'PBB Celebrity Collab 2.0': Heath Jornales reflects on setbacks, stands by 'pagkamatibay' mantra

Heath Jornales stood firm on his mantra of “pagkamatibay” as he faced tough questions during the Ultimate Tapatan.

On Tuesday’s episode of “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0,” the challenge continued as the Ultimate 8 answered questions from ex-housemates who then voted whether their answers were truth or lie.

Below is the Q&A edited for length and clarity.

Q: Paano mo napanindigan ang iyong mantra (pagkamatibay) sa loob ng bahay? Ano ang specific na pangyayari sa loob na naipakita mo ang iyong pinaninindigang mantra?

I guess the punishment week, na kahit sobrang hirap no’ng week na ‘yon, I still stood strong. I stood strong at hindi po ako nag-give up. And ginaya ko lang po tatay ko na maging matigas.

[I guess the punishment week, which was really difficult but I still stood strong. I stood strong and didn't give up. I did as my father does, to be strong.]

Q: There was one instance, meron kayong task — ang reading ko is parang na-frustrate ka that you couldn't count the triangles. Importante ‘yung task na ‘yon kasi that could be your ticket to the Big Jump and tama ba, medyo parang may giving up vibe ‘yung binigay mo no’n? Is that being matibay?

Yeah, I really wanted to give up at that time but I just kept thinking what it was for and who I'm doing it for — my family, and everyone supporting me. In the end, I didn't give up. I kept going. I may not have won pero I'm happy na hindi ako sumuko.

Jury’s votes: 12 ex-housemates raised the Truth banner

Q: Among your co-housemates, you were consistently at the bottom and even your so-called pagkamatibay seemed to falter during elimination rounds. Are you truly confident that you're capable of becoming the big winner or that you even deserve your spot if it's only your fans who continue to fight for you?

It's true, especially during eviction or elimination rounds, madalas akong mag-self doubt and to give up on myself.

But naaalala ko lang na lahat ng sumu-support sa ‘kin, sila ‘yung talagang nagbibigay ng lakas sa ‘kin and they're the reason why I keep going. The word "pagkamatibay" — mabilis kong bitawan once I face hardship but I guess I learned sa bahay ni Kuya na it's okay to feel down or to feel sad sometimes but to actually stop fighting for what you're fighting for, that's the real meaning of giving up. I'm glad na I stood my ground and kept standing strong.

Q: What do you think your supporters see in you kaya niligtas ka nila noong huling eviction?

I guess they saw my fighting spirit na runs in our blood sa family namin. Kasi nakita ko rin sa tatay ko ‘yon na kahit sa anong pinagdadaanan niya sa buhay, lahat ng hardships, he still kept going.

Jury’s votes: 12 ex-housemates raised the Truth banner

Question from John Clifford: Who do you think's not deserving sa Ultimate 8 spot and if you could switch up that housemate, sino ‘don ‘yung ex-housemate na sa tingin mo deserving naman sa Ultimate 8 spot?

I think everyone in this house is deserving and kung meron man akong papalitan sa spot na ‘to sa Ultimate 8, wala akong papalitan dahil I've seen everyone here na nasa Ultimate 8. I've seen them fight for their spot at nakita ko talaga lahat ng pinagdaanan nila.

But if I were to change someone on the Ultimate 8, it would be me and I would want to give it to Lee [Victor] because he's the one guy na nakita ko talaga na super, super, super deserving. And I've always wanted to see him strive and win. Now that I'm here on the Ultimate 8, I'm gonna make the most of it and do the most of it and show them kung bakit nila ako pinili.

Jury’s votes: 11 ex-housemates raised the Truth banner, 1 ex-housemate raised the Lie banner

Question from Eliza Borromeo: Bakit hindi mo pinili si Miguel para makatanggap ng Big Ticket para sa Big Jump? Akala ko ba HeaGuel can’t fly without 2 wings?

Kaya hindi ko siya pinili, and pinili ko si Lella instead, is because I knew na even though na hindi niya matanggap ‘yung Big Ticket na ‘yon, he would be in the Ultimate 8. Alam ko na ‘yon. And I know na he would win a task in the future no’ng time na ‘yon and he would get that spot for himself. 

Q: Pero hindi mo siya pina-plastic?

Kahit recently ko lang siya nakilala, he's a really big part of my life and he really taught me a lot of stuff. The trust that we built was so big na na kahit hindi ko siya piliin na makatanggap ng Big Ticket, I knew na he can fight for himself and he would have been able to got in a spot in the Ultimate 8.

Jury’s votes: 12 ex-housemates raised the Truth banner

Question from Iñigo Jose: Hindi mo napiling malaman ang sinasabi sa ‘yo ng outside world. Akala ko ba strength ang napili mo na mantra? Hindi mo ba gustong malaman ang sinasabi sa ‘yo ng outside world?

It would have changed everything that I would do here in this house and ayoko ‘yon. And I know it doesn't sound like being strong pero I guess I'm glad na hindi ko napili ‘yon and I got to just keep being myself in this house.

Q: How are you going to make sure that you're strong enough when you finally go to the outside world after the Big Night?

I guess how I'm going to be strong in the outside world is susundin ko lang ‘yung guidance ng parents ko and what my parents said na don't let what other people think determine who you are. I know that I'm going to be strong outside dahil I have their guidance.

Jury’s votes: 12 ex-housemates raised the Truth banner

Heath is one of the remaining housemates dubbed the Ultimate 8 alongside Caprice Cayetano, Princess Aliyah, Ashley Sarmiento, Lella Ford, Krystal Mejes, Miguel Vergara, and Joaquin Arce.

The "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0" Big Night will be on February 28. — Carby Rose Basina/LA, GMA Integrated News