Models are perceived as all beauty and no brains but 26K girl Marylaine defies this perception. Her family not being well-off, with her father an amputee, Marylaine strived for and received a full scholarship at the De La Salle University. Here she excelled greatly and she was part of the pep squad, wrote for the school newspaper, became a consistent dean’s lister and even won a Palanca award.

Marylaine also writes for various magazines and is the spokesperson for Advocates for Youth, a youth group that advocates the fight for cervical cancer. Fondly called Leigh by family and friends, she describes herself as friendly, vivacious and very eloquent.

Will Marylaine use her smarts and take Jennifer with her to victory?

Nickname: Marylaine
Real Name: Marylaine Louise Viernes
Origin:MakatiCity
Age: 21
Birthdate: September 29
Place of Birth:MakatiCity
Nationality: Filipino
Occupation: 26K Girl
Sport: Wushu
Hidden Ambition: To fly
Claim to Fame: 26K Girl on Kapamilya Deal or No Deal’s 2nd Season
Achievements: 2004 Palanca Awardee for her Kabataan essay, Ms. Teen Philippines 2005
Charity: Advocates 4 Youth Foundation

Source: PBB Site

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Acting was already in Jen’s blood since she was born. Claiming to be an illegitimate child of a big 80s movie star whose career has not only diminished but has taken a somewhat criminal turn, she has never seen her father yet the urge to be famous was there. Jen has joined beauty pageants and has won several of them including Ms. Las Piñas in 2005. She was also a part of an all female sing and dance group called the Hot Chicks which also featured PBB Teen Alumna Olym Meimban. The promise of fame excited Jen but after a year of lounging in limbo, she felt restless and she eventually auditioned to be part of KDOND’s 26K girls.

Jen has been pretty independent since the age of 9 and she’s also her family’s bread winner. She’s a natural fighter but her will to survive sometimes rubs her colleagues the wrong way. She has had fights and shouting matches with the other 26K girls because Jen just won’t surrender to anyone, especially when she believes that she’s right.

Although she isn’t a star yet, At 17, Jen feels that the world is at her fingertips. She has a lot dreams and nothing can deter or stand in her way from achieving them.

However will her stubbornness be a road block not only for her but for her ka-two in one housemate Marylaine as well?

Nickname: Jen
Real Name: Jennifer Da Silva
Origin: Las Pinas City
Age: 17
Birthdate: December 4
Place of Birth:Quezon City
Nationality: Filipino
Occupation: 26K Girl
Sport: Volleyball
Hidden Ambition: To be a famous actress and businesswoman
Claim to Fame: 26K Girl on Kapamilya Deal or No Deal’s 2nd Season
Achievements: Ms. Las Piñas 2005
Charity: Advocates 4 Youth Foundation

Source: PBB Site

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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?

Nickname: Gaby
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

Source: PBB Site

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A self-confessed geek, Mcoy never thought he could really sing. In high school he was often asked to sing in front of his class as a practical joke. Not used to performing, Mcoy found this embarrassing and he vowed to learn how to sing. This eventually happened when he met Clem Castro and formed Orange and Lemons in 2003.

In no time, the band showed enormous progress, dishing out UK-pop style melodies, a sound new to most Filipinos. Soon the band was topping the charts with hits like “Hanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby)”, “Heaven Knows (This Angel Has Flown)” and the PBB anthem “Pinoy Akp”.

Unknown to many, Mcoy is already married with two kids.

Will Mcoy succeed in making the house sing in harmony? Will he be the one dancing “Pinoy Ako” to the top?

Nickname: Mcoy
Real Name: Marco Fundales
Origin: Bulacan
Age: 29
Birthdate: November 3
Place of Birth: Baliwag, Bulacan
Nationality: Filipino
Occupation: Vocalist, Orange and Lemons
Sports: Bowling
Hidden Ambition: To write a book and be a part of a memorable sitcom or movie
Claim to Fame: Front man of the band Orange and Lemons, Sang PBB Season 1 theme “Pinoy Ako”
Charity: Emmaus Home for the Aged - Malolos, Bulacan

Source: PBB Site

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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

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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

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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