Pinoy Big Brother housemate Ashley Ortega wants to reconcile with her mother with whom she lost contact since 2022.  

In PBB Collab Edition’s Wednesday (March 26) episode, the Kapuso actress burst out in tears as she answered questions about the rift she has with her mom.  

She faced PBB host Gabbi Garcia in a fine-dining-like setting where questions that are relevant to the families of this week’s nominees, including her, were served instead of real food. Questions were purposefully prepared by Big Brother for that specific task, in hopes of connecting them to their loved ones. 

“Of course, ma. I’m just waiting for you. If you’re not ready, go take your time, take your time, Ma, because ako, okay na ako,” she said when asked if their relationship still has a chance for forgiveness.  

Ashley said she attempted to reach out to her mom through text, but did not go into details on whether she received a response or not. 

“I always pray that my mom will heal, and I hope she can forgive me,” she said in a conversation she had with Big Brother at the confession room.  

Ashley’s estrangement with her mother started when she left their home with the intention to stand on her own feet. The actress revealed that she has a “very strict mom.” 

“I just wanted to leave kasi ayokong habambuhay, may hatred ako sa mom ko. Ayoko kong lumaki nang lumaki ang hatred ko sa 'yo, Ma. That’s why I just chose to leave, to distance myself, to give space for myself and for you also, so that you can focus on yourself first,” she explained.  

The PBB housemate admitted that it was not an easy decision, but it was something she had to do despite the pain.  

She furthered that the decision was not made overnight: “I thought about it for years even though okay tayo, okay yung relationship natin. I would ask myself if I should leave the house and my answer has always been yes.” 

Although she stood up for her decision, the actress still acknowledged what she had done wrong to her family.  

“Honestly, Ma, I think ‘yung mali na ginawa ko is I left you guys without saying anything,” she said, addressing her mother.  

Ashley said she wasn’t able to bid farewell to her mother the day she left the house. It was only her grandmother, whom she openly misses, who knew about her decision to move out.  

Still, Ashley is grateful to her for a lot of things: “I am thankful for you’re just beside me all the time, binabantayan mo ako. Yung mga emotions na pinaramdam niyo sa’kin, the good and the bad, because if it weren’t for that, wala akong malalim na hugot sa buhay.” 

Although she doesn’t want to expect that her mother misses her, she still hopes that her mother wishes her well.  

The PBB housemate first opened up the status of her relationship with her mom during some small talk with former house guest Ivana Alawa in an early episode of the reality show.  

Ashley is currently nominated with her partner AC Bonifacio, along with two other duos  Wilver (Wil Ashley and River Joseph) and Rami (Ralph De leon and Michael Sager. The eviction night will be on Sunday, March 30. 

—By Clarence Gillego