ALLAN THE MAN

Just a few days ago, another edition of Pinoy Big Brother Teen has been started. They presented a new batch of teen housemates who will live for a couple of months in the most-popular house in the country. So, without further ado, Here's an interesting story of a teacher and her 'PBB hopeful' students 

By Jocy L. So-Yeung

HAS there been an epidemic? One day, all of the sudden, nearly a dozen students from the third year batch were absent. What happened?

The classmates grinned in response. "Nag-audition for PBB Ma'am." PBB of course is Pinoy Big Brother, the monster reality TV hit that places ordinary people in one residence, forces them to undergo unrealistic stunts, and allows the whole Philippines to watch their every move. I don't follow PBB but I know many who hound each episode like a starving dog chasing a bone.

And based on their stories, I was apprehensive upon knowing plenty of my students wanted to be in the show. A former student had already appeared on the show once, and she ended up being betrayed by a friend and looking mean and petty on TV. She was voted off, leaving the PBB house in an air of unpopularity.

Rabid watchers also tell me that the show's God-like kuya make housemates do uncomfortable things, from dancing with not a stitch of clothing on except a fan to downing liquor until they're drunk, just to stir up controversies and improve ratings.