What PBB's Biggel Has Been Up To

Those who followed last year’s Pinoy Big Brother Unlimited Edition will remember this gangling Filipino-German teenager who eventually finished third in the competition-cum-reality show. His name was Joseph Emil Biggel or simply Biggel as he came to be known inside Big Brother House.

He was as big as contradictions can come. Statuesque and blessed with movie star good looks as many Filipino-Caucasian children rather tend to be, he also came with a rural Filipino demeanour and a thick Marinduqueño accent that he could not quite get rid of till the show’s end.

His story was also as tragic as stories can get. Left by both parents with grandparents on his Filipina mother’s side in Gasan, Marinduque, he was brought up in rather humble circumstances and had to fish and farm to help augment his grandparents’ meagre livelihood.

“ So that is what young Joseph Emil Biggel has been up to since dropping out of the limelight. He has been in college – which was not possible for him before PBB – and has seemingly started along the road to his dream, probably even turning his back on the potentially lucrative world of show business. ”

At one point – although the veracity of this story has been contested by some who claimed to know him, as though it mattered – he even had to work in a funeral parlour as makeup artist just to be able to give some money for her grandmother to buy some medicine.

Who can possibly forget that teary-eyed episode towards the end of the show when Big Brother gave each of the remaining housemates a phone call so they could all resolve personal issues and relationships? Biggel tried to call his Mom; but after he introduced himself, she abruptly cut the line dead.

That was followed by what I felt was one of the most poignant moments of the show, this huge lad bawling his heart out to Big Brother at the Confession Room. It felt invasive to be even watching.

At any rate, although Biggel earned a spot afterwards co-presenting a segment in the afternoon recap of the subsequent PBB Teen Edition, he disappeared from sight as soon as the show concluded.

I wondered if he was not given am extended contract. If I am being honest, the good looks notwithstanding, he was more than a little rough around the edges and looked uncomfortable delivering his lines in front of the camera. He was just too self-conscious.

Meanwhile, a few of his fellow housemates have started to build careers for themselves in show business. Slater Young, the Big Winner, has been getting a slew of television appearances and some product endorsements.

Then there is the ongoing afternoon teleserye Paraiso which is something of a PBB Unlimited reunion. Having minor roles in the series are Pamu Pamurada – who hails from Lipa – and other former housemates Paco Evangelista, Jessica Connelly and Wendy Tabusalla.

Well, there was an item on TV Patrol Southern Tagalog last week that finally solved the puzzle about the missing Biggel. A news crew had been dispatched to snoop for news in Marinduque and passed by Biggel’s humble home in Gasan.

Biggel himself was not home, so the news crew had to make do with interviewing his grandfather and sister.

“He has not changed at all,” his grandfather told the news crew, probably asked if Biggel had been affected by the sudden fame. “He is exactly the same as he was before the show, towards me, his grandmother and aunts.”

“In fact,” the grandfather went on, “he wanted to give his entire cash prize (from the show) to us so we can seek medical treatment. We told him to set it aside for his sister instead since we do not really have the means to take good care of her.”

Biggel’s sister, as can only be expected, is quite a looker herself. She dreams of one day becoming a flight attendant. Presently, she is heeding her brother’s creed of no boyfriends and focus on studies first.

So where was Biggel?

Those who watched the show will remember this challenge when he and Pamu had to bring their backpacks across the room through this maze of garters. For their efforts, both were rewarded with college scholarships.

Since Biggel mentioned many times during the show that he had always wanted to become a policeman, he was given a full scholarship at the Philippine College of Criminology for its BS Criminology program.

So that is what young Joseph Emil Biggel has been up to since dropping out of the limelight. He has been in college – which was not possible for him before PBB – and has seemingly started along the road to his dream, probably even turning his back on the potentially lucrative world of show business.

After obtaining his degree, I suppose it will be a straightforward matter of applying at the PNP for him to become a policeman. I sincerely hope becoming a cop will not change him, either.

Acknowledgment: Pictures captured from TV Patrol Southern Tagalog’s live news telecast.

Share |