More than a decade may have passed since she walked out of Bahay ni Kuya as the Big Winner for “Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up” in 2010, but her refreshing authenticity has kept her one of the most beloved housemates to this day. Melai Cantiveros is among PBB's biggest success stories—not just for the career she's built or finding 'the one' inside the house, but because she has never lost the sincerity we all loved about her from day one.
In the debut episode of "Hello Outside World," a new podcast hosted by Bianca Gonzalez and Esnyr Ranollo that reunites PBB alumni for candid conversations about life in the outside world, Melai, joined by Barbie Imperial, reflects on everything that happened after her "PBB" win—and, as this kengkay BisDak typically does, she shares her story with equal parts laughter and lessons.
Why Melai avoids breadwinner burnout
Nothing much has changed for Melai since her housemate era. Sure, there's the physical glow-up, the thriving career, and the financial blessings that came with years in showbiz, but at her core, she's still the same probinsyana who treasures family above everything else.
Asked what has remained exactly the same despite all the success, Melai said it's her relationship with her relatives, especially her cousins. "Same pa rin ‘yung aming bonding-an... walang artista-artista. Walang umangat-angat na mga ganyan na life... So, 'yun ang hindi nagbago sa sa pamilya namin. Hindi ko talaga din binago ang aming choreography sa aming bond," she shared.
"Kasi minsan 'pag labas mo ng PBB tapos marami ka ng mga project, akala nila mayaman ka na agad. Pero, kung ikaw ang may trabaho na gano'n na lifestyle, ila-lifestyle mo rin sa mga pinsan mo, sa mga kapatid mo, 'yun ang hindi ko talaga binago."
She's always willing to help them financially, for instance, in shouldering hospital bills and treating them on trips, but Melai makes sure her relatives stand on their own feet instead of relying on her success.
"Pagdating sa lifestyle, kayo ang maghahanap ng lifestyle n'yo, hindi ako," she pointed, saying even her siblings didn't stop working to provide for their own families as she explained to them that showbiz isn't forever. "Pagdating ng panahon na 'pag wala na ako dito sa showbiz, oh, 'di saan tayong pupulutin lahat?"
Besides, she's aware that breadwinners who carry everyone's burdens eventually reach the point of burnout, which she's intentionally trying to avoid. Melai takes pride in keeping her clan grounded—they may all have their own lives now, but they're still as close as ever, and she wouldn't trade this bond for any material success.
Speaking of family, Melai is blessed that she, husband Jason Francisco, and their daughters Mela and Stela were chosen as honorary ambassadors for family travel to Korea for the Korea Tourism Organization, which she admitted they never saw coming. "Hindi naman kami nag-expect na kami piliin sa Korean Tourism," she enthused. "Basta kami, sobrang happy kami. Thank you so much, Korean Tourism Organization."
Obedience is the key
While inside the house, Melai learned the value of being obedient, which she carries to the outside world until now. Looking back, she realized following Kuya's rules and pieces of advice not only helped her survive nomination weeks, but it influenced the way she approaches the real world too.
"'Di ba grabe tayo maka-obey kay Kuya? 'Yun ang key talaga no'n, 'pag sinunod mo kasi siya, talagang malayo ang mararating mo. Malayo ang pag-stay mo sa loob ng bahay ni Kuya kasi nag-trust ka sa kan'ya, eh,” she reminisced.
"Parang din 'yan ang obedient sa totoong Kuya talaga natin sa buhay, si God, 'di ba? Kapag obedient ka talaga sa mga rules Niya, sa mga tinuturo Niya sa Bible, talagang malayo ang mararating mo at talagang sa langit talaga ang punta mo. Kasi [obedience] is the key."
Finding love in Bahay Ni Kuya
The famous house has also witnessed love stories that actually ended in forever, and there's no better example than the "Inday Kengkay ng General Santos City" herself, who captured the heart of her housemate Jason.
Melai and Jason, aka MelaSon, tied the knot in December 2013, and now they're proud parents to their adorable and talented daughters, Amelia Lucille and Stella Rosalind. For Melai, the secret to keeping their marriage strong through the years is putting God at the center of their relationship. "Kapag ginawa mo talagang sentro si Lord sa relationship mo, ninyong dalawa, everything follows na 'yan. Ako naman, kay Jason, talaga naniwala ako na grabe talaga si Lord."
According to Melai, Jason didn't see himself getting married until he met her. That's why she believes it was God's plan that eventually led them to each other. "Dahil nga hindi niya maiwasan ang plano ni Lord sa kanya, so kahit anong iwas niya ng plano Niya, hindi talaga maiwasan. Ngayon ko na-imagine na, 'Ah kaya pala kami binigay isa't isa kasi mayroon akong natutunan sa kanya, mayroon din siyang natutunan sa akin.' And we all give the best out to each other. So, ang sikreto talaga is si Lord lang talaga," she reflected.
"Hindi ako obsessed kay Jason. At hindi rin siya obsessed sa akin. Ang goal talaga, ma-obsess kami kay Lord kasi Siya ang leader sa aming love triangle."
And it was this faith that carried them through one of the biggest challenges in their marriage. For the first time, Melai revealed that she and Jason broke up and lived separately for six months—without the public knowing.
"Walang nakakaalam kasi nire-respect namin ang isa't isa," she explained that they agreed never to speak badly about one another because, above all else, they will always be parents to their kids. "Hindi kami pwedeng mag-siraan sa isa't isa."
During those six months, they both accepted the possibility that their marriage might really be over. "Dumating 'yung time na kailangan namin magkita kasi parang mga communion na mga mga bata. Pagkita namin, nag-usap lang kami. At talagang na-fell out of love na kami," Melai added. "'Yung talagang wala na kami. Parang nasanay na na wala siya, 6 months eh. Nag-mindset na lang ako na talagang hiwalay na, pero walang nakakaalam. Oh, ‘di ba? Kasi wala pa naman kaming pinirmahan na annulment, so bakit namin ipapaalam?"
Even her PBB co-host Bianca was hearing this story for the first time. However, Melai didn't go into detail about the exact timeline or reason behind the split. Instead, she opted to emphasize the reconciliation part, and how respect helped them fix the problem.
"So, ganu'n na, ngayon nagkita kami, bigla kaming parang nagkita, pero walang lukso ng dugo. Naging mature lang kami sa isa't isa. Sabi ko lang, 'Wala na akong feelings sa'yo.' Sabi niya, 'Wala na rin akong feelings sa'yo.' Talagang parang wala na kaming feelings sa isa't isa."
Melai stressed that there was no blame, no resentment, and no wounded egos involved. But since they wanted the best for their children, they decided to give their love one more chance. "Nag-mature kami, doon ako na happy na, 'Ah, umabot kami sa gano'n.' Doon kami umabot, na-proud ako. Sabi niya, 'Meron ka bang karelasyon?' Sabi ko, 'Wala naman.' Sabi niya, 'O, sige, i-try natin. I-try natin.' Sabi ko rin, 'I-try natin i-work out.' Tutal, kailangan naman talaga… kasi [para] sa mga bata ito, eh. “
As they slowly rebuilt their relationship, Melai said they fell in love with each other all over again—this time even more deeply than before. And surviving that difficult time only strengthen the respect they already had for one another, especially as parents.
"Ngayon sa season of life ko, mahal ko siya because sobrang mahal niya ang anak ko. Kung hindi niya mahal ang anak ko, goodbye na kami. Ganun din si Jason. Mahal niya ako dahil nakikita niya din na sobrang mahal ko sa anak ko," Melai admitted.
Once again, she credited their renewed relationship to their faith. Melai reminds herself to be "more obsessed" with God than with her husband because, in the end, she believes their marriage is safest when God remains at the center of it.
"Para 'pag dumating 'yung time na kung anong mga temptation ibigay sa kanya o mawala man sya ulit sa buhay ko, hindi ako yung parang mamamatay kasi may anak ako eh. And alam din niya sa sarili niya na may Lord ako. So, si Lord na magpo-protect sa akin para hindi siya mapunta sa temptation."
Hello or Goodbye
Towards the end of the episode, the conversation turned more playful as Melai joined the podcast's "Hello or Goodbye" challenge, where she'd say "hello" if she's game for whatever was written on the piece of paper she picked and "goodbye" if it's a hard pass.
First up, she picked "couple tattoos." She's totally down for it—just not name tattoos because she's still superstitious about it (there's an age-old belief that couple name tattoos will curse your relationship).
For the next round, Melai pondered about going back to a life of poverty. She wouldn't wish for it, of course. But she said that if it's God's plan, she'd accept it anyway and find the lesson waiting on the other side.
Solo travel? That's a "goodbye" for Melai, who is afraid of being alone and scared of airplanes. On the other hand, she's perfectly okay with Jason attending reunions as she believes you shouldn't stop your partner from spending time with friends and enjoying moments outside the relationship. In the next round of the game, Melai confessed that she's guilty of stress eating. And her go-to comfort food is anything "tuna" whether it's "kinilaw" or "inun-unan."
Melai took the questions more seriously when she gave becoming a full-time housewife a "hello," saying that while she's grateful for the career she has today, she's always dreamed of becoming a housewife once the offers stop coming.
Catch "Hello Outside World," hosted by Bianca and Esnyr, with fresh episodes every Wednesday, on ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube Channel.
How Melai learns from Mela and Stela, and why she dislikes 'quiet time' with them
Melai keeps it fun and candid as she responds to personal questions
THROWBACK: Melai Cantiveros’ ₱250k win on “Minute to Win It”0
Throwback Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco as Josa and Adonis in “Kokey @ Ako” (2010)