Melai Cantiveros refuses to fix her uneven teeth
Aside from her hilarious antics, Melai Cantiveros is also known for her distinct set of teeth and she's proud of it.
The TV host-comedienne said she had often been offered to fix her uneven teeth but refused them all.
“Ako naman, maraming beses na talaga na may nag-o-offer na yung ngipin ko parang baguhin ko na. Pero as long as hindi naman talaga ito bad breath, talagang ipagpapatuloy ko lang ito. Takot din kasi ako magpa… Pero ito, wala namang sira ito. Talagang different sizes lang talaga ang pagtubo ng ngipin ko: small, medium, and large.”
(I've been offered many times to fix my teeth. But I will maintain this as long as I don't have bad breath. Besides, I am afraid… I don't have tooth decay anyway. It's just that my teeth are uneven: small, medium, large.)
Melai related this to the entertainment press, including GMANetwork.com, during the launch of “Oplan Balik-Ngiti” of Polident at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City last April 2.
While she's confident about it now, Melai admitted that when she was younger, fellow kids used to make fun of her because of her uneven teeth.
“Aminin ko, talagang noong bata ako, nakakaapekto talaga siya [sa confidence ko]. Kasi, talagang niloloko-loko nila ako sa ngipin ko,” she said.
(I admit that when I was a kid, it affected my confidence because they teased me about my teeth.)
But later on, she got used to teasing and learned to accept her teeth.
“Dahil sa panloloko-loko nila, the more na dinahan-dahan kong i-accept, the more na napamahal ako sa sarili ko. Acceptance is the key. Kung ano ang binigay sa 'yo ni Lord, tanggapin mo na lang.”
(Because they were constantly teasing me, I slowly accepted it, the more I loved myself. Acceptance is the key. Accept whatever the Lord gave you.)
Meanwhile, the 36-year-old celebrity said she only became conscious about oral hygiene when she got older.
A native of General Santos City, Melai admitted that growing up, she never visited a dentist regularly.
“Noong hindi pa ako nag-artista, walang dentist-dentist, asin lang ang toothpaste namin dati. Pero ngayon nagkaroon na ng pag-angat ng buhay, nalaman ko na very important pala talaga ang dental hygiene. Kung wala kang ngipin, ano naman ang mangyayari sa 'yo?”
(When I was not yet a celebrity, we didn't go to a dentist, we only used salt as our toothpaste. But now, I've become more aware of the importance of dental hygiene. If you lose all your teeth, what will happen to you?)
This is why she willingly joined Polident's newest campaign called “Oplan Balik-Ngiti” which aims to raise funds to make 1000 dentures for Filipinos in need.
As a celebrity advocate, Melai promised, “Ipangkalat na may ganitong misyon, may ganitong adbokasiya, na huwag mahiya. Tanggalin na yung stigma na para bang kapag may pustiso ka, nahihiya ka. Huwag nang ganun because acceptance is the key. Kapag na-accept mo na 'yan, talagang didire-diretso na ang happy life mo. Babalik na ang ngiti mo, mapapasaya mo ang ibang tao dahil dito sa Oplan Balik Ngiti. Huwag mong ikahiya ang kakulangan sa ngipin mo, bagkus, aksyunan mo.”
(To spread information about this advocacy, to end the stigma about dentures. When you accept it, your life will be happier. You will have your smile back and you have a chance to make other people happy through Oplan Balik Ngiti. Don't be shy about losing some teeth, instead do something about it.)
As for herself, Melain maintained that she won't get a denture yet.
“Kung dumating naman ang panahon na mag-member na ako sa mga bungal, mga walang ngipin, well, gagamitin ko ang chance na pustiso na ito. Proud na proud ako dito. Hindi ako makakaharap sa inyo kung di ako proud,” she ended.
(When the time comes when I become toothless, I will get a denture. I am proud of [my uneven teeth]. I won't be able to face you now if I am not proud.)
