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A new chapter unfolds for iconic reality competition "Pinoy Big Brother's" (PBB) highly anticipated edition as it not only marks the show's 20th anniversary but also brings together two of the biggest talent pools in the Philippine entertainment industry — GMA Network's Sparkle and ABS-CBN's Star Magic.
‘Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition’ hosts (from left) Alexa Ilacad, Gabbi Garcia, Bianca Gonzalez, Robi Domingo, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco and Mavy Legaspi TMT PHOTO
Guiding viewers through this milestone season are returning hosts Bianca Gonzalez, Robi Domingo, Kim Chiu, Enchong Dee, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, and Alexa Ilacad. Adding a fresh dynamic to the lineup are Gabbi Garcia and Mavy Legaspi from Sparkle GMA Artist Center, making this the most star-studded season yet.
For the first time in PBB history, the show will be aired on GMA and ABS-CBN and fans will see artists from both networks living together under one roof.
Gonzalez, one of PBB's longtime hosts, shared in a press conference, "Airing on GMA, that alone, is a huge deal. Honestly, I'm 50 percent excited and 50 percent nervous because it's an entirely different audience. How will Kapuso loyal fans receive us? Will they like the format? The storytelling? That's why we truly appreciate that Mavy and Gabbi are joining us this season because they are more familiar to Kapuso fans."
Beyond its new home, this season also marks the return of a full-fledged Celebrity Edition, something that hasn't been done since 2007, when Ruben Gonzaga was named Big Winner.
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"In past celebrity editions, we had a mix of celebrities from different industries — sports, social media. But this time, it's all actors," Gonzalez noted.
"I had the privilege of sitting in the final selection of Sparkle and Star Magic artists, and I can say this season is going to be very interesting. It's easy to judge celebrities based on what we see on social media, but when you get to know their stories, you realize how different their journeys are. And now, we'll see them 24/7 in the house — people with such colorful stories," she added.
Meanwhile, Garcia and Legaspi are stepping into new roles as PBB hosts and bring fresh energy to the show.
"My hosting task for PBB includes being part of PBB Updates, which airs every Monday to Friday. We have three-minute updates in the morning and afternoon. I'm also going to be part of some of the primetime segments, so I'm super excited. It's a big responsibility, but I'm very game, and I look forward to learning from my co-hosts," said Garcia.
Asked how she has been preparing for the role, she shared, "I've been watching past seasons and studying them. A lot of people have been tagging me on TikTok with hosting clips of Ate Bianca, Kuya Robi. I'm also a student of Tito Boy [Abunda]. I've been talking to him constantly. Actually, we had a phone call the other night, and he told me to visit him so we can study materials together. He also told me that Bianca was his student, so if I have any concerns, I can go to her."
Meanwhile, Legaspi will be hosting Official Tambayan ni Kuya alongside Ilacad.
"It's an honor to be an online host alongside Alexa because she understands the structure of Kuya's house. PBB has a huge fan base, and we want to get the best of both worlds — the good comments and, of course, the bad ones, too. We just want to give our insights to the housemates, direct the audience's attention to key moments, and create a healthy atmosphere," he shared.
"Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition" will premiere on GMA Network this March 9. Catch the episodes weeknights at 10 p.m. and on weekends at 6:15 p.m. via GMA Network.
Viewers can also watch it online via live streams on Pinoy Big Brother's YouTube page, Kapamilya Online Live, and iWantTFC.
