Netizens hilariously brand Mel Tiangco as 'first Pinay on Mars' after she reported on Mars mission

Netizens just can't get enough of Tita Mel!

On "24 Oras," Monday, GMA News pillar Mel Tiangco introduced the segment about the historic Mars landing of Perseverance and the Filipino-American engineers who helped make it happen.

As Mel reported on the side, the studio was realistically transformed into the Red Planet and an animated rover quickly swooped in.

Mel soon trended online after numerous netizens were impressed with the visuals. Many tweeted their hilarious takes on the scene and even labeled Mel as the "first Pinay on Mars."

One netizen even congratulated Mel and said, "Congrats po, Tita Mel, as kauna-unahang Pinay sa Mars #proudpinoy."

When 24 Oras flexes their AR graphics, it's definitely meme-worthy.

Here's Mel Tiangco anchoring live from Mars. ???? pic.twitter.com/WidE1oieRQ

— Januar Junior Aguja (@JayrWritesJourn) February 22, 2021

congrats po tita mel as kauna-unahang pinay sa mars ???? #proudpinoy pic.twitter.com/IiA26LjnuS

— russ (@russelldaviiid) February 23, 2021

ngayon, bukas at magpakailanMARS

Mel Tiangco lang sakalam pic.twitter.com/TmpipWoyAL

— JJ (@_joycerist) February 22, 2021

Galing ng Pilipino! First man on Mars si Ma'am Mel Tiangco!?????? @24OrasGMA pic.twitter.com/PLfAI3Qx7U

— ?????? (@jhayz09) February 22, 2021

This isn't the first time Tita Mel went viral after reporting with state-of-the-art graphics. Early in February, she was named as "Mother of Dragons" after an animated dragon visited the studio for Chinese New Year.

When the Taal Volcano erupted last year, Mel also became a trending topic after the "24 Oras" set transformed into the Taal Lake, with the volcano right beside the anchor.

Many people found it hilarious and said they were concerned that Tita Mel was "stranded."

It turns out that Tita Mel isn't the "first Filipino on Mars," however. Pia Arcangel and Arnold Clavio apparently beat her to the Red Planet in last week's "Saksi."

—Kaela Malig/MGP, GMA News