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EXCLUSIVE: Melai Cantiveros on finding her place in showbiz through hosting: ‘Doon ko lang na-feel na medyo belong na ako dito’

Article (news)

Stephanie Rose Manhit

Push Team

When she was first starting out in 2009, Kapamilya TV host Melai Cantiveros admitted that going into showbiz wasn’t in her plans. In fact, even after being in the industry for years, she wasn’t quite sure how she fit in. It was only when she started hosting <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/magandangbuhay">Magandang Buhay</a> that she finally felt that she was where she was supposed to be.“Alam mo, start nung nag-Magandang Buhay ako, doon ko lang na-feel na medyo belong na ako dito. Nagugustuhan ko na ‘yung ginagawa ko. Kasi noong una, hindi ko masyadong alam kung belong ba ako dito,” she shared in an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN. “Pero noong nag-Magandang Buhay, doon ko naramdaman na ‘o, gusto ko pala ito’. Maganda din pala itong tinatahak ko.”Initially, Melai continued on in the industry because it was a job, a means to make a living.“Noon, para lang sa sweldo. Ngayon, na-enjoy ko na siya. Naging career ko na siya. So thank you Lord at ipinaramdam Niya sa akin itong feelings na ito,” she said.Now that she gets to witness the stories of people, she has found a deeper purpose to what she is doing.“Ang gusto ko sa pagho-host ‘yung malalaman mo at mai-inspire ka sa buhay ng guest mo. ‘Yun ang pinaka the best sa akin,” she explained. “Kasi no man is an island; hindi tayo mabubuhay na mag-isa. So kapag nalaman mo ‘yung kwento nila na napagtagumpayan nila ‘yung problema, doon ko nararamdaman na ‘ang sarap pala mag-host’. Dahil doon, mas marami ka pang matututunan, mas marami kang makukuhanan ng inspiration, at marami ring mai-inspire sa’yo.”Melai was the last speaker for the Pinoy Media Congress 2025 held at the University of Makati from April 24 to 25, 2025. The two-day conference was co-presented by ABS-CBN and PACE, or the Philippine Association of Communication Educators. The auditorium was filled with bright-eyed students from various universities, all eager to learn from the industry’s best minds.Melai’s talk was the sixth and last session for the conference. Titled “Melai Mo, Melai Ko, Melai Niya: Hosting 101 with the Pambansang Kuantie”, it focused on the basics of TV hosting. Looking sleek and professional, Melai wowed the audience with her practical tips, learned from personal experience.She kept it simple with an easy-to-remember acronym: KUANS — Keep it simple, Understand deeply, Arrive prepared, Navigate the unexpected, and Support the team.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/4/26/melai-cantiveros-francisco-shares-5-key-tips-when-hosting-1426">READ: Melai Cantiveros-Francisco shares 5 key tips when hosting</a></div>The Q&amp;A forum at the end of her talk even extended past the allotted time since many had questions for Kuantie Momshie Melai. Despite the time, everyone was in high spirits, boosted by Melai’s witty banter and no-nonsense remarks.Melai admitted that she was actually nervous when she found out that she was selected to be the speaker. Melai didn’t realize that it would be a huge talk where she had to prepare her visuals and materials.“Sobrang kaba, gusto ko nang magback out,” she recalled. “Ang feeling ko sobra akong hiya, kasi hindi naman ako talaga matalino na mga ganyan-ganyan.”“Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako ang kinuha ng ABS-CBN. Siguro busy ang lahat ng mga hosts, so ako na lang ang available,” she joked.One wouldn’t have noticed it though, because Melai owned the stage from the moment she stepped on it. Carrying herself with confidence and competence, she had everyone in the room listening to her every word.“Shinare ko lang naman ang experience ko dito sa 15 years of showbiz,” she said simply.Melai entered the industry in 2009, thrust into it after emerging as the Big Winner of Pinoy Big Brother Double Up. She dabbled in acting and impersonation, but found her true calling as a host. She now juggles several hosting stints as one of mainstay hosts of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/magandangbuhay">Magandang Buhay</a>, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pinoy-big-brother-collab">Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition</a>, and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pilipinas-got-talent-7">Pilipinas Got Talent Season 7</a>. She also hosts her solo digital talk show, Kuan On One, which celebrates Bisdak talents.Asked which one is closest to her heart, Melai maintained that she appreciated all of them equally.“Lahat ‘yan mahal ko,” she said. “Because iba-iba naman sila. Kumbaga, para silang mga anak ko. Iba-iba man ang kanilang mga traits, lahat sila mahal na mahal ko.”Melai remains grateful to her home network for opening doors for her and trusting her with opportunities to better herself. She also credited Queen of All Media Kris Aquino for mentoring her.“Sobrang dami kong natutunan kay Ms Kris! Lahat ‘yung mga English-English tsaka the way ‘yung mga technical na mga hosting, sa kanya ko natutunan,” she shared. “Sobra akong proud na talaga namang kay Ms Kris ko pa natutunan. Hindi basta-basta.”

Pambansang Kuantie Melai Cantiveros narrows down the do’s of TV hosting in one word: KUANS. She further shares how hosting helped appreciate her job more, and credits Kris Aquino as one of her mentors.

Pambansang Kuantie Melai Cantiveros narrows down the do’s of TV hosting in one word: KUANS. She further shares how hosting helped appreciate her job more, and credits Kris Aquino as one of her mentors.