Image: Screen grab from Gandang Gabi Vice video clip
The queen may have left the country in the meantime, but she sure did not leave her Filipino fans without joy.
Former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres gamely goofed around with comedian Vice Ganda on “Gandang Gabi Vice” in its February 19 episode. Just like always, the former beauty queen is no less of a stunner in her appearance.
Yari, as she’s called, says she’s happy to set foot on her second home again, which is the Philippines.
“At home ako dito (I am at home here.),” she said.
In the episode, Torres once more amazed Filipino fans with her familiarity of Tagalog. Even more than two decades after her departure from the country, she could still understand the language, which makes her even more loved in the Philippines as the years go by.
Despite being away for over two decades, Torres says she felt in her the same love for the Philippines; from the moment she arrived in the country in 1994 to pass on the crown (which was won by another well-loved foreign beauty, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen), until her recent homecoming to judge the 65th Miss Universe pageant.
“And how lucky am I, seriously? Because if you think of it, I could’ve ended up in any other country and it would not have been the same. I am so thankful. I hope you know how thankful I am,” Torres said.
In a very rare occasion, Torres once more strutted her stuff and ramped her winning Miss Universe walk. She took the audience to the ultimate throwback when she re-enacted her pageant introduction as the representative of her home country, Puerto Rico.
“From the shining star of the Caribbean, I am Dayanara Torres, representing Toa Alta, Puerto Rico!” she said, as audience and Vice Ganda all screamed in amazement.
At 42, the former Miss Universe said she has maintained her svelte body by eating right, supplemented by a good dose of exercise, particularly Zumba.
Tagged as the Philippines’ dancing queen of the 90’s, Torres was all game to showcase her sexy “Lambada” and “Macarena” dance moves.
Working with Aga Muhlach
In the Philippines, Dayanara Torres did not only leave marks as Miss Universe 1993 and being a “dancing queen.” She is also mostly remembered for her four-year relationship with former matinee idol Aga Muhlach, with which she top-billed a 1990’s classic hit movie, “Basta’t Kasama Kita”.
Much to many Filipino fans’ delight, the Puerto Rican beauty is open to working with her handsome ex-boyfriend, whom she described as “Super ang gwapo (really handsome).”
“Yes, I miss working with him. I miss working with him, absolutely,” she said.
Official PH showbiz comeback
Now that she’s returned, she’s officially a part of Manila Genesis Entertainment once more, and is set to come back and forth to the Philippines to do projects.
She went on to do a few more films including “Hataw Na” (1995) with Gary Valenciano and “Type Kita Walang Kokontra” (1999) with Cesar Montano before she left for Puerto Rico.
The “Gandang Gabi Vice” episode has been trending, just like most of Torres’ recent appearances. JB