Dannyka Manangan

EXCLUSIVE: Brent Manalo shares about his life before PBB: ‘Late bloomer talaga ako sa lahat ng bagay’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Introduced as  &quot;Ang Gentle-linong Heartthrob ng Tarlac” in <em>Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition</em>, Brent Manalo admitted he was not always the achiever that he turned out to become after finishing his studies. The 27-year-old model-turned-actor shared in a PUSH BETS exclusive interview what started it all for him to change. </p><p>“Honestly, late bloomer talaga ako sa lahat ng bagay eh. Even during high school, I was always the average student. But then, may nangyari na talagang sumubok sa akin bilang estudyante, na I really had to prove to everyone more than myself na I’m capable of being a top student. So, ayun, naging valedictorian ako dahil dun. Pero hindi, hindi naman siya all throughout na lagi akong rank number one. Late game lagi, doon ako nag-bu-bloom lagi kapag kailangan na kailangan talaga.&quot;</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFcvcSDP4Qi/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2564853.2000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A2564279.5%2C%22le%22%3A2564325.100000024%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" 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><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFKeSRay7ZP/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A2564879.7000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A2564279.5%2C%22le%22%3A2564325.100000024%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" 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/2025/8/2/exclusive-brent-manalo-reveals-having-doubts-about-his-showbiz-career-0947"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Brent Manalo reveals having doubts about his showbiz career: ‘Maybe it’s not really for me’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Before he graduated at the top of his class in high school and even in college where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising Management in De La Salle University, Brent recalled that most defining moment in high school for him.</p><p>“Nakuwento ko na ito sa loob ng bahay. Siguro ‘yung nagka-cheating issue ako sa school before. So ang daming kume-kuwestyon sa akin noon. They wanted me to do a public apology. They wanted me to be punished for it, which is very understandable. Since I had to be accountable, even though I was still young then. But, ‘yun din ‘yung, may isang teacher na nagsabi sa akin na, ‘Alam ko kaya mo. Prove them wrong.’ Tapos ‘yun talaga, may isa lang talaga na maniwala sa iyo, parang na-shift talaga ‘yung perspective ko when it comes to studying. So, after nun, talagang pinaghusayan ko po,” he shared. </p><p>Brent was also thankful to get the support he needed during that time in his life, “Talagang sometimes we just really need one person to believe in us, ‘noh? Exactly. ‘Yun, ‘yun. ‘Pag basta may naniwala lang talaga sa ‘yo, tapos paniwalaan mo rin talaga ‘yung sarili mo. Mangyayari at mangyayari kung ano man ‘yung pangarap mo or ‘yung gusto mong marating sa buhay,” he added. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMkkXbUSH8d/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A2564898.3000000715%2C%22ls%22%3A2564279.5%2C%22le%22%3A2564325.100000024%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" 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>Proud of his growth, Brent said he is not embarassed to admit his past record in school.</p><p>“Siguro, mga past experiences ko rin talaga. ‘Yun nga, ‘yung na-kuwento ko kanina, ‘yung sa pagiging valedictorian ko, na before that, I was just an average student. Parang, one of the many lessons I’ve learned from that is kapag talagang sinipagan mo, or tiniyaga mo—kasi hindi naman siya dadating sa ‘yo nang in an instant, e. Kailangan talagang trabahuhin. So ngayon, kahit sobrang dami kong rejections, as long as may tiwala ako sa sarili ko, as long as hindi mawala ‘yun, I know in the end, even though it doesn’t seem like it’s ever gonna happen, it’s gonna come.</p><p>&quot;Sabi ko nga rin, parang feeling ko may suwerte din talaga ‘ko. At saka, ‘yun nga, tingin ko, mahal na mahal din ako ng Panginoon, kasi, parang lagi kong naiisip, &#x27;Wow, parang sa buong buhay ko, parang minsan tingin ko sobrang imposible mangyari pero binibigay at binibigay din talaga.&#x27; Kaya, ‘yun, tingin ko may swerte rin talaga, at saka love ako ni Lord,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><p>Watch Brent Manalo’s full interview with PUSH BETS here: </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/8/1/brent-manalo-on-his-early-showbiz-rejections-lord-sana-bukas-hindi-na-ito-yung-pangarap-ko-1821"><strong>Brent Manalo on his early showbiz rejections: “Lord, sana bukas, hindi na ito ‘yung pangarap ko” | PUSH Bets</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>New episodes drop every Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN.com, the PUSH YouTube channel, and every Sunday at 10:10 p.m. on Kapamilya Online Live!</p>

<p>From his high school days up to the present, Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition winner and actor Brent Manalo reveals how he became an overachiever when it comes to everything in his life right now.</p>

From his high school days up to the present, Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition winner and actor Brent Manalo reveals how he became an overachiever when it comes to everything in his life right now.