Both products of Pinoy Big Brother, Heaven Peralejo and Barbie Imperial credit the confidence and thick skin to the challenging yet colorful times inside the house. The experiences as housemates taught them how to deal with the public’s varying opinion and carry on despite controversies.
Heaven isn’t a stranger to negative comments and bashing. She said she has received almost all kinds of insulting words since becoming a housemate. The hate affected her at first, typical for any showbiz rookie. But as she matures as an artist and a woman, she’s learned how to embrace her truths and ignore wrongful accusations. There are times that she still gets frustrated especially seeing how the negativities affect her mom.
Just recently, Heaven has been the target of bashing, rumoured as the third party behind the break-up of Bagong Umaga co-star Kiko Estrada and his girlfriend Devon Seron. Asked about this controversy, Heaven would say, “Nakakatawa talaga.”
Heaven thinks her recent scenes with Kiko on the show have ignited these rumors. “Noong last taping namin, ang dami naming scenes together and I feel like nabigyan nila ng other meaning. We were talking kasi kailangan namin ng chemistry for the show. Lahat ‘yun para sa trabaho lang. Naging good friends kami. Hindi talaga totoo ‘yung issue,” she clarified.
Amid the controversies, and every day of her life, Heaven takes strength from her mom Luanne. She is her strength and weakness, the one who empowers her as a woman. She said her mom teaches her how to handle everything. She feels like she’s a better person because of the woman who raised her.
For Barbie, the PBB house opened doors of many opportunities. It helped her realize her potentials and that even a simple “probinsyana” like her can have a spot in showbiz. Looking at the glow in Barbie’s face, it’s easy to tell that she’s happy and in love.
She talked about her relationship with Diego Loyzaga. She said they were friends since 2018, although they had other relationships that time. When Barbie got single, she knew there was a spark between them but they opted to take it slow because it wasn’t the perfect time to start a new relationship.
The friendship was sustained despite the distance. They would check on each other once in a while. Diego returned to the Philippines and started to hang out again with his friends. That’s where the courtship stage took off. Barbie calls it “God’s perfect timing” and she’s grateful for that.
More than the obstacles she went through in life, Barbie gets much-needed strength from her mom who thought her that having a warrior’s spirit also entails kindness, “Pwede kang maging palaban na walang inaapakan na ibang tao. Pwede kang maging palaban na wala kang sinasaktan na ibang tao.”
Heaven and Barbie invited viewers to continue supporting their series Bagong Umaga, airing Monday to Friday, after It’s Showtime on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z.