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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider What 'President' Melai Cantiveros-Francisco will do to corrupt officials

What 'President' Melai Cantiveros-Francisco will do to corrupt officials

Published Nov 27, 2025 10:20 am
Kuantie Melai Cantiveros-Francisco is back for four times more ‘chika’ and laughter with all-new guests for season four of ABS-CBN’s hit Bisaya talk show, “Kuan on One” that premiered on Nov. 25. 
Melai Cantiveros-Francisco
Melai Cantiveros-Francisco
The host and comedian expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support of viewers who continue to tune in to the online show that highlights Bisaya culture and features Bisdak personalities from different fields.
"Lahat ng ito ay sa 'kuanizens' na nanonood talaga. Lalo na 'yung mga hindi Bisaya pero nanonood pa rin at umaasa lang sa subtitle. Thank you so much talaga. Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit nandito na tayo sa season four. (All of this is for the 'kuanizens' who are really watching. Especially those who are not Visayan but still watch and rely on the subtitles. Thank you so much indeed. You are the reason why we are here in season four)," said Melai during the show’s mediacon.
She also shared how much she enjoys listening to touching stories from her guests, “Sobra akong excited dahil alam ko talaga na maraming matutuwa at maraming mai-inspire sa ating new set of Bisaya celebrities na-iinterviewhin natin. Madaming revelations. Hinahayaan ko sila kung ano ‘yung gusto nilang ikwento at kung saan sila excited. (I'm so excited because I know that many will be happy and inspired by our new set of Visayan celebrities that we will interview. There will be many revelations. I let them tell me what they want to tell and where they are excited)," she added.
For the pilot episode of the brand new season, Melai has a fun chat with Beauty Gonzalez, where the actress reflects on her career and personal life. Viewers should also watch out for the lineup of guests led by Matteo Guidicelli, AZ Martinez, and more. 
During the recent media conference at ABS-CBN, Melai shared her thoughts on the corruption issues that rock the country.
"Wala talagang matutuwa sa mga nangyayaring corruption. Lahat tayo nanggigigil at kumukulo ang dugo. Kung pwede lang maging wild tayo. Pero hindi naman natin alam saan tayo magwa-wild. (No one is happy about the corruption that is happening. We are all shivering, and our blood is boiling. If only we could go wild. But we don't know where we will go wild.)"
'Kuan On One' official poster
'Kuan On One' official poster
"Sa mga pinapanood natin hindi na natin alam talaga ang nangyayari. Pero mahuhulog pa rin ako sa prayers. Lord, ikaw ang nakaka-alam ng lahat. (With what we're watching, we don't really know what's happening. But I'll still fall into prayers. Lord, you know everything.)"
"Ikaw ang nagsasabi kung sino ang tama at ang nagsasabi ng totoo. So Lord, can we give it up to you? Hindi na natin alam kung sino ang totoo or mali. Kung ano ang fake news. Kesa naman isipin natin ang mga yan. Ako nilalaan ko na lang sa prayers. I will support yung mga bagay na dapat support para malabanan ang corruption na ito. (You are the one who can say who is right and who is telling the truth. We no longer know who is right or wrong. What is fake news? Let's not think about those things. I will dedicate myself to prayer. I will support the things that should be supported to fight this corruption)," said Melai.

Given a hypothetical question about what she would do to corrupt officials if she were president, Melai said she would send them to jail.

"Ipapa-imbestigahan ko sila sa DOJ (Department of Justice). Kapag may problema, kulong. Bakit pa natin patatagalin? Kung ako ang presidente ng Pilipinas, bawal ang political dynasty at mga kamag-anak para mabigyan ang iba ng chance na mamuno sa Pilipinas. Para mapag-isipan nila kung ano ang ginawa nila. Kung napagsisihan na nila, set free. (I will have them investigated by the DOJ. If there is a problem, lock them up. Why

should we prolong it? If I were the president of the Philippines, political dynasties and relatives would be banned so that others could be given a chance to rule the Philippines. So that they can think about what they did. If they have repented, set them free.)," she added.

Melai, 37, said she never intended to run for any political office.

"May mga biruan noon na tumakbo raw ako pero hindi ako seryoso doon. (There have been jokes for me to run for public office, but it was never serious)," she added.

Laugh out loud and hear inspiring stories from Bisaya personalities with new episodes of “Kuan on One” every Tuesday on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel and on iWant. 

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