Eugene and Melai showcase comedic chemistry in rib-tickling PGT dressing room chat!

Eugene Domingo is back on our screens, and she’s bringing the funny, the fierce, and all the feel-good vibes as one of the newest judges on “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 7.

In her latest vlog, the Comedy Star for All Seasons gave us a peek into what went down on the show’s Day 1 of taping, where things got intense real quick. Even on the very first day, Eugene and her fellow judges Freddie “FMG” Garcia, Kathryn Bernardo, and Donny Pangilinan already had priceless reactions, thanks to the wide range of acts they got to witness. Some performances were so suspenseful, while others were just pure fun.

When she finally got home, Eugene summed it up as "long day, but significant." In her words, "Today is my first time to really experience how it is to be an instrument to change lives. Ang dami kong natutunan at ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat ay appreciation."

And by 'appreciation,' she means two things. One, for the incredible talent being showcased by Filipinos from all walks of life, and two, for the entertainment industry she proudly calls her home.

After decades in showbiz, Eugene couldn’t help but feel grateful for reaching this point in her career, where things feel more meaningful, more aligned. "There's something with age and there's something with the feeling when you have experienced both success and failures. There's something about that that’s making you more wise," she reflected.

And after just Day 1, Eugene’s even more excited for what’s to come on “Pilipinas Got Talent.” She shared how the experience made her feel prouder than ever to be Filipino—because if there’s one thing we’ll never run out of, it’s talent.

And if she’s excited, well, same here. It’s been seven years since the last PGT season, and now it’s finally time to bring back that thrill with a brand new wave of unique talents ready to own the iconic PGT stage.

Another thing we’re excited about is the refreshing lineup of judges and the new hosting duo, Robi Domingo and Melai Cantiveros. It just feels like an all-new era of PGT.

And speaking of excitement, having two power comediennes on the show—Eugene as a judge and Melai as a host—is definitely one for the books. We actually got a sneak peek of their behind-the-scenes chemistry as comedians in one of Eugene's vlogs, where she invited Melai for a quick game before the PGT cameras started rolling. 

Since it’s PGT’s 7th season, Eugene prepared 7 fun questions for Melai, all centered around one theme: talent. And as expected, the hilarity came fast just with the first question. When asked what her favorite talent was, Melai answered, "Magaling akong lumusot.... Magaling ako mag-char char," talking about her talent for making excuses, especially when being interrogated by her husband, Jason Francisco, like when she comes home late.

Eugene couldn’t help but laugh even more when Melai immediately apologized to Manileños after choosing the Visayas when asked which place in the Philippines she thinks has the most talented people. Because, according to her, all the best belters she knows are from there.

The only problem, though, is that she didn’t inherit any of that singing talent. Melai shared that back when she was in General Santos, her family once made her try out for the church choir, thinking she had the voice since her cousins on her dad’s side were all singers. But her raspy vocals just turned the vibe from solemn to rock. Whether that punchline is based on a true event or not, one thing’s for sure—Melai really knows how to tell a story.

Melai also looked back on how she got her start in showbiz, which we all know happened when she joined “Pinoy Big Brother Double Up.”  She shared that her family and friends encouraged her to try her luck when the PBB audition team came to GenSan. At that time, she was 21 years old, almost done with her Bachelor of Science in Education degree, and in the middle of her practice teaching phase. She remembers arriving at the audition venue around 3 PM, never expecting that so many people had already lined up, with some even arriving as early as dawn. The audition ended around midnight.

Melai recalled wanting to back out from embarrassment during the first round of interviews. There were about 20 other auditionees in the room, and they were asked what kind of business they would want to start if given the chance. She thought of answering something simple like a sari-sari store, but others had already said it. Wanting to be different, she unintentionally made everyone laugh when she blurted out “vulcanizing shop,” which, fun fact, was actually her father’s dream business. Her answer may have been funny, but it was definitely her wit that caught Director Lauren Dyogi and his team’s attention.

Moving on to the next question of when she discovered her own talent, she admitted that she didn’t really see herself as talented. She used to define talent only in terms of performance, something Eugene quickly debunked, saying that talent also includes humor. Eugene emphasized that Melai’s hosting skill is a true talent because she knows exactly how to bring life to her spiels.

With that, Melai shared that it was during her time on the daytime talk show “Magandang Buhay” that she realized she could actually be a host. But, as for her sense of humor, she said she never really saw it as a “talent,” since it felt more like her natural personality, which she probably inherited from her parents. This reminded her of the time she was bullied in school for being skinny and having curly hair. To get back at the bullies, she would make wacky faces, and instead of picking on her, they ended up laughing and becoming her friends.

But if there’s one talent she truly treasures, it’s her faithfulness and prayerfulness, which she credits for all the blessings in her life. "Lahat ng pagpapala, ng glory, sa Kaniya kasi tina-touch Niya ‘yung heart ng mga tao sa paligid na bigyan ako ng show... ng mga ganitong blessings na hindi ko naman in-expect na mangyayari sa buhay ko, na magustuhan ako ng mga tao," she reflected in her signature high-energy tone. "I think praying is a talent at ‘yung talent na ‘yan ang magdadala sa’yo sa kapanatagan ng loob mo kung saan ka man dadalhin ng mundo."

When asked who she thinks is the most talented Filipino, Melai thought of Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo. “Nakuha niya lahat,” she said. And it’s not just Sarah’s craft; she also admires the superstar for being a wonderful daughter and wife. Eugene definitely agreed, adding that Sarah’s talent and charm are so captivating that it’s impossible not to watch her when she performs.

Looking forward to more banter between Eugene and Melai? Catch these two comedic gems on “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 7, airing at 7:15 pm every weekend on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and A2Z. Viewers can also catch it on TV5 every Saturday, at 7:15 PM, and Sundays, at 7:45 PM.