GMA Network held a special solo presscon to announce that Marian Rivera will be a judge in the Miss Universe Pageant to be held in Israel on December 12. So how was she informed that Miss Universe wants her to be a judge?

“My management team, Triple A, called me, si Direk Mike Tuviera and informed me about it,” she says. “Direk, ikaw na ang magkuwento sa kanila.”

“The producer of Miss Universe coursed it through ‘Eat Bulaga’,” says Direk Mike. “We first asked her if she wants it and when she said yes, we informed them na okay siya.”

Did she ever dream of joining Miss U as a child? “Nung bata ako, I really joined pageants. But not Miss Universe kasi right after college, nag-work na ako and nag-artista na ako.”

How did she feel when she got the offer? “Sabi ko, totoo ba ‘yan? Ako? But at the same time, siempre, kinilig ako. Walang dahilan para hindi ko siya tanggapin, kasi malaking karangalan ‘yan for any person na mabigyan ng ganitong kahalagang partisipasyon sa isang malaking okasyon like Miss Universe. so bakit hindi ko tatanggapin ang imbitasyon nila? Makaka-travel pa ako to Israel for the first time. Isa pang reason na excited ako, nandun si Wonder Woman at sana mabigyan ako ng chance na ma-meet si Gal Gadot.”

The feedback on her being a judge is mostly positive, but there are also some bashers who say she might not be capable. What’s her reaction?

“Well, sa nababasa ko, mostly happy naman ang mga tao. But aaminin ko, English is not my first language at hindi naman ako mapagpanggap. But I think kinuha naman nila ako for my body of work and not for anything else.”

Didn’t she have second thoughts, considering she’d be leaving her family?

“Naku, minsan lang ito dumating, so why won’t I accept it? Nakapag-judge na ako before sa MOA Arena, but for a local pageant, so iba ito. Of course, mahirap for me na iwanan ang mga anak ko, but I know someday they’ll understand ang gagawin kong sacrifice na ito.”

She will be leaving on December 6 and it’s good that hubby Dingdong Dantes will be back from his month-long lock in taping in San Pablo for a special 4-week run of “I Can See You” with Beauty Gonzales.

“Oo nga, at least, bago ako umalis, nakabalik na siya at magkikita pa kami. Aalis ako na alam kong safe and secure ang mga anak namin.”

What’s Dong’s reaction when he learned she’d be a Miss U judge? “I got the invite two weeks ago at siya ang una kong tinawagan sa taping niya. He’s sobrang supportive. Sabi niya, nakaka-proud naman, you have to go there.”

If ever their daughter Zia would tell her one day that she would want to join a beauty pageant, would she, as a mom, allow Zia?

“Aba, kung gusto niya talaga mag-join, susuportahan ko siya, pero siguruhin muna niyang maganda ang adhikain niya para sa ibang tao.”

She’s excited to go to Israel but first, they have to make sure all the health protocols required. She’ll be leaving with her own make up artist and some of her management team members. She’ll have to attend an activity everyday, from the day of her arrival up to the pageant’s coronation night, so she’s carrying with her a lot of dresses and gowns, all to be contained in eight suitcases.

“Excited din ako to meet all the candidates kasi we will be given the chance to interview all of them,” she adds. “I will be there to appreciate hindi lang ‘yung kagandahan nila kundi pati ‘yung katapangan nila na itong ginaganap ang pageant sa panahon ng pandemic na may bago pang variant. I really look forward to meeting all the girls kasi lahat sila may advocacy. Pero siempre, ang pambato natin dito is Beatrice Gomez. I will pray for her, lahat tayo, ipagdasal nating siya ang manalo.”

Now that John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo are Kapuso stars, would she like to work with them? “Why not? Ako naman, kung ano ibigay ng GMA sa’kin, okay ako, basta mas maluwag na ang taping at mas safe na magtrabaho para sa lahat.”