Showbiz Chika

After celebrating their one-year anniversary last February 8, Jason Francisco said he and girlfriend Melai Cantiveros are excited about their newest show, Precious Hearts Romance Presents Mana Po which premieres February 21 on ABS-CBN’s Hapontastic line-up.

Jason, who is also part of the cast of Banana Split, admitted that he was nervous when they started taping the series. Jason and Melai had to undergo an intensive three-day acting workshop with the directors of the show in order to prepare themselves for their roles. “Nung unang araw ng taping talaga, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kasi ibang-iba yung role ko dito, hindi lang puro pangungulit kasi may drama din tapos sobrang malayo sa totoong ako. Ayun, hanggang sa ngayon na nasanay ako. Alam ko na yung role ko. Kaya ‘pag papunta sa set parang wala na lang,” he said during the Mana Po presscon held last February 17 at the ABS-CBN compound.

Jason said that he hopes that Melason fans will appreciate their efforts and support the show. “Hindi naman na ako kinakabahan kung magugustuhan ng fans o hindi. Marunong naman ako tumanggap sa kung ano ang magiging kalabasan ng mga pangyayari. Sa totoo lang ang nararamdaman ko ay masaya ako kasi mag-e-air na kami so yung pressure medyo nawala na kasi ang dami na rin naming na-taping.

During the press interview, the 23-year-old from Mindoro admitted that he wishes Melai would not be so open when it comes to matters regarding their relationship. There were speculations that the two were already living together when Melai admitted that they sleep over at each other’s houses from time to time. “Sinabi ko na huwag na dapat siya magsalita tungkol dun. Kasi isa yun na ikinagagalit ko sa kanya. Kasi minsan pag nagsalita siya, parang wala lang. Lasi kung ano yung feelings niya, sasabihin niya eh, wala siya talagang tinatago eh. Sabi ko dapat matuto ka na rin na minsan, hindi mo puwede sabihin yan kasi parang dapat medyo formal na kasi hindi na tayo mga bata eh. Kaya dapat medyo may privacy sa sarili, hindi lahat sinasabi. Yung ganun,” he stressed.

Now that they’re one year into their relationship, Jason said that he constantly reminds Melai to show more restraint when giving interviews. “Oo sinusunod naman niya ako ‘pag minsan. Kasi mga ilang araw lang, balik na ulit yan. Kaya wala na akong magawa dun. Kaya minsan nagkakatampuhan na dahil ‘pag sobra na yung nasasabi,” he said.

But the Banana Split comedian said since he is older, he knows that he still has to help guide his girlfriend when it comes to making decisions regarding her career. “Parang kasing tatay ako ‘pag minsan nagsasabi sa kanya, ako ang adviser niya pagka may mga bagay siya na hindi na maganda. Ayan, gaya minsan sabi ko huwag siya na ma-le-late sa trabaho. Pangit yun. Mga ganun, ganun. Nagagalit siya rin sa akin minsan dahil diyan pero nakikinig naman siya,” he said.

Catch Jason and Melai in Precious Hearts Romance Presents Mana Po beginning Monday, February 21 after Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla Sr presents Kapitan Inggo on ABS-CBN.

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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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As part of ABS-CBN’s newest noontime variety show Happy Yipee Yehey!, Melai Cantiveros shared that her boyfriend Jason Francisco is both happy and excited about her newest project. “Sabay kami na-shock din siya nung nalaman namin. Siyempre masaya naman siya para sa akin kasi may noontime show na ako,” she said.

Melai said that she is nervous about how the show will do and shared that the entire cast and crew have been working very hard to come up with a good show. “Kinabahan nga ako eh. Sana makayanan namin para mag-rate. Si God na ang bahala sa atin dito,” she added.

Until now, Melai says she cannot believe she was chosen to be part of the Happy Yipee Yehey! ensemble. “Nasuwertehan lang siguro ako na nalagay ako dito. Siyempre deserve ko naman siguro pero na-shock ako na parang sino ba ako para mapili ‘di ba? pero choks lang, thank you very much na lang. Yun na lang iniisip ko,” she said.

Even with her new daily show and other projects, Melai isn’t bothered by the fact that she might not have as much time for Jason anymore since they still have another project they’re doing together, Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Mana Po. “Mabuti nga ngayon meron akong noontime show, dati kasi di ba parati kami magkasama sa aming mga show? Dahil magkasama kami palagi, kesa magkasawaan kami, mag-away kami ganyan-ganyan, mabuti ito para medyo magkahiwalay kami ng konti. At least mami-miss namin ang isa’t isa, ganun. Pero kahit papano meron pa rin naman kami time para sa isa’t isa kasi may indie film tapos meron din kaming Mana Po so choks lang yun,” she said.

The former Pinoy Big Brother housemate said that having a little distance between them will actually be beneficial for their relationship. “Hindi naman ako nababahala kasi mas gusto namin ngayon na maghiwalay din minsan kasi lagi na kami magkasama. Minsan nag-aaway kami kasi hindi na mabigay yung kinakailangan ng isa’t isa so mabuti ngayon mami-miss namin ang isa’t isa. Para meron kaming thrill sa aming relationship. Naisip ko rin yun,” she explained.

This coming Valentine’s Day, Melai said she prefers that Jason be the one to make plans for the both of them. “Siya na bahala. Alangan naman ako pa ang magplano. May regalo na ako naiisip para sa kanya pero secret pa. Siyempre may naiisip isip na ako na gusto niya,” she said. But if she were the one to decide, Melai said spending quality time together is what she considers the best gift he could give to her. “Siyempre ang sa akin lang is gusto ko mag-spend kami ng time together. Kahit saan kami magpunta, kahit sa kalsada pa yan, basta maka-spend time kami together. Siyempre ang gusto ng babae romantic naman talaga. Kahit saan, kahit sa CR basta maraming flowers ‘di ba? (laughs) Hindi naman kailangan the best yung lugar. Kahit saan basta romantic na may flowers, nakaka-touch naman. Yan ang gusto ng babae. Yun lang ang aking choice, romantic,” she said.

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