Manila Bulletin

MelaSon: 10 years and counting

- By REGINA MAE PARUNGAO

Melai Cantiveros and husband Jason Francisco are celebratin­g their 10th anniversar­y and they couldn’t help but get emotional over it.

In an episode of “Magandang Buhay,” Melai thanked Jason for being their family’s “security guard.”

“Papang, thank you so much for always being there sa ating family. Ikaw talaga ang nagnu-neutralize sa akin kasi iba ang pagkatao ko, talagang outgoing ako at ikaw ’yung nagdidisip­lina sa akin para maging seryoso sa buhay. Ikaw ang aking security guard at ikaw ang aking pride,” she said.

Jason admitted he still wonders why they ended up together despite their obvious difference­s.

“Ikaw, napakakuli­t; ako sa totoong buhay ayaw ko ng makulit, gusto ko tahimik lang. Iniisip ko na lang, hindi tayo pagtatagpu­in kung walang dahilan at walang rason,” he said.

“Sabi ko nga talagang araw-araw ilaban. Lalo na tayo artista, ang hirap, lahat pinapansin. May iba’t-ibang interpreta­syon ang tao. Sila hindi naman natin sila kasama sa bahay,” he added. “Kaya tama ’yung mindset, kasi kapag inisip mo na hindi kayo maghihiwal­ay, hindi naman talaga, hindi ba? Kaya huwag kang mag-alala. Hindi na ’yon mauulit ulit. Basta lang makinig ka. Hindi ba ’yun lang naman. Lagi niyong isipin kayo pati si Nanay (Virgie) mahal na mahal ko kayo.”

Melai and Jason’s love story started inside the “Pinoy Big Brother” house in 2009.

After the reality show, the two unfortunat­ely broke up due to “immaturity” and “jealousy.”

But love wins for them as they eventually got back in each other’s arms.

Melai and Jason, dubbed as MelaSon, got married in 2013. They have two daughters, Amelia Lucille and Stela Rosalind.

Like any other relationsh­ip, theirs isn’t perfect.

“Marami pala kaming pagkakaiba na akala namin ay iisa lang ang aming kagustuhan sa buhay. Noong nasa loob kami ng ‘PBB’ ay iisa ang aming pananaw. Pero noong nagkasama na kami, ibang-iba. Kaya ’yon hindi kami nagkakasun­do sa ibang bagay,” Jason said.

“At saka kapag nag-aaway kami, talagang bulyawan. Sa text kami (nag-aaway). Hindi kami naguusap kasi ayaw naming ipakita sa anak namin. Sagutan kami, ’yung walang nagpapakum­baba sa amin. Bongga ’yung sasabihin niyang kasira-sira, bongga rin ako ‘ito ang sa iyo.’ Kumbaga nandoon pa kami sa pagkikilan­lan, hindi pa namin alam kung ano ba talaga ang relasyon, hindi namin alam ang purpose namin, basta ang alam namin ay nag-asawa kami kasi alam namin mahal na mahal namin ang isa ’ t-isa,” Melai said.

If there’s one lesson they learned from all those challenges, that is to always maintain open communicat­ion lines.

 ??  ?? JASON FRANCISCO and Melai Cantiveros with their daughters (Instagram)
JASON FRANCISCO and Melai Cantiveros with their daughters (Instagram)

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