Paul Christian Ocampo

For BreKa's supporters, selflessness is a true big winner quality

Article (news)

Clarence Roi Gillego

Push Team

<p>The more they are willing to sacrifice, the more they are proving themselves worthy to be big winners — this is what the supporters of Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca, now popularly known as BreKa, believe as the race to <em>Big Night</em> gets closer.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-35" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLj6T-ZPs6y/embed/captioned/?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%3A35%2C%22os%22%3A3209304.6000000015%2C%22ls%22%3A157313.40000000224%2C%22le%22%3A157672.20000000298%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1365" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-35" 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><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div> </div><p>Brent, the <em>Gentle-linong Heartthrob ng Tarlac</em>, entered the iconic yellow house with the fear of getting disliked but has won the hearts of many with his kind and gentle personality. Mika, the <em>Controvesial Ca-Babe-Len ng Pampanga</em>, did not only join <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pinoy-big-brother-collab" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>PBB</strong></a> to fulfill her childhood dream, but to also let people see that she’s more than her past mistakes. </p><div> </div><p>Here are the big four qualities that their supporters love about them: </p><div> </div><div><strong>Selfless and genuine</strong></div><div> </div><p>Breka will always be remembered as the lone duo who stood their ground during the heated <em>Big Tapatan Challenge.</em> Their decision to give up their slot for the ShuKla duo, composed of Shuvee Etrata and Klarisse de Guzman, had the purest intention, but sparked divided opinions from the viewers.</p><div> </div><p>“Lahat ng ginagawa ko sa loob ng bahay, ginagawa ko kasi totoo. Hindi siya something na kailangan kong i-push. Hindi siya mahirap sa akin, even giving up the spot is not hard for me. Tapos na yung reason ko… gusto kong makapasok sa Bahay ni Kuya, that’s it,” Mika said, refuting the allegation that they were just doing it as a facade.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1613" height="907" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/60wGloGwRsk" title="Day 107: BreKa, huling humarap sa Big Tapatan | PBB Collab" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Brent reaffirmed their decision: “‘Yung reason kung bakit naniniwala sa akin ‘yung mga taong &#x27;yun ay dahil sa kakayahan kong gawin &#x27;to na i-give up &#x27;yung spot na &#x27;to. Hindi sila naniniwala sa akin dahil ako &#x27;yung pinaka-malakas dito o pinaka-mabait kasi never ko naman ma-ca-claim &#x27;yun.&quot;</p><div> </div><p>Carl Guevarra, the frontman of the Filipino pop rock band The Juans, reacted to how the <em>Big Tapatan Challenge</em> turned out for BreKa through a couple of TikTok videos. He emphasized that their “act of kindness” should not be “weaponized” against them, echoing the sentiments of several supporters.</p><div> </div><p>“Yung kanilang kindness at ability nilang mag-sacrifice para sa ibang tao, hindi siya dapat pinapakita na para bang ito ay kahinaan o pagiging talunan. In fact, I think big winner characteristic ‘yun. Someone’s ability to sacrifice for other people does not undermine their ability to be winners,” he explained. </p><div> </div><div><strong>Never afraid to show their vulnerabilities</strong></div><div> </div><p>Earlier in the show, Brent opened up about his fear of rejection that was rooted from a childhood trauma when he was voted as the &quot;most hated classmate&quot; during his 6th grade.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1613" height="907" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ob0P8i2Ze0s" title="PBB Celebrity Collab Edition | Ang kwento kung paano naging artista si Brent Manalo" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>“Now, I would try to really have my walls up. I was really scared to enter PBB because ‘yung ‘most hated classmate’ palang I could barely take it, what more if yung buong mundo, hindi ako magustuhan,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><p>Although he admitted that he was hesitant at first to join <em>PBB</em>, he strived each day to conquer that fear.</p><div> </div><p>Mika, on the other hand, also had her own fears that she bravely faced during her stay inside the house.</p><div> </div><p>In an emotional conversation with <em>Big Brother</em>, Mika recounted her traumatic experience in Hawaii during the height of the pandemic that gave her a tremendous fear of committing a mistake again.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1613" height="907" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NUeKAmBgHGM" title="Day 4: Mika, inalala ang naranasang pamba-bash noon | PBB Collab" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>“Noong nasa Hawaii, meron po akong pinagkatiwalaan na kaibigan nun,” she told Big Brother. “Nagtiwala po ako sa kanya kasi taga doon siya. Tapos noong makita po ng mga tao, lumabas ako noong quarantine, first day ko doon, na-bash po ako and na-arrest po ako that time. So, every time na may nagagawa akong mali, bumabalik &#x27;yung bashing sa dahil akin sa pag-arrest sa akin.” </p><div> </div><p>Mika also opened up that she was clinically diagnosed with depression and anxiety during her early days inside the house.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1613" height="907" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NQFp88g8VY0" title="Day 29: Mika, naglabas ng saloobin kay Big Brother | PBB Collab" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>“Feeling ko it’s about time na para maintidihan din po ako ng mga tao — why I do things that I do, think the way I think,” she said. “Maiintindihan nila kung saan ako nanggaling minsan. ‘Di ko po talaga na-sha-share sa family ko, hindi ko po talaga na-sha-share sa group ‘yung ako po talaga personally kasi natatakot na may ma-trigger ako kaya gingawa ko siyang light as possible, and natatakot i-open yung sarili ko sa lahat.” </p><div> </div><div><strong>Loving son and daughter</strong></div><div> </div><p>Brent, who had to grow up fast as his parents worked abroad, opened up about a cheating issue on a quiz he had in the past that he never got share with his parents for fear of getting them hurt.</p><div> </div><p>“Ayokong maisip nila na may pagkukulang sila kasi it was my own mistake. It really did change my life and I’m glad it happened,” he said. </p><div> </div><p>“Pakiramdam ko they carry so much, they handle so many problems, ayoko na po sana makadagdag. Kahit papano &#x27;yun na &#x27;yung tulong ko sa kanila,” he added. </p><div> </div><p>When Brent and his mom, Mariel, recently reunited, the actor couldn’t help but be emotional as he gave the latter a tight hug.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1613" height="907" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xT6Qtys7UK0" title="Day 114: Brent, kinumusta ng kaniyang mommy Mariel | PBB Collab" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>“&#x27;Yung makita ko &#x27;yung mom after four months parang &#x27;yung pakiramdam before noong pumupunta siya ng U.S. tapos umuuwi siya ng bahay. Minsan kasi nag-su-surprise na uwi siya, so hindi ako makapaniwala,” he said. </p><div> </div><p>When Brent gave up the “golden seat” for Mika to have the chance to reconnect with her mom, Bambie, the actress did not waste the chance to tell her how much she loves her as they talked virtually.</p><div> </div><p>“Nay as in araw-araw, nag-iisip ako kung para kanino ako magi-stay, but most of the time it’s for you. I love you, Nay,” she told her mom. </p><div> </div><p>While majority of her housemates were visited by their parents, Mika was doubtful if her parents could make it.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1613" height="907" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ktViEN5p4ec" title="Day 114: Mika&#x27;s heartwarming reunion with her mommy Bambie | PBB Collab" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>“Impossible,&quot; she said. &quot;Sa US, mahirap mag-leave, so kung mag-le-leave sila, one month before (dapat) tapos one-week lang sila pwedeng (mag-stay dito). If ever na uuwi sila, before <em>Big Night</em> [siguro].&quot;</p><div> </div><p>What she thought was impossible turned out possible, as she finally reunited with her mom — not on the screen but in the flesh. As a caring daughter herself, the first question she asked her mom was “Okay lang ba na nandito ka?” </p><div> </div><div><strong>Relentless fighters</strong></div><div> </div><p>Brent and Mika have always been claiming that they are the “most undesirable” duo, but their consistent effort to show up amidst the tough times really proved they are relentless fighters.</p><div> </div><p>BreKa got used to clapping for other&#x27;s victories, but has never been frontrunners, especially when it comes to physical tasks. But during the One Million Challenge, the duo refused to tell the same narrative, making their presence felt in the competition.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1613" height="907" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kXem71-bfjs" title="Day 117: BreKa, nanguna sa one million vote challenge | PBB Collab" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>“Sobrang saya naming dun kuya,” Mika said. Mapakita din ba namin na ‘yung duo namin is hindi talaga laging kulelat, na kaya din talaga naming lumaban.”</p><div> </div><p>“Hindi po ako makapaniwala, Kuya,” Brent said. “Never po ako nag-rank 1, not even rank 2. But finally, sa pinagdaanan din naming na tatlong Big Jump Challenges, talagang nahasa din namin.&quot;<br/><br/><br/></p><p>•<em> This article is part of a series focusing on </em><em></em>Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab<em> as we get ready for the Big Night. Tell us who you think is a winner on X @push_alerts, Instagram @pushalerts, and Threads @pushalerts</em></p>

<p>One day left before big night, and the competition gets closer. Get to know why fans believe BreKa deserves to be the historic big winners. </p>

One day left before big night, and the competition gets closer. Get to know why fans believe BreKa deserves to be the historic big winners.