WHILE she did not walk out with the title big winner of “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition,” Shuvee Etrata, dubbed the “Island Girl of Cebu,” still feels like a winner.
At the recent press con for the Kapuso housemates, the girl from Bantayan Island won hearts with her charm, her talent and her positive attitude.
“Even if I didn’t win the Big Winner title, I truly feel like a winner,” she said last Thursday, July 17. “Grabe talaga. Hindi ko po alam na kami ni Ate Klang ay sa outside world.
She was welcomed by a whirlwind of love from brands and fans upon her exit.
“The moment I went out, opened the doors of PBB, hindi ko po alam na mayroon na akong fans — ‘yung mga guys na may headband, tapos ‘yung mukha ko … nasa mga tarpaulin! Syempre, hindi mo ‘yun aasahan. Akala ko ten years from now ko pa makikita ‘yon, pero napabilis dahil sa PBB. Kaya naman sobrang thankful ako.”
She gained a dedicated fan base and quickly became the face of multiple campaigns.
“Nagkaroon ako ng core: Pangkat Shuvee. Lahat po ng sumusuporta sa atin, dahil po sa inyo, maraming maraming salamat. Nandito po ako because of you guys… Ang dami pong brands na sumusuporta. Nag-viral pala yung TDH (tall, dark, handsome), hindi mo po aasahan. Hindi mo po alam kung ano po ’yung nangyayari sa labas, so hindi namin alam kung mahal ba kami ng tao. Pero grabe pala ang bash at love sa amin.”
Shuvee admits her transformation didn’t come easy. The pressure to be accepted and the fear of judgment were present inside Kuya’s house.
“Sa totoo lang po, sobrang nahirapan ako magpakatotoo. Kasi natakot ako ma-judge. Natakot din ako na baka hindi nila mahal ‘yung totoong ako,” she revealed. “Until si Bianca, pinush niya ako: ‘Magpakatotoo ka lang sa sarili mo.’ And the moment I stayed true to myself was the moment I was loved by people.”
That choice to embrace her true self opened doors not just in the industry but in her heart.
“I’m just really grateful sa Sparkle … and that PBB opened the doors for me. And now kilala na ako ng tao, hindi lang as ‘yung Shuvee na nagho-host, eto na talaga ‘yung Island Ate ng Cebu. A go-getter. Palaging nandyan sa pamilya.”
Since leaving the house, Shuvee has joined the cast of “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” and is now juggling appearances on “It’s Showtime” and “Unang Hirit” — all while continuing to connect with her growing fanbase.
But Shuvee is aware that with the popularity comes a responsibility to her fans.
“I feel like I now have a greater responsibility to raise more awareness, to be a more maayos na tao,” she said, “Kasi nakakatakot talaga. Parang lahat talaga ng moves mo, nakikita ka ng mga tao… So right now, I feel more tamed.”
