Angel Locsin recently addressed online comments labeling her stepson, Joaquin Arce, a “nepo baby,” as the Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0 Big Night approaches.
Photo: Angel Locsin/Facebook
On X, the actress broke her usual low profile on social media to respond to claims that Joaquin supposedly has an “unfair” advantage as one of the Ultimate 8 housemates because of his family background.
“Bihira lang akong mag social media ha. Pero nagulat ako sa comments ng ilang tao dito,” Angel wrote. She questioned why Joaquin was being branded a nepo baby simply because she married his father, adding that she herself did not come from privilege when she was starting in the industry.
She also clarified that while Joaquin could have easily asked her for help to land a project, he chose a different route.
“My son could have asked me for a project, but ang hiniling niya is mag audition sa PBB,” she said, ending her post with a pointed reminder: “Wag bitter. Nakakapanget yan.”
Bihira lang akong mag social media ha. Pero nagulat ako sa comments ng ilang tao dito. Ano namang kasalanan ni Joaquin at naging asawa ko ang dad nya para ma-brand sya as nepo baby? Para namang hindi ako nag dyip o bus papuntang tapings ko dati. Kalevel ko pala si Discaya? Lol.…
— Angel Locsin (@143redangel) February 25, 2026
Angel’s post quickly drew varied reactions from social media users.
Some echoed her sentiments, saying Joaquin shouldn’t be blamed for having famous parents. Others pointed out that his performance inside the PBB house should speak for itself.
Several fans described Joaquin as hardworking, respectful, and competitive, encouraging viewers to support their own favorites without dismissing his efforts as part of the Ultimate 8.
At the same time, other netizens took a more nuanced stance. Some argued that while nepotism doesn’t automatically mean a lack of talent, it’s still worth acknowledging that coming from a well-known family can offer certain advantages.
A few commenters stressed that recognizing these advantages doesn’t erase Joaquin’s individual work inside the house, but rather puts his situation into context.
Joaquin is the son of Neil Arce, Angel Locsin’s husband, and Lesley Samson. Before joining Pinoy Big Brother, he appeared in the series Tropang G.O.A.T. and also worked as a runway model.
ALSO READ: Angel Locsin Proudly Supports Stepson Joaquin Arce on His “PBB” Journey
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