Goodbye, Lucky, Hello VJ Luis Manzano
February 22, 2003 | 12:00am
MYX, the number one music channel of the Philippines, has just added Luis Manzano to its exciting team of video jocks. Say goodbye and I love you to Lucky, and yell hello to MYX’s VJ Luis! The son of celebrities Vilma Santos and Edu Manzano, he can be seen starting today on MYX, your choice, your music. Luis joins VJs Heart Evangelista, Franco Mabanta and Ala Paredes.
He hosts the widely popular Urban MYX, where the best tracks in R, rap and hip-hop are featured like Usher Raymond, Nelly and Craig David. He will alternate with other MYX jocks in hosting Pop MYX, featuring the latest music videos from local and foreign artists Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne, Parokya ni Edgar and Regine Velasquez.
With his impeccable looks, wit, eloquence, attitude and just the right amount of zaniness, Luis is the perfect embodiment of the Filipino youth and an ideal spokesperson for the MYX generation.
You don’t have to wait for the monthly magazine covers for a glimpse of Luis. He can be seen every day, dishing out all your favorite music videos on MYX, available on SkyCable Channel 19, Home Cable Channel 40, as well as on UHF Channel Studio 23 and other leading cable systems in the Philippines.
Luis has finally come out of the shadows of his father  actor, TV host and former Makati vice-mayor Edu  and mom, star for all seasons and Lipa mayor Ate Vi.
For the longest time, people wondered what Lucky, er, Luis looked like. Since he was a baby, his parents effectively shielded him from all the showbiz brouhaha so he managed to live a pretty normal childhood.
When he came of age, Luis could no longer deny his showbiz genes. He started to appear in fashion shows, magazine covers and last year, he was voted one of the sexiest bachelors by Cosmopolitan Philippines.
At a MXY-sponsored lunch at Annabel’s on Tomas Morato, Q.C., Luis Manzano was formally introduced to the press. Towering at 5’10 1/2", he quickly filled the room with his presence. Looking like his mom and moving like his dad, he was awfully good-looking in a black round-neck shirt, khaki pants and Adidas classics. He was a little late and was profuse with his apologies. He was also very polite and answered questions with the traditional "po" and "opo."
And to think I expected a snooty, stuck-up guy with a prima donna attitude. He was the exact opposite. It was then that I realized that Luis is not the usual son of celebrity parents.
MYX’s newest VJ, Luis, is out to make an indelible mark in showbiz. Here are excerpts from The STAR interview:
Young STAR: How was your first day as MYX VJ?
Luis Manzano: It was fun! I had pictorials, I did some episodes, plug-ins and teasers. I forgot my lines, which was of course, part of the job. But all in all, I enjoyed it.
Will you be able to bring in your ideas to MYX?
I think so. Ganoon naman talaga ang MYX eh, that’s why it’s perfect. They’re open to suggestions. If you can’t voice your suggestions or comments at least, I don’t think that’s a healthy working environment. It’s best to have communication.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Mostly R and trance.
What CD are you listening to in your car?
Usher. Definitely Usher.
Do you sing?
I wish. Naawa naman ako sa MYX baka malugi sila if I sing. Sabi nga ni Mommy, namana ko ang dancing niya. But singing? Walang-wala talaga. Kahit gustuhin ko, mahirap iyon. There was one time I was called to do a beauty contest. Akala ko host ako, mag-serenade pala! Sabi ko, baka malugi yung network niyo nang di oras!
How was Valentine’s Day?
Lonely. I stayed at home. Single, eh. Traffic was bad.
Did you take someone out?
Nope. Stayed at home. Mahirap na, baka kung ano ang isipin ng tao. Valentine’s should be spent with a special person. Hindi kung sinu-sino lang. Since wala pa naman...
Is it true you asked Kristine Hermosa out for V-Day?
Dinalaw ko siya sa taping, I asked her until when ang taping. She said Feb. 14. I texted her on Valentine’s: "Sayang, I was gonna ask you out sana, but I know that you have work."
Nevertheless, you took her out  to the grocery! Is this true?
At PriceSmart, Alabang.
But you live in QC!
Talagang umaabot ako doon para mag-grocery (chuckles). Malapit lang naman. On the way siya, kaya dinaanan ko na. May skyway naman. Ang problema lang, mas mahal pa yung pang-gas kaysa sa grocery.
How long were you there?
Sandali lang. I had a birthday party afterwards. Pagpunta ko doon, tinulungan ko lang sila magbuhat ng groceries.
Are you courting Kristine?
Well, I’m interested in getting to know her better. Although, hindi ko pa siya nililigawan. Safe ’no? (laughs)
Would you consider courting someone who’s already involved?
Definitely not. I would not want that to happen to me. There’s nothing wrong with admiring someone who has a boyfriend. It’s different when you start to have serious intentions.
Why enter showbiz now?
Ever since I was a kid pa, there were offers for me to do commercials and movies. Ever since, my dad’s stand had always been "No." Priority niya ang pag-aaral ko. Nagulat na lang ako pumayag na siya ngayon. Siguro dahil 21 na ako. Gurang na daw ako. (Laughs) Natanggap na din siguro ni Daddy na amoy mama na ako.
Why did you decide to sign up with ABS-CBN, not with GMA?
First of all, my family’s with ABS-CBN na. And of course, they had MYX. I wanted to be a VJ. I thought it would be a blast!
Why MYX? Why not acting?
I like to host. It’s very light, nalalabas ko ang kakulitan ko, my natural zany self na hindi pa nakikita ng tao. What I really like is the spontaneity, the unpredictability. With acting, I can only do light roles. I don’t know how to cry on cue. Well, I can’t at the moment. I can’t do soaps or heavy drama. Baka maiyak ang audience sa acting ko.
What’s your contract with MYX? A year?
Half-a-year.
What can viewers expect from you and vice-versa?
I hope I can make viewers smile or laugh, make their mothers scream or cry, I don’t know. They can expect humor and zaniness. They can expect me to be makulit, even obnoxiously makulit, but not stupid.
Who’s your favorite VJ?
Each and everyone has a different style, and I think it depends kung saan mo kinukuha yung technique mo.
Do you have a special segment?
I don’t think so. Ako lang papasok sa segments nila.
How much interaction do you have with the audience?
It’s typical VJ work. The audience will text in comments, write letters. I may go to different places, meet different people.
How will this affect school? (Luis is a student of Hotel and Restaurant Management of De La Salle-St. Benilde.)
I only tape on days without school  Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Why HRM?
Lahat ng Pilipino mahilig kumain. Once makuha mo yung target market, once makuha mo ang tamang kiliti ng Filipino, malaki ang kita. It’s a very lucrative business. But I don’t want to focus on the hotel and restaurant business. After I graduate (next year), I plan to take a summer course in Harvard  either Economics or Finance.
Do you read?
Well, I make it a point to read the newspapers everyday. I like reading Time magazine, books on nutrition, the paranormal. Unfortunately, I don’t read novels or biographies. They’re too long for me.
Do you cook?
Yup. I’d cook for a lady. But I don’t cook all the time. But if my mom wants me to cook her favorite dish, gagawin ko.
So you’d carry groceries for a lady and even cook for her?
I’m a hopeless romantic. Let’s leave it at that. (Flashes his widest smile)
What’s your favorite dish?
That I cook? Garlic prawns with lemon butter sauce.
How do you feel about having celebrity parents?
I don’t really look at it in that respect, na daddy ko si Edu Manzano at mommy ko si Vilma Santos. Gusto ko isipin that I’m the son of Edu, a loving father, and Vilma, an equally loving mom.
How did you survive a celebrity childhood?
They are not celebrities, they are my parents. And they made sure na ganoon din ang tingin nila sa akin. They didn’t brainwash me into thinking that we can get away with everything. And if I wanted something, I had to work hard for it. They taught me the basics, and not to get a free ride on status.
Did you ever give them problems?
Lahat naman yata dumadaan sa phase na yun, eh. Whether it’s school, friends or something else. Ako siguro, yung gimmick nang gimmick. As much as possible, nag-iingat ako. Ayoko naman madamay ang parents ko because of something I did.
Do you get mobbed, teased or do you get special treatment, say, in school?
Hindi naman sa school. Tindi ko naman! Brad Pitt naman ang dating ko noon. I don’t get mobbed, kilala lang siguro ako. They say, "Ikamusta mo ako sa mommy mo, or hi, sa daddy mo!"
How did the famous line "I love you, Lucky!" affect you? Did it bother you?
I wasn’t bothered for any particular reason. Kinausap ko lang yung mommy ko. "Mom, tumatanda na din ako. When you say, ‘I love you, Lucky’ (in a high-pitched voice), parang naka-diapers pa ako yung dating. Eh naka-briefs na ako! If I remember correctly, I was in Grade 3 then.
Were your parents strict?
Strict with school, yes. Very. With gimmicks? No, actually. I live with my mom and she’s not really strict. Of course may curfew, and after a while, na-extend yung curfew, at na-extend ulit. Eventually, I don’t have a curfew! Well, I do go home, that’s the thing. And I make it a point that I go home before sun up. Mahirap matulog pag may araw na! My mom knows and understands na late na nagsisimula ang gimmick ng mga bata. Not like before  people used to go at 8 p.m. Now, tulog pa ako ng 8. Lalabas ako midnight or mga 1 a.m. na.
Do you have a bodyguard?
I have a driver. Pag magka-problema, siya na tutulong sa akin. I don’t have a personal bodyguard. My driver can pretty much handle things.
Where do you usually hang out?
Makati, friend’s house, typical gimmick. Strange thing is, although we live in Libis  never sa Libis. It’s too near! Walang thrill.
How many girlfriends have you had?
Serious girlfriends? Two.
Define serious.
I had my first girlfriend when I was in Grade 1. That’s not even puppy love! I had my first serious girlfriend in the States, and of course, there was Nancy (Castiglione).
Of course, Nancy. Your relationship was public knowledge.
Special sa akin si Nancy. No matter what. May pinagsamahan kami. Good times, bad times, she was just there for me. I was there for her. She’ll always have a special place in my heart. I think and I hope ganoon din ako sa kanya. The love was always there. To some degree, the love is still there. But you can’t live on love alone. There are some things na kailangan sa relationship na nawala. No question about the love, though. No third party either.
You outgrew each other?
I don’t think we outgrew each other. When we see each other, we still talk about the same things. I never got sick of her sweetness. I never got sick of her kakulitan. I never got sick of her face. So I cannot say we outgrew each other. We were very patient in trying to repair the relationship. It was a mutual decision to break up.
Did you influence her decision to enter showbiz?
Even before we got together, she told me about the offers. When she finally made the decision to enter showbiz, I knew she would succeed. Nancy, personality-wise, is beautiful. Physically, she’s beautiful. Everything about her is beautiful. People don’t know. They have no idea. Kung ano nakikita nila sa TV, kung gaano siya kaganda, mas maganda pa ang puso niya. And she’s passionate about her acting.
Have you bumped into Paolo Contis in ABS-CBN?
No, not yet. I’ve met Paolo, before pa. Before siya nanligaw kay Nancy, nagpaalam naman siya. He had the decency. Bumusina sa akin si Paolo. Ninong kaming dalawa ni Paolo ng anak ni Ogie Diaz. Anyway, mabait si Paolo. He’s a good guy.
When will your braces come off?
About three months. May phobia ako with dentists and orthodontists. I don’t like people touching my mouth. That’s the thing na pinaka-ayaw ko.
Was it torture when they put on your braces?
Torture and it was weird! They were touching and pulling my mouth.
How are you with your siblings?
Adi is 9, Enzo is 8, while Ryan is 6. I think I’m a good older brother. Naglalaro kami ni Ryan ng PlayStation 2. Hindi naman ako batang isip para awayin ko pa sila, di ba? May sayad na siguro ako nuon kung papatulan ko pa si Ryan. May sayad siguro ako, pero hindi naman ganoon kalaki! Si Adi ka-text ko.
Who told you about the birds and the bees?
I don’t know! Magazines? TV? Just kidding. My mom. She’s very open with it. She knows what’s happening. She’s real and she explains things to me.
Do you have any vices?
Nope. I drink occasionally. Social drinking, I don’t get dead drunk.
How did you feel about rumors that you were doing drugs?
I haven’t actually formally reacted to any of it. There was a time I was rumored to be taking Ecstasy kasi I was dancing in a bar at ang dalas ko daw uminom ng beer. I go out to dance  not for anything else, not for the people or the drinks. I love dancing. Sometimes, hindi ako umiinom ng tubig and I happen to fall on the ground because of exhaustion. Tapos sasabihin nila kaagad na sabog ako. Kung beer bottle naman ang hawak ko and I seem to have a blast dancing, ang sasabihin nila, naglalasing naman ako. You can’t please everyone talaga. If you try to please everyone, you won’t be yourself anymore. If the tsismis is not true, why would you let it get to you? People are entitled to their own opinion. It’s a free country.
Have you gotten used to the rumors?
I was born and grew up with rumors because my parents are in showbiz. It’s part and parcel of my life. Whether or not I’m in showbiz, there will always be rumors about me.
You seem to have adjusted to your parents being separated.
They broke up when I was four. Liberated na akong mag-isip since then. My thinking was if two people can’t be together, why force it? I understood their situation. I think what softened the blow was that both my parents were always there for me.
You have your father’s mannerisms.
Genetics. Even if I don’t see him, it’s inevitable that I would inherit his mannerisms. I was with my dad kanina and we were talking about how the Manzanos have this stigma na babaero kami. I get stereotyped as well. But if you do think about it, how do you define babaero? There is no definition. For example, if a guy goes out with a lot of girls, nagiging babaero siya. Since I’m linked with a lot of people, babaero na ako. Me and my dad  we tend to be comfortable around women. Let’s say I go out with 10 girls in a group  no malice, purely platonic and we have a really good time.
You have plenty of female friends? Of different ages and professions?
Yes. Age never really mattered. For example, I’m really good friends with Kris Aquino.
What do you have in common?
We’re both very frank and honest. Makulit din siya. Like me, she’s also very vocal. If I feel strongly about something, I won’t hold back. But of course, kung may masasaktan, ibang usapan na iyon. But in terms of being open for a laugh, being wacky, being able to voice out an opinion, we’re the same. She also loves her son Joshua very much. I love and value my family very much. In terms of romance, don’t think there’s anything there yet. We’ve never had a date. But I would love to have dinner with her. I’d love to.
What are your plans after graduation?
Find a place or a venture to invest my money. I don’t want to focus my money on the hotel and restaurant industry solely. Who knows? Showbiz might accept me.
With his impeccable looks, wit, eloquence, attitude and just the right amount of zaniness, Luis is the perfect embodiment of the Filipino youth and an ideal spokesperson for the MYX generation.
You don’t have to wait for the monthly magazine covers for a glimpse of Luis. He can be seen every day, dishing out all your favorite music videos on MYX, available on SkyCable Channel 19, Home Cable Channel 40, as well as on UHF Channel Studio 23 and other leading cable systems in the Philippines.
Luis has finally come out of the shadows of his father  actor, TV host and former Makati vice-mayor Edu  and mom, star for all seasons and Lipa mayor Ate Vi.
For the longest time, people wondered what Lucky, er, Luis looked like. Since he was a baby, his parents effectively shielded him from all the showbiz brouhaha so he managed to live a pretty normal childhood.
When he came of age, Luis could no longer deny his showbiz genes. He started to appear in fashion shows, magazine covers and last year, he was voted one of the sexiest bachelors by Cosmopolitan Philippines.
At a MXY-sponsored lunch at Annabel’s on Tomas Morato, Q.C., Luis Manzano was formally introduced to the press. Towering at 5’10 1/2", he quickly filled the room with his presence. Looking like his mom and moving like his dad, he was awfully good-looking in a black round-neck shirt, khaki pants and Adidas classics. He was a little late and was profuse with his apologies. He was also very polite and answered questions with the traditional "po" and "opo."
And to think I expected a snooty, stuck-up guy with a prima donna attitude. He was the exact opposite. It was then that I realized that Luis is not the usual son of celebrity parents.
MYX’s newest VJ, Luis, is out to make an indelible mark in showbiz. Here are excerpts from The STAR interview:
Young STAR: How was your first day as MYX VJ?
Luis Manzano: It was fun! I had pictorials, I did some episodes, plug-ins and teasers. I forgot my lines, which was of course, part of the job. But all in all, I enjoyed it.
Will you be able to bring in your ideas to MYX?
I think so. Ganoon naman talaga ang MYX eh, that’s why it’s perfect. They’re open to suggestions. If you can’t voice your suggestions or comments at least, I don’t think that’s a healthy working environment. It’s best to have communication.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Mostly R and trance.
What CD are you listening to in your car?
Usher. Definitely Usher.
Do you sing?
I wish. Naawa naman ako sa MYX baka malugi sila if I sing. Sabi nga ni Mommy, namana ko ang dancing niya. But singing? Walang-wala talaga. Kahit gustuhin ko, mahirap iyon. There was one time I was called to do a beauty contest. Akala ko host ako, mag-serenade pala! Sabi ko, baka malugi yung network niyo nang di oras!
How was Valentine’s Day?
Lonely. I stayed at home. Single, eh. Traffic was bad.
Did you take someone out?
Nope. Stayed at home. Mahirap na, baka kung ano ang isipin ng tao. Valentine’s should be spent with a special person. Hindi kung sinu-sino lang. Since wala pa naman...
Is it true you asked Kristine Hermosa out for V-Day?
Dinalaw ko siya sa taping, I asked her until when ang taping. She said Feb. 14. I texted her on Valentine’s: "Sayang, I was gonna ask you out sana, but I know that you have work."
Nevertheless, you took her out  to the grocery! Is this true?
At PriceSmart, Alabang.
But you live in QC!
Talagang umaabot ako doon para mag-grocery (chuckles). Malapit lang naman. On the way siya, kaya dinaanan ko na. May skyway naman. Ang problema lang, mas mahal pa yung pang-gas kaysa sa grocery.
How long were you there?
Sandali lang. I had a birthday party afterwards. Pagpunta ko doon, tinulungan ko lang sila magbuhat ng groceries.
Are you courting Kristine?
Well, I’m interested in getting to know her better. Although, hindi ko pa siya nililigawan. Safe ’no? (laughs)
Would you consider courting someone who’s already involved?
Definitely not. I would not want that to happen to me. There’s nothing wrong with admiring someone who has a boyfriend. It’s different when you start to have serious intentions.
Why enter showbiz now?
Ever since I was a kid pa, there were offers for me to do commercials and movies. Ever since, my dad’s stand had always been "No." Priority niya ang pag-aaral ko. Nagulat na lang ako pumayag na siya ngayon. Siguro dahil 21 na ako. Gurang na daw ako. (Laughs) Natanggap na din siguro ni Daddy na amoy mama na ako.
Why did you decide to sign up with ABS-CBN, not with GMA?
First of all, my family’s with ABS-CBN na. And of course, they had MYX. I wanted to be a VJ. I thought it would be a blast!
Why MYX? Why not acting?
I like to host. It’s very light, nalalabas ko ang kakulitan ko, my natural zany self na hindi pa nakikita ng tao. What I really like is the spontaneity, the unpredictability. With acting, I can only do light roles. I don’t know how to cry on cue. Well, I can’t at the moment. I can’t do soaps or heavy drama. Baka maiyak ang audience sa acting ko.
What’s your contract with MYX? A year?
Half-a-year.
What can viewers expect from you and vice-versa?
I hope I can make viewers smile or laugh, make their mothers scream or cry, I don’t know. They can expect humor and zaniness. They can expect me to be makulit, even obnoxiously makulit, but not stupid.
Who’s your favorite VJ?
Each and everyone has a different style, and I think it depends kung saan mo kinukuha yung technique mo.
Do you have a special segment?
I don’t think so. Ako lang papasok sa segments nila.
How much interaction do you have with the audience?
It’s typical VJ work. The audience will text in comments, write letters. I may go to different places, meet different people.
How will this affect school? (Luis is a student of Hotel and Restaurant Management of De La Salle-St. Benilde.)
I only tape on days without school  Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Why HRM?
Lahat ng Pilipino mahilig kumain. Once makuha mo yung target market, once makuha mo ang tamang kiliti ng Filipino, malaki ang kita. It’s a very lucrative business. But I don’t want to focus on the hotel and restaurant business. After I graduate (next year), I plan to take a summer course in Harvard  either Economics or Finance.
Do you read?
Well, I make it a point to read the newspapers everyday. I like reading Time magazine, books on nutrition, the paranormal. Unfortunately, I don’t read novels or biographies. They’re too long for me.
Do you cook?
Yup. I’d cook for a lady. But I don’t cook all the time. But if my mom wants me to cook her favorite dish, gagawin ko.
So you’d carry groceries for a lady and even cook for her?
I’m a hopeless romantic. Let’s leave it at that. (Flashes his widest smile)
What’s your favorite dish?
That I cook? Garlic prawns with lemon butter sauce.
How do you feel about having celebrity parents?
I don’t really look at it in that respect, na daddy ko si Edu Manzano at mommy ko si Vilma Santos. Gusto ko isipin that I’m the son of Edu, a loving father, and Vilma, an equally loving mom.
How did you survive a celebrity childhood?
They are not celebrities, they are my parents. And they made sure na ganoon din ang tingin nila sa akin. They didn’t brainwash me into thinking that we can get away with everything. And if I wanted something, I had to work hard for it. They taught me the basics, and not to get a free ride on status.
Did you ever give them problems?
Lahat naman yata dumadaan sa phase na yun, eh. Whether it’s school, friends or something else. Ako siguro, yung gimmick nang gimmick. As much as possible, nag-iingat ako. Ayoko naman madamay ang parents ko because of something I did.
Do you get mobbed, teased or do you get special treatment, say, in school?
Hindi naman sa school. Tindi ko naman! Brad Pitt naman ang dating ko noon. I don’t get mobbed, kilala lang siguro ako. They say, "Ikamusta mo ako sa mommy mo, or hi, sa daddy mo!"
How did the famous line "I love you, Lucky!" affect you? Did it bother you?
I wasn’t bothered for any particular reason. Kinausap ko lang yung mommy ko. "Mom, tumatanda na din ako. When you say, ‘I love you, Lucky’ (in a high-pitched voice), parang naka-diapers pa ako yung dating. Eh naka-briefs na ako! If I remember correctly, I was in Grade 3 then.
Were your parents strict?
Strict with school, yes. Very. With gimmicks? No, actually. I live with my mom and she’s not really strict. Of course may curfew, and after a while, na-extend yung curfew, at na-extend ulit. Eventually, I don’t have a curfew! Well, I do go home, that’s the thing. And I make it a point that I go home before sun up. Mahirap matulog pag may araw na! My mom knows and understands na late na nagsisimula ang gimmick ng mga bata. Not like before  people used to go at 8 p.m. Now, tulog pa ako ng 8. Lalabas ako midnight or mga 1 a.m. na.
Do you have a bodyguard?
I have a driver. Pag magka-problema, siya na tutulong sa akin. I don’t have a personal bodyguard. My driver can pretty much handle things.
Where do you usually hang out?
Makati, friend’s house, typical gimmick. Strange thing is, although we live in Libis  never sa Libis. It’s too near! Walang thrill.
How many girlfriends have you had?
Serious girlfriends? Two.
Define serious.
I had my first girlfriend when I was in Grade 1. That’s not even puppy love! I had my first serious girlfriend in the States, and of course, there was Nancy (Castiglione).
Of course, Nancy. Your relationship was public knowledge.
Special sa akin si Nancy. No matter what. May pinagsamahan kami. Good times, bad times, she was just there for me. I was there for her. She’ll always have a special place in my heart. I think and I hope ganoon din ako sa kanya. The love was always there. To some degree, the love is still there. But you can’t live on love alone. There are some things na kailangan sa relationship na nawala. No question about the love, though. No third party either.
You outgrew each other?
I don’t think we outgrew each other. When we see each other, we still talk about the same things. I never got sick of her sweetness. I never got sick of her kakulitan. I never got sick of her face. So I cannot say we outgrew each other. We were very patient in trying to repair the relationship. It was a mutual decision to break up.
Did you influence her decision to enter showbiz?
Even before we got together, she told me about the offers. When she finally made the decision to enter showbiz, I knew she would succeed. Nancy, personality-wise, is beautiful. Physically, she’s beautiful. Everything about her is beautiful. People don’t know. They have no idea. Kung ano nakikita nila sa TV, kung gaano siya kaganda, mas maganda pa ang puso niya. And she’s passionate about her acting.
Have you bumped into Paolo Contis in ABS-CBN?
No, not yet. I’ve met Paolo, before pa. Before siya nanligaw kay Nancy, nagpaalam naman siya. He had the decency. Bumusina sa akin si Paolo. Ninong kaming dalawa ni Paolo ng anak ni Ogie Diaz. Anyway, mabait si Paolo. He’s a good guy.
When will your braces come off?
About three months. May phobia ako with dentists and orthodontists. I don’t like people touching my mouth. That’s the thing na pinaka-ayaw ko.
Was it torture when they put on your braces?
Torture and it was weird! They were touching and pulling my mouth.
How are you with your siblings?
Adi is 9, Enzo is 8, while Ryan is 6. I think I’m a good older brother. Naglalaro kami ni Ryan ng PlayStation 2. Hindi naman ako batang isip para awayin ko pa sila, di ba? May sayad na siguro ako nuon kung papatulan ko pa si Ryan. May sayad siguro ako, pero hindi naman ganoon kalaki! Si Adi ka-text ko.
Who told you about the birds and the bees?
I don’t know! Magazines? TV? Just kidding. My mom. She’s very open with it. She knows what’s happening. She’s real and she explains things to me.
Do you have any vices?
Nope. I drink occasionally. Social drinking, I don’t get dead drunk.
How did you feel about rumors that you were doing drugs?
I haven’t actually formally reacted to any of it. There was a time I was rumored to be taking Ecstasy kasi I was dancing in a bar at ang dalas ko daw uminom ng beer. I go out to dance  not for anything else, not for the people or the drinks. I love dancing. Sometimes, hindi ako umiinom ng tubig and I happen to fall on the ground because of exhaustion. Tapos sasabihin nila kaagad na sabog ako. Kung beer bottle naman ang hawak ko and I seem to have a blast dancing, ang sasabihin nila, naglalasing naman ako. You can’t please everyone talaga. If you try to please everyone, you won’t be yourself anymore. If the tsismis is not true, why would you let it get to you? People are entitled to their own opinion. It’s a free country.
Have you gotten used to the rumors?
I was born and grew up with rumors because my parents are in showbiz. It’s part and parcel of my life. Whether or not I’m in showbiz, there will always be rumors about me.
You seem to have adjusted to your parents being separated.
They broke up when I was four. Liberated na akong mag-isip since then. My thinking was if two people can’t be together, why force it? I understood their situation. I think what softened the blow was that both my parents were always there for me.
You have your father’s mannerisms.
Genetics. Even if I don’t see him, it’s inevitable that I would inherit his mannerisms. I was with my dad kanina and we were talking about how the Manzanos have this stigma na babaero kami. I get stereotyped as well. But if you do think about it, how do you define babaero? There is no definition. For example, if a guy goes out with a lot of girls, nagiging babaero siya. Since I’m linked with a lot of people, babaero na ako. Me and my dad  we tend to be comfortable around women. Let’s say I go out with 10 girls in a group  no malice, purely platonic and we have a really good time.
You have plenty of female friends? Of different ages and professions?
Yes. Age never really mattered. For example, I’m really good friends with Kris Aquino.
What do you have in common?
We’re both very frank and honest. Makulit din siya. Like me, she’s also very vocal. If I feel strongly about something, I won’t hold back. But of course, kung may masasaktan, ibang usapan na iyon. But in terms of being open for a laugh, being wacky, being able to voice out an opinion, we’re the same. She also loves her son Joshua very much. I love and value my family very much. In terms of romance, don’t think there’s anything there yet. We’ve never had a date. But I would love to have dinner with her. I’d love to.
What are your plans after graduation?
Find a place or a venture to invest my money. I don’t want to focus my money on the hotel and restaurant industry solely. Who knows? Showbiz might accept me.
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