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Melai Cantiveros shares friendship journey with Jennica Garcia

Article (news)

Liezel dela Cruz

Our favorite funny ‘momshie’ Melai Cantiveros brought her infectious comedic flair to one episode of Kapamilya Chat, where she regaled viewers while talking about her friendship with Jennica Garcia, balancing career and motherhood, and Kapamilya’s “Primetime Panalo” promo.Long before they were paired for a hosting gig on Pie Channel&#x27;s &quot;Ur Da Boss,&quot; Melai had already admired Jennica for her resilience as both a mother and a woman. She’s a follower of her Instagram account and, therefore, she had witnessed how the “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/dirtylinen" target="_blank">Dirty Linen</a>” actress faced life’s hurdles with grace, especially when she became a single mother.As co-hosts and eventual friends, Melai got to know Jennica beyond the confines of social media posts. It was during this time that she found herself even more impressed by Jennica’s sunny disposition, from which she draws inspiration.She believes that they were fated to become friends, as God knows she’d learn a lot from Jennica’s character and values. “Naniniwala talga ako na, si Lord, ‘pag bibigyan ka Niya ng mga kaibigan, i-grab mo talaga ‘yung opportunity at talagang i-appreciate mo ‘yung kaibigan na dumarating sa buhay mo. Huwag mong i-neglect. Bakit? Blessing ‘yun, eh, kasi may matututunan ka. At ginawa ‘yun ni Lord to share lessons with each other,” said Melai, who described Jennica as genuine.And this authenticity is one factor why they gelled well, as they both eschew the typical “pa-showbiz” attitude. They prefer to keep things down-to-earth and not act “pa-sosyal,” though she mentioned they’re capable of slipping into that mode when the occasion demands it.They also love to exchange insights on motherhood. For Melai, motherhood is about balancing multiple responsibilities, especially given her busy schedule. She emphasized the need for moms to stay attuned to their kids’ development as well, since they undergo significant changes as they mature.And as her kids grow up, she notices a striking resemblance between her and her younger daughter, Stela, when she was Stela’s age. She remembers that Stela’s viral dance on TikTok was also how she and her mom used to bond when she was a kid. “Ito pala ‘yung gawain ko dati? Nakakatot!” she quipped.Meanwhile, Mela, the elder one, tends to be more shy but is slowly coming out of her shell. Recently, she participated in a school pageant where she placed as first runner-up. Momshie Melai couldn’t be prouder. She convinced Mela to join the pageant for mere experience, thus winning was only a bonus.Melai might be one of the busiest mommies in showbiz today. Sometimes it’s hard that she’s typecast into comedic roles, as she also has personal problems at home. But one thing she learned is that no obstacle is big enough to compromise her performance at work. As professional as she is, she makes sure to leave her problems at home so it wouldn’t affect the overall dynamic on set. Besides, she’s blessed to be surrounded by colleagues who inspire her to be optimistic at all times. It is this blend of resilience and professionalism that makes Melai a consistent source of good vibes on- an off-cam.She believes that God uses her as an instrument to bring joy to others. Even she is surprised with how her career flourished. Initially, she only intended to try her luck in showbiz for two years and go back to her hometown in General Santos City if showbiz isn’t for her. But she’s still here, and she only credits God for it.“Reality check na lang, alam mo naman sa sarili mo na hindi ka pang-artista. Pero dahil nga si Lord baka tina-touch Niya ang hearts ng mga tao na magustuhan ako. Alam ko sa sarili ko na wala talaga ako kahit katiting. Kahit ‘yang mga awards na ‘yan mahiya talaga ako, kasi alam ko na sa Kanya galing lahat ng mga papuri at mga binibigay sa akin na blessings,” said the “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/magandangbuhay" target="_blank">Magandang Buhay</a>” host.And she’s happy that audiences also extend the love to her family, “Sobrang flattered ako kasi ganu’n nila kamahal ang pamilya ko, kumbaga, natanggap nila ‘yung kakulitan namin.” But, above all, she appreciates her husband, Jason Francisco, for being the first to show them love and acceptance. She jestingly admits though that Jason also needs some alone time from their ‘kakulitan’ and that’s what his man cave at home is for.Melai, alongside Jennica, is hosting “Primetime Panalo,” ABS-CBN’s way of giving back to its avid viewers. Almost 1.5 million of total prizes will be given away for viewers of ABS-CBN’s primetime programs. All you need to do is tune in to <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" target="_blank">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/linlang2023">Linlang: The Teleserye Version</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/cantbuymelove" target="_blank">Can’t Buy Me Love</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thevoiceteens2024" target="_blank">The Voice Teens</a>, and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/icsyv" target="_blank">I Can See Your Voice</a>, on either <a href="http://kapamilyachannel.com/" target="_blank">Kapamilya Channel</a>, <a href="http://kapamilyaonlinelive.com" target="_blank">Kapamilya Online Live</a>, TV5, A2Z, or <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/Mkr3OdLk6ab" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a>. Scan the QR code that will be flashed on screen and submit the answer for the question of the day.This is part of Kapamilya’s online ‘tambayan’ where they can have fun chats with Melai and Jennica during Kapamilya Online Live’s gap show called “Primetime Bayan.”

Melai talks about her friendship with Jennica Garcia, balancing career and motherhood, and “Primetime Panalo” promo.