Charming and naturally sweet, former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemates and beloved showbiz twins Joj Agpangan and Jai Agpangan prove that Ilongga lambing is truly in their core. 

From their teenage days as housemates to now, as they tackle one dream after another and navigate the 'adulting' phase, they've remained a solid duo. That’s why there’s double the laughter and life lessons in this episode of the Bisaya podcast “Kuan On One,” hosted by Kuantie Melai Cantiveros.

They say having a sibling—especially a twin—is like a rollercoaster ride as your sibling can feel like your worst enemy. But most of the time, they’re your ride-or-die, your best friend who gets you like no one else does. In the podcast, Joj and Jai share the unique joys of having a twin sister and why life is always better when they’re together.

According to the pair, their parents didn’t know they were twins at first, as they were so close together and hugging each other tight in their mom’s tummy. The doctor thought there was only one heartbeat because theirs were perfectly in sync. So, everyone was in for a big surprise when their mom gave birth and two babies came out instead of one! It was a complicated pregnancy, but thankfully, they were born healthy, although they were a bit on the small side.

They’re identical in every way—from the shape of their faces to their bodies—as they grew up living almost exactly the same lives. They even have the same meal portions and diet, which might explain why it’s nearly impossible to tell them apart. Sometimes, they’ll try to mix things up with different hair colors or fashion styles, but you still can’t deny they’re practically mirror images of each other. For those who get confused, how do you tell who’s Joj and who’s Jai? “Joj-jaw and Jai-eye,” they said in unison, giving us a clue about where their moles are to help tell them apart.

Their followers know that Joj and Jai are treated like princesses in their family, getting double the love because they give back double the joy as well. They shared that when they were kids, their mom thought they might become models or beauty queens one day, so she taught them beauty regimens early on—like how to protect their legs from varicose veins. Every night before bed, their mom would give them leg massages to prevent any scars. And, would you believe that when they were students, she would ask them to skip school if they got a pimple? They had to stay at home for at least two days and let the pimple heal!

Maybe it’s because they were already tight from the womb, but even as they grew up, they never had any conflicts—they’ve always been a tandem, literally soul sisters. What’s special about Joj and Jai is that they never experienced any competition. “Alam namin na ikukumpara talaga kaming dalawa. Minsan kasi may mga nagbu-bully sa’yo. Sinasabi nila na mas maganda ‘to at mas magaling ‘to. Ginaganun kami,” shared Jai in Ilonggo. One thing they are truly thankful for is the strength God gave them to not let those comparisons get to them.

One big reason they never felt like they were rivals is that they know each other inside and out and fully embrace their individual strengths and weaknesses. “Kung mas malakas at magaling ka diyan, sige diyan ka. Mas marunong na kaming tumantsa sa mga ganitong bagay,” Joi added.

Growing up, they were taught to compromise and not be jealous of each other. Whenever they got something new, they always got matching sets—one in pink and one in blue. The pinks were always for Joj, while the blues were for Jai. And in moments they both wanted the same thing, they had one go-to solution their whole lives—play a round of "bato bato pick.” Whatever the outcome, they would respect it.

There’s just one thing they never share, though—clothes. As they jestingly put it, they don’t want to be matching with the same face and the same outfit, unless they really have to swap for work.

Even when it came to college, they attended the same university and took the same course, which their dad chose for them. But they mixed things up by taking different class schedules. They also both entered and trained as Philippine Navy reservists. Joj started her training first shortly after she got involved in Spartan races, using these as a way to heal from a broken heart. Then, she encouraged Jai to overcome her fears, especially after a ‘coma scare’ in 2020, and considering the dizzy spells and fainting episodes Jai had since childhood (there was even a time on a Europe tour when Jai suddenly passed out in the middle of sightseeing). Joj felt that joining the Philippine Navy would not only help Jai become stronger and braver but would also give both of them a greater sense of purpose.

When it comes to love life, they have totally different tastes in guys. Joj now leans towards foreign men, while Jai is all about Filipino guys and is currently dating a med student. They’ve never had a crush on the same boy, except for the time they both liked “Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11” host Robi Domingo and jokingly wondered who Robi would notice first.

But their playful banter like this is all in good fun because, truth be told, they never compete with each other. If anything, they’re grateful to God for having a twin sister. 

Dakong Problema

The good vibes just kept rolling into the "Dakong Problema" segment, where the tandem took on a twin telepathy challenge. To amp up the excitement, Melai joined the game as their ‘triplet.’

Just on the very first question, the sisters were already in sync when asked about the best gift for a girl. They both wrote down ‘jewelry’ on their whiteboards, while Melai hilariously answered, “money.”

The laughter continued in the second round when the question was about the quality Jai looks for in a guy. Joj playfully spilled the tea, saying her sis wants a wealthy man. But Jai’s actual answer was sweet and respectful, which was the same as Melai’s response.

In the next round, they jumped for joy when they had the same answer–‘jumper’–for the superpower they’d like to have. Melai got a point too, since her guess—being able to fly—was pretty close. 

Melai seemingly had high hopes when she asked her guests who they thought was the most beautiful Bisaya. Sure enough, they both chose ‘Ate Melai,’ praising her for being beautiful inside and out. In return, Melai wrote ‘Joj and Jai’ on her board.

Ultimate Yawyaw

By the end of the conversation, in the “Ultimate Yawyaw” segment, Joj and Jai made sure to express appreciation for their parents, who shaped them into the disciplined and loving people they are today. Their parents taught them never to forget family and always to care for their elders. Their mom and dad also instilled in them the belief that they’re stronger than they think, especially in the world of showbiz, where there are always bashers. But no matter what people say, Joj and Jai won’t let naysayers get to them because they were raised to stay unaffected.

The love and warmth that shine through Joj and Jai prove the saying true: “Basta Ilongga, gwapa.” And we mean gwapa inside and out!