Jan Angelo Batongbakal

WHO SAID THIS: BB Gandanghari’s coming out story inside the PBB house

Article (news)

Peter Andrew Acierto

Push Team

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786015853000WST26-AC_52-BBGandanghari.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>“Sinasabi ko sa lahat ng tao kasi hindi ako masamang tao.”</div><div><br/></div><p>BB Gandanghari uttered these words to her fellow <em>Pinoy Big Brother</em> housemate Keanna Reeves during the first-ever Celebrity edition of the hit reality show. Dubbed as the Teleserye ng Totoong Buhay, PBB became a safe space for BB to come out as a gay man before eventually coming out as a trans woman in the outside world. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="859" height="483" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gx5N4F0z-gc" title="PBB Balikbahay: Rustom reveals himself to Keana" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>BB’s story shocked the whole nation after she came out on national television. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2022/5/4/fresh-scoops/bb-gandanghari-is-officially-an-american-citizen-199916" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: BB Gandanghari is now officially an American citizen: ‘Moving forward!’<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Prior to her coming out inside the PBB house, the actress was an action star known as Rustom Padilla and the ex-partner of Kapamilya actress Carmina Villarroel. The two tied the knot back in 1994 and the marriage was officially annulled in 2002.</p><p>Speaking one-on-one with Keanna, BB shared his experience while living in the US and how he saw a different perspective on the LGBTQIA+ Community. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Kasi dito parang kapag gay ka, kailangan mo mag damit babae, kailangan naka-makeup ka, kailangan malambot ka kumilos. Hindi ako ganun. So nakita ko sa America yung all forms and sizes. Kahit hindi ka malambot kumilos–– kasi yun yung confusion ko noong araw–– kahit hindi ka nag mamakeup, kahit hindi ka tumitili, nasa puso yung pagiging gay,” she previously said. </p><div><br/></div><p>“I had no choice kasi narealize ko na I’m gay,” she continued.</p><div><br/></div><p>Despite publicly coming out as a gay man back then, BB hoped that people wouldn’t look at him in a bad light, which Keanna assured her that she wasn’t. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/7/9/bb-gandanghari-explains-why-she-was-at-the-funeral-of-rene-baterbonia-0940" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: BB Gandanghari explains why she was at the funeral of Rene Baterbonia<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>“Sinasabi ko sayo ngayon at sinasabi ko sa lahat ng tao kasi di ako masamang tao,” BB maintained. </p><div><br/></div><p>As if fate was playing a part in her coming out story, a butterfly stuck to her after their conversation, which gave her goosebumps.</p><div> </div><p>After coming out on national television, BB voluntarily exited from the PBB house–– leaving a mark and a beginning of what would become her journey in the outside world.</p><div><br/></div><p>She would later on come out as a trans woman in 2009 and would adopt the name BB Gandanghari. </p>

<p>BB Gandanghari's coming out story inside the PBB house became a national topic.</p>