Comedienne Melai Cantiveros has a message to netizens: "Huwag na kayong over mag-react."
Melai made the remark after she became a trending topic online following an unflattering comment made by her daughter, Mela.
In a video posted by Melai on Instagram Stories, her firstborn Mela was heard joking, "Guys, nagre-refer si Mama ng mga products, beauty products, pero mukha pa rin siyang unggoy."
The video was taken while Melai and her family, including husband Jason Francisco, were at the airport on their way back to Manila from South Korea.
Read: Melai Cantiveros captures in text and photo her family adventures in South Korea
Mela's joke, however, didn't sit well with some people, who called the youngster out for the disparaging words toward her mother.
"Don't allow her to disrespect you Melai," wrote one of Melai's followers.
"JOKE-JOKE LANG YON."
In her recent video posted on Facebook and Instagram, Melai addressed the issue by defending her daughter against detractors.
The video showed Melai and her family back at home with Mela and younger sister Stela unpacking their luggage bags.
Melai asked Mela, "Ate Mela do you mean it, to say your mama is a monkey?"
Mela replied, "Hindi, Mama. I love you naman. Prank lang... joke-joke lang yun."
Addressing netizens, Melai then clarified "Joke-joke lang yun, guys. Sa mga hindi nakakaintindi, ipapaintindi ko sa inyo, ha.
"Joke-joke lang yun, guys. Ganun talaga ang happiness, ang kulitan namin [as] family. We're the kulit family, the most kulit family.
"Pero yang mga bata na yan ang pinakamabait sa lahat dahil pag sinabi ko 'behave,' behave yang mga yan — mga robot na yang mga yan."
Mela and Stella said that they respect Melai as their mother.
"Huwag na kayong sobrang reaction... over mag-react na lang, Tagalog na lang.
"Because alam ninyo minsan i-enjoy dapat ninyo ang life. Huwag yung kahit konting kibot nag-re-react kayo, kasi life is enjoying," Melai advised the public.
"Shine-share nga namin sa into ang life namin pero kayo naman, over naman kayo mag-react
"Kung hindi naman ninyo naiintindihan yung aming happiness, ang aming kulitan, eh 'di wag na lang kayo mag-react ng sobra kasi pangit naman yung iniisip ninyo."
COMING TO MELA'S RESCUE
In her caption (published as is), Melai shared that she had no thought of reacting initially but opted to do so to shield her daughter from negativity.
"Pag anak na ang pag uusapan di pwede guysssssss, kasi bata lang ang anak ko guys," the Pinoy Big Brother 2009 winner wrote.
Continued Melai, "Di ako papayag na kng anu anu sasabihin nyu sa anak ko dahil ako ang dumidisplina sa mga anak ko, kilala ko mga anak ko madasalin mga yan pati mundo pinagdarasal ng mga yan."
Read: Melai Cantiveros, moms reveal various ways to discipline children
Melai said that her kids know when it's time to horse around and turn serious when needed.
"Sa mga seryoso macyado sa role nila sa buhay magstretching dn kayu guys importante ang happiness and enjoyment sa pagsasama nyu sa buhay."