The tradition of being a calendar girl in the Philippines has often garnered praise and excitement from audiences, as women often show a different side to their celebrity image. However, comedienne-actress Melai Cantiveros said otherwise.
For her 37th birthday bash photoshoot, the actress shared an Instagram carousel on Sunday, April 6, channeling her inner calendar girl–empowered, confident, playful, and humorously drunk with tuba (Filipino coconut wine).
“Akala niyo @bernardokath and @ivanaalawi kayo lang magaling sa ganito na posing????????” the actress-comedienne wrote in her caption.
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Melai’s Tuba Chronicles began with a full calendar-like photo. She posed, donning a white fabric draped over the tuba bottle beside her. Two quick slides later, Melai unleashed her playfulness, perhaps with all the help from the tuba.
“Tama ang akala niyo kayo lang talaga kasi pangit ng kalabasan ko dito hahahaha. This is my Birthday Bash Post, totoong bash talaga makukuha ko dito,” she wrote.
“Pero shout out jan sa mga Kuantie and mga Momshie na ready ang Tuba at Bahalina sa Bday na may kasamang chismisan pa. The Best. Happy Bday To Me, #AprilFoolsBdayToMe #TubaChronicles,” she added.
She thanked all her followers who fell for her pictorial as a calendar girl. She added, “Pagbigyan niyo na ako birthday ko naman. Promise ‘di na to mauulit.”
In a separate post, the actress shared a video of her Tuba Chronicles, featuring iconic karaoke songs from the late 1990s to early 2000s.
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Meanwhile, her friends and fellow celebrities expressed their delight and excitement for Melai’s surprise birthday shoot post.
The actress-model Ivana Alawi wrote, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! WALA NA TINAPOS MO NA LANG LABAN.”
The actor John Arcilla praised Melai’s humor and described her as unique.
“Nak, wala ka talagang kapantay. Maluha luha ako hagalpak sa kakatawang mga isa sa post mong ito. Nalasing sa tuba hanggang masuka talagang full coverage ang kalendaryo mo. Unique! Ikaw lang at ikaw na!” he wrote.
It was also a YES for fellow comedienne-actress Eugene Domingo, describing the shoot as the best.
“Ahahahahhaa da best!!! It’s a YES!!!!” she wrote.
Meanwhile, a fan challenged photographer BJ Pascual, stating, “patunayan mo samin galing mo pag si mamshie melai ang nasa sexy shoot! Hahaha.”
To the fans' delight, the photographer replied, “Challenge accepted! Haahha @mrandmrsfrancisco!”
