IN A surprise turn that won over fans and housemates alike, Team CharEs—made up of Davao del Sur’s Esnyr Ranollo and Cagayan de Oro’s Charlie Fleming—became the first duo to secure a spot in the Big 4 of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition.
The duo clinched the slot during the June 23 episode, after earning a landslide 11 out of 15 votes from the House Challengers—a mix of current housemates and returning ex-housemates.
Their early entry into the Big 4 places them a step ahead of the remaining Final 5 duos: RaWi (Ralph de Leon and Will Ashley), AZVer (AZ Martinez and River Joseph), BreKa (Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca), and DusBi (Dustin Yu and Bianca de Vera).
Among those who cast their votes were AC Bonifacio, Kira Balinger, Michael Sager, Emilio Daez, Josh Ford, Vince Maristela, Xyriel Manabat, Shuvee Etrata, and Klarisse de Guzman. Etrata and de Guzman had just exited the house days earlier.
CharEs dominated the vote. RaWi and AZVer only received two votes each, while BreKa and DusBi failed to earn a single vote.
Before the voting, the Final 5 faced a tense Q&A session with the House Challengers. CharEs stood out for their authenticity, grit, and emotional depth—a reflection of their journey in the house.
Charlie, who was evicted on Day 35 with her original partner Kira, fought her way back into the competition through a wildcard round on May 18. She re-entered the house with Ralph de Leon, and later formed the now-fan-favorite CharEs team with Esnyr.
Esnyr, known for his emotional honesty and humor, had earlier confessed to struggling with the show’s physical challenges. Still, he built deep connections inside the house and steadily won hearts with his vulnerability and resilience.
As the last pair formed during the duo stage, CharEs was widely seen as the underdog. Their dramatic rise to the Big 4 stunned many, including themselves.
"Alam kong kakabalik ko lang last month because of the people outside, and now to be chosen by the other housemates, knowing that not only my family, but even those inside the house believe in me and Esnyr—is just so heartwarming. Being part of the Big 4 now feels like a miracle (I know I just came back last month because of the people outside, and now to be chosen by the other housemates—knowing that not only my family, but even those inside the house believe in me and Esnyr—is just so heartwarming. Being part of the Big 4 now feels like a miracle),” said Charlie, holding back tears.
Esnyr echoed her sentiments, saying, "Naniniwala pa rin po talaga ako kay Charlie at sa mga nilalaban po naming dito sa bahay (I still truly believe in Charlie and in everything we’re fighting for here in the house)."
He dedicated their win to their hometowns—Davao del Sur and Cagayan de Oro—as well as to the Bisaya community, content creators, and the LGBTQIA+ community, with whom he shares a deep connection.
Their story has resonated far beyond the PBB house. Davao del Sur Governor Yvonne Cagas publicly celebrated Esnyr’s victory, calling him “ang garbo nga taga-Digos” (the pride of Digos) and praising his talent and spirit in a heartfelt Facebook post.
With the final showdown ahead, CharEs now carries the hopes of Davao—and underdogs everywhere. Could this mark Davao’s second Big Winner title after Ruben Gonzaga’s win in the 2008 Celebrity Edition Season 2?
The nation is watching. RGL
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