Pops Fernandez nagbiro na naging EX niya si Alden Richards

"There is no secret," says Pops, who turned 53 last December. "Only be positive. Don't just dwell on the negative. Forget past hurts, learn to forgive, and just keep moving." It's her first time to agree to be a judge in a reality show, and she promises to be very kind to the contestants.

"I've never taken part in a singing contest, unlike my fellow judge, Aicelle Santos, who won in one," she says. "Kaya nga, I want to be kind to the contestants who are children. I'm just going to tell them to relax, enjoy the moment and make friends with the other contestants, even if they all know that this is a competition.

Pops will also present her Valentine's show, "Twogether Again," with ex-hubby Martin Nievera at the Solaire Theater starting on February 14. The concert will also take place on February 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. As a live performer, did she ever encounter awkward unintended moments when she forgot the lyrics of a song she was singing?

"Nangyayari Talaga'yan Naman," she says. "No matter how many times you've rehearsed, the hindi talaga moments may be fine. Yet I think that's the best part of live performance, because you don't really know what's going to happen on stage. Doon nga makikita if you're a very good performer, na kahit may nangyaring mali, the audience won't feel or notice na nagkamali ka.

She was a survivor of a wardrobe malfunction. "Like once, nagpapa-sexy ako, I was wearing really tight leather pants, then I was dancing pumutok sa likod yung leather pants ko, but you've got to go on the show. It's scary, but you're not supposed to let the audience know the nangyayaring ganunsa'yo on stage. Nakalimutan ko na rin yung lyrics, nadapa na ako many times, but that’s the challenge nga of live performance, dapat hindi ka huminto, ituloy mo lang.”

Aicelle Santos agrees with her. “Nakakalimutan ko rin 'yung lyrics at kailangang maging composer ka rin, mag-imbento ka. Nasa pagdadala mo 'yan, kung mahahalata ka o hindi. You don’t have to be so hard on yourself kasi tao lang naman tayo, lahat, nagkakamali.”

Aicelle finds it a pleasure to be collaborating for the first time in "Centerstage" with Pop Fernandez as Co-Judge. "Fan ako ni Miss Pops since then, at hindi nga ako makapaniwala na magkatrabaho na kami ngayon, and she's so sweet. I'm looking forward to all the future episodes of the' Centerstage' na magiging magkasama kami sa show.

Going back to Pops, she says she's happy to be working with Alden Richards, the main host of the show. "In Sta, I met him. Rosa noon pa almost a mutual friend namin ang mayor doon," she adds. "Mabait talaga siya and, despite his success, he remained humble. I think that's why he's so blessed."

People say that it looks like Maine Mendoza, Alden's Ka-love team. "They say, kaya nga pinagsasabi ko nang ex ko siya, e. Oh, ha ha ha! Baka ma-revive ngayong magkasama na kami rito sa ' Centerstage '," and Pops laughs even more.