Making big brother bigger

It all starts with a dream.

A dream of telling their own stories, wading through the crowd, and making it to the clamor of the big stage, which can all come true through being a housemate of Bahay ni Kuya.

Pinoy Big Brother is a long-running reality show in the Philippines that has been airing for nearly two decades. Originally a Dutch program, it was franchised by ABS-CBN Corporation in 2005 and has since dominated mainstream television by showcasing the realities of different people living in a confined setting. Through nominations and ‘taumbayan’ votes, housemates are gradually eliminated until the much-anticipated Big Night.

Inside, every dream starts to unfold. Well, at least, that’s what we’re all conditioned to perceive.

Building dreams in Kuya’s way

“Nasaan si Fyang?”

PBB’s Gen 11 season Big Winner, Fyang Smith, flooded every comment section on social media platforms, attracting massive attention and controversy. While Fyang really made it big after PBB aired, the attention she received was matched by the backlash she faced.

On a brighter note, more housemates have found success since their stint. A few notable examples are Melai Cantiveros, Sam Milby, and Maymay Entrata, who have been pursuing their interests in showbiz with fewer criticisms.

But definitely, in Kuya’s way, building dreams is a delicate line between fame and infamy — where life can either improve or the future may seem daunting under public scrutiny.

What they don’t tell

PBB has always been about storytelling. 

The program highlights either their authenticity or their journey toward finding their true selves. Challenges and tasks are curated to test different aspects of their humanity, with cameras running 24/7 to capture their authentic responses. All tears shed, all laughter exchanged, and even interactions that blossomed into love — they were all real.

Beyond the happenings inside, PBB also reveals the reality of the contestants outside. This may also be part of the criteria for choosing who gets in.

Most of the contestants have interesting stories to tell. Many have experienced the hardships of poverty, some strive to find a long-lost loved one, several carry explosive exposés unknown to the public, and a good few come from wonderful lives while trying to make a name for themselves.

It’s clear that PBB aims to inspire through people’s stories, but beyond this facade lies another perspective — one where their stories are sensationalized.

Every scene shown to the public is heavily curated — those that can spark rumors, draw attention, or get everyone talking. Depending on what the producers want the audience to feel, a housemate can be portrayed as a hero, a villain, or a fan favorite. Episodes are edited to highlight specific moments, create conflict, and shape narratives. Especially in this era, where attraction, views, and more engagement lead to higher earnings, content creators carefully craft their material.

Brother who made it big

In this capitalistic form of society, businesses tend to exploit everything to make the most money out of it.

Since PBB started in the Philippines, public voting has evolved significantly. It has shifted from a one-vote-per-SIM rule to allowing votes through banking applications to support a chosen contestant. This has resulted in a tremendous change in voting strategies and audience engagement.

These fuel public discussions, suggesting that contestants with wealthier backers can secure the “Big Winner” spot more easily than those the taumbayan truly wish to win. 

In the recently concluded season of PBB’s collaboration with GMA Network, fanbases openly reported spending millions but still had their bets’ journeys cut off. 

Just like the duo of Shuvee and Ate Klang, known for being relatable breadwinner housemates, they quickly won the hearts of the public. Despite strong fan support, the ShuKla duo was unexpectedly eliminated, falling just one win short of making it to the Big 4 title. All throughout their journey, they faced stiff competition with co-media personalities, few of whom are from humble family backgrounds, and most are from rich, privileged households.

Here, we come to realize how big it is — for the dreamers who shared their stories, the staff who made it happen, the people who lent their money for voting, and especially those who benefited from it.

Pinoy ako?

PBB mirrors the society that consumes it. In a country grappling with poverty, inequality, and limited opportunities, the dream of being discovered is powerful. PBB offers a version of this dream — one that feels real yet is carefully constructed.

It taps into the Filipino spirit of resilience but also reveals how resilience itself can be commodified.

PBB acts as a microcosm of the real world, where people from varied backgrounds compete in a system that inherently favors some over others. This reveals how merit and relatability can take you far, but money might take you even farther. At the end of every season, there is always a big winner. But who really made it big?

Maybe it’s time to say — all systematically planned to be — it’s Big Brother. As every season makes a big winner, the system always wins bigger.