CinemaBravo

Founder and chairman of Maddox Jewelry Ms. Charo Cordial became emotional after finally meeting veteran actress Maricel Soriano in person at the brand’s showroom.

Known as the “Diamond Star,” Soriano visited the Maddox showroom for a candid conversation that touched on jewelry, health, aging, and her long-standing “mataray” reputation in the entertainment industry.

“The Diamond Star meets the Diamond Queen!” Soriano said during the interview.

Cordial admitted that meeting Soriano was one of her longtime dreams, having grown up watching the actress on screen.

“Nang makita po kita sa baba, I’m so happy. Isa po ito sa katuparan ng mga pangarap ko. Kasi, noong bata nga po ako, napapanood ko lang kayo.”

(When I saw you downstairs, I was so happy. This is one of my dreams come true because when I was young, I only watched you on television.)

“God is good.”

Curious about how Soriano first learned about the jewelry brand, Cordial asked the actress how she discovered Maddox.

“Naku, ang dami ko kayang taong naririnig na pumunta ka do’n, maganda do’n. Sa ‘yo nga, Maddox!”

(Oh my, I’ve heard so many people saying you should go there because it’s beautiful there. At Maddox!)

Soriano shared that actor Roderick Paulate was among those who encouraged her to visit the showroom.

The actress also joked that the name “Maddox” sounded like a cartoon character before Cordial explained that the brand name was inspired by her son’s name.

During the interview, Soriano revealed that she had also lost jewelry in the past, saying a household helper was allegedly responsible for the incident.

She admitted that she has always loved diamonds, making jewelry one of the major topics of their conversation.

Soriano also opened up about previously suffering from a spine condition caused by arthritis that reportedly reached her neck. She even demonstrated how she used to walk at the height of her condition.

“Lolang-lola!”

(Like a very old grandmother!)

The actress said she later sought treatment in Singapore, where she underwent a procedure called discoplasty.

“Nag-meeting muna kami ng doctor sa bahay. Actually, hindi siya surgery, it’s a procedure. Isang araw lang, ang tawag disco plastic. May apat o walo yata na turok ng karayom, robotics ang.”

(We first had a meeting with the doctor at home. Actually, it wasn’t surgery, it was a procedure. It only took one day. It was called discoplasty. There were around four or eight needle injections, and it used robotics.)

“Paggising ko, nakatihaya ako. Tapos sabi, upo ka. Upo naman ako. Lakad ka, so lakad naman ako. Walang masakit ha. Wala talaga akong nararamdamang pain. Tapos sabi, pwede ka ng umuwi. Ha? Ganu’n lang, one day lang ang procedure.

(When I woke up, I was lying down. Then they told me to sit up, so I sat up. They asked me to walk, so I walked. Nothing hurt. I really didn’t feel any pain. Then they told me I could already go home. I was surprised because the procedure only took one day.)

Because of her experience, Soriano encouraged people to take care of their bodies and avoid ignoring physical pain or health concerns.

The conversation also turned to Soriano’s “mataray” image in showbiz.

“Mataray ba?”

(Do I really come across as fierce?)

Soriano then explained that the meaning of the word has changed over the years.

“Ano ba ang ibig sabihin sa inyo ng mataray? Sa audience, halimbawa sa school, may bagong bag. Wow, ang taray! Gano’n ang ibig sabihin sa kanila. Pero noong araw hindi gano’n. Mataray ka, para yung mga bata, mag-behave. Magsi-upo kayo d’yan, gano’n.“

(What does “mataray” mean to people now? For younger audiences, it’s like saying, “Wow, that’s fierce!” But before, it referred to someone strict — the kind who tells children to behave and sit down properly.)

“Binabakla ko lang kasi, natatakot sila. Malakas kasi ang boses ko, ‘di ba? Pero hindi, ang normal ko, ito lang ‘yon.”

(I just joke around a lot, so people get intimidated. My voice is naturally loud, right? But honestly, this is just how I normally am.)

More from their conversation can be viewed on the official Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok pages of Maddox Jewelry.