Showbiz Chika

Aside from working on I Dare You and her upcoming Precious Hearts Romances series Mana Po, Melai Cantiveros is also part of ABS-CBN’s new noontime variety show Happy Yipee Yehey!
The former Pinoy Big Brother housemate admitted that she feels both lucky and overwhelmed to be given such opportunities this early in her career. “Excited ako kasi first time ko mapasama sa noontime show. Kinakabahan ako pero kakayanin ko kasi kasa-kasama ko rin yung ibang comedian. Magulo ako eh tapos magulo din si Bianca Manalo, si Kuya Jobert at Kuya Bentong. I’m sure na o-over kami dun. Manggugulo kami (laughs). Kami ang panggulo dun. Basta marami kaming gagawin dito. Kakayanin ko na maging enjoy sila sa panunuod sa aming variety show,” she shared during the Happy Yipee Yehey! pictorial last February 4 at a photo studio in Quezon City.

With all her new projects, Melai said she had to give up Banana Split because her schedule was becoming too full. “Umalis na ako sa Banana Split kasi kailangan ko din naman matulog, alangan naman mamatay na ako sa kakatrabaho kasi diri-diretso na (laughs),” she said.

The 22-year-old former teacher from Gensan admitted that she went through a rollercoaster of emotions after finding out the news. During her last taping day with Banana Split, Melai found it so hard to hold back tears. “Nalungkot nga ako, pero masaya naman dahil andito na ako sa noontime show. Family ko din yung Banana Split, nag-iyakan kami kahapon pero magkapitbahay lang naman yung studio namin so puwede naman ako dumaan dun. Nag-iyak iyak pa ako,” she added.

Now that she has more TV exposure, Melai said she is concentrating on improving her way of speaking, after being advised by ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio that she should enunciate her words and speak more slowly. “Ang skills na kailangan ko gawin is magdahan-dahan ako sa salita ko paramaintindihan naman ako ng mga tao. Nag-pra-practice na naman ako. Marami ng nag-a-advise na bagalan ko. Nag-practice nga ako ngayon. Sabi ni Ma’am Charo bagalan ko daw ang aking pagsasalita kasi kumbaga papunta na ako Malabon, kayo nasa Quezon City pa kayo (laughs) kaya babagalan ko na pagsasalita ko,” she admitted.

When it comes to hosting, Melai shared that she really looks up to the Happy Yipee Yahey! hosts when it comes to delivering spiels. “Kasi napaka-spontaneous talaga ni Ate Toni (Gonzaga). Ang galing niya sa ganun. Magaling din sila John (Estrada) at Randy (Santiago), nakakatawa sila. Napapanuod ko na sila before pa sa Magandang Tanghali Bayan. Siyempre may TV din kami dun sa probinsya (laughs),” she said.

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