It happened a long time ago, but 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez recalled the time when 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz fought for her to win a crown in the Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant.

During an interview on "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda" on GMA Network on Dec. 15, Melanie said she would be forever grateful to Gloria.

Boy first asked Melanie's reaction after Gloria gave her a 10 as a beauty queen and an 8 for daughter Michelle Dee.

Melanie answered: "I am so flattered. Thank you so much, Ms. Gloria Diaz. For me, opinion nila yan. I have to respect everybody's opinion. You can never please everybody.

"I'm just so grateful. Eversince talaga ang gratitude ko talaga kay Ms Gloria Diaz because pinaglaban talaga niya ako sa Binibining Pilipinas.

"Pinaglaban niya na kailangan may korona ako. She can see that I am the person who can carry and win a crown internationally.

"Noong nakatayo kaming lahat, lakad siya. She stopped in the middle and I was the tallest. And she said, "I want you to win!' Tapos umalis na siya. Wala siyang pakialam. Ako naman, 'Ay, thank you.' Na-boost talaga yung ego ko. Nagkaroon ako ng confidence," Melanie said.

After she won Bb. Pilipinas, Melanie represented the Philippines at the Miss International pageant and won. She recalled joining Bb. Pilipinas because she wanted to have a car.

"They were giving free cars daw eh hindi ko naman alam na competition na pala yun na kailangan makuha ko ang isang major title. Hindi ko naman kasi binasa yung poster. Sabi naman kasi sa akin ni Mama Rene, 'Once you get in the Binibining Pilipinas, you'll gonna have a car. So I took that word. 

"So when I got into Bb. Pilipinas, I said, 'Where's my car?' Sabi nila, "What are you talking about?' Sabi ko naman, 'My designer told me that I'm gonna have a car once I'm in. I am in!

"Sabi sa akin ni Mr. M, direktor namin noon, 'Have you read the poster?' I said, 'No.' So why don't you read it so you will understand? So I read. Sabi ko, 'What? I have to compete?" Melanie also said. And the rest is history.

Michelle's performance

Melanie said she's proud of Michelle who finished in the Top 10 of the 2023 Miss Universe Competition in El Salvador last Nov. 18. Michelle also won four special awards.

"Sinorpresa ako ng anak ko. Yung expectations ko na gusto kong makita, hinigitan niya. Ang sabi ko lang sa anak ko bago umalis, 'anak, put a mark in everything you do na hindi makakalimutan ng tao. Kapag original ka, sabi kong ganun, talagang tatatak yan sa utak nila and you will always be remembered.'

"So lahat ng damit niya, lalo na yung swimwear niya. Na-shock ako ng ganun. Sabi ko, 'anak ko ba ito?' Ang galing galing niya!'"

'Bisexual'

Melanie also shared her opinion on Michelle, who came out as bisexual last year.

"Sa akin, I believe where my children will be happy, siyempre alam naman nila yung right and wrong. So when it comes to their choices in life, I just let them know the consequences of what will happen. So the rest will be your choices. 

"Ganun ang mga respetong binibigay ko sa mga anak ko. Hindi ako diktadora. Disciplinarian ako pero hindi ako diktadora. Kaya I get along with my children," she said.