Using I2CREAD/I2CWRITE allow you to use whatever I/O you want to. If you plan to use the internal MSSP module, none of the native PBP statement will help.

If you can, post your code here. Maybe you just need to disable the on-board MSSP.

As long as you don't need the MSSP speed, I2CREAD/I2CWRITE work just fine.