She doesn’t just slay the pageant stage---she embodies the wit and charm of a true Bisdak queen! Miss Universe 2014 finalist MJ Lastimosa opened up with inspiring stories of her humble beginnings and the experiences that shaped the queen she is today in the February 17 episode of “Kuan on One” with Kuantie Melai Cantiveros-Francisco.
After sharing her stories, MJ didn’t shy away from fun. She gamely took on the “Dakong Problema” challenge called “Miss Kuaniverse,” a quirky sit-down pageant where she and Melai became contestants. The segment featured three rounds: the Bisdak intro, the Q&A portion, and the all-important victory speech.
The Bisdak intro turned into a charm showdown between Melai and MJ. Melai went full beauty queen mode as she introduce herself, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Melai Cantiveros-Francisco from the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, the land of champions, General Santos City! And I truly believe that I have never been touched, never been kissed, but totally damaged.” Her witty delivery sent everyone into laughter.
MJ followed with her own sassy introduction, “From the land of maraming palay pero malinis ang mukha, your Miss North Cotabato forever, MJ Lastimosa! And I believe in the saying that, kung hindi ka makakatakbo, maglakad ka. Basta padayon! And I, thank you.” Her delivery earned warm applause from everyone in the studio. Melai then joked that the audience only clapped for MJ and not for her earlier intro, teasing that the challenge must have been easy for MJ,“Parang tuldok lang [para sa’yo],” she quipped.
The showdown continued with the Q&A round, where MJ threw Melai a quirky question, “Kung ang kasiyahan ay parang lechon, bakit nagda-diet ang iba?” Melai began her answer with the classic line, “Thank you for that wonderful question, Ms. MJ,” and stretched her intro further, “And for that wonderful question, I want to thank you 100 percent. Because that question gives me an understanding that fully represents my beliefs.” Her exaggerated delivery sent MJ into a fit of laughter.
Melai then delivered a short but direct answer, “Dahil hindi nila afford, and I thank you.” Her quick response wowed everyone with its humor. MJ followed up by asking if Melai believed that gaining happiness is expensive, to which she replied, “Meron namang mura lang. Happiness is everywhere naman, nasa iyo lang iyon [kung paano makukuha].”
Coming up next, MJ faced a tricky but funny prompt, “Ano ang mas mabilis? Ang batang hinahabol ng aso, o ang pagkaubos ng sweldo?” Drawing from her own experience of once being chased by a dog, MJ noted that both happen quickly. She later answered with poise, “I believe that magkasing-bilis lang. Because nowadays, sobrang hirap ng buhay. Dadaan lang talaga sa kamay natin ang mga sweldo natin. But it’s what we do after that. We still thrive. Kaya kung hinahabol ka ng aso, thrive pa rin dahil ganyan tayo bilang mga Bisdak.” Her response made the question seem like a no-brainer.
Another question was directed at Melai, “Kung makakapagsalita ang salamin mo, ano ang masasabi niya tungkol sa’yo?” Melai immediately reacted, “Tinapat mo talaga sa akin.” With her trademark comedic flair, she answered, “Ewan ko sa salamin. Ano bang pakialam ko sa salamin? Pero sa nakakausap ko naman na salamin, sasabihin niya sa akin na ‘Nagpapasalamat na lang ako, Melai, na hindi ako nababasag ‘pag nakaharap ka.’” She then asked the audience if they were satisfied, sending everyone into laughter.
MJ showed more of her wit when asked, “Sabi nila ‘laughter is the best makeup,’ kung totoo ito, ilang layers ang suot mo ngayon?” The beauty queen confidently replied, “Oh, I don’t need any makeup. If laughter is the best makeup, then that’s the only makeup I need. Sabi ko nga kanina, marunong akong makuntento. So with contentment, it brings a lot of joy, a lot of laughter, and I find laughter in everything.” Impressed by MJ’s eloquence, Melai jokingly wrapped up the portion.
For the final part, Melai and MJ had to create titles for themselves and deliver their victory speech. Melai chose “Miss Kuan-omenal,” a wordplay on ‘phenomenal.’ She explained that she is the Miss Phenomenal for her family and loved ones, “Lahat ng request nila, kaya kong gawin basta para sa pagmamahal ko sa kanila.” Her heartfelt answer earned applause from MJ.
MJ crowned herself with the title “Miss Kuan-lity,” a play on the word 'quality.' She explained, “Because I truly believe that, since my whole life, all the experiences, everything that I’ve been through, it’s always the kuan-lity over kuan-tity. The kuan-lity of me as a person, who I am to the people that surround me, to my environment, it’s the kuan-lity of my personality and not the kuan-tity that I accumulate in my life that will matter the most.” Melai was full of praise for MJ, commending her inspiring answers.
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