Grace Libero

She Talks Asia Summit 2026: Melai Cantiveros Francisco

Article (news)

<div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774041260249STA_DRE4218.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Melai Cantiveros Francisco</div><div> </div>Make way for the Bisdak Queen and the Bisaya Renaissance Woman.Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Big Winner, actress, comedian, host, and social media superstar Melai Cantiveros-Francsico showcased her charm, wit, humor, and infectious energy at the recently held SheTalks Asia Summit 2026.Conceptualizing the theme, topic, and featured speakers at the event, which included Melai this year, is something that SheTalks Asia co-founder Lynn Pinugu looks forward to each time, working alongside Bianca Gonzalez and Iza Calzado.“For me, it&#x27;s always the energy that goes behind the scenes and just everyone with the team throwing ideas about what topics that we need to discuss,” Lynn says.Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, with the theme “Better Together,“ Lynn shared her favorite moments about the summit.“Every year, we do a prayer before going on stage, and then after, we do this really tight hug, and that&#x27;s always captured on camera. But really for us, it&#x27;s always so natural to have that overwhelming gratitude for the chance to be able to connect and to be part of a community that&#x27;s so warm, and that really celebrates every woman,” she added.This year, to celebrate not just being a woman but also communities, the SheTalks Asia team tapped Melai as the finale guest for the summit with the segment entitled “Embracing the Bisaya Advantage.”<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774040881003STA_15.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Melai alongside She Talks Asia Summit founders Iza Calzado, Bianca Gonzalez, and Lynn Pinugu</div><div> </div>Metro.Style asked how she felt when she first learned she was going to be part of the She Talks Asia Summit 2026, and Melai got candid.“First of all, na-happy ako kasi si Ate B (Bianca Gonzalez-Intal) is a very close friend of mine. So, alam ko talaga na dito siya sa She Talks Asia, pero baka kasi ang worry ko talaga is baka maging ‘She Toxic Siya!’ (laughs),” she joked.“I&#x27;m so honored, I&#x27;m so happy, and I&#x27;m nervous as well,” Melai said, turning serious in that moment.She’s come a long way from her PBB experience and evolved into a valuable ABS-CBN talent. The Bisaya housemate that the public can easily relate to not only made a mark as a funny entertainer onscreen but also carved her position as a skilled host and conversationalist for the morning show Magandang Buhay and in her solo Bisaya-focused talk show Kuan On One. Her versatility may have come as a surprise to some, but Melai shared that she’s been hosting birthday parties in General Santos (GenSan) with a professional fee of P200 even before her PBB journey.“Hindi ko inisip na magiging host ako. Pero dahil nasa showbiz ako, ang nag-influence talaga sa akin at ang galing pa rin niyang mag-host ay si Ms. Kris Aquino. Siya ang pinaka-first na nag-influence sa akin through KrisTV,” she narrated.“In present times, ang pinaka-inspiration ko ay si Ate B (Bianca). Ate B is such a wonderful, amazing host talaga and nagbibigay ng calm sa amin in the thunderstorm of PBB. Ang focused niya and mahahawa ka sa focus niya,” Melai said.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774041460832STA_DRE4416.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div>In her entire career, Melai is just thankful that while she may have been advised to tone down being “OA,” the entertainment industry embraced her, and no one asked her to hide her Visayan accent. She was just given the freedom to be her natural self—this energetic woman with GenSan roots.Beyond the glitz of lights and camera and the overwhelming following on social media, Melai lives by a simple but powerful piece of advice from her grandmother, Antonia. Lola Antonia taught her the importance of faith and the danger of being overly &quot;greedy&quot; for more. As a young girl, Melai would buy all the candies and snacks she wanted after getting Christmas money at the nearby sari-sari store in GenSan, but her Lola Antonia reminded her of something important.&quot;Malaking impact talaga sa buhay ko is iyong advice ng Lola ko. Sabi niya, isa-isa lang daw [bilhin] para ma-appreciate mo ‘yung bagay na kung ano&#x27;ng meron ka,&quot; Melai recalled.This lesson has become a guiding principle for her in the mad and fickle world of showbiz. &quot;Ngayon na nandito ako sa showbiz, na-realize ko na, oo nga pala! Huwag mong pagsabay-sabayin ang mga gusto mo. Bakit? Hindi mo na ma-a-appreciate kung ano talagang gusto mo at meron ka,&quot; she explained. <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774041636072STA_14.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"> </div>She emphasized that while it’s okay to have dreams, one must &quot;take time, because everything, may time naman ‘yan lahat.”Owing to her successful career pivot as a talk show host, Metro.Style asked Melai who she thought she would most likely interview. She readily replied that her dream interviewee would be ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast, Cory Vidanes. For Melai, the female executive appears to be “low-key,” but her powerful leadership and contributions have kept the network thriving despite immense challenges.“Sir Carlo [Katigbak] is an amazing president of ours and an amazing boss. But if you talk about a woman, Ma’am Cory is amazing. Siya ang nasa likod ng mga successful sa ABS at kung bakit hanggang ngayon nandito pa rin kaming mga Kapamilya. Gusto ko siyang ma-interview kung paano niya nakakayanan iyong pressure at iyong hamon sa ABS-CBN despite na wala na kaming channel [franchise],” Melai remarked.While the actress-TV host acknowledged that the interview might transpire only in her dreams because their boss is a private person, Melai’s respect for the amazing TV executive remains clear and strong. Who knows? One day, we will see this Bisdak Queen achieve her dreams and surprise the viewers with a one-on-one, woman-to-woman interview with Cory Vidanes and prove once more that there’s nothing a Visayan woman with strong resolve can’t do.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774041854349STA_DRE4213.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"> </div>Photos courtesy of She Talks Asia Summit

At the SheTalks Asia Summit 2026, "Pinoy Big Brother" Big Winner Melai Cantiveros-Francsico showed why she's the inspiring Bisaya Renaissance Woman, who's like a breath of fresh air in the era of authenticity—"embracing the Bisaya advantage."

At the SheTalks Asia Summit 2026, "Pinoy Big Brother" Big Winner Melai Cantiveros-Francsico showed why she's the inspiring Bisaya Renaissance Woman, who's like a breath of fresh air in the era of authenticity—"embracing the Bisaya advantage."

She Talks Asia Summit 2026: Melai Cantiveros on Hosting, Her Dream Interviewee, and the Best Advice She Received

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

People

She Talks Asia Summit 2026: Melai Cantiveros on Hosting, Her Dream Interviewee, and the Best Advice She Received

Grace Diez

Published March 21, 2026 05:35 AM PHT

Read More:

People

Melai Cantiveros Francisco

She Talks Asia Summit 2026

Women's Month

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.