Shortly after being named the Big Winners of Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition over the weekend, netizens and fans looked back on social media star Mika Salamanca and actor Brent Manalo’s inspiring journey to the top.
Mika and Brent, collectively known as “BreKa” or “MikBrent,” made history as the first duo to be crowned Big Winners in the reality show’s historic collaboration between network giants ABS-CBN and GMA, surpassing fellow pairings Ralph de Leon and Will Ashley (RaWi), Charlie Fleming and Esnyr (CharEs), and AZ Martines and River Joseph (AZVer), who placed second, third, and fourth, respectively.
The two were visibly emotional and overjoyed as they were hailed the season’s Big Winners during the Big Night held Saturday, July 5, at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. They earned 33% of the total combined votes, taking home ₱1 million each.
“Sa totoo lang po, hindi ko alam ang sasabihin kasi hindi po sapat ‘yung salitang ‘masaya,’ ‘mahal ko kayo,’ at ‘salamat po.’ Kasi hindi po ‘yun mae-explain ang nararamdaman ko ngayon,” Salamanca said.
“Gusto ko lang po sabihin basta puso ang panlaban, anything is possible. God is good. Thank you po,” Manalo added.
The pair, who were also the last duo to enter the show’s final Big 4, captured audiences with their growth both as individuals and as a team throughout their stay inside the iconic house, where they tackled challenging tasks and shared personal stories, gradually revealing their authentic selves to the public.
Brent entered the house under the moniker “Gentle-linong Heartthrob ng Tarlac”, bringing in his charm and leading-man looks from the outside world.
But as the days went on, he allowed his walls to come down and peeled back layers of his personality, revealing a young man burdened by the fear of rejection being disliked—a vulnerability rooted in his personal upbringing.
Earlier in the show, Manalo revealed that his fear of rejection stemmed from a childhood trauma when was voted “most hated classmate” in sixth grade.
He admitted he initially hesitated to join PBB because of this, fearing greater judgment from the public. Despite his doubts, he pushed himself to overcome that fear throughout his stay in the show.
This openness allowed viewers and housemates alike to see a more grounded, relatable side of the actor.
While excelling academically as a cum laude graduate from De La Salle University, Brent was also active online, running a YouTube channel where he shared travel vlogs and lifestyle content.
His journey into showbiz began when he was spotted in a campaign for an international fast fashion brand and was later scouted by Star Magic’s Johnny Manahan to audition.
Brent made his acting debut in the iWant series “Ampalaya Chronicles” during the pandemic and soon appeared in popular shows like “The Broken Marriage Vow” and “Beach Bros”. His popularity rose along with an expanding fanbase after he starred as an on-screen partner of his fellow housemate Esnyr in the YouTube series “Hayskul Crush”.
Mika, meanwhile, was referred as the “Controvesial Ca-Babe-Len ng Pampanga”, as a nod to both her hometown pride and the past controversies that followed her outside and inside the house.
Salamanca first gained recognition with song covers and relatable vlogs on YouTube, where she currently has over four million subscribers. Her online presence was followied by her television debut as a contestant on “Family Feud Philippines” and later as a guest on the long-running Kapuso comedy show “Bubble Gang”.
Her acting career kicked off with a guest role in the action-romance series “Maging Sino Ka Man” and later appeared in dramas such as “Abot-Kamay na Pangarap”, “Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis”, and “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre”.
It was in 2020, when Mika made headlines after being arrested in Honolulu, Hawaii for violating the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine for arriving travelers during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic.
According to past reports, authorities reported that Salamanca arrived on July 6 but was seen out in public just four days later. Videos showed her dancing in a store and dining out, which prompted the Hawaii attorney general’s office to issue the arrest.
Despite the shadow of old mistakes, Mika took on the challenge of redemption head-on, showing maturity, determination, and sincerity in proving that past mistakes do not define one’s future.
Now, with their historic PBB win, Brent and Mika are stepping into a new chapter not just as reality show champions, but as symbols of growth, redemption, and the power of “pagpapakatotoo”.
Fans continue to celebrate their victory online, with their names trending shortly after the finale and timelines filled with messages of support and appreciation for their journey on the show.
