Why Jay Manalo doesn’t want his kids to join showbiz

When Vietnam-born Jay Manalo was drafted for the US Navy in 1992, he was only 17 then and was given the chance to see the world.

“January 30, birthday ko noon,” Jay recalled. “But the ship left me in Subic. For many months, I cried because of that. It took me a long time to apply in the US Navy. Then, I was drafted.”

Apparently, that was not God’s plan for someone whom he has blessed with immense talent. In 1994, Jay pursued an acting career and made his big screen debut in director Deo Fajardo’s Brat Pack. He was subsequently launched as a lead actor in Tata Esteban’s sensual drama, Gayuma (1995), where he starred with Amanda Page, Maritoni Fernandez and Julio Diaz.

In 1997, Jay tried action-comedy when he played the title role in Abbo dela Cruz’s Totoy Mola, a character strongly associated with him through the years.

However, even after he was given his launching vehicle, Jay still didn’t take his career seriously. Basketball was also his major passion then.

“There were times I would exchange my taping or shooting schedule for basketball,” he disclosed. “I really wanted to play at that time.”

As fate would have it, Jay met an accident while playing basketball. “My knee was injured,” he shared. “Maybe that accident was a wake-up call to me. The Lord wanted to teach me a lesson. He somewhat told me, ‘You should choose only one career. Magka-kontra ang basketball at acting. Sa basketball hindi ka pwedeng magpuyat. Sa pag-aartista, puro ka puyat. Mamili ka na lang sa dalawa.’ That opened my mind. Then, I decided. I never thought that I would still end up in showbiz.”

In 2001, Jay won the FAMAS Best Actor trophy for Francis “Jun” Posadas’ Bayaran, where he played a hired killer.

After nearly three decades in showbiz, Jay no longer pines for a dream role at this stage in his acting career. He recently signed up a management contract with Viva Artists Agency (VAA), renewing his bond with the company which first managed him in 1994.

“I only want to work,” Jay said. “I want to enhance the character or improvise the role. I always make an extra effort every time gagawa ako ng pelikula para lalo kong mapaganda ang character.”

Although he has made his mark as a versatile actor, Jay admittedly came to a point in his career where he nearly packed his bags and opted to go abroad with his family. The actor has been happily married for two decades now with Anna Raizza Austra, with whom he has five children.

“Kaya lang every time we planned to leave, may nangyayari,” Jay disclosed. “Naging preggy ulit ang wife ko. Mahirap siya mag-biyahe. Then, na-realize ko, dito talaga ako nilalagay. So I decided to just focus sa career ko.”

His wife, Raizza, acts as his unofficial “manager,” who consistently follows up on his schedules and reminds him about his appointments for the day.

“Alam naman ng wife ko kapag trabaho,” Jay offered. “She never disturbs or distracts me. After that, I’m a family man again. Simpleng tao na ulit.”

Jay doesn’t choose his co-stars or even his leading ladies in a film or TV project. “Ever since, kahit sino ang i-partner mo sa akin, hindi ako namimili,” Jay explained. “Kahit bago, kahit beterano, basta para sa akin, kahit ano ang role, gagawin ko.”

“Kahit bigyan rin nila ako ng right kung sino ang gusto kong leading lady or co-star, sa producer or director ko pa rin ipinapa-ubaya kung sino ang bagay sa akin,” he continued. “Basta makakatulong at ma-execute ang characters namin.”

Jay refuses to allow any of his children to embark on a showbiz career. “I don’t want them to be de-focused sa studies nila once makatikim ng either fame or fortune,” he said. “Especially if you start them at a young age.

“I don’t want that to happen to any of my kids,” he added. “That’s why I never encouraged them to join showbiz. I will continue my obligations to them. Even to my wife. Maging mabuting asawa at pamilyadong tao ako.”

Even before the pandemic happened, Jay realized the importance of being close to his family. “Hindi na kailangan mag-pandemic, na-realize ko na ang importance ng family ko matagal na.”