August 27, 2025 | 12:00am
Masayang inalala ni Gloria Diaz sa Fast Talk with Boy Abunda ang kanyang karanasan nang sumali at nanalo sa Miss Universe noong 1969. Ginanap ang naturang international beauty pageant sa Florida, USA.
Labingwalong taong gulang pa lamang noon si Gloria nang tanghaling Miss Universe. Si Gloria rin ang kauna-uanahang Pinay na nakasungkit ng Miss Universe crown.
“That’s the first time I went to the States. I was 18, be on my own. Ibang klase, first time to wear heels besides Miss Philippines, right? I think first time ding nag-deodorant eh. Kasi they gave us all deodorants and stuff like that. When you’re so young you don’t do naman those things eh. I was the youngest girl there. They also introduced the pill so that nobody gets pregnant. Okay, go with the flow. Kasi before, the girls were 18 to 21, 22,” nakangiting pagbabalik-tanaw ni Gloria.
Tatlo ang naging anak ng aktres at asawang si Bong Daza. Taong 1995 nang tuluyang nagkahiwalay sina Gloria at Bong. Mahigit siyam na taon na rin ang nakalilipas nang pumanaw ang mister ng aktres. Ngayon ay dalawampu’t walong taon nang karelasyon ni Gloria si Mike de Jesus. Kahit matagal nang magkasintahan ay wala pang balak magpakasal ang dalawa. Hindi umano nagsasama sa iisang-bubong sina Gloria at Mike.
“My God, naka-white, walking down the aisle? I like my house. He likes his house where he lives. Parang it’s difficult to discuss marriage because we’ll have to give up one or the other. He’s younger, he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke. Mike is very giving. He always agrees with what you say but does what he wants. Bong, my husband, he was cool, he was a nice guy, everything. When I separated from him, I taught to myself, I’m gonna get the exact opposite of Bong. I looked at Mike one day, and I said this is the biggest nerd in Manila. I’m gonna get this guy. He’s very conservative, very nerdy. Really, when I saw him, I said, I’ll try this one,” natatawang kwento ng aktres.
Malaki ang pasasalamat ng aktres dahil mahigit limang dekada nang aktibo sa show business. Napapanood ngayon si Gloria sa Kapuso series na Beauty Empire.
“How many 74-year-old are still working and enjoying all the privileges, and getting good money and still I’m very, very blessed,” giit niya.
Samantala, para kay Gloria ay tatlo sa kanyang mga nakatrabaho ang maituturing niyang mayroong pinakamagandang mukha sa industriya. “Pinakamagaganda doesn’t necessarily mean I like them. Of course, my daughter, she’s perfect, Isabelle (Daza). Marian Rivera, I don’t necessarily like her but she’s one of the most beautiful, perfect na mukha. I think Kyline (Alcantara), when she matures a little bit more. She’s beautiful. I’m not saying they’re good actors, I’m just talking of face. In GMA, the ball, I saw many beautiful girls. Medyo magkakamukha sila pero magaganda ang mukha,” pagbabahagi ng Miss Universe 1969. — Reports from JCC