Late afternoon at Manila House, Pops Fernandez looks comely in a stylish, maroon blouson dress. But belying her serene demeanor is a runny nose that she’s trying to relieve with a hot cup of water mixed with lemon and “a little vodka.”

 

She believes the vodka will unclog the colds. “We had an event in La Union last night,” she says, adding that fatigue must’ve caused the discomfort. Otherwise, everything’s fine with her life and her current preoccupations.

 

There’s DSL, the production company bearing the initials of her mother, Dulce S. Lukban, which Pops now runs. It’s the same company that plotted the success of Pops’ career as a “concert queen.”

 

When her mom retired, Pops says she took over DSL to continue doing events, including concerts of other artists. “We’re venturing into movies,” she reveals. “We’re doing one now, almost done shooting.” She says it’s directed by her friend Reggie del Carmen, who’s done a number of teleserye and is debuting as a filmmaker.

 

Recently, Pops flew to Hollywood, California, as one of 50 prominent personalities comprising an international panel of judges in “The World’s Best,” a new reality talent competition hosted by James Corden and produced by CBS.

 

The show’s three main judges are Drew Barrymore, RuPaul and Faith Hill.

 

Pops says the offer to join the show was unexpected, but “because of the Philippines’ reputation on the world stage, I think the producers were looking for a Filipino to also be a judge.”

 

It’s not just singers, but also bands, magicians, circus acts, escape artists, dancers, light shows, among many others who compete in “The World’s Best,” Pops points out: “They’re all professionals who are popular in their respective countries.”

 

She admits feeling overwhelmed, at the same time blessed to be part of the show: “It’s a great show. It’s ambitious to put those talented contestants in one studio in one program. It has a good casting director to do research on who can be called the world’s best. It’s different.”

 

As a member of the judges’ panel, Pops gets to comment on the acts she likes or doesn’t like. “I can give one point for each act that I like. We watch all the acts and we vote.”

 

The show has just finished taping season 1 of the audition phase. Emerging on top with a score of 98 was the Filipino singing trio TNT.

In the blood

 

Speaking of singing, did she really set out to become a music artist?

 

“It’s in the blood,” Pops says, referring to her parents—although her dad Eddie Fernandez and mom Dulce were actors. What she meant is, “I’ve always wanted to be in front of the camera, even at a young age.”

 

She recalls Tito Sotto—then working as a record label executive and who became her first manager—persuading OctoArts boss Orly Ilacad to agree to an audition. “I sang ‘Bakit Ba Ganyan” and one other song.”

 

Pops was then a 14-year-old student at International School in Makati. “For me it was a pa-cute thing,” she admits. “I just wanted to see myself on TV holding a microphone. But I didn’t know it was hard work.”

 

OctoArts signed her up. After recording an album, she tread the show-biz path by acting in the movies. But landing a TV hosting job on “Penthouse Live” was, like “The World’s Best” gig, unexpected.

 

“I was so young and it was a late show. I was just a guest on the show, then became a regular, until I became a cohost,” she says, explaining that the chemistry worked well between her and the show’s main host and her future husband, Martin Nievera.

 

Longevity

 

As a performing artist, Pops says that in the early years, she couldn’t handle the criticism. She was hurt that “people could be that mean.”

 

She remembers crying and considering quitting. But her mom’s advice stuck in her mind: “’Pag naniwala ka sa kanila na hindi ka magaling, how can you prove to them na kaya mo if you quit?”

 

Surviving bad press and proving that she was not just another pretty face, Pops says longevity in show biz requires constant improvement: “It’s a tough profession. After a particularly successful project, people want more, either a movie or TV show or concert. It’s got to be better than the last.”

 

Though she’s not really active these days on TV and the movies, Pops says she’s been kept busy the past six years with production work in DSL, which has mounted shows featuring Toni Gonzaga, Ai-Ai de las Alas, Lani Misalucha, Ogie Alcasid, Erik Santos and Ice Seguerra.

 

Would she call it a reinvention, this behind-the-scenes gig?

 

“I really wanted to venture into business,” she says. I wanted something more stable.” What’s nice about heading a production outfit, she points out, is “whatever happens, even if I get sick or I’m not present, it’s there.”

 

Single

 

At this point, her future is financially secure.

 

“It can be more secure, much more secure,” she says, laughing.

 

Why hasn’t she settled down again, after her marriage with Martin fell apart?

 

She pauses and smiles, before admitting that, as a hopeless romantic, she has kept the door open—dating and getting into relationships.

 

“I have looked and looked and looked,” she quips, quickly adding not in a desperate way, “but maybe it was not the right time.”

 

Is she seeing someone now?

 

“I’m not,” she says. “I’m single. But I love my ‘me time,’ my time with friends, family. Now I have time with my kids. Ram lives with me, and Robin is with Zia Quizon.”

 

I tease her that, with her svelte figure, she doesn’t look her age.

 

“I can lose a little weight,” she says, adding that she doesn’t follow a rigid diet. “I eat three meals a day. I’m trying to lessen my rice, or totally none. There are days I’m successful, but ’pag merong event or party, mahirap.

 

“So I eat anything, but in small portions. I usually take a tiny slice of a cake para lang masabi kong I tried it and it’s good. If I see something, I’ll try it. ’Pag lechon, patikim, I like the balat.”

 

She indirectly attributes her relaxed state to less stress, but adds “there’s always stress in work.” The hardest to deal with are relationship problems, “emotional problems. So you take everything in stride. I guess I have matured enough to learn to be grateful for each day that comes.”

 

Though she can drink three cups of coffee a day, Pops says she’s usually in bed by 9 p.m.

 

Does she still dream of anything exciting?

 

“I want to build a dream house with a view, preferably water,” she says, “and retire, wherever that is. In the province, I don’t mind.”

 

Meantime, she’s waiting for her next call time on “The World’s Best.”