Zara comes from a poor family. She never met her real father and instead grew up with a step father who treated her as their own. Her mom suffered from an illness that prevented her from acquiring a regular job. The whole family is supported by relatives who send them money from abroad.

Joining beauty contests is not new to Zara, not to mention that it also runs in her blood (Michelle Aldana, also a Mutya ng Pilipinas holder, is said to be a relative). From elementary to high school, Zara has already won numerous campus titles which has helped a lot with the family finances. In fact, she took home the Ms STI International and Bb. Las Piñas crown in 2006 and was granted full scholarship to college.

She created waves after winning the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific title in 2007. However, in less than two months of her reign, Zara was reported to have given up the crown. Many reasons came up as to why she abdicated her throne: discrimination within the organization, unclear contract, lack of support from the organizers and ‘fatigue’ from the sudden lifestyle change.

By entering the PBB house, will Zara be able to prove that she is no weakling and emerge the Big Winner?

Nickname: Zara
Real Name: Zephora Aldana Mayon
Origin: Las Piñas City
Age: 18
Birthdate: April 17
Place of Birth: Las Piñas
Nationality: Filipino
Occupation: Student
Sports: Badminton, billiards, bowling and volleyball
Hidden Ambition: To be a famous singer
Claim to Fame: Mutya ng Pilipinas - Asia Pacific 2007
Charity: St. Camillus Medhaven, Marikina City

Source: PBB Site

View more picture of Zara.

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Megan Young’s first big showbiz break was with the talent reality search Star Struck. With her statuesque height and Fil-Am features, Megan perfectly fits the mestiza master mold that the show’s contestants seem to have jumped out from. Her talent and personality landed her in the show’s top six. But despite her good finish, Megan’s acting career never took off. Projects came to her in trickles. Often she would be typecast as the antagonist, the bitch, the bad girl — something she found unpleasant.

She soon moved to ABS-CBN following her sister, Lauren, who was part of Star Magic’s Star Circle 13. Megan first appeared on the show Abt Ur Luv together with Victor Basa. Just recently, she acquired the role of Shane in ABS-CBN’s hit teleserye Kokey. And Megan’s happy she plays the nice girl this time.

Megan still has room to grow and she knows that. She is like princess to her family and she’s not used to doing chores. During her Star Struck days she was even called a crybaby for being too sensitive.

After PBB Celebrity ends, will we remember Megan as the weeping little girl or as the brave princess who did everything to win?

Nickname: Megan
Real Name: Megan Lynne Young
Origin:Quezon City / USA
Age:17
Birthdate: February 27
Place of Birth:Alexandria, USA
Nationality: Fil-American
Hidden Ambition: To be an editor of a fashion magazine
Claim to Fame: The “rival network’s talent search finalist who jumped over the fence”
Charity: P.R.E.D.A. Foundation

View more pictures of Meagan Young.

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Life has certainly thrown a lot of trials towards Ethel’s way at a very young age. Homeless and underprivileged, she served as the only parent of her siblings and their source of strength. She still remembers how they used to sleep on closed carinderias before and it awes her until now how they have survived those difficult times.

At the age of 20, she worked in Japan just to provide for her family. Her sacrifices weren’t in vain though because after her stint there, she was able to build their own house. Then after that a window opened for Ethel to join showbusiness.

Being an instant hit since then, Ethel’s rise to stardom cost her to answering left and right controversies. One of which was her infamous and owned-up sex video scandal, with her then basketball player boyfriend Alex Crisano that circulated around the net and mobile phones. A true pasaway, she’s remembered to have waged a word war against her own family on Philippine TV, defending her then boyfriend against certain allegations.

It’s now controversial comedienne meets the controversial house, as Ethel Booba enters the Pinoy Big Brother. Will she be able to shed her pasaway image and show the world who the true Ethel is?

Here’s Ethel’s brief bio.

Nickname: Ethel
Real Name: Ethel Gabina
Origin:Gen. Santos City
Age: 26
Birthdate: 17 December
Place of Birth:Manila
Nationality: Filipino
Occupation: Actress-stand up comedienne
Sport: Swimming
Hidden Ambition: To be a fashion designer
Claim to Fame:
Charity: C.R.I.B.S. Foundation

Source: PBB Site

As PBB usual policy on evicting housemates, the first to come out in the house via voluntary exit is no other than Gaby Dela Merced.

Here’s a quick bio of Gaby from Official PBB site.

Nickname: Gaby
Status: Quit
Real Name: Gabriella Dela Merced
Origin:Quezon City
Age: 25
Birthdate: June 10
Nationality: Filipino
Occupation: TV Host
Sport: Racing
Hidden Ambition: To achieve contentment
Claim to Fame: Multi-awarded Filipina on the Asian Formula 3 circuit
Achievements: Philippine Formula Toyota Championship, 3rd overall (2004) and Formula BMW Asia Scholarship Driver (2004) among others
Charity: icanserve Foundation

Gaby Dela Merced took public interest when she became one of the few Filipinas to dominate the Asian Formula 3 circuit. She is the only Filipina who competed in the full season of the series and her efforts to a 1st Runner-up placing in the Philippine National Formula championship. Last year Gaby appeared in a shampoo commercial that highlighted Filipina’s with “power, brain and beauty.” According to Gaby she was willing to try any sport to join the Olympics and when she got into motor sports, she knew this was her true calling. “Racing gives me a big sense of freedom, the world is yours, kaya mo lahat-lahat.”

Aside from racing, Gaby is a bonafide sports enthusiast. She also plays football and Frisbee when she has the time.

Will she be able to race ahead to the finish line and become this season’s Big Winner?

Source: PBB Official Site

I am proud being Filipino and having here in the Paradise Philippines. Every year Hollywood stars and world class entertainers coming to the Philippines for a concert and even a series of tours in different islands and paradise places of the Philippines.

And recently, the big waiting has come to the concert of Beyoncé in Taguig City, Philippines. The date was yesterday, November 7, 2007. The former child of Destiny’s Child had here springy one-night concert at Taguig City, Paradise Philippines.

She arrived from a chartered flight at Manila International Airport Authority. Soul pop diva singer Beyoncé Knowles collected five Grammy Awards in 2004, tying a record for a female artist. Knowles was part of the group Destiny’s Child before launching a solo career with the album Dangerously in Love in 2003. She did duet collaboration with Jay-Z, “Crazy in Love.” Among her hits include “Irreplaceable” and “Baby Boy” as a solo artist.