Allyzza Kay Trinidad

Brent Manalo names the celebrities he dreams to work with

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

From just being seen quite rarely, fast-rising Kapamilya heartthrob Brent Manalo has been omnipresent after he and his final duo partner, content creator and Kapuso star Mika Salamanca, were hailed as the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/7/5/big-night-breka-is-the-first-ever-big-winner-duo-pbb-collab-2305" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Big Winners</a> of the “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pinoy-big-brother-collab" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition</a>.”&quot;He may have been booked and busy ever since returning to the outside world, but he still made time for fun as he and MJ Felipe enjoyed an out-of-this-world experience in “Are You G?”<div><iframe width="914" height="514" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VXhfKPmcvIo" title="Brent Manalo Proves Quiet Wins Loud | ARE YOU G? S1 | August 4, 2025 | EP 21" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Their lighthearted conversation commenced with our “Gen-G Guru” asking him how it feels to become a Big Winner, to which Brent confessed that he actually didn’t think that it was ever possible even when he already became part of the Big 4. Initially, he assumed that he would only last there for a month, since compared to his housemates, his experiences in life were just normal or average, not to mention that he was also quiet most of the time. Thus, he wasn’t really expecting that many people would like him.Even though he’s a wallflower, the “Gentle-Linong Heartthrob ng Tarlac” was still able to have his share of shining and remarkable moments inside the “PBB” house. MJ mentioned two of them, which were his “Who are you?” clapback on fellow Kapamilya housemate Kira Balinger during the “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/6/23/day-107-breka-huling-humarap-sa-big-tapatan-pbb-collab-2320" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Big Tapatan</a>” and his <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/6/7/day-91-mikbrent-mika-and-brent-are-final-duo-partners-pbb-collab-1932" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">little prank on Mika during the formation of the final duos</a>.But for Brent, his personal favorite iconic moment of himself was during the “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/5/17/day-70-housemates-show-off-at-the-big-carnival-concert-pbb-collab-2040" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Big Carnival Concert</a>,” wherein <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/5/18/day-71-mika-ipinakilala-si-brent-sa-kaniyang-nanay-bambie-pbb-collab-2012" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he chose to sacrifice his seat for Mika</a> despite also needing and wanting to see his own mom that time. While others have perhaps only known him when he joined “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pinoy-big-brother-collab" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PBB Collab</a>,” not many people know that he has actually been part of the local entertainment scene since 2018—shortly after graduating cum laude from De La Salle University with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising Management. He recounted that it all started when his graduation photos went viral online, which caught the attention of Star Magic, and they invited him to undergo a workshop a week later. “At first talaga, I didn’t like it,” Brent confessed, implying that he’s more adept or familiar with working behind the camera since he is an advertising graduate. “Parang ang hirap sa’kin kasi sobrang awkward ko, sobrang mahiyain ako. Before, wala talaga akong passion for it. Pero I learned to really love it, lalo na no’ng nakakasama ko ‘yong mga veterans.”He continued, “Hindi lang siya trabaho eh. Kumbaga it’s art. ‘Yong audience mo, you really want them happy and you wanna give them the best, especially our Filipino audience who are the most supportive.”However, just like other showbiz personalities, Brent admitted during a previous “PBB Collab” presscon that there was already a point in his life and career that he almost wanted to quit. He told MJ that it was in 2023 when he started to mull it over, as he felt like he was already being thrown out by the industry due to the series of rejections that he had received, and it was just him who had been forcing himself into it. Thus, his last straw was really “PBB,” telling himself that if nothing still happens with his career after his stint, he would take it as a sign that he’s really not for it.And as it turns out, the universe has better and greater plans for him because aside from catapulting into immense stardom, he has also been blessed with a series of projects and blessings. “Talagang perfect timing. There’s really perfect timing for everything. And now, it’s more fulfilling kasi if I didn’t go through all those rejections and then nangyari ‘to, baka hindi siya gano’n kasarap eh. Kumbaga damang-dama ko talaga ‘yong pagkapanalo dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ko in the past,” he conveyed when asked about his realizations after “PBB.” MJ then veered their conversation to his tandem and friendship with Mika, fondly called by their shippers as either BreKa or MikBrent, which he described as “sobrang saya.” Brent shared that he has known her already even before they became housemates, yet the things that he mostly heard about her were not the good ones. But as they both entered Bahay ni Kuya, he immediately developed a soft spot for her. “I know, ‘yong mga sinasabi sa kanya, she’s more than that, and she’s not that. True enough, ‘yong naging samahan namin sa loob para talaga kaming magkakampi all throughout, even when we weren’t duos. Ang swerte ko na nandoon siya kasi kung wala rin siya doon, tingin ko iba ‘yong magiging takbo ko sa loob ng ‘PBB,’” Brent related.He then went on to mention the simple letter that Mika had written for him in secret while they were still inside Big Brother’s house, yet he only had the chance to read it after the Big Night. According to him, his favorite line from it was, “When your bucket is full, you can share it with me,” because it touched him the most. It made him realize that his partnership with Mika would not end in Bahay ni Kuya but would definitely continue in the outside world. When quizzed about the celebrities whom he wishes to work with, Brent said that aside from the other “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pinoy-big-brother-collab" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PBB Collab</a>” housemates, it will really be his longtime crush Anne Curtis and seasoned actor Jericho Rosales. He shared that Anne has been his crush ever since he was a kid, and he couldn’t help but still get starstruck by her despite seeing her a lot of times already, such as during his appearances on “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">It’s Showtime</a>.” Meanwhile, Jericho was among the Filipino actors whom he looks up to when it comes to acting.

Brent Manalo reminisces on his “PBB Collab” journey and talks about the friendship that he’s able to build with Mika Salamanca.

Brent Manalo reminisces on his “PBB Collab” journey and talks about the friendship that he’s able to build with Mika Salamanca.