Ex-PBB Collab housemates recall fondest moments from lock-in taping for 'The Secrets of Hotel 88'

The ex-housemates of “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 1.0” spent weeks locked in for the taping of their upcoming series, “The Secrets of Hotel 88.”

In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, several housemates looked back on their fondest memories working together. 

For Kira Balinger, Josh Ford, Bianca de Vera, Mika Salamanca, and Brent Manalo, it was their breaks and rest days that they loved the most.

“Honestly, the most memorable for me is our rest days, like how we bond during our free time," Kira recalled. 

“Like there is this one rest day na nag-jetski kami nila AZ. So ‘yung ang parang pinakapagpag namin after heavy scenes after days of continuous work. Rest days are the best,” she added.

Josh said that the lock-in taping allowed them to open up with each other the way they couldn't in Bahay ni Kuya.

“Kasi sa loob ng bahay, marami kaming secrets na hindi nasasabi, mga bawal pag-usapan like favorite movie namin, favorite song. Pero dito sa labas ang dami naming napag-uusapan na pwede. Kaya we really get to know each other well,” he told GMA News Online. 

River he looked back on their first dinner together during the first cycle of their lock-in taping last year, unable to help but compare it from their time in PBB.

“It was our first dinner together. Siyempre super different from [Bahay ni Kuya] kasi siyempre ngayon nasa hotel na kami, may pagkain na kami. We’re more free now. It was just nice to look back from where we came from,” he shared.

For Esnyr, it’s their mundane moments on rest days, such as randomly dancing in the afternoon, small talk, and eating together, that he enjoyed the most.

AZ, on the other hand, said that hanging out with the whole production team of the series was her favorite moment from the lock-in taping.

“There was a time that we didn’t have an early call time, so we were able to sleep late, to stay out late. So ayon kasama lang namin ‘yung prod from 2 p.m. until midnight. We were with them. All of us were them. We were just talking with each other, eating together. Bonding talaga sobra,” AZ said, adding that they were able to get to know each other because of this.

Work mode

While they enjoyed their rest days, the housemates also had fun working together professionally.

Mika said she got to know Brent beyond being her final duo in PBB. 

“Brent is very focused when it comes to work kasi sa PBB house doon mas bahay type kami pero dito sa taping makiktia mo talaga na sobrang professional siya. Minsan talaga mas pinipili niyang pag-aralan ang script, ang eksena. He’s very focused,” Mika said of Brent.

She added that she has found which housemates to find strength in while filming certain scenes.

"Kapag may scene, at kailangan namin ng hugot, alam namin kung sino ang titignan namin para hugutan ng nararamdaman namin. For example ako, pag kailangan ko ng lakas ng loob sa set, kailangan kong maging matapang, kailangan kong magings seryoso, tinitignan ko si Josh kasi nabibigay niya sa akin 'yon," she said.

"Kapag kailangan kong umiyak, tinitgnan ko si Bianca. Ilang segundo lang, iiyak na ako."

“The Secrets of Hotel 88” stars Brent Manalo, Mika Salamanca, River Joseph, Esnyr, AZ Martinez, Kira Balinger, Josh Ford, Dustin Yu, Ralph De Leon, Xyriel Manabat, Bianca De Vera, Will Ashley, and Klarisse De Guzman. 

It will also feature veteran actors Ina Raymundo, Dominic Ochoa, and Gardo Verzosa.

Production of "The Secrets of Hotel 88" began in October.

The show is a family-mystery drama teleserye that explores themes of love and friendship. It is set to air in GMA Prime on March 2. —JCB, GMA Integrated News