Mama Melai on raising kids

MANILA, Philippines — Melai Cantiveros, who initially did not see herself in a hosting job, feels blessed that she has a regular show. That’s why she enjoys every moment as one of the hosts of ABS-CBN’s Magandang Buhay, which is now on its third year. She said, “I am happy with whatever He gives me because I trust His plans for me.”

Melai said she knows her limitations so as much as possible she takes only one show at a time.

“I want to focus on Magandang Buhay to give my full energy to the show. But I think I’m only ready once my younger child, Stella, can be left on her own already.”

So Melai devotes her free time taking care of her and husband Jason Francisco’s two little girls — Amelia (or Mela), four; and Stella, one. Despite being busy with shows from the opposite networks, Melai and Jason (in GMA 7) are hands-on parents.

Asked how she is as a mom, Melai replied, “I am not a perfect mother but I do my best to be a good mom to my children. May pagka-chill ako but I can be strict. And I always ask my mom if I am raising my kids properly because it is quite challenging to raise two girls. But this is what I love to do.”

She and Jason are not a perfect couple, “But we provide our children what we think is best for them — a happy home and environment — so they grow up happy. As parents, we set a good example for them, like being respectful, open to communication and pagiging masayahin namin lagi.”

Just like other parents, Melai believes that for her children to grow up happy and healthy, she has to give them proper nutrition. She did trust her instincts in choosing the right milk for Mela and found it in Nestokid Four.

She agrees that raising happy and healthy children starts with something as simple as choosing the right milk. Unlike other brands, Nestokid Four is specially formulated with L Comfortis, a probiotic that helps strengthen tummies to provide better digestion and absorption of nutrients, making sure that kids get the nutrition they need during their growing-up years.

“I’m thankful to Nestokid and to Nestlé for tapping me to be their newest endorser. I really appreciate this.”

At the Nestokid Four Grow Happy Nation held at Robinsons Place Manila’s Midtown Atrium, Melai and daughter Mela headlined the fun activities and the learning opportunities for both parents and kids.

Asked how many kids she and Jason are planning to have?

“I want five kids,” Melai replied. “We have plans but not until I turn 35 because it’s not easy to give birth. Kung mag-anak ako nang mag-anak and I could not take care of them, kawawa naman yung mga anak ko. For now, I will attend first to the needs of my two kids.”

(Nestokid Four Grow Happy Nation holds its second and last leg until today at the SM City Dasmariñas, Cavite. To join, parents and their kids can enter the activity area and learn more about how they can grow happy through four major stations: play, art, music and nutrition. Participants get a chance to also win a one-year supply of Nestokid Four when they post photos from inside the activity area using the hashtags #GrowHappy and #Nestokid. For details, check out www.facebook.com/Nestokidph.)