Muntik nang maging miyembro si Regine Velasquez ng Selection Committee ng 74th Miss Universe.
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Pero nagkaroon ng problema sa schedule niya kaya nawala sa kanya ang pagkakataong magkaroon ng partisipasyon sa prestihiyosong international beauty pageant.
Ang kapwa mang-aawit at 74th Miss Universe judge na si Louie Heredia ang nagrekomenda kay Regine sa Miss Universe Organization para maging miyembro ng Selection Committee.
Ito ang ikinuwento ni Louie nang makausap siya ng Cabinet Files sa telepono ngayong Sabado, Nobyembre 22, 2025.
Si Louie ay nakilala sa mga kantang "Nag-iisang Ikaw," "Iisang Damdamin," "Una’t Huling Mamahalin," at "Can't Find No Reason."
"I recommended somebody to be a judge kasi I’m not a suwapang person. I love to share blessings with people.
"Ang plano ko talaga, manood ng Miss Universe sa TV dito sa Bangkok with my friend,” ang umpisang salaysay ni Louie.
"They were thinking of a judge from the Philippines for the finals so I said, ‘You know, Kuh Ledesma judged before and after that Lea Salonga.
"So in my heart I felt why not Regine Velasquez? She’s Asia’s Songbird, di ba? So I told Indra, 'What do you think about Regine Velasquez?'"
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Si Indra Suharjono ang kinatawan ni Anne Jakrajutatip, ang Thai billionaire na may-ari ng Miss Universe Organization.
Naging mabuting magkaibigan sila Indra at Louie mula nang magdesisyon ang huli na bumili ng sariling tahanan sa Bangkok dahil itinuturing niya na pangalawang tahanan ang Thailand.
"Nag-research si Indra tungkol kay Regine. Sabi niya, 'I like her! Yes, please talk to her. I want her.'
"Nasa New York ako noon, I messaged Regine. Sabi ko, ‘Can I call you? Important.' Sabi niya, 'I’m in ASAP now. I will message you when there’s a break.'
“Anyway, nakapag-usap kami ni Regine noong October and I told her, 'Regine, I’ll go straight to the point. Do you want to be a judge for the 74th Miss Universe which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand?'
"And she said, 'Oo naman.' 'Can I connect you with Indra? Ayusin ninyo ang schedule ninyo.'
"I really truly believe that Regine can be a judge because it’s time. I told her, 'Because you are Regine Velasquez. Ngayon mamahalin ka na hindi lamang ng mga baklang Pilipino, mga bakla sa buong mundo na.'
"Tawa siya nang tawa pero sabi niya, aayusin ang schedule niya with Cacai."
Si Cacai Mitra ay kapatid ni Regine.
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REGINE VELASQUEZ'S CONFLICT OF SCHEDULE
Hanggang sa nalaman ni Louie na hindi pupuwede si Regine.
Pagpapatuloy ni Louie: "Four days later, while I was going back to Manila, I was in the lounge, I messaged Indra.
"'Indra, what? Is everything okay with Regine?' And Indra said, 'No Louie, she cannot make it.' Sabi ko, 'Oh my god, sayang naman.'
"I didn’t ask why. Baka hindi na siya maka-back out sa mga show.
"Nalungkot talaga ako. Sayang kasi it’s once in a lifetime. Pinapanood ng buong Pilipinas yan at ng buong mundo and Regine is perfect for that.
"Imagine, from Kuh to Leah to Regine. Why not, di ba?"
Tinanong daw ni Louie si Regine ukol dito.
"I messaged Regine, 'Totoo ba ito, you cannot make it?' 'Oo, hindi kaya ng schedule,' ang sagot niya. Nalungkot talaga ako."
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LOUIE HEREDIA ON BEING A MISS UNIVERSE JUDGE
Nagulat si Louie nang sabihin sa kanya ni Indra na bukod sa pagiging miyembro ng Selection Committee sa closed-door interview at preliminary competition, uupo na rin siya bilang hurado sa 74th Miss Universe finals.
Ginanap ito noong Biyernes, Nobyembre 21, sa Impact Challenger Hall, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
"Sinabihan ako ni Indra na, 'Louie, if ever Regine cannot make it, you would take her place.'
"About a week before I left for Bangkok on November 12, Indra messaged me, 'Louie, I am considering you to be a judge in the finals.' Sabi ko, 'Oh my god! What?!’
"Sabi ni Indra, 'Yes, because we want somebody who is there from the start until the end. A judge who saw the closed-door interview, not because you are Louie Heredia but because you know everything that happened and who know the girls.
"From the closed-door interview to the fashion show, the parade, preliminary competition."
Nasa Thailand na si Louie nang makumpirma niya ang final assignments niya.
"So when I was on my way to Pattaya on November 14 for the fashion show and closed-door interview, Indra messaged me, 'Louie, you’re in for the finals.'
"Mabuti na lang may baon akong extra clothes," ang nakahinga nang maluwag na pagtatapos na kuwento ni Louie.