MANILA – Robi Domingo admitted that this enhanced community quarantine had him reminiscing about everything he went through when he was part of the ABS-CBN reality show “Pinoy Big Brother.”

The only difference, he said, is that everyone gets to be a housemate since no one is allowed to go outside due to the Luzon-wide lockdown.

“Bumalik 'yung feels mula sa 'PBB.' Parang lahat tayo housemate. Nararamdaman ko 'yung mga magulang ko, 'yung kapatid ko. It’s a good opportunity para maka-bond ko ang pamilya ko,” he said in an interview with DJ Jai Ho.

According to Domingo, he didn’t understand at first why the situation called for very strict measures.

“Nung mga first few days, aaminin ko hindi ako talaga makapaniwala. Parang ano ba ang nangyayari? Parang pelikula na nagkatotoong buhay. Bawal ka lumabas, bawal ka pumunta sa usual na pinupuntahan mo kasi nga may physical distancing tayo. Siguro on the fourth day, nagsabi ako na parang tama nga 'yung mga nangyayari. Kailangan natin i-accept talaga,” he said.

It was at that point that he established a routine, since nobody is sure when this pandemic would be over.

Domingo also said the current situation made him appreciate a lot of people more.

“Mas na-appreciate ko 'yung mga trabaho ng ibang mga kapamilya natin like, for example, barbero. Hindi tayo makalabas ngayon, kating-kati na 'yung ulo ko dahil ang haba na ng buhok ko. Actually 'yung mga kasama natin sa bahay na parating nandiyan para sa ating lahat, mas na-appreciate ko 'yung trabaho nila. Mas na-appreciate ko 'yung value ng quality time sa pamilya,” he said.

Domingo said this difficult time also made him think about the most important things in life.

“Sa panahon natin ngayon, kahit na mayroon kang pambili ng pagkain, hindi mo naman magagamit masyado kasi hindi ka pwedeng lumabas. Meron ka ngang kotse, hindi mo naman pwedeng mailabas para makapunta kung saan-saan. At the end of the day, na-realize ko na ang pinakaimportante sa lahat ay pamilya. Lahat ng bagay nawawalan ng value pero ang pamilya nandiyan forever,” he said.

When asked what’s the first thing he would do when this crisis is over, he said: “Magpapagupit talaga ako. Iba na 'yung hitsura ko ngayon. Kamukja ko na si Yorme sa ‘Showtime.’ Mukha ng bunot ulit 'yung buhok ko.”

Domingo said he also looks forward to going back to work, catch up with friends and be with his girlfriend again.