karaoke and electric fan plus each housemate, including the Big Winner, will get a Norkis Yamaha motorcycle. The Big Winner also gets an entertainment showcase from Promac.

* * *

abs-cbnnews
September 9, 2005

Who will be the first to leave Big Brother's house? Will it be Rico, Racquel or Franzen?

-----------------------------

This is the squirming question that will be answered Saturday evening as the true-to-life reality show announces the first housemate who will bid farewell to the once-in-a-lifetime chance to fame and fortune.

A street party similar to the welcome salvo, to be held in front of Big Brother's House on Eugenio Lopez Ave. in Quezon City, will be awaiting the first evicted housemate.

Last Saturday, housemates Rico, Racquel and Franzen were nominated for eviction from Big Brother's house.

Racquel and Franzen were nominated by their housemates. Rico was nominated by Pinoy Big Brother earlier for his unruly behavior.

With their nomination, the fate of the three will have to be determined by the viewing public, through text votes. The nominated housemate with the least number of votes come Saturday evening will have to be evicted.

As of posting time, there was still no clear indication as to who among the teacher from Batangas, the jobless from Sampaloc and the boy-next-door from Olongapo would be going out of Big Brother's House.

By JOY S. GRATE
abs-cbnNEWS.com

The public has decided. Rico will have to leave Big Brother's house.

A teary-eyed Rico on Saturday evening emerged from Big Brother's house and became the first housemate to be evicted from the country's first true-to-life telenovela.

Rico said he conditioned himself to leave Big Brother's house though he will miss the 11 housemates who have become good friends in the past 20 days.

"I have prepared myself to go the moment that I was nominated. I knew that if I would expect, I might just end up being hurt," Rico said.

The 24-year-old hunk from Olongapo, whose full name is Frederick Barrera, was evicted after getting the least number of votes from the public. He got 10 percent of the total votes cast.

The viewers, on the other hand, chose to save Rico's co-nominees for eviction. Racquel got 11 percent and Franzen received the lion's share of the total public approval at 79 percent.

With Rico's eviction, there are now 11 housemates left in Big Brother's house. They are Chx, Jason, Nene, Bob, Say, Cass, JB, Uma, Jenny, Franzen and Racquel.

Rico's mark

Rico first made his mark in Big Brother with a controversial revelation about his being a kept son.

The former "hosto" (male guest relations officer) from Japan revealed that siblings on his mother's side were not aware that he is their half-brother. He said his mother introduced him as their cousin.

"My four siblings do not know that I am their brother. They would only [know] because of Big Brother," Rico told his housemates in a chit-chat less than five hours from the time that he got inside the house last August 23.

He said even his stepfather in San Fernando, Pampanga, does not know that he is his wife's biological son. "He only knew me as his wife's nephew. Now, they know and this might cause trouble to my mother."

The public also took notice of Rico for the sweet moments he shared with housemate Chx, which many view could create a conflict because the she admitted to having a boyfriend.

Big Brother himself made a strong first impression on Rico, not for the stories he revealed but for his unruly behavior.

In his first week at the house, the hunk was caught disobeying the houserules four times. The worst was when he swam with his lapel mic. All these earned him the history in Pinoy Big Brother of being the first to be nominated for eviction, not by his housemates but by no less than Big Brother himself.

Surprise eviction

However, to the crowd that gathered in front of the Big Brother house on Eugenio Lopez Avenue in Quezon City to welcome the first evictee, Rico was a surprise public choice.

Most of the people interviewed prior to the announcement had predicted that it was Racquel who would be the first to go.

"I think the teacher from Batangas would be the first to be evicted because she has been getting negative remarks not only from her housemates but also from the viewers," a fan said in an interview.

Racquel herself appeared surprised when show host Willie Revillame uttered the word "congratulations" after her name, while saying "sorry and goodbye" to Rico. At once, she countered "thank you" and gave the housemate she beat by one percent a big hug.

The rest of the housemates, on the other hand, just appeared emotional that indeed the time had come for one of them to go.

To his family, however, especially to his father and brother, Rico's eviction was the moment they have long been waiting for.

"Finally, I would be reunited with my son, I will help him pick up the pieces," Rico's father said as he welcomed his son back to his arms and later to their home.

For comments, go to the message board.

ABS-CBN
September 13, 2005

ABS-CBN 2’s controversial prime-time player Pinoy Big Brother finally began its much awaited eviction process on Saturday night.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABS-CBN 2’s controversial prime-time player Pinoy Big Brother finally began its much awaited eviction process on Saturday night. Its first "casualty" is Rico Barrera, a good-looking 23-year-old ex-hosto (an entertainer in Japan) who is a native of Olongapo, a city once famous (or infamous?) for sex workers who cater to military and civilian personnel of the former US Subic Naval Base.

For an "evictee," Rico has never had it so good. Placard-carrying admirers greeted him as he emerged from the Big Brother house right across the sprawling ABS-CBN studios in Quezon City. At the network’s Studio 10, the show’s weekend host, Willie Revillame, welcomed Rico by letting him know that he was going home with several Promac appliances and a Norkis Yamaha motorcycle. Although Willie didn’t announce it, Rico would also get P15,000 in cash, the amount of his allowance for his three weeks as a housemate.

The next day, Rico was interviewed on the network’s Sunday show-biz magazine show The Buzz. On Monday afternoon, he met the press at 9501, the posh restaurant on the 14th floor of the ELJ Building at the ABS-CBN compound.

Rico announced with a huge smile that he already has offers to be an endorser and that he has been signed up for a six-month management contract by ABS-CBN 2. The network is now considering casting him in one of its new soap operas.

The future certainly looks good for Rico, whose mother presented him to other people as her nephew in the past because she is separated from Rico’s father and now has a new family with another man. His mother used to introduce him to his half-brothers and half-sisters as their cousin. All the while, Rico knew that the woman claiming to be her aunt was her mother and his cousins were his half-siblings.

"Since I’ve really had no time to go home and get myself more presentable clothes, ABS-CBN 2 has been buying me clothes and other personal paraphernalia so I can look well-dressed when they have me appear in any of their shows. My outfits and other things cost several thousands, which I certainly could not afford on my own. The network has also been paying for my accommodations in nearby hotels," revealed Rico in Tagalog.

Though seemingly unable to speak a single sentence in English, Rico does have spunk and is very personable. He stands 5’10" and has a good physique. He really has the look for an actor. More than the physical, he is not rattled by overlapping and occasionally castigating questions thrown at him by the media interviewers. He answers them as honestly and as intelligently as he can.

Pinoy Big Brother will subsidize Rico’s housing and other needs and provide him an allowance for two more weeks since the show will still follow his life after eviction for that period, besides tapping him for the show’s promo activities.

The next "evictee" will be known two Saturdays yet from now. Next Saturday, the 11 remaining housemates-contestants will nominate among themselves who they want out next. Since only one housemate-contestant will be evicted every two weeks, if there happens to be more than one nominee, viewers will again have to vote for the person they would like to retain. The one who gets the lowest vote is the one evicted. But, then, like in Rico’s case, it was the anonymous Big Brother himself who nominated him for eviction—due to three misdemeanors he committed:

The first was when he jumped into the swimming pool without taking off his lapel microphone, (thus ruining the mike and the control gadget that goes with it); his alleged throwing of a stuffed toy at one of the cameras inside the Big Brother house, and when he caused a small fire in the frying pan when assigned to prepare breakfast for everyone.

Ex-teacher Racquel and impoverished hick Franzen were the two actually nominated by the housemates for eviction. But Franzen, who confessed to be a battered child, got 79 percent of the total votes for retention, Racquel 11 percent, and Rico a mere 10 percent.

Incidentally, Rico feels Franzen will be the ultimate winner—because the married, wiry guy has won the sympathy not just of the housemates but also of the viewers. Rico couldn’t tell, though, who would be the next "evictee" after him.

***

Pinoy Big Brother director Laurenti Dyogi says the show will last more than the 100 days it was originally planned to be. "Eviction will stop on the day that only four contestants are left. The ultimate winner will be chosen by the viewers through their text votes," informs Dyogi.

The multimillion-peso house will not be demolished after the show’s first season, of course. The ABS-CBN 2 management has definitely decided that the show will have a second season—with a different set of contestants, of course.

The man responsible for building the house is Delfin Lee of Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. The façade of the Big Brother house is typical of the units the company builds at St. Monique Valais, a subdivision in Binangonan, Rizal, owned by the company. Globe Asiatique Realty also developed subdivisions in San Mateo, Rizal and in Valenzuela. The same Delfin Lee Co. turned over to ABS-CBN the respective house-and-lot that Erik Santos, Frenchie Dy and Jerome Sala won in separate editions of the singing contest Star In A Million. Of course, the ultimate winner in Pinoy Big Brother will also win a house-and-lot courtesy of Delfin Lee, plus P1 million, and a brand new car.

If you were in the shoes of one of the Pinoy Big Brother housemates and you learned that your father is seriously ill and would have only six months to live, what will you do? Leave the house and be at his bedside? Stay put and pursue your dream?

That was the predicament of Jenny early this week when she was told that her father has been hospitalized and in critical condition.

On Tuesday Jenny's brother was allowed to personally break the bad news to the mother from Cavite. She broke down in tears.

The news also cast gloom among the rest of the housemates. They were aware that Jenny must make a tough decision: leave or stay.

Fame and fortune had been the common goal of the housemates for joining the true-to-life telenovela.

Jenny, in particular, had declared she was doing it for the future of her son.

As of Wednesday, the doting mother opted to stay.

"This time, I am doing it also for my father. In staying in this house, I can better help him get better and even survive," Jenny told his housemates.

The 29 year-old mother was one of the three housemates not nominated for eviction by any of the housemates two Saturdays ago.

She earned the trust of her housemates and the admiration of Pinoy Big Brother viewers due to her consistent pleasant disposition. Some said she stands a good chance of surviving the 100-day challenge.

Now, Jenny's dream may well be determined by how she can stand up against her dilemma--from day to day.

abs-cbnnews

September 16, 2005
abs-cbnnews

Pinoy Big Brother housemate Jenny on Friday solved her five-day dilemma as the sign she asked in a prayer was fulfilled--telling her it's time to leave.

She would be the second housemate to leave Big Brother's house following Rico Barrera who was voted out last Saturday.

However, since it was a voluntary exit, Jenny will be replaced by a substitute housemate who will be introduced to the public on Saturday.

Nomination night also continues on Saturday when the housemates determine who will be evicted next by the public.

Jenny's dilemma started on Monday when she was informed that her father was in critical condition and would only have six months to live.

She immediately sought the advice of her housemates, most of whom gave the opinion that she must be at his father's bedside. It was housemate Nene's view, however, that came in strongest to Jenny.

"I'm sure that if your father would have his way, he would tell you to go on," Nene told Jenny who has been very vocal that she was eyeing for the Big Brother grand prize for her son's future.

Since then, Jenny was often seen alone, contemplating.

On Friday Jenny surprised everyone when she yelled: "I saw the sign, I saw the sign." It was after she was carried by one of her housemates on their way to the kitchen.

"I have prayed and ask God for a sign. If a female housemate takes me by her arm, it means that I have to leave. If a guy carries me, I will stay," Jenny told her housemates.

Ironically, the sign was fulfilled by a housemate convincing her to stay--Nene. "Of all people, why me? I had wanted Jenny to keep the fight," an amazed Nene said.

Jenny, on the other hand, appeared relieved and finally uttered: "I'm leaving. I'm going home."

The 29 year-old mother was one of the three housemates not nominated for eviction by any of the housemates two Saturdays ago.

She earned the trust of her housemates and the admiration of Pinoy Big Brother viewers due to her consistent pleasant disposition. Some said she stands a good chance of surviving the 100-day challenge.

18 September 2005 3:02 AM
By JOY S. GRATE
abs-cbnNEWS.com

If their nomination was any indication, it could not be denied that the clash of classes is indeed looming inside Pinoy Big Brother's house.

The housemates on Saturday nominated to evict Racquel, a member of the so-called "jologs," and JB who is said to be the leader of the "grupong sosyal."

Racquel, who was nominated for the second time, got nine nomination points, while JB had eight.

The fate of Racquel and JB are now in the hands of the public, who can text or call their votes for the nominee that they would like to stay at Big Brother's house.

The nominated housemate who gets the least number of votes will be automatically evicted.

Voting ends on Saturday, which will also be the second eviction night of the true-to-life telenovela.

Jologs vs sosyal

The nomination apparently proved the existing division among the housemates.

Nene, Bob, Racquel, Franzen and Jason, who were often referred as the "jologs," all nominated to evict boy-next-door JB.

On the other hand, the group of well-off housemates JB, Uma, Say, and Cass named the teacher from Batangas as their candidate for eviction. The four form the so-called "grupong sosyal" along with Chx.

Aside from Racquel and JB, the other housemates who got nomination points were Franzen, Nene, Cass, Bob, Jason and Uma.

Chix and Say were not nominated.

Jenny's farewell

The night also marked Jenny's farewell from Pinoy Big Brother, after she decided to to leave and go home to attend to her sick father.

She became the second housemate to leave Big Brother's house following Rico Barrera who was voted out last Saturday.

However, since it was a voluntary exit, Jenny will be replaced by a substitute housemate who will be introduced to the public on Sunday.

Jenny would be remembered as one of the three housemates not nominated for eviction by any of the housemates two Saturdays ago.

She earned the trust of her housemates and the admiration of Pinoy Big Brother viewers due to her consistent pleasant disposition. Some said she stands a good chance of surviving the 100-day challenge.

She, however, assured she does not regret leaving the house, saying that she was doing it for the man who raised her.

Knowing her predicament, Pinoy Big Brother handed Jenny P100,000 in cash as a farewell gift, and as help for her father's hospital expenses.