John Clifford has strong social game, says mom

CEBU, Philippines — Since its debut October of last year, Cebuano housemate John Clifford has so far managed to avoid being nominated for eviction in “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0” — something his mother, Sofia Gawchua, is proud of and attributes to his rootedness.

“That he has avoided nominations so far shows he’s not just strategic but also socially aware,” Gawchua told The FREEMAN. “He doesn’t just stick to certain people. He tries to build relationships with all his housemates, which also reflects how he is outside. This is one of the things helping him survive in the competition.”

Like many housemates before him, having a strong social game inside the PBB house has also come with criticism of “playing too safe” and not pulling big moves — something Gawchua disagrees with when applied to her son, dubbed the season’s “Dutiful Langga ng Cebu.”

“Calling Clifford ‘playing safe’ overlooks the skill it takes to build strong relationships and handle life in the house wisely. He’s not just avoiding risks; he’s being thoughtful, strategic, and respectful of everyone, which are qualities that show both maturity and intelligence in the house,” she said.

Among the housemates Gawchua enjoyed seeing Clifford with were evicted fellow Kapuso housemates Marco Masa and Anton Vizon, as they were already close before entering the PBB house. She is also happy that he now gets to spend more time with Miguel Vergara and Heath Jornales.

Adding to the show’s many controversies since it first aired in 2005 on ABS-CBN was the issue of certain male housemates — particularly now-evicted participants Lee Victor and Inigo Jose — making “green jokes” that made their female peers uncomfortable. The housemates later apologized to the rest of the group for the remarks.

Viewers raised their concerns online, prompting a dialogue between the show’s producers and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to address the issue.

Gabriela Women’s Party also issued a statement, calling on the producers to conduct gender-sensitivity seminars for the housemates to expand their understanding of sexism, consent, and boundaries.

“The show must also create guided conversations that help young viewers recognize why comments that objectify women are harmful, even when unintended,” party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said.

Gawchua was initially worried, especially since Clifford, 19, is associated with the male housemates involved, but said she trusts her son’s judgment.

“As a mother, of course I was concerned knowing Clifford was around housemates involved in those jokes. But I also trust that he knows how to handle himself and make good choices. I believe he’s aware of the boundaries and respects others, which reassures me as a parent,” she said.

With the show’s numerous concept shake-ups — from group pairings of two Kapamilya and two Kapuso housemates to last season’s duo pairing of Star Magic and Sparkle artists — it remains unclear how the Big Four will be determined.

Should it follow a similar duo system, Gawchua hopes Clifford would be paired with Vergara and Lella Ford, the latter of whom is the sister of Daniel Padilla.

“Clifford has built a strong bond with them, and their personalities complement one another, which could make them a really solid team in the game,” she said.

“Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0” airs weeknights at 9:40 p.m. on GMA, with a 10:15 p.m. replay on Kapamilya Online Live; weekends at 6:15 p.m. on GMA, with a Saturday replay at 9:15 p.m. and a Sunday replay at 10:05 p.m. on Kapamilya Online Live.