From the pressures of being a housemate to the popular so-called rivalry narrative, here’s the Bahay ni Kuya experience straight from the Gen 11 ex-housemates Fyang, Jas, Dylan, and JM
What does it take to really know someone? For some people, the amount of time spent with each other is what matters—years of companionship with days aligned and schedules built with each other. For others, though, it’s not how long but how much you’ve gone through together. With sixty days crossed out of their calendars, Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Gen 11 housemates Sofia “Fyang” Smith, JM Ibarra, Jasmine “Jas” Dudley-Scales, and Dylan Yturralde got to know each other through tasks, challenges, and restrictions inside the famous house. In their conversations with MEGA, the ex-housemates opened up what went on beyond the drama, how they are adjusting to the world, and why they’re determined to follow their dreams now more than ever.
RELATED: The Intense Mental and Physical Challenges Reality Show Stars Experience
Living For The Drama
While they had all gone through the same challenges in the house, they handled the pressure of being in the show differently from each other. “Sometimes nakakalimutan ko na nasa bahay pala ako ni Kuya. Sometimes, I don’t feel like I’m in a show,” online sensation Sofia “Fyang” told MEGA in all honesty.
“We didn’t think much of the pressure because when you’re inside, it’s a different mental and emotional game,” the optimistic Jas agreed. “It’s a total shift from being outside and inside the house with no social media, no access to the outside world, even without families. We don’t even have a watch, a clock, a calendar inside. We don’t know anything, so it’s a different pressure inside.”
However, the real battle ensues once they’re out of Kuya’s house. Once a housemate gets evicted, he or she gets debriefed by the management about what happened in the outside world, including what’s on social media. “Na-realize ko na ‘di rin pala nila alam ‘yung buong nangyayari,” athlete Dylan felt.
“It’s a show. What’s important to us is that we know the truth.”
– Dylan Yturralde, Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11
JM admitted that being outside was anxiety-inducing. While the hate wasn’t a big deal to him, what he didn’t take lightly was when his family was being roped into the hate. When it came to their mental health, he was very grateful to his friends, family, and other housemates—who most likely had gone through the same experience—for being his support system. “Nag-aadjust lang araw-araw, nag-aadapt, at unti-unting tinatanggap mga bagay na wala na sa kontrol namin,” the aspiring pilot mused. But the end of the day, Pinoy Big Brother is a show. The viewers love the drama and they love to create narratives or beliefs in the series for the entertainment of it all. “Relatable siya in real life and may thrill. ‘Pag walang problema, boring,” the athlete said, unfazed.
“There’s relatability towards it,” Jas agreed. “Life is not perfect, and while we’re inside PBB, there’s a lot of evidence to that, especially how after arguments or when something bad happens, we talk about it and move on from it. I just hope that people also move on from it.”
Ending the So-Called Rivalry
One of the biggest things to come out of the Pinoy Big Brother reality TV show is the netizens’ favorite narrative—”The Anakabogerang Influencer of Mandaluyong City” Fyang versus “The Optimistic Ate of Dumaguete City” Jas. With the media’s penchant for pitting women against each other, MEGA Entertainment asked the two women what they had to say about their head-to-head dynamic.
“With media, with the noise, there are so many comparisons happening, pitting women against each other—which is so wrong. I totally disagree with that,” Jas admitted. Fyang also was confused by the narrative and drama that had circulated social media. “Noong nasa loob kami ng Bahay ni Kuya, parang takot siyang magkamali, and even though mas bata ako sa kanya, so I uplifted and supported her,” the PBB winner shared about the older housemate.
The two even shared their moments inside the PBB house: sleeping beside each other, exchanging good morning and good night hugs, and being there for each other during the moments when they needed comfort. “The moments when Fyangie cried, I was there. When I also needed help, Fyang was also there for me. We comforted each other, and even shared some secrets with each other,” Jas recalled.
Some specific moments Dudley-Scales shared were the snack hack the influencer taught her, where they put chocolate powder in bread and microwave it for a quick snack, and the times Fyang needed help pinning her clothes when they were too loose.
“Despite what the media says, Fyang has been there for me in a way that she can. People don’t need to know. Sometimes, it’s the moments that we have off-cam and I think that’s something that‘s best kept,” Jas concluded.
“You can support a woman by not dragging another woman down. I think that’s something that people should actually change their mindset to.”
– Jasmine Dudley-Scales, Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11
Entering The Outside World
The four PBB ex-housemates have different plans for the future, but there is one thing they have in common: entering show business.
“I-pupursue ko ‘yung acting ko,” The Gen 11 winner Fyang said happily. Committed, the aspiring actress shared how she had a bit of acting workshops already.
While the “Astig VolleyBae ng Pampanga” Dylan is testing the waters, he has plans of playing in the UAAP in February and continuing his studies. “Strike while the iron is hot,” Dylan expressed. “’Di naman namin makukuha lahat ng opportunity.” His dream of being a housemate has been checked off his list already, and if fate permits, maybe then the athlete will enter show business and pursue his dream of becoming an artist.
As for The Poginsyanong Pilo-ToBe of Quezon, he expressed how he wants to commit to being an actor. “’Yung path na gusto ko talaga ay sa pag-aarte, kasi ‘yung entertainment…malapit ‘yun sa puso ko, kahit hindi ako marunong o magaling,” JM said passionately. However, once he’s done with the entertainment industry, he will then pursue aviation.
“I’m not closing my doors to anything,” Jas shared excitedly. She told us how there have been workshops lining up for them ranging from acting to dancing. Mostly, Dudley-Scales is looking forward to hosting. Still, she expressed that she won’t be picky and will accept anything that comes her way.
The past few months inside the Bahay ni Kuya were full of mental and emotional warfare, oftentimes even forgetting that the ex-housemates were being filmed 24/7. Nevertheless, they persevered, and held their ground even more when they were out, despite all the different narratives surrounding them. The show may be over, but for Fyang, JM, Jas, and Dylan, their careers are just getting started.
Photographed by JOSH TOLENTINO. Creative Direction by GALLAHAN EAST. Makeup by BRYAN CUIZON (Sophia and JM) and RAFFY FRANCISCO (Jas and Dylan). Hair by DALE MALLARI (Sophia and JM) and PATTY CRISTOBAL (Jasmine and Dylan). Styled by STEVEN CORALDE of QURATOR STUDIO. Shoot Coordination by JOANA FERNANDO. Sittings Editor MIA CASTRO. Special thanks to STAR MAGIC and NIGHTCAP MANILA.
