One thing the cameras didn’t catch was the transformation happening deep within each housemate. They may have entered the house as celebrities, but they sure left Bahay ni Kuya as different people.
KEANNA REEVES, actress: Sa buhay ng tao, hindi lahat utak. Ang kailangan din ay puso. (In life, you cannot always rely on your brains alone. You also need a heart.) Understanding, patience and trusting others.
JOHN PRATS, actor/model: I learned how to have patience, faith, and independence.
ALECK BOVICK, actress/singer: Ang natutunan ko ay ma-improve ’yung mga kahinaan ko, like magkaroon ng pasensya, sumunod sa rules, to wake up early, magkaroon ng tiwala sa sarili, maging positive thinker, at tanggapin ng mga pagkakamali ko. I learned so many things in Big Brother’s House sa loob ng isang buwan at isang linggo. (I learned to improve on my weaknesses, like to have patience, to follow rules, to wake up early, to trust myself, to be a positive thinker, and to accept my mistakes. I learned so many things in Big Brother’s House in the one month and one week I was in there.)
BIANCA GONZALES, host: In life, there should be no regrets, only lessons learned.
CHRISTIAN VASQUEZ, actor/model: I learned how to accept people for who they are and learned to respect our differences. Our differences make us special. I realized also that we shouldn’t take for granted our freedom. We should enjoy it by spending time with the people we love by making ourselves a better person. Life is short and we only live it well and wisely, so that one lifetime would be enough. In making decisions, we shouldn’t only think of the benefit it would bring us, but we also have to consider others.
ZANJOE MARUDO, model: The biggest lessons I learned living with strangers in one house was how to accept things for what they are and how to get along with others, and just enjoy life!
RICO ROBLES, DJ: I learned the importance of faith in God, how it brings great wisdom and responsibility within. What we did inspired many as they solved their personal problems.
MICH DULCE, fashion designer: I learned that you can’t please everyone, that you aren’t always everyone’s cup of tea. That you should stay true to yourself and your beliefs and be ready to accept the consequences of your actions.
BUDOY, lead vocalist of Junior Kilat: Maging matatag at walang pagbababago sa panindigan. (To be strong and to have unchanging beliefs in life.)
ROXANNE BARCELO, singer/actress: I learned to make major decisions on my own without relying on other people’s advice. When you listen to your soul, you gain peace and happiness with all your decisions. I learned that God is my only true anchor and my refuge. I learned that I can’t control what happens outside, but I can control my emotions and my reactions. I’ve learned to intellectualize rather than emotionalize situations. I have to choose my battles. I learned that temptations are plenty, but I can choose to do what is right. Humility is the enemy of pride. Sometimes when people get mad at me, it’s not about them. I need to listen and care more. God is the most important. He is above all this.
RUSTOM PADILLA, actor: The truth shall set you free.
GRETCHEN MALADLAD, karate gold medalist: I’ve always been the type who keeps everything to myself, every problem, every suppressed feeling, thinking I can handle it alone, and I realized that’s why I am iyakin kasi ’yun ang outlet ko. I learned to open up to people and ask for help. I know I have a strong character, am a person with high principles, but I also have my weak side. I can be stronger if I have the people I love, aside from my family, who are always there to listen and always ready to lend a helping hand. My best pal Aleck told me, "Mahalin mo muna ang sarili mo bago ang ibang tao." (Love yourself first before loving other people.) I had always done things for other people. Now I have to do things for myself and for my future.