As the year speeds toward Christmas, everyone starts to reconnect, and calendars make space for homecomings, year-end plans, long-overdue catch-ups.
But for Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition housemates, it isn't quite like that.
They've already had their grand connection: 17 weeks spent living together inside Bahay ni Kuya.
So, when Brent Manalo, Will Ashley, Charlie Fleming, AZ Martinez, Bianca de Vera, Ralph de Leon, Vince Maristela, and Josh Ford came together again, it felt less like a reunion and more like another fun family hangout. And it was for their biggest group brand campaign yet!
Their lightsome energy fits right into Penshoppe’s Holiday Collection, “All Together Now,” celebrating how this group has grown from simply bridging their worlds to becoming people who matter most to one another.
STAYING SOLID BEYOND THE WALLS OF BAHAY NI KUYA
Easing into new circles has always been part of the PBB charm that draws viewers in.
For their season, it went from merely catalyzing alliances out of shared chores and exhilarating challenges to building real, lasting friendships.
Brent, Celebrity Collab Kapamilya Big Winner, still remembers the moment that sealed it.
He recalls the episode when evicted housemates returned as house challengers: “First time yun na kumpleto kami, all 20 of us. Dami rin naming pinagdaanan before we got to that moment.
“When it finally happened, ang sarap lang. May mga messages pa sila, may mga pa-notes pa.
“Doon talaga na-establish sa amin na kahit nakita na nila yung outside world, yung opinions ng ibang tao, pagbalik nila, yung relationship namin sa isa’t isa hindi nagbago.”
Theirs is a closeness that did not dwindle after eviction night. If anything, the outside world only tested how deep it ran.
For Ralph, the rule is clear: “Walang lalaki yung ulo. Siyempre, andaming blessings na pumasok after our PBB journey.
“Kailangan, we have to stay grounded kasi alam namin maaapektuhan talaga yung relationship namin pag yumabang yung isa. We are the ones who keep each other accountable.
“Really, at the end of the day, wag lang talaga yayabang, wag lalaki ulo.”
Charlie takes a gentler route, holding onto the promise they all made when the cameras stopped rolling.
“Kahit anong mangyari, kahit anong marinig mo, anong makita mo sa comments, we should always be there, na paglabas we're going to be a family.
“Hanggang ngayon naman, we all try to keep up with each other. Some of us see each other at certain places na lang, some of us sa work na lang.
“Pero they've never failed to text me naman, ‘How are you?’ or ‘I miss you.’ And same naman po with me. I try to reach out every time I can.”
Then there's AZ, who sums up their dynamic in one easy sentence: “I count them in already.
“Like, hindi pa sila nago-confirm, part na sila sa plano. So, I just expect they are coming,” she says, laughing.
ROOTING FOR EACH OTHER'S WINS
For a show that develops into weekly evictions, competition is part of the deal.
The former housemates beg to differ.
Will, for one, is the first to admit that growth, not victory, is what drives him now: “Pagpasok pa lang namin ng bahay, nakita ko na yung kalawakan ng isip ng bawat isa.
“I think yung mga task na ginagawa po namin sa loob ng bahay, hindi siya nakakaapekto sa kung anuman yung relationship na na-build namin, because we all know na kailangan lang talaga namin siyang gawin.
“What's important is yung friendship na nabuo talaga namin.”
Where Will sees self-improvement, Bianca sees foundation.
She reflects on what made their batch different: “For our season especially, we came inside that house raw and vulnerable, and we really didn't see each other as a competition at all.
“Malakas rin naman yung foundation na meron kami. We're all unique. We're all different. So, parang ang gusto lang talaga namin para sa isa't isa is to win.
“To win in our own way, in our own lives.
"And kami naman, from afar lagi naman naming sinusuportahan yung isa't isa.”
Josh sets the record straight: “Hindi ko naman iniisip yung competition whenever I see that the other housemates have projects.
“I'm so happy for them, as in natutuwa ako na yun nga, after being inside the house, paglabas, nagtutuloy-tuloy na everyone has work.
“Ang mahirap lang talaga is the other people around you, na they're saying ‘ganito is ganyan.’
“Dun ka mapapaisip na ‘competition ba to?’ But ako, hindi naman po talaga. I just wanna focus sa kanila, make sure they're all doing good, too.
“But most importantly, focusing on myself para mas mapakilala yung sarili ko.”
If Josh focuses on contentment, Vince keeps his eyes on discipline. He’s learned that comparison is futile.
“Ako kasi, personally, natutuwa ako kapag merong achievement yung mga kaibigan ko,” Vince relates.
“Lahat naman ng bagay na nakukuha nila, e, deserve naman talaga nila.
“Siguro mas nagpu-focus lang din talaga ako sa weekly goals ko and monthly goals ko and yearly goals ko. Doon ko lang binibigay ang time ko.”
In AZ’s eyes, they have each other’s back anytime: “Nagtutulungan pa nga kami kasi, example, we have to do a certain content, nagpapa-picture ako sa kanila. Like si Brent, nagpapatulong ako with the camera thing.
“Tapos si Ralph and si Vince, since nakakasama ko sila sa gym, tapos I have to take a content for a brand, nagpapa-picture na din ako sa kanila.
“Nararamdaman talaga namin na we support each other because they're always present.
"Kahit kapag nagpo-post kami, they're active sa comments.
“What I put in mind is we all have our own journeys. Like parang, your journey is enough to worry about. No need to think about anyone else's journey.”
Ralph ties everything together: “Habang tumatagal kami dito sa labas, mas nagiging clear yung path nung bawat isa.
“It's so nice na marinig na, you know, natutupad lahat ng pangarap namin. May plano naman ang Diyos para sa amin lahat.”
COLLAB WITH clothes brand REIMAGINED
Even outside Kuya’s house, collaboration comes naturally to this group.
Their coming together under Penshoppe’s Holiday Collection—“All Together Now”—is a continuation of the same chemistry that once made viewers tune in nightly.
JOSH. This fellow still laughs when he remembers how the day caught him off guard.
“That was a crazy day for me kasi nung shoot po na yun, I didn't know who I was gonna be with.
“Siyempre, akala ko sila Brent and Vince, who were part of Penshoppe na from before.
“So, when I got there, I saw everybody! Kaya sobra akong natuwa kasi it's truly a surprise to me na nakita ko sila lahat magkakasama.
“Nakakataba lang ng puso na lahat kami magkasama doing the same thing.”
WILL. For this guy, one couch and a shared frame were all it took to rewind time.
“Parang naging memorable siya para sa akin kasi parang nabalik kami sa feeling nung nasa loob kami ng bahay [ni Kuya], na magkakasama kami doon.
“Pero this time sa isang malaking blessing, of course, kami magkakasama dito sa Penshoppe. Kaya parang noong time na yun, sobrang nakaka-senti.”
CHARLIE. She found her nostalgia hanging neatly in the wardrobe racks.
“Sobrang saya ko na hindi pa rin sila [housemates] nagsawa sa pagsasama po namin. Sobrang natuwa ako that we're all working together because I remember borrowing clothes from a lot of people inside the house.
“So, just knowing that we could have the same pieces in our closet is very heartwarming for me.”
She adds: “It's a big thing for me knowing that in Penshoppe, I can just look towards the men's section, towards the pants now.
“I've been looking into more diverse vibes now and then mixing more pieces together.”
BRENT. On the topic of mixing and matching, he chimes in: “Ever since, my style has always been versatile, so I like to explore.
“What's good with Penshoppe is, they offer so many different styles na would cater to whatever you'd feel like wearing.
“Like minsan may times na gusto ko parang magmukhang parang runner. Sometimes gusto ko naman mas classic, they also offer that.
“Sobrang dami nilang options so ang dali maka-resonate sa kahit anong klaseng style meron ka.”
BIANCA. Rounding out the circle, this girl brings her own evolution to the mix.
“Sobrang prominent ng change ko. Pansin ko, lately, mas nago-opt ako for comfier looks or preppy looks. Before kasi, mas edgy siguro akong manamit.
“Mas naging busy rin ngayon, so mas kailangan convenient yung clothing. Thank you because of Penshoppe, di ba, clothing is made easier for all of us.”
SUITING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH PENSHOPPE
What’s the season of giving if not putting heart and thought into every gift?
If the "All Together Now" campaign is about celebrating the people who matter most, it only makes sense that their Christimas lists start with family.
RALPH. He doesn’t have to think twice. His first pick is for his sister.
“I'd wanna give some Penshoppe items to my sister, kasi mahilig din siya sa mga tank top,” he tells PEP.
“Actually yung suot ni Charlie ngayon at sinuot na ni AZ before sa isang niyang TikTok, I think that's a piece na feeling ko bagay na bagay din sa kapatid ko.
“I'd be so excited to bring her sa mga pullout sessions, sa mga shopping namin sa Penshoppe, cause I feel like talaga may mahahanap at mahahanap siya doon na she'd like.”
JOSH. For him the distance between the Philippines and the UK can be softened by something warm.
“My mom, because she's all the way in the UK na. Winter na rin dun e, so I wanna give her those ano—soft Penshoppe hoodies.
“Yung very cozy, because it feels like I'm giving her a gift kahit na wala ako doon.”
AZ. She's also all about giving something special to the family matriarch, revealing a fashion legacy within the family.
“Fun fact, when my mom was a teen, kasi medyo strict yung parents niya, they don't want her to be exposed sa industry or anything.
“But then my mom has always wanted to be a model, so I think the first and only modeling gig she did was with Penshoppe when she was younger!
“Ayun, the outfit that I was wearing sa shoot namin sa Penshoppe, it reminded me so much of her kasi I feel like she'd wear it more. It's more of her style.
“When we were doing the shoot, I felt like a younger version of my mom.”
WILL. He joins Team Mom gift-givers, saying: “Ang tao na reregaluhin ko ay si Mommy.
“And yung ibibigay ko sa kanya, mga damit din, mga damit. Kasi yun yung nakaka-hiligan din niya ngayon, mamili ng mga damit.
“Great timing, good timing na kasama natin si Penshoppe, so mas magiging easier kasi na kahit saan magagamit mo.”
VINCE. Representing the Team Dad gift-givers, this boy's choice is a thank-you to the man who introduced him to the bliss of shopping.
“Ako naman, yung dad ko. Ever since nung bata ako, siya talaga ang nagpo-provide ng clothes ko, ganyan.
“Siya yung nagpapa-shopping spree. So, ngayon, gusto ko siyang bigyan ng Dress Code polo.”
BRENT. With Penshoppe's offerings in mind, this guy feels it's best to shop outerwear for his siblings.
“Yung mga jackets ng Penshoppe, ibibigay ko siguro sa siblings ko, 'cause most of the time when I would wear one, lagi nilang hinihingi!
“E, isa lang yung meron ako. So, this time around, when I get the chance to visit the store, yun palagi pull out ko, mga jackets. Kasi ninanakaw din ng sister ko yung mga nasa closet ko sa bahay.
“Yun lang siguro—para may personal na siya.”
CHARLIE. The girl laughs when she hears Brent say this, admitting that she has the same problem — only in reverse!
“Me and my brother, he sometimes takes my jackets also from my closet, and a lot of times, it's those Penshoppe jackets that I have. He wears them to school.
“The varsity jacket of Penshoppe, I remember I got, like, two years ago. He still has it until now.
“So, I've been meaning to get him a new Penshoppe jacket recently. So he's probably the first person I'm gonna gift this year.”
BIANCA. There is a long pause from Bianca, who sweetly confesses her list of people to give gifts to is a very long one.
She settles on two: her parents.
“My dad, bibigyan ko siya ng scented candle kase alam kong stressed siya lately. Eme!
“Jacket also. I love the jackets in Penshoppe especially because it's getting cold lately. Their caps also are really good. Si Daddy mahilig rin kasi talaga siya mag-cap.
“Si Mommy naman, mga skirts. Mahilig din siya mag-skirt. And the jeans in Penshoppe are really good, and they're very comfortable.
“Kasi si mommy, in a way, para lang siyang ako pag nagdadamit especially when days na, you know, she just has to run some errands, ganyan.”
Click here for your complete Penshoppe gift guide this holiday season!
