Edward Barber Says He Was Once "The Most Single Person"—Now He's Engaged

Former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Edward Barber just shared a pretty major life update—and no, it wasn't through a typical social media post.

Many fans probably remember Edward from Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7, where he became known to many fans alongside Maymay Entrata. The two went on to star together in Loving in Tandem and La Luna Sangre, before Edward eventually stepped away from showbiz to pursue ministry.

A video of Edward sharing a major life update circulated online on August 16 where made a surprise announcement about his love life: He's officially engaged!

"This is not just my girlfriend; this is my fiancée, Ricki...I proposed to her, so she's now my fiancée," he said during the sermon, before flashing a photo of the couple onstage.

The photo itself wasn't captured in the circulating video, but the TikTok user, @olivetreeshoppp, who originally posted the clip, later shared the picture in the comments. "Here's the photo! I think it's okay to post since it was already announced [publicly]. Congrats Pas Ed! 💖"

In the photo, Edward can be seen wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with his arm around his fiancée's waist. His non-showbiz partner, who has been identified online as Ricki Umali, smiles for the camera while showing off her engagement ring. 💍

Edward also briefly shared how much his life had changed since the last time he spoke to the audience, saying, "From the last time I was here, I am now in an awesome relationship." He added, "Don't tell me that God is not real. I used to be the most single person in this place."

After making a name for himself in entertainment, Edward eventually began questioning whether the career he was building was really what he wanted long-term.

In a 2024 interview with Bianca Gonzalez on The Filipino Channel, Edward opened up about realizing that his path was taking him in a different direction.

"I really found my calling, and some people might have assumed straight away na hosting ang calling [ko]. And I believe that it's a part of it. But I really see my calling in ministry."

He also recalled reaching a point where what he had worked for no longer felt as fulfilling as he expected. He said, "It was really a moment when I'm like, 'God I have everything that the world is telling me I should want. I have the following, I have the projects, I have the money, and I feel like so empty?"

Edward was then ordained as a pastor in January 2026. And in May, he opened up about the mental toll of his time in showbiz. He spoke on Toni Talks about the "chasing era" he experienced in the industry, when he was constantly trying to make sense of what he thought he was supposed to be doing.

"I was confused because, why is everyone telling me this is gonna make me feel good and I feel worse? 'Congratulations, may bagong project ka na.' Di nila alam, nagkaka-anxiety attack ako dahil sa project na 'yon."

Now, Edward seems to be in a very different chapter of his life, one where he's chosen to follow what feels right for him. And with this latest announcement, it looks like there's another pretty exciting milestone to celebrate.

Congratulations, Edward and Ricki! 💍