Marian Rivera shares stories from her stint as a Miss Universe judge

It's been an eventful few weeks for Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, with the highlight being her time as a member of the Miss Universe pageant's selection committee.

In a recent conference with the members of the media, Marian shared a number of stories about what happened to her in Israel, from making new friends to the possibility of working with the Miss Universe Organization again in the future.

In a week full of unforgettable experiences, Marian said one thing that stuck to her mind is how Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, gave her and her fellow judges constant reminders on what it is the Miss Universe Organization is looking for.

“Hindi ko makakalimutan kasi yung experience ko with Miss Paula, palagi niya kaming kinakausap, kahit ako minsan one-on-one kung sino at ano ba dapat ang hinahanap namin sa isang Miss Universe,” she shared. “Nakakataba ng puso kung paano nila sabihin kung ano yung hinahanap nila, kung paano niya dalhin ang sarili niya, kung paano maging totoo sa sarili niya, at kailangan masaya siya.”

According to Marian, the job of a selection committee member isn't as easy as it looks, saying that she and the other members of the selection committee were briefed everyday by the Miss Universe Organization about what the pageant is looking for. With 80 candidates vying for the crown, Marian said she did not want to do any of them wrong.

“Binigyan kami ng mga interview nila para mas makilala namin sila tapos may book pa sila ng bio-data nila. Ang daming trabaho at ang dami mo talagang kailangan basahin, panoorin at talagang bigyang pansin,” she said. “Binibigay nila ang best nila at ginagawa ang lahat for their country so kailangan talaga tutok ka at alert ka talaga. Ang hirap dahil yung 80 na yun nakatutok talaga ako.”

She also revealed that she has become friends with other members of the selection committee, who she says are all down-to-earth and humble.

“May communication pa rin kami at nag-uusap pa rin kami. Sila mismo ia-approach ka nila. Nakakatuwa na makasama ko sila,” she recalled.

One judge in particular, Urvashi Rautela, was someone that Marian really connected with. The pair even went viral on Philippine social media after they were caught in a video dancing Marian's “Sabay Sabay Tayo!” dance.

“Ang nakakatawa doon, sabi niya sa akin, 'Can you please show me your dance steps?' Ang sabi ko, 'What are you talking about?' Tapos sabi niya 'Your sabay-sabay,' she explained of the viral moment. “So tawa ako ng tawa. Noong nasa stage kami, sabi niya 'Let's dance.' Siya mismo nagsabi na sumayaw daw kami.”

For mother-of-two Marian, the time she spent in Israel was the longest she's been away from her children during the pandemic. Even after all the amazing experiences she had in Israel, having to spend time in quarantine after returning was especially difficult for her.

“Nung nasa quarantine kami, sabi ko kay Dong ito na yata ang rurok, hindi ko na kaya. Hindi ko nakikita at nayayakap 'yung mga anak ko. Iyak ako ng iyak hanggang finally na-swab test na kami,” she shared. “Ang tagal naman lumabas at natatakot ako kung baka anong mangyari sa akin. Finally naka-receive kami ng message na yung test namin is negative. Pag-uwi namin, hindi ko sinabi sa mga bata na uuwi kami at na-surprise sila.”

With everything she's learned and experienced during her time as a member of the selection committee, would Marian be open to working with the Miss Universe Organization again, especially if it involved something related to charity?

“Ang sagot ko diyan is 100 percent yes at kung may charity ako ay doon ako sa Smile Train. Doon talaga ako nagbubuhos ng lahat para sa akin,” she said.

Marian was first announced as a member of the Miss Universe selection committee early in December.

At the time, she said that despite it taking her away from her two children, it was just an opportunity that she could not pass up.

“Minsan lang ito dumating at bakit hindi ko tatanggapin? Mahirap iwan ang mga anak ko pero naniniwala ako na balang araw ay maiintindihan nila kung gaano ka-importante ito,” she said.

Marian had earlier teased her role as part of the selection committee by putting up a cryptic post on her Instagram account.

Accompanying a photo of her wearing a red dress was a caption that read as “Honored” along with a crown and universe emoji, as well as the hashtag #Grateful.

Marian becoming part of the Miss Universe judging panel puts her name alongside others with remarkable careers as well, such as Bozoma Saint John, who is currently the chief marketing officer of Netflix, fashion designer Monique Lhuillier, Broadway diva Lea Salonga, and former Miss Universe winners like Dayanara Torres and Sushmita Sen.

Let's take a look back at Marian's journey to Miss Universe in the gallery below.