Before “Pinoy Big Brother Double Up” kicks off on Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online presents this “PBB” trivia bulletin, culled from the Sept. 30 press conference presided by “PBB” director Lauren Dyogi and hosts Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez and Bianca Gonzalez:

*The “Double Up” concept is a first for any “Big Brother” show.

*The cost of renovating the PBB house for this season has exceeded 10 million pesos. The house will have the standard sections (dining, kitchen, pool) but with a different configuration. It will have a European motif for interiors with bright colors as inspired by Van Gogh paintings.

Workers are racing against time to ready the house by Sunday, Oct.4, having suffered a delay due to typhoon “Ondoy.” Direk Dyogi said the house can withstand any typhoon and that its location prevents it from getting flooded.

*The “PBB” housemates will stay in the house for more than a hundred days. The prize will still be a house and lot, a business franchise, one million pesos, and perhaps, a management contract with ABS-CBN. Some of the batchmates were chosen for their good looks because it is part of the formula that makes “PBB” tick.

As usual, there will be “Pinoy Big Brother Uber” and “PBB Games Uplate.” Viewers can also tune in to Studio 23 every Saturday and Sunday starting Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. for “PBB Weekend Primetime.” Also see raw footage from the house on “Pinoy Big Brother Streaming” starting Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.

*There will be no DVD release of this “PBB” season. Direk Dyogi said they no longer compile the “PBB” episodes for DVD release due to the piracy problem.

*“PBB”’s Kuya and “May Bukas Pa”’s Bro are two different persons. “PBB” hosts Mariel Rodriguez, Toni Gonzaga, and Bianca Gonzalez deny that Direk Dyogi is Kuya. They said there have been times when they were beside Dyogi while Kuya spoke to the housemates.

Bianca thinks Kuya is a family man because the advices he gives to housemates are “so fatherly.” Direk Dyogi revealed that Kuya has kids.

*All of the “PBB” hosts accepted hosting the latest season without any increase in their talent fees. Direk Dyogi said that should the recession lift, he will see to it that the hosts’ pay will be adjusted accordingly.

Mariel, Bianca, and Toni said they don’t know who is paid more among them, adding that the issue is immaterial. They said they will “coordinate” their gowns on opening night so no one steals the thunder from the other, and that they will stick to the same designer as in previous “PBB” seasons.

*Direk Dyogi said ABS-CBN renews their contract with Endemol (international television production company that owns the “Big Brother” brand) on a per season basis. This means the only thing guaranteed by contract at this point is that there will be a “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition” next year.

Source: MANILA BULLETIN