MANILA - It's almost there.

After 17 auditions and a record-breaking turnout of 57,824 celebrity hopefuls, the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) team is trimming down the list of possible housemates for the hit reality program’s third season, "Pinoy Big Brother 3 Double Up."

The team has already chosen Top 50 potential housemates with interesting life stories and personalities.

Any one of them may stand a chance to become a Housemate and play their way to becoming the next Big Winner, following Nene Tamayo and Bea Saw.

The official number of housemates who can stay at the "Pinoy Big Brother house" remains unclear, since the team are still studying their options. They said it will depend on the results of succeeding casting processes.

The show's officials gave out clues, however, about some candidates in the Top 50 shortlist.

There are 11 possible housemates from Manila, 6 from Pampanga and Tarlac, 4 from Baguio, and 8 from Cebu, Bohol, and Roxas.

There are 10 possible housemates from Butuan, Davao, and General Santos; 6 from Batangas and Camarines Sur; and 5 from Europe.

In preparation for the upcoming season, PBB will be buying a number of state-of-the-art-equipment for their technical system upgrade. This move should accommodate the season’s concept and twists.

PBB hosts Toni Gonzaga, Bianca Gonzalez, and Mariel Rodriguez reveal what "Double Up" means at the launch of "Pinoy Big Brother 3 Double Up" this October 4 on ABS-CBN.

New things in store

The Pinoy Big Brother house is also under renovation to sport a new look for the 3rd season.

In the PBB Celebrity Edition 1, the house was almost empty of furniture. In the 2nd Celebrity edition, "Big Brother (Kuya)" kept delinquent housemates inside a detention room. In the PBB Teen Edition Plus, guardians had their own living quarters.
 
Meanwhile, Filipinos in the United States and Japan will also have a shot at auditions since the show will be casting for PBB Teens 3 and Pinoy Dream Academy 3. The auditions will be held during the "One Kapamilya Go Fiesta" in Santa Clara, California on September 20.

Registration will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only.

In Japan, auditions will be at the Forum Building, 2nd Floor, Imperial Roppongi, Roppongi, Tokyo on September 13. Registration starts at 9 a.m.

For news on PBB Double Up, visit http://pinoybigbrother.multiply.com or catch them on Facebook (pinoybigbrotherdoubleup@gmail.com). For the Japan and US auditions, call 1877-88-GO-TFC (United States) and 0120-TFC-VOD (Japan).