Esnyr got emotional as he revealed deeply personal stories about his family’s financial struggles during an episode of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition.

The content creator got candid about the real-life challenges he has faced since rising to fame during the pandemic. He shared how his online success quickly turned into a financial responsibility.

"Nung nag-start kasi ako sa pandemic, nagkakaroon ako sa videos ko tig ₱5,000, tig ₱10,000 tapos napapansin ko wala na talagang ulam sa ref namin and walang laman talaga ang ref namin always. [Sabi ko], 'Okay ako na bahala sa grocery ngayon, ako na bahala sa kuryente, ganyan.' Sobrang little things lang hanggang sa palaki nang palaki. Hanggang sa may opportunity ako dito sa Manila. Dun pala magsisimula 'yung problem ko sa family ko," he recalled.

Esnyr shared a painful moment when his father was almost sent to jail because of an unpaid debt. His family turned to him for support.

"One day magko-call sa akin 'yung parents ko at sasabihing makukulong ang papa ko. So bakit? Kasi daw may utang daw kami, tapos sakto pa 'yung utang namin ganun kalaki sa makukuha ko. Eh siyempre ayaw kong makulong papa ko kaya binigay ko. Tapos nangutang ako. Dun na nag-start 'yung utang chronicles ko," he relayed.  

To earn back the money, Esnyr worked nonstop and accepted every brand deal he could.

"Siyempre since medyo malaki 'yung binayaran ko para lang hindi makulong 'yung father ko, like kumayod ako. Tinanggap ko lahat ng brands. Every day gagawa ako ng script, magi-edit ako, magsho-shoot ako," he shared.

What hurt him the most wasn’t the pressure, but the message he once received from his father after he missed replying to one of their messages.

"Sobrang busy ko that time na nagme-message sila papa sa akin kasi monthly sila nagme-message sa akin na, saan na 'yung pera, ganyan. Tapos di ako nakapag-reply. Dun ko unang natanggap 'yung unang message ng papa ko sa akin na: 'Grabe ka magpasarap diyan sa buhay mo diyan, kaya mong makita 'yung parents mo na naghihirap? Pero sige lang, gusto kong malaman mo na mabubuhay kami kahit wala ka,'" he said.

Esnyr remarked that it was a heartbreaking moment for him as he had been doing everything he could to support them.

"Sobrang sakit nun kasi ginawa ko 'to para sa kanila. Hindi ako humihingi ng mga bagay sa kanila. Ako 'yung bigay ng bigay. Natatakot nga akong tawagin ang sarili ko na breadwinner kasi si papa sinabi niya sa akin na huwag mo naman i-take credit lahat kasi nagwo-work ka. Gets ko naman 'yun kaya di ko tinatawag ang sarili ko na breadwinner. Every month nagme-message siya sa 'kin na, 'Hello John (Esnyr's second name), kumusta?' Magre-reply ako tapos after nun always na nanghihingi. Never akong na-chatan na kumusta lang," he said.

Despite his efforts, Esnyr shared that he has never been emotionally close to his father.

"Never in my life naging close kami. Never in my life na nakapagsabi ako ng 'I love you' sa kanya. Never in my life na sinabihan niya ako ng 'I love you,' na 'Sobrang saya ko na naging anak kita.' Wala akong narinig na ganun," he said.

The content creator said one of his biggest motivations for joining Pinoy Big Brother was his desire to help his family. 

"Kaya ayun gusto ko talaga sumali dito kasi hindi lang dream ko sa sarili ko na gusto kong maging kauna-unahang LGBT representation sa Big 4 pero talaga mostly para talaga sa pamilya ko. Gusto kong malaman nila na sobrang mahal na mahal ko sila, na sobrang mahal kita pa. I am doing everything for you. Kahit wala man itong PBB or meron, gusto ko lang na magiging okay kami ng papa ko kasi buong buhay ko 'tong binibitbit," he remarked.