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Melai Cantiveros looks back on “PBB,” “Your Face Sounds Familiar” journeys

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Mary Ann Bardinas

A blissful and lasting marriage. A happy and healthy family. A thriving showbiz career.Having all of these in her life, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco imparted in this exclusive interview with ABS-CBN broadcaster Bernadette Sembrano that she definitely has nothing to ask for. Thus, as her way of expressing her gratitude to Him, she resolves to devote her life to Him and follow where He is taking her.However, did you know that prior to all the successes that she has been reaping in recent years, she initially didn’t plan to stay long in the industry? According to her, that’s because of the internal and external pressures that she felt, particularly in the early years of her career.“Ayaw ko naman tumagal. Pero the more na ayaw ko nang tumagal, the more na may mga show na ibinibigay si Lord. Kaya sabi ko, ‘Ikaw talaga ‘to, Lord.’ Alangan namang hihindian ko e ‘yon naman ang blessing na binigay ni Lord na marangal na pera at makakatulong ka pa sa pamilya mo,” she told Bernadette.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l9t-cs4X-GQ" title="MELAI CANTIVEROS: NAGSALITA NA SA ISYUNG PAGLOLOKO NI JASON FRANCISCO! | Bernadette Sembrano" width="1250"></iframe></div>Melai then went on to reminisce about her <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/pbbgen112024" target="_blank">Pinoy Big Brother</a> journey, which she described as an “accident” since she only auditioned out of fun and because of her friends’ prodding. She didn’t take the series of auditions seriously, assuming that she wouldn’t get accepted, so she was totally dumbfounded when she made it to the cut of the “Double-Up Edition.” So, she just went along and befriended her fellow Bisaya housemate, Paul Jake Castillo, with whom she aimed to ask for help one day, supposing that she would immediately get evicted on the first week.But, as we all know, that didn’t happen, as Melai was hailed as the Big Winner of their batch, not to mention that her unexpected team-up with another housemate and now husband, Jason Francisco, boomed. She told herself to just stay in showbiz for two years, yet projects kept on coming to her in the succeeding years, which apparently made her realize that it is indeed the path that God has carved for her.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/osW6j92sNbY" title="PBB Balikbahay: Melai, itinanghal bilang PBB Double Up Big Winner!" width="1250"></iframe></div>Among the remarkable projects that she participated in was the first season of <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/70050318-throwback-unforgettable-astonishing-performances-of-your-face-sounds-familiar-season-1-grand-winner-melai-cantiveros-1987" target="_blank">Your Face Sounds Familiar</a>, in which she eventually emerged as the grand winner. However, it almost did not transpire, as Melai disclosed that she initially declined the offer for her to be part of it since she’s neither a singer nor a performer. It was only ABS-CBN TV Production and Star Magic Head Laurenti Dyogi who convinced her to join only as a “panggulo” to the roster of talented artists, yet it was still she who dominated in the end.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pH72W8G0800?list=PLJ_zoPOwJ6hlZN0r7KHlTtJJ7cF_7EUN7" title="Melai Cantiveros as Elizabeth Ramsey - &quot;Waray Waray&quot; | Your Face Sounds Familiar" width="1250"></iframe></div>With all the victories that she has gained throughout her 15 years in business, Melai said that she owes everything to God, even the assistance that she has extended to other people who sought help from her. She just simply gets over her good deeds since she firmly believes that it’s not her who did it but God, and she reminds others to give thanks to Him and not to her because it’s through His grace that she has the capacity to help.The same goes with the Best Actor Award she received from the 2023 Asian Artist Awards for her exemplary performance in the comedy action film “Ma’am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul,” as well as her appointment as Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism in the Philippines early this year, which she both didn’t see coming. She knew that it was God who orchestrated everything for it to transpire and made her cross paths with producer Happy Sy-Go and director Kring Kim, whom she regards as “hulog ng langit.”Apart from <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/magandangbuhay" target="_blank">Magandang Buhay</a>, we can also catch Melai on <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/melai-host-ng-kauna-unahang-mainstream-bisaya-talk-show-na-kuan-on-one-22662" target="_blank">Kuan On One</a> with new episodes every Tuesday on ABS-CBN Entertainment&#x27;s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/abscbnentertainment" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> and soon on <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/pbbgen112024" target="_blank">Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11</a>.

Melai reminisced about her “Pinoy Big Brother” and “Your Face Sounds Familiar” journeys.