Flonique Guimary

Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco's daughter Mela graduates from elementary

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco are celebrating a new milestone in their family as their eldest daughter, Mela, graduates from elementary school.&nbsp;</p><p>The proud parents took to their Facebook page on September 5 to mark the achievement, looking back on Mela&rsquo;s homeschooling journey and expressing how grateful they are to see her reach this new chapter.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;To our dearest Mela, 🎓❤️ Time flies so fast! 😍 Parang kailan lang when you started your homeschooling journey with Stela and now, you&rsquo;re officially a graduate! 🫶😘,&rdquo; they wrote.&nbsp;</p><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/7/4/shuvee-etrata-celebrates-sister-shaina-as-first-graduate-in-the-family-7-more-to-go-1645" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Shuvee Etrata celebrates sister Shaina as first graduate in the family: &lsquo;7 more to go&#39;</strong></a></div><div><br></div><p>The couple also credited God for guiding their family throughout Mela&rsquo;s years of elementary education.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Thank You, Lord, You made it possible. 🙏🏻 Through every challenge and every lesson, God guided you and gave you strength.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>As Mela prepares to enter high school, Melai and Jason reminded their daughter that her elementary graduation is only the beginning of another chapter. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;We are so proud of you Mela! 👏👏👏 This is just the beginning of a beautiful journey. Keep trusting God and believing in yourself. 🥰Congratulations, our dear Mela! You made it 💗We love you so much! 😘😘😘,&rdquo; they maintained. &nbsp;</p><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/7/6/xian-lim-graduates-with-a-degree-in-music-production-at-36-keep-learning-keep-growing-1857" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Xian Lim graduates with a degree in Music Production at 36: &#39;Keep learning. Keep growing&#39;</strong></a></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOfficialMelason%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02GLoUaY1i55UZyTvMbGQ23VctCSHuMMpnrttYsZYPL7HxxhoR45B9bt6fAwyCwv38l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><div><br></div><p>The family gave followers a glimpse of the special occasion through photos from Mela&rsquo;s graduation ceremony, where she wore the traditional white graduation gown and received her diploma on stage together with her family. &nbsp;</p><p>Her younger sister Stela likewise brought some fun to the family photos with her candid poses, giving netizens another adorable moment to enjoy.&nbsp;</p><p>The celebration continued as the family danced together to Melai&rsquo;s latest song, &ldquo;Kuan!&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><div><br></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1508080857753173%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><div><br></div><p>Mela&rsquo;s graduation is especially significant for Melai and Jason, who previously opened about their decision to shift from traditional school to homeschooling their children. &nbsp;</p><p>In a 2024 interview with Smart Parenting, where the family appeared as cover stars for their December issue, Melai and Jason explained that their choice was largely driven by their desire to remain hands-on with their children despite their demanding careers.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;We decided to homeschool. Siya [Jason], last year pa siya nag-decide na i-homeschool ang mga bata, but binigyan pa niya kami ng chance na mag-school ang mga bata kasi kakatapos lang ng pandemic,&rdquo; Melai shared.&nbsp;</p><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/4/2/ruffa-gutierrez-marjorie-barretto-more-filipina-celebs-who-proved-it-s-never-too-late-to-graduate-0800" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Ruffa Gutierrez, Marjorie Barretto, and more Filipina celebrities who proved it&rsquo;s never too late to graduate</strong></a></div><div><br></div><p>Over time, Melai said she also saw benefits to homeschooling, particularly when it came to keeping their children healthy.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Kapag sa regular school kasi, minsan may mga sakit talaga and hindi din naman natin alam ang immune system ng anak natin. Ako naman ang kinakatakutan ko eh kung makuha ni Ate Mela, nakukuha din talaga ni Stela. Syempre hindi naman natin makokontrol kung ano ang nasa school, unlike sa bahay namin na simula talaga noong pandemic eh nag-iingat at todo spray din talaga ang lahat ng disinfectant. Takot talaga kami kasi ayaw namin yung may sakit-sakit.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>For Jason, however, their decision went beyond concerns about their children&rsquo;s health. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening the values they wanted to instill in their daughters at home.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Sa bahay may mga values tayo na tinuturo sa kanila [children], pero paglabas nila, may sarili na rin silang buhay, sa school,&rdquo; Jason said.&nbsp;</p><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/3/15/sachzna-laparan-graduates-from-college-denies-claims-that-she-bought-her-diploma-0912" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Sachzna Laparan graduates from college, denies claims that she &lsquo;bought&rsquo; her diploma</strong></a></div><div><br></div><p>Melai further explained their perspective on preparing their children to eventually encounter different influences outside their home.&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Mas maganda na mas ma-strengthen muna namin yung core values ng mga anak namin sa bahay. Para paglabas nila ng bahay, kung ano man yung ma-encounter nila na mga values o influences, alam namin, kampante kami, confident kami sa mga anak namin, na alam na nila kung ano yung mga paniniwalaan nila at ano yung mga hindi nila gagayahin,&rdquo; Melai added.&nbsp;</p><p>The couple also acknowledged that their daughters might eventually want to experience traditional schooling again and said they remained open to making changes when appropriate.&nbsp;</p><p>Mela&#39;s graduation comes after her younger sister Stela, received her First Communion in August. &nbsp;</p><div>&nbsp;</div>

<p>Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco are celebrating a new milestone in their family as their eldest daughter, Mela, graduates from elementary school. </p>

Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco are celebrating a new milestone in their family as their eldest daughter, Mela, graduates from elementary school.

Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco's daughter Mela graduates from elementary: ‘This is just the beginning of a beautiful journey’

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Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco's daughter Mela graduates from elementary: ‘This is just the beginning of a beautiful journey’

Alyana De Guzman,

Push Team

Published September 07, 2026 11:01 AM PHT

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Melai Cantiveros

Jason Francisco

Mela

Stela

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