DongPat on being role models to teen housemates and how PBB Gen 11 changed them

‘Kilig’ and excitement poured in at Kapamilya Chat last Friday, August 30, with the trending guest appearance of the beloved social media duo and “Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11” ex-housemates, Dingdong Bahan and Patrick Ramirez, or DongPat, as their ardent followers know them.

The conversation was light and easy as DongPat sat down with Kapamilya Chat to reflect about their “PBB Gen 11” journey—from their auditions to their first night in the house, and how life has been since returning to the ‘outside world.’

Like many aspiring housemates who try their luck at PBB, Dingdong and Patrick took a chance because they are huge fans of the show. Dingdong had actually tried out three times before finally making it. They remember being on vacation in Thailand when they saw an online announcement for PBB’s Season 11. Since it had always been their dream to become housemates and they had long been open about their relationship, they decided to give it a shot together.

They certainly considered all possibilities, like what if only one of them got accepted. But they also discussed that, no matter what happened, they would always support each other's dreams.

DongPat still feels the thrill as they reminisce about receiving the first feedback that they were shortlisted as possible housemates. However, their first night in Bahay Ni Kuya wasn’t as enjoyable, as they were immediately given the challenge of pretending they weren’t a couple. The pressure was intense, making it hard for them to sleep. “Sobrang bigat kasi hindi ko alam ano’ng uunahin ko –‘yung pakiramdam ko o ‘yung task. Pero minsan lang mangyari ‘to, so kailangan namin sundin si Kuya,” Patrick shared.

We can only imagine how relieving it must have been when they finally completed the task and could reveal the truth. “Sobrang saya kasi malaya na kami,” said Patrick, to which Dingdong added, “Grabe ‘yung pain na dala namin na wala kaming pinagsasabihan in a week, until, finally.”

Being a 2-in-1 housemate comes with its own set of challenges and requires a carefully thought-out strategy if you want to succeed. For DongPat, this meant working together to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings, since they had to be a united team throughout their stint. They needed to balance their roles, figuring out who would handle the emotional side and who would be more logical, because even before joining the show, their approaches to conflict were different. Patrick likes to address issues head-on, while Dingdong prefers to let things cool down to avoid hurting each other. As a result, Patrick often takes the lead in initiating conversations when disagreements arise.

It must have been tough, but since they embraced the experience and even felt like vacationers in the PBB house, they managed to make their stay both meaningful and fun.

Spending over a month inside Bahay Ni Kuya was the longest time they had ever lived together. As the saying goes, you really get to know someone when you share a space with them. Even though they were surrounded by other housemates, PBB gave them the opportunity to learn more about each other. Patrick revealed that, while he already knew his partner as a capable youth leader and public servant, he was still impressed by Dingdong’s ability to lead and organize the group. For Dingdong, it was a chance to see Patrick’s naturally caring nature up close. He came to understand that Patrick’s kindness towards others is simply part of who he is.

They embraced their role as the ‘parents’ of the group, especially towards the teens and female members. “’Yung tipong nagsasayawan sila tapos kami nagluluto,” Dingdong joked. But their leadership and caring nature sure left a positive impact on everyone.

They’re genuinely pleased to have been a positive influence on their PBB batchmates and are thrilled to see that even after leaving the house, the others continue to apply the lessons they shared, especially about keeping things organized.

Their time as Kuya’s housemates brought about significant personal growth as well, thanks to Kuya’s wisdom and the lessons learned from his tasks. Patrick has become tougher and more ‘technical,’ moving away from his previously more vulnerable and emotional side. Meanwhile, Dingdong, known for his systematic approach, has learned to let go and accept his emotions. This only highlights how they balance each other out perfectly, just as they always have

Now that they’re outside Kuya’s house, and even beyond, there’s one piece of advice from Kuya that they’ll carry in their hearts: it’s okay to choose yourself from time to time because you can’t give what you don’t have. If you don’t value yourself, others won’t see that value in you either.

DongPat invites everyone to continue watching “Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11.” It airs weeknights at 10:15 PM and Saturdays at 8:30 PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z. On Sundays, catch it at 8:30 PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z, and at 9:30 PM on TV5.