Flonique Guimary

EXCLUSIVE: Rico Barrera on his biggest regret after PBB

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>As the first-ever housemate in <em>Pinoy Big Brother</em> to be evicted from the house after a three-week stay, Rico Barrera admits that he does have some things he wish he could have done differently when he was in the <em>PBB</em> house. The now 40-year-old actor, who is part of the film <em>Fatherland</em>, admits he was like a fish out of water, entering the reality competition after his stint as a singer in Japan during the first season which was aired in 2005. </p><div><br/></div><p>“During that time, of course, I was still young, 20. Parang naive lang ako noon! Medyo talagang wala pa akong kamuwang-muwang sa mundo, pero kung ibabalik ko lang ‘yung sarili ko doon noong 2005, mas confident na ‘yung Rico na ngayon. Kung kaya ko lang ibalik noong 20 ako na dapat pala, ganito ‘yung personality ko. Mas outgoing ako, mas confident ako, mas sigurado ako sa mga desisyon ko para sa akin, mas smarter si Rico ngayon in life decision making, yun,” he shared with PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_4Dk0zh1HD/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A1947178.5%2C%22ls%22%3A344039.8000000119%2C%22le%22%3A344044.2000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1005" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/4/3/exclusive-rico-barrera-remembers-pbb-season-1-kami-raw-yung-lolo-ng-bahay-ni-kuya-1054" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Rico Barrera remembers PBB Season 1: ‘Kami raw yung lolo ng bahay ni Kuya!’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Having been part of <em>PBB</em> and having watched the succeeding seasons of the show, Rico revealed that his all-time favorite housemate was someone he was already getting close with before she became a housemate in <em>Pinoy</em> <em>Big Brother: Double Up</em> in 2009. “Siguro ang all-time na naging favorite ko — that was 15 years ago and alam nyo naman ito bago siya nakilala dun sa Bahay ni Kuya and bago rin siya nakilala outside dito, nasa showbiz industry, hinahatid ko pa siya dati — si Sam Pinto,” he shared. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Kasi kami ni Sam before, nagkaroon na rin kami ng relationship and by the time kasi, ‘yung nag-<em>PBB</em> na siya, siyempre, alam nyo naman, career first ;pag may manager. ‘Yun ‘yung gustong unahin muna. So medyo hindi nagtagal ‘yung relationship namin and ‘yun ‘yung pinakamemorable sa akin na nangyari,” Rico recalled. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_1pUzLh52K/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A1949090.800000012%2C%22ls%22%3A344039.8000000119%2C%22le%22%3A344044.2000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="987" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>This year, Rico returns to the big screen after being handpicked for his role in director Joel Lamangan’s latest film, <em>Fatherland, </em>where he joins Inigo Pascual and Ara Davao as part of the cast. “Hindi ako sanay na humarap sa camera ng ganito. ‘Yung every image ko, puro balbas sarado talaga ako. Pero I have to adjust siyempre para sa role and ‘yun, okay naman, naging comfortable naman. Siyempre, in every work, may nakakasamang bagong mga co-actors na hindi nakatrabaho dati, tapos malalaman mo, kasundo mo rin sila, magaan sila kasama, parang barkada lang. So ‘yun. Nakakatuwa kasi sa scene, si Inigo and si Ara ang lagi kong kasama. Kami kasi ‘yung nagtra-travel, from hinahanap ni Inigo Pascual ‘yung father niya hanggang napunta kami ng Mindanao,” he said.  </p><div><br/></div><p>Rico was also all praises for his award-winning director in the film. “He’s my all-time favorite for being a director. Kasi na-miss ko lagi ‘yung pag-handle niya na sasabihin niya sa&#x27;yo kung ano ‘yung gusto niya mangyari. Kumbaga para sa amin, meron naman kami ‘yung sariling creativity, pero ‘pag ginusto kasi ng ibang tao, tapos ginawa mo ‘yung ginusto nila — ‘yung essence, ‘yung pagiging artista, ‘yung pwede kang maging versatile na hindi lang ‘yung gusto mo — nasusunod mo rin ‘yung gusto ng iba. Tapos talagang nandiyan siya para kumbaga ‘yung motivation, ‘yung pressure nandoon pero ‘yung motivation mas nagiging higher para sa amin.“<br/><br/>For Rico, even geting called out is part of the work, and he takes it as a tool to better his craft. “Kasi pag nagkamali ka, medyo masisigawan ka, so kailangan pagbutihan mo,” he added. “Sanay na ako sa voice ni Direk Joel actually, pero I enjoy na minsan tumatalak talaga siya pero hindi niya ‘yung personal. Off-camera, Direk Joel is napaka-lovable niya, pero sa trabaho talaga, pag-trabaho, trabaho talaga and you have to give your 100%. Kailangan attentive ka and responsible ka sa gagawin mo. So yun, presence of mind mo, kailangan talagang gising na gising once na dinedirect ka ni Direk Joel.”</p>

<p>Former Pinoy Big Brother Season 1 housemate Rico Barrera reveals which housemate he dated before she entered the PBB house.</p>

Former Pinoy Big Brother Season 1 housemate Rico Barrera reveals which housemate he dated before she entered the PBB house.

EXCLUSIVE: Rico Barrera on his biggest regret after PBB: ‘Parang naive lang ako noon!’

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EXCLUSIVE: Rico Barrera on his biggest regret after PBB: ‘Parang naive lang ako noon!’

Rhea Manila Santos,

Push Team

Published May 05, 2025 05:26 PM PHT

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PBB

Pinoy Big Brother

Rico Barrera

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