Long-standing supporters of former Viva Hot Babes member Maui Taylor were certainly excited to see her return to the “Kapamilya, Deal Or No Deal” stage for the second time after the Lucky Wheel landed on her assigned number, naming her as the celebrity player for the game show’s August 30 episode.
Filling the studio with nostalgia, Maui recalled in her fun-filled introduction video the iconic hits that her girl group popularized back in the day, including “Bulaklak” and “Basketbol.” The public also came to recognize her for her acting chops, as she transitioned from playing sweet and lovable characters to taking on more mature roles, including kontrabida characters. Now a mother of two young boys, Maui continues to balance motherhood with her career as a content creator and entrepreneur.
This season of “Kapamilya, Deal Or No Deal” was not her first attempt at bagging the elusive ₱1 million jackpot. She first appeared on the game show in 2015, when she took home ₱141,000 after accepting the Banker’s final offer.
Hoping to ease her nerves, Pambansang Host Luis Manzano encouraged Maui to introduce her two sons, Antoine and Matteo, whom she proudly referred to as the sources of luck in her life. Rooting for their mother to win big, Antoine said, “Banker, please treat our mom right.”
WATCH: Maui Taylor, ipinakilala ang kan’yang dalawang anak | Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal
Determined to do better than she did the first time, Maui decided to switch her original briefcase, number 2, with Crisha Uy’s briefcase, number 11, after repeatedly catching sight of the number 1 before filming. However, she soon realized her mistake when she opened her old briefcase and immediately revealed the ₱500,000 prize.
Hoping to bounce back from the early setback, Maui next chose Emilio Daez’s briefcase, which revealed another six-digit cash prize worth ₱150,000. Thankfully, the briefcases she opened afterward contained only ₱100, ₱200, and ₱50,000.
Teasing her about the “sign” she supposedly saw before playing, the Banker offered Maui ₱11,111, which she confidently turned down. Heading into the second round, the celebrity contestant was determined to increase the Banker’s succeeding offers. She successfully achieved her goal after saying goodbye to the ₱5, ₱25, ₱1,000, and ₱250,000 amounts on the money board, prompting the Banker to offer her a ₱22,000 deal.
The set quickly transformed into a dance studio at the Banker’s request after Maui eliminated the ₱50 amount. Entertaining Kapamilyas with a dance showdown, Maui first showed off her moves as she adorably vibed to the music. Former SexBomb member Jopay then took the floor, showcasing her signature sexy charm. Maui and Jopay later shared the stage as they “battled” it out on the dance floor, much to the delight of their fans.
WATCH: HOTBABE vs SEXBOMB! Maui at Jopay, nag-SHOWDOWN! | Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal
She continued to enjoy a streak of favorable briefcases, starting with ₱300 and ₱400 in the fourth round before landing on ₱10,000 in the fifth round. When the sixth round rolled around, Maui couldn’t help but grow nervous with the ₱1 amount still on the money board. However, as soon as the audience began chanting “₱1,” the amount appeared in Mauro Lumba’s briefcase.
Maui pushed her luck to its limits in the final round when she chose to find out how much Migs Bustos’ briefcase was worth. She jumped for joy after it revealed ₱125,000, leaving both the ₱100,000 and ₱1 million amounts on the money board. With both high-value amounts still in play, the Banker had no other choice but to offer Maui ₱555,500.
Conflicted about what to choose, Maui ultimately let practicality win and accepted the Banker’s deal once again. She later learned that her decision had been the smart one after discovering that her chosen briefcase was hiding ₱100,000 all along.
Describing how she felt in the moment, Maui gratefully said, “Unbelievable. Masaya. Nerve-wrecking. Lahat na, sabihin mo na rito. Sobrang thank you so much for the opportunity.”
Catch more fun and exciting moments on "Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal," airing Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), or stream anytime on iWant!