How TV hosting helped Melai heal

Melai Cantiveros walked onto the stage of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Media Congress 2025 as a TV host and celebrity and walked off as an inspiring conference speaker. The country’s beloved “Pambansang KUANtie” was a crowd favorite whose honesty, humor and humility lit up a packed auditorium.

Her session, titled “Melai Mo, Melai Ko, Melai Nating Lahat: Hosting 101 with our Pambansang KUANtie,” was one of the most talked-about sessions at the two-day student congress organized by ABS-CBN in partnership with the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), and the University of Makati.

More than 1,000 students from at least 64 schools nationwide attended the event — now on its 20th year — as ABS-CBN gathered top media professionals to inspire and equip the next generation of communicators.

An unfiltered, unscripted and undeniably heartfelt Melai delivered a talk full of wit, wisdom and punchlines that entertained and resonated with the Gen Z crowd, many of whom are already dabbling in campus hosting.

Leaders of ABS-CBN, PACE and University of Makati pose for a photo at the opening of the Pinoy Media Congress. Early on in the event, ABS-CBN president Carlo Katigbak (center) delivered the opening remarks.

One of the strongest takeaways from her session was the value of empathy and professionalism, even when life gets rough.

“Pag sa work talaga, ang mindset ko ay magbigay saya,” Melai shared. “Kahit may problema ako sa bahay, hindi ko dinadala.”

This mindset has helped her stay through some of her life’s toughest challenges — from working while her mother was undergoing kidney surgery, to hosting “Magandang Buhay” during a six-month separation from her actor-husband, Jason Francisco.

“Nasa ‘Magandang Buhay’ ako noon. Nirespeto nila na hindi ko sasabihin na pinagdaananan ko yun kasi ayaw ko naman siraan ang asawa ko. May mga anak kami. Ayaw ko naman na kahit may problema ako, mag-absent ako. Hindi pwede yun,” she shared.

ABS-CBN executives award a plaque of appreciation to PACE as a partner of the Pinoy Media Congress 2025.

Through it all, she learned the power of emotional control. “Noong time na galit ako sa asawa ko, hindi ko pinili na magsalita. Yung matutunan natin doon ay control. Makokontrol mo ang anger mo. And during that time you’re going through it, may mga guest kami, masasabi ko na mas na-appreciate ko yung show. Thank you Lord na may ganon akong show kasi nao-open ang mind ko na intindihin ko ang asawa ko.”

When asked how she handles low-energy co-hosts, Melai responded, “Sa backstage pa lang, pinapakita ko na ang energy ko. Pero pag hindi niya kaya, ako ang bumababa. Ayokong isipin na nakikipag-compete ako. Tulungan lang kami. Parang nag-aalalayan kami hanggang matapos ang show.”

She also reminded students that good hosting is grounded in good listening. “Nagpapakatotoo ka, nakikinig ka. Di mo namamalayan, nakikipag-banter ka na pala. Kasi na-e-enjoy mo ang usapan.”

‘Pinoy Big Brother’ Gen 11 housemates surprise the conference attendees with a production number.

When a student asked how to deal with backlash from mispronunciations or accents, Melai answered, “Noong bata pa lang ako, sanay na ako pagtawanan sa bahay. Joke joke lang. Training ground pala yun sa tatahakin ko. Ako naman, dinadaan ko sa tawa at kinokorek ko sarili ko.”

Then she added what could easily be a mantra for many aspiring hosts: “Walang masama na ikorek ang sarili. Sino ba ang perfect dito?”

After her talk, one thing was clear. Melai isn’t just a talented host. She is a natural storyteller. And she can thrive in this space.

As ABS-CBN president Carlo Katigbak said during his opening remarks: “Our dream is no longer to be a TV station. Our dream is to be a storyteller that tells our stories to a global audience.”

That afternoon at the University of Makati auditorium, Melai proved that powerful storytelling doesn’t always need a script. Sometimes, all it takes is heart, humor and someone as wonderfully real as Melai.