MANILA, Philippines - Each time a Pinoy Big Brother edition ends, the debate on whether it is a reality show or an artista search gets resurrected.
Whatever way you look at it, if you ask the Big Four of PBB’s latest teen edition led by Big Winner Myrtle Sarrosa, they won’t deny that they joined it in the hopes for a shot at showbiz.
“When there’s an opportunity, we will grab it and give it our best,” said the 17-year-old Myrtle in a recent presscon, which was echoed by her runners-up Karen Reyes, Roy Requejo, and the twins Joj and Jai Agpangan.
As for the kind of projects, Myrtle, who is a deadringer for Erich Gonzales, wants to do drama. Or “I’m hoping for something that would involve cosplay so I could help promote cosplay,” the cosplayer from Iloilo added.
When asked whom they want to be partnered with in future projects, Myrtle and company also named names with nary a pause or a second thought.
And so, it seems these youngsters have pretty much set their minds on trying the testy waters of showbiz, very much like many of their PBB predecessors.
But with that comes the intrigues, and Myrtle has received the brunt of criticisms online from those not happy with her landslide win. (For having the biggest percentage of text votes, she won P1M cash and other big prizes.)
“Of course, I got hurt initially by their comments. But the important thing is I’m happy,” said Myrtle, who before entering the PBB house was an accounting sophomore at the University of the Philippines and served as Sangguniang Kabataan chair in her hometown in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
“I respect their opinions. There are always two sides of a coin. There are people who will like you, and there are people who will hate you. I cannot change the opinion of other people, but I respect that. For me, I did my best. Now that I’m in the outside world, I will prove why I won,” she added.
Asked what she thought of the negative reactions generated by their batch’s closeness with each other inside the PBB house that have been described as “too flirtatious” and “unbecoming” for their age, she said, “Para sa amin talaga, our relationships with each other are like brothers and sisters. Teens lang kami.”
Myrtle got close with Yves Flores, and some sort of teenage love-triangle drama ensued when the latter’s girlfriend in the outside world was made to enter the PBB house.
(In a separate interview, Myrtle’s father Rodolfo expressed dismay that it happened. “Masama ang loob ko but I think it’s part of that [a reality show],” he said. “Pero sinabi ko sa kanya, dapat aware siya, may mga tao talaga na gagawa ng ganyan,” referring to suitors who have girlfriends.)
Told that some PBB followers think her closeness with Yves was “concocted” to fan interest among viewers, given the high likelihood of “loveteams” formed during PBB of making it to the finals (you know, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, and so on), she said, “Well, I don’t think emotions can be faked inside the PBB house. I don’t think that’s a reason para lapitan ka ng isang tao, for me, that’s a shallow reason. For me, it’s a whole different world inside the PBB house. Right now, (Yves and I) are friends. But wala talaga akong planong magpaligaw or planong magka-boyfriend. I will really prioritize the opportunities.”
Nevertheless, Myrtle thanked those who rallied for her all the way to the finals, including those from the growing cosplay community. “Wala po talagang na-spend yung family ko for publicity (so as to gain more votes). Not to brag but may name naman po ako sa cosplaying community, so I also have followers and supporters. Baka nga po tinulungan ako, and if ever ginawa nila, I’m very thankful.”
She added that even for her cosplay interests, she never asked for money from her parents. She would sell online her costume after she worn it, then whatever she earned from it would go to the funds allotted for her next costume.
Aside from cosplaying, what else can she offer that would make her deserving of a career in showbiz?
“I think one of my unique talents is classical singing,” Myrtle said and went on to give an impressive sample of the Filipino folk song Lulay during the presscon.
It was her piano-playing grandparents that got her interested in classical singing, which she also studied at the UP Diliman Conservatory.
She also delivered an impromptu dance, K-pop style.
How far her built-in talents will take her, however, remains to be seen — for now.
While her father Rodolfo said that they only allowed Myrtle to audition in Bacolod (the Iloilo auditions were then cancelled) because he and his wife thought she would never make the cut, he also admitted that their “goal-driven” daughter has also somehow seen this coming a long time ago.
Rodolfo recalled that sometime in 2005, when PBB was first introduced and became a huge hit, like many a fan, Myrtle together with her mom, took a picture of themselves in front of the PBB house along Mother Ignacia St., Quezon City. The then 10-year-old Myrtle told him something that he could never forget: “Sabi niya, ‘Pa, someday, I’ll be in PBB.’” Seven years later, that “someday” brought Myrtle the big win, too.