MANILA — Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition alum Shuvee Etrata has laid bare the heartbreaking truth behind her childhood — one marked by extreme poverty, deep resentment, and a silent question she has carried her whole life: “Why bring nine children into the world if you can’t afford to raise them?”
In a raw and emotional sit-down with Vice Ganda for his YouTube vlog, the 25-year-old content creator and reality star did not hold back as she peeled back the curtain on her so-called “dysfunctional” upbringing — one where hunger and instability were normal, and where love was complicated by the bitterness of survival.
“My dad, wala siyang work. And my mom? She just kept getting pregnant,” Shuvee said bluntly. “Even when there were already five of us and we were struggling, she didn’t stop. We became nine. That’s when I started asking, ‘Why?’ Why would you have nine kids when you can’t even support five?”
Shuvee admitted that growing up in this environment planted a seed of resentment towards her parents — a feeling that only began to heal inside the PBB house.
“That became my wound,” she confessed. “But Bahay ni Kuya gave me a chance to release all that. I told everything. No filter. Maybe they were even ashamed, because I said it all on national TV.”
‘Parents Should Feel Shame Too’
Vice Ganda, known for her unflinching takes on social issues, echoed Shuvee’s sentiments — and went even further.
“Society always expects children to be ashamed of failing their parents,” the It’s Showtime host remarked. “But sometimes, parents should be the ones to feel shame — especially when you’re young, helpless, and completely dependent on the life your parents provide.”
“If you grow up suffering, it’s because of the choices your parents made. So yes, they should be held accountable.”
‘We Never Had a Home of Our Own’
Shuvee’s story paints a grim picture of transient living and instability.
“We never had a proper house. Never had a place to call our own. We lived in my grandmother’s house, or we kept moving from one place to another,” she said.
Now, despite the scars of her childhood, she remains determined to flip the script for her siblings.
“My dream house? It has separate rooms for all my siblings,” she shared with a smile. “That’s what drives me. I want to give them the life they deserve. That’s my fire.”
From Broken Beginnings to Big Dreams
Far from a sob story, Shuvee’s revelation is a powerful testament to resilience — a young woman who refused to be defined by her parents’ choices and instead chose to take control of her narrative.
She closed with a line that summed up her journey perfectly:
“Choice ko naman siya talaga, Meme. I choose to fight. I choose to be better. For them.”
