Controversy is brewing around ‘Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Celebrity Collab Edition’ as questions mount over its online voting system affiliated with the financial platform Maya.
What was once a show about authenticity and competition has now raised concerns about how money might be overshadowing merit—and potentially, reality.
Online chatter reveals that some supporters allegedly spent as much as ₱1.6 million to ₱2 million just to save their favorite housemates from eviction. While some believe these figures were the result of collective fan efforts, others claim these massive amounts came from single sponsors—a claim that raises ethical questions about fairness in the game.
Netizens have dubbed this season “Paldo Big Brother,” pointing out how votes tied to digital transactions may skew the results in favor of the wealthiest backers. Some are calling to bring back the simpler days of text voting, arguing that the current format commodifies participation.
The mounting expenses contrast sharply with the token charitable donations featured in recent episodes. While housemates are tasked with choosing beneficiary institutions, critics argue that the money raised from votes far outweighs what’s donated.
During her hate train plus wala pang masyadong fans and hindi pa dito kasama yung sa RAZ as a whole and contribution from azbrent.
This is my first time voting for someone in pbb since Lou Yanong.
Let’s comeback stronger for AZ. https://t.co/Q2tlmQLRwg pic.twitter.com/WAPJja5Fs4
— Jane ♠︎ (@twistedcardio) June 4, 2025
Supporters of eliminated housemates Klarisse de Guzman and Shuvee Etrata have also voiced frustration, especially as Klarisse—considered a frontrunner—was eliminated due to insufficient votes. Some fans now suggest redirecting funds to Klarisse’s rumored upcoming concert, reportedly being produced by Vice Ganda.
if the voting teams of shukla spent 2.7M during the last nomination, it means 4.7M ang galing sa cvs???
reference:
— 0.17% = 40k
total: 23.5M
— shukla: 7.41Mgrabe, thank you, cvs, for believing in shukla! nilaban ng lahat! indeed the saddest eviction in pbb history!
— lexi (@bratzburn) June 17, 2025
With the finale drawing near, the final eviction includes all remaining duos: AZVer (AZ Martinez–River Joseph), DusBi (Dustin Yu–Bianca de Vera), RaWi (Ralph de Leon–Will Ashley), BreKa (Brent Manalo–Mika Salamanca), and ChaRes (Charlie Fleming–Esnyr Ranollo). Among them, only Esnyr has never been nominated—until now.
₱1,660,000 Used for voting. ₱3,183.78 remaining.
No loveteam. No ship. No big sponsorships. Just puyat, diskarte, at pusong palaban.
We didn’t ride hype — we built our own momentum.
Thank you, Team Klarisse. Salamat po sa lahat! pic.twitter.com/7Sc2TXjbFH
— BBS KLARISSE (@KDGVotingTeam) June 16, 2025
As the ultimate test of influence and wallet power begins, many are left wondering: in today’s ‘PBB’, is it really the public who decides, or is it the highest bidder?
At the end of it all, as one netizen pointed out: “Ang tunay na Big Winner dito… si Kuya.”
