After all, ex-PBB housemate Jamilla Natalie Obispo entered the Big Brother house months back because she needed money to fund one-year-old son Miggy’s cleft palate operation.
The boy did have a successful operation – gratis et amore – thanks to a generous sponsor. And Jamilla is so overwhelmed she can hardly believe her good luck.
"I would have been happy with one operation for Miggy. But no, Big Brother is granting him four more to correct his condition completely," Jamilla says in Filipino.
Her story is woefully typical. Sixteen-year-old girl meets older sister’s high school classmate. They fall for each other. Girl gets pregnant. But boy is not ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood. He can’t find a job. So girl dumps boy and fends for herself and her baby. They have lost touch since.
Jamilla admits she posed for FHM’s December 2005 issue. She also worked as guest relations officer for Air Force One.
All these, she did to survive.
"My mom is not rich," Jamilla admits.
She doesn’t even deny that she had to uh, link up with a Chinese guy to get by, even if it ran against her wishes.
Then PBB came along. Now that she’s out of the house, Jamilla says her life has changed completely. She’s closer to God, thanks to regular visits from Coney Reyes, who shares Bible passages with her and her other housemates.
"I used to be impatient, irritable. I want things to happen right now. PBB has taught me to be patient and wait for what I want," adds Jamilla.
She has also gained new friends. One of them is Brenda, Jamilla’s Amerasian housemate who got evicted the same day she (Jamilla) did. Brenda volunteered to leave Big Brother’s house so she could help Jamilla push through with her son’s operation (Big Brother turned down the offer).
Household work is another new skill Jamilla learned. Today, the single mom proudly says she knows how to whip up adobo and nilaga dishes, a skill she didn’t have before she entered Bahay ni Kuya.
Now that she’s out of the house, Jamilla is only too happy to spend more time with Miggy. Her schedule may still be busy – with rounds of interviews and special TV appearances to make. But at least now, Jamilla can wake up with Miggy cooing and gurgling beside her.
"Now, I no longer feel like it’s the end of the world when I don’t have my cell phone. Staying incommunicado for more than a month has challenged me to look for other ways to keep myself occupied," she says.
Jamilla adds her Air Force One days are over. She will turn a new leaf from now on.
It’s about time.