Cantiveros (right) with husband Jason and daughters Mela and Stela —PHOTOS FROM MELAI CANTIVEROS/INSTGRAM
Actress-TV host Melai Cantiveros, who came to prominence in 2009 after winning in “Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up,” has warned aspiring contestants to audition for PBB’s next season that will air in June only from legitimate PBB staff members.
“It’s going to be an explosive season. We can’t say much, but the other hosts and I are all excited. The production team is telling us very little, especially me because they say I’m a marites (gossip girl),” said Melai, who is working closely with Bianca Gonzalez, Robi Domingo, Kim Chiu and Enchong Dee as hosts of the reality talent search produced by ABS-CBN.
“They instructed us to tell people to be wary of those who claim to be representatives of PBB and ask aspirants to audition to them. Direk Lauren (Dyogi, PBB executive producer) has cautioned that legit PBB staffers are the only ones authorized to choose contestants and no one else,” said Melai.
When asked for some advice she could share with aspirants, Melai said: “Life is short. It’s important that you’re enjoying what you’re doing. Ask yourself, are you auditioning for PBB because you want to compete, or is it because you’re just following the orders of your father, who happens to work as the audio man?” Melai quipped.
“In order for you to win this, you have to really want it. Only then can the audience see that you’re sincere and authentic. Eventually, they will believe and be inspired by your story, and they will vote for you to win. That’s what’s most important: Be happy with what you’re doing, but also make sure you’re not hurting anyone in the process.”
Melai went on to marry Jason Francisco, her batchmate in PBB. They have two daughters, Mela, 10, and Stela, 6.
Full support
She promises to give her full support to the girls if they ever decide to join show biz, as well. However, it’s Jason who is determined to keep the girls out of the limelight for as long as he can, said Melai.
“I have no problem with that, but my husband said not to force our daughters to make a decision now. Doing endorsements are OK, it’s a privilege, but acting is a different story. We will allow them to decide when they’re old enough. In the end, if they choose to pursue acting but have a tough time, they will need to work hard in order to succeed because they wanted this for themselves.”
At the recent launch of the denture care brand Polident’s “Oplan Balik Ngiti: Ilabas ang Ngiting Pustiso Confident 2.0,” Melai recalled the time when she was growing up in General Santos province with a family that was too cash-strapped to even afford proper oral health care.
“Buying toothpaste for us then was something that only rich families did. We used to just clean our teeth with salt. We didn’t always have a dentist available in our barangay. They also seldom visited our health center. Our life was tough, but I cannot compare it to the present because people now have lots of means, especially online, to be able to live a comfortable life,” she began.
“Back then, I would cry to my mom whenever I had a toothache. She would just say to me, ‘I’ve not known anyone who died from a toothache. You’ll survive.’ I did, but let’s admit it, compared to having a stomachache, it’s harder to concentrate when you have a toothache. Prioritizing oral health care is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way. I will not allow what happened to me to happen to my daughters today. That’s why I make sure their teeth are well taken care of,” she declared.
The discussion on oral health led Melai to tackle the topic of self-love. “If you asked me years ago what I felt most insecure about, I would probably have lots to say. But as we grow older, these insecurities go away, leaving us only feeling grateful for what we have. I have so much to be thankful to God for. I’m content, especially now that I have my kids,” the Kapamilya TV host said.
Self-awareness
“The first step to self-love is self-awareness. Dapat alam ko kung saan lang aabot ang ganda mo,” Melai quipped. “I’ve been practicing this for as long as I remember. My mama would tell me, ‘Yes, you’re beautiful, but only up to a certain point.’ I try to teach this to my daughters. They practice self-love. They are aware of their limits and are grateful for what the Lord has given them.”
Incidentally, Melai was asked whether she and Jason are still considering having another child, perhaps a boy, this time. To this, Melai jokingly said, “Construction is ongoing. Jason said it’s important that we have the approval of our daughters, since they are members of our family too, but it seems Stela isn’t ready yet.
“We’re not in a hurry. We will accept whatever God gives us, but I’m praying for a boy this time. I also wish he will be born in April like me and the girls. My birthday is April 6, Mela was born April 3, and Stela was born on the 9th. If our third is a boy and is born in April, we will name him April Boy Francisco.”