Pokwang denies competition with Melai Cantiveros

Maureen Marie Belmonte

<div><img src='' alt='022516-pokwang_main.jpg' width='400' height='290' align='left' border='0'>After Nathaniel, Pokwang is finally coming back on primetime through the feel good serye <i>We Will Survive</i>.</div><div><br/></div><div>The show about four girl friends has Pokwang starring with actresses Melai Cantiveros, Bea Saw, and Regine Angeles.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Okay lang ba sayo na makatrabaho si</i> Melai? <i>Sabi ko </i>‘Sure <i>na ba ‘yan</i>? <i>Kasi ang tagal tagal ko ng gustong makatrabaho si </i>Melai,” Pokwang shared during the show’s press conference when asked how she felt about working with Melai.</div><div><br/></div><div>However, even prior to their first soap comedy soap pairing, Melai and Pokwang, as comediennes, were being pitted against each other.</div><div><br/></div><div>Now that they are finally working on a soap that would involve them both unleashing their comedic prowess, the two quashed the said rivalry issue.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Guni-guni lang talaga nila ‘yon. Kasi wala talaga kaming</i> rivalry <i>ni Ate</i> Pokwang. <i>Unang-una talaga</i> idol <i>ko kasi si Ate</i> Pokie <i>kasi siya ang nagsimula ng mga ganitong mukha. Kung wala si Ate</i> Pokie <i>wala kami dito nila</i> Kiray,” Melai started in jest.</div><div><br/></div><div>Turning serious, Melai revealed that she owes a lot to her “Ate Pokie” especially when she was still starting in the business.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Sobra akong pagka-thank you talaga kay Ate</i> Pokie. <i>Kaya mahiya ako kay Ate </i>Pokie <i>sa mga</i> rivalry <i>na ‘yan kasi siya ang inaaway. Tsaka si Ate </i>Pokie <i>talaga</i>, <i>Ate talaga ang turing ko sakanya</i>. <i>Happy Yipee Yehey</i> palang <i>tapos Banana Split tinutulungan niya talaga ako sa mga</i> outfit <i>tsaka sa</i> make up. <i>Talagang Ate-Ate siya sa akin kaya nahihiya ako talaga kapag inaaway siya</i>,” she said.</div><div><br/></div><div>She even stressed that they have been friends for a while now.</div><div><br/></div><div>Both Melai and Pokwang hail from reality competitions. Melai won Pinoy Big Brother Double Up in 2009 while Pokwang emerged as the winner of stand-up comedy contest Clown in a Million in 2004. </div><div><br/></div><div>To this Pokwang responded, “<i>Wala natawa nalang ako kasi nakita ko naman si</i> Melai, <i>napaka</i>-genuine, <i>napakabait na tao. Tsaka sabi ko bakit kailangan pagpapatulan ang mga ganyang bagay eh iisang</i> network <i>tayo, mag-Kapamilya tayo so dapat tulungan tayo</i>.”</div><div><br/></div><div>The actress even reiterated what the late Comedy King Dolphy used to say.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Kagaya ng paulit-ulit na sinasabi ni </i>Mang Dolphy <i>noong nabubuhay pa siya, ‘Magtulungan kayong mga komedyante</i>!’” she said. </div><div><br/></div><div>As proof of their good relationship, Pokwang even revealed that she was with Melai and her husband Jason Francisco during a trying time in their marriage.</div><div><br/></div><div>“In fact,<i> na</i>-survive <i>nga namin ‘yung muntik na silang mag-break ni</i> Jason. <i>Nandoon sila sa bahay ko nagsusumbong sa akin. ‘Umamin ka</i>!’” she ended.</div><div><br/></div><div>Catch Melai and Pokwang’s first comedy soap together titled <i>We Will Survive</i> starting on February 29 before <i>TV Patrol</i>.</div><div><br/></div>

Pokwang reveals that she was even with Melai Cantiveros during a trying time in the latter’s marriage.

Pokwang denies competition with Melai Cantiveros | PUSH.COM.PH