Melai Cantiveros-Francisco gets hilariously real about cosmetic surgery, and why she doesn't want to go under the knife, even in the interest of beauty and facial enhancement.
For the media launch of her upcoming talk show Kuan-on-One on June 25, 2024, Melai was asked by the press regarding her stance on cosmetic enhancements.
"Ako talaga, inofferan na ako ni Dra. Vicki Belo na talaga, yung mukha ko daw maging Kristine Hermosa," she says, causing an uproar of laughter from the guests in attendance.
"Ang bastos niyo ha, tumawa talaga kayong lahat," she jokes.
"Ilong daw—magpa kwan daw ako ng ilong, e sobrang takot ako sa injection. Sobrang takot ako sa mga ganyan ganyan, na baka kung anong ilagay sa ilong ko.
"Ang pinakakinatatakot ko, e, baka hindi ako makahinga."
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MELAI IS CONFIDENT ABOUT HER APPEARANCE
Although Melai never minds being the butt of her jokes and playfully making fun of her looks, she is still her own biggest supporter.
Declining such facial alterations, she reflects: "Talaga, sabi ko, doktora, sorry doktora, hanggang sa, hindi ko naman din...
"Actually, sinasabi ko naman din [panglalait sa sarili], pero pag ako naman sa sarili ko sa salamin, nagagandahan naman ako sa sarili ko."
The celebrity mom jokingly elaborates: "Chinachar-char ko lang naman kasi, kasi naman, ako sa sarili ko, magandahan ako, pero baka naman sa inyo, hindi kayo nagagandahan sa akin.
"So, ayaw ko naman din na pangunahan yung mga utak ninyo."
Feeling secure and empowered in her own skin, she proudly claims, "Okay na ako sa mukha ko e. Nung nakikita ko yung sarili ko sa salamin nung bata pa ako, okay na ako.
"Hindi na ako para pa mag... siguro yung mga pimples na lang, at tsaka yung mga skin rejuvenating.
"Yung kailangan i-kwan ni Dra. Vicki Belo, yung i-e-angel white[ning laser] niya. So, doon ako talaga nagpapaganda tas yung mga whitening."
She reiterates, "Pero yung mga ilong, mga ngipin, [okay na].
"Nagpacheck-up kasi ako sa GAOC [Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center]. Pag check-up ko sa GAOC, sinabi ni... si doc kuan pa talaga ha, si doc Mark Steve pa talaga nag check-up ha...
"Pag-scan ng ngipin ko, naka-ganun lang yung ngipin ko," she describes, making a funny face with her mouth wide open.
"Alam mo sinabi ni doc, sabi niya, ‘further more study.’ So, naisip ko, ‘Hala, mag-eskuwela pa si doc para sa ngipin ko?’
"Hindi para mag-study si doc," Melai adds amusingly. "Kasi yung mga ngipin ko pala tumutubo kung saan-saan tapos different sizes.
"Hindi na ako [pumayag], kasi daw, three years daw akong parang lugaw lang nang lugaw dahil para aayusin daw yung ngipin ko.
"Okay na ako e... okay na ako para makain ko yung pagkain ko."
One of the attendees then points out how Melai's diastema or gapped teeth is similar to Madonna's, the Hollywood Queen of Pop.
In true Melai fashion, she went along with the comment, remarking: "Yes! Pero ipin lang."
"Siyempre doctor na yan, pa-eskuwelahin mo pa ulit [para sa] ngipin ko lang."
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ON OFFENDING PEOPLE WITH JOKES
As a comedian in this woke day and age, Melai was commended for delivering her jokes with sensitivity.
Like in the case of saying she declined cosmetic enhancements out of fear that her doctors might have to go through hours of studying again, the press noted how that would've gone differently had it not been Melai who said it.
They then asked if Melai had ever offended anyone who was at the receiving end of her jokes.
Melai immediately says yes, citing an example from when they filmed Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul in South Korea..
"Doon sa Korea pala nag-shooting kami, tapos yung may-ari ng bahay doon kung san kami nag-shooting, dumating," she recounts.
"Tapos siyempre, hindi ako mukhang artista e, sa kanya sigurong paningin... ang alam ko pa lang na Korean words non annyeonghaseyo [greeting], kamsahamnida [thank you], basta yun, dalawa lang."
Although the homeowner lost his temper, the Magandang Buhay host still proceeded to utter the only words in her South Korean vocabulary, causing him to feel even more upset.
"Kinakalimutan ko lang kasi kinakalimutan ko lang din yung mga offencement ko e," she laughs.
"So, parang baka meron din dito [Philippines], kinakalimutan ko lang din pero marami din yan magagalit sa akin.
"Sorry lang ako. Hindi naman ako yung parang magagalit din. Sorry lang ako."
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