# Johnny Manahan

Juan "Johnny" Ledesma Manahan (born 11 February 1947), also known as Mr. M, is a Filipino film and television director, actor, talent manager, and screenwriter. He is known for scouting and managing actors, having been the VP and managing director for ABS-CBN's Star Magic (formerly the Talent Center), as well as the former senior vice-president of ABS-CBN. Manahan currently works as a consultant for Sparkle, GMA Network's talent management arm.

## Early life and education

Manahan was born as Juan Ledesma Manahan on February 11, 1947, in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines. His parents were Dr. Constantino Perez Manahan and Elvira Ledesma Manahan, a socialite and television host (Two for the Road). Manahan attended high school at the Ateneo de Manila in 1964, and finished his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, AB Art History, in 1969.
Before becoming a director-manager, Manahan was a visual artist, painter, and sculptor. He received the "Special Citation" award at the Paris Biennale of Art in 1979.

## Career

Manahan began his career directing for television soon after his studies around 1971. He was a freelancer and directed shows for the various local channels such as Two for the Road (GMA), For the Boys (IBC), The Big Big Show (BBC/City2), and Kaluskos Musmos (RPN). Right after ABS-CBN re-opened in 1986, he was appointed as a resident director at the network. He directed the leading shows of the history of local television, such as Chika Chika Chicks, Palibhasa Lalake, Tonight with Dick and Carmi, Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata, and I Am What I Am.
In April 1992, Manahan, then the program director, and Freddie Garcia, then ABS-CBN executive vice president and general manager, formed the idea of creating a stable of new stars exclusively for the network. This gave birth to Talent Center. In its early years, the Talent Center's project was Ang TV. The show auditioned thousands of people and accepted chosen ones into the program. The series soon led to mall shows, live concerts, and record albums. It also became a springboard for the careers of Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Camille Prats, Victor Neri, Angelica Panganiban, Angelu de Leon, Sarah Geronimo, Geoff Eigenmann, Gio Alvarez, and Paolo Contis among others. The Talent Center continued its search through the launching vehicle Star Circle in 1995.
While he was busy discovering and developing new talent, Manahan continued to direct television shows, movies, concerts, and specials. In particular, he directed the first collaboration of Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano, a major concert in September 2009 at the Mall of Asia concert grounds, as well as concerts of international singers Barry Manilow, Diana Krall and Andrea Bocelli in the Philippines.
He is the man behind the television coverage of the Miss Earth pageants, the Christmas and anniversary specials of ABS-CBN, celebrity weddings and debut specials, election specials, and many more. In addition, he also managed the grand world tours and concerts outside the country which includes ASAP '05 in the U.S. and Japan, Wowowee in Las Vegas, Chicago and Hawaii, and the Star Magic World Tour in Canada and the U.S., among others.
Manahan held various positions in ABS-CBN management. He was the Director in the Talent Center (1992-1994); Program Director in the Production Department (1994-1996); and Vice President in the Talent Development & Management Center (1996-2003); Senior Vice President of ABS-CBN's Star Magic (2003-2007). He retired in 2007 but remained as Head and Consultant of Star Magic until 2020.
In 2020, following the closure of ABS-CBN for not having its franchise renewed by the congress and National Telecommunications Commission, Manahan signed up as Production Consultant with Brightlight Productions, an independent company owned by former Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Albee Benitez. Brightlight Productions secured a blocktime agreement with TV5, allowing Manahan to handle two variety shows: the daily noontime show Lunch Out Loud and the now-defunct Sunday noontime musical variety show Sunday Noontime Live!. Following his departure, Joane Laygo, who was an assistant director in ASAP, replaced Manahan as the director of ASAP.
In July 2021, Manahan returned to GMA Network by joining its talent management arm, GMA Artist Center as a consultant. The said agency is later rebranded as Sparkle in January 2022.

## Legacy

Manahan was a mentor to a number of people who went on to become well-known in show business in the Philippines; among these are Star Magic talents Piolo Pascual, Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Angelica Panganiban, Sarah Geronimo, Melai Cantiveros, Diether Ocampo, Jodi Sta. Maria, Bea Alonzo, Winnie Cordero, Andrei Felix, Geoff Eigenmann, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson and John Lloyd Cruz.
On March 16, 2024, a surprise 5 star-studded tribute party 'Night of 100 Stars' to ‘Mr. M’s 77th birthday on February 11, 2024, held at Newport World Resorts, became a multiple reunion of the nation’s top stars.

## Filmography
### Pre-resident director

    from 1971 to 1986

### As a director
#### Film

| Year | Title | Studio |
| 1989 | Si Aida, Si Lorna, O Si Fe | Filmstar Productions |
| 1993 | Home Along da Riles da Movie | RVQ Productions, Star Cinema |
| 1996 | Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure | Star Cinema |
| 1999 | Wansapanataym: The Movie | Star Cinema |
| 1999 | Oo Na, Mahal Na Kung Mahal | Star Cinema |

#### Television series

| Year | Title | Network |
| 1984–1991 | Chika Chika Chicks | ABS-CBN |
| 1987–1998 | Palibhasa Lalake | ABS-CBN |
| 1989–1995 | Sa Linggo nAPO Sila | ABS-CBN |
| 1991–1997 | Abangan ang Susunod Na Kabanata | ABS-CBN |
| 1992–1997 | Ang TV | ABS-CBN |
| 1992–1997 | Home Along Da Riles | ABS-CBN |
| 1993–2000 | Oki Doki Doc | ABS-CBN |
| 1997 | Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis | ABS-CBN |
| 1997–2000 | Wansapanataym | ABS-CBN |
| 2001 | Da Pilya en da Pilot | ABS-CBN |
| 2001 | Eto Na Ang Susunod Na Kabanata | ABS-CBN |
| 2002–2003 | Klasmeyts | ABS-CBN |
| 2005–2006 | Bora: Sons of the Beach | ABS-CBN |
| 2006 | Komiks: "Bampy" episode | ABS-CBN |
| 2008 | I Am KC: "Love 2 Dance" episode | ABS-CBN |

#### Reality and variety shows

| Year | Title | Network |
| 1988 | Tonight with Dick and Carmi | ABS-CBN |
| 1995–2020 | ASAP | ABS-CBN |
| 2003 | Masayang Tanghali Bayan! | ABS-CBN |
| 2005 | Wowowee | ABS-CBN |
| 2006 | Sharon | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Shoutout! | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Pilipinas Win Na Win | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Star Power | ABS-CBN |
| 2011 | Happy Yipee Yehey! | ABS-CBN |
| 2012 | The X Factor Philippines | ABS-CBN |
| 2013–19 | Minute to Win It | ABS-CBN |
| 2013–15 | The Voice of the Philippines | ABS-CBN |
| 2014–19; 2024 | The Voice Kids | ABS-CBN / GMA Network |
| 2015–16 | I Love OPM | ABS-CBN |
| 2017–20 | The Voice Teens | ABS-CBN |
| 2020–21 | Lunch Out Loud | TV5 |
| 2020–21 | Sunday Noontime Live! | TV5 |
| 2023 | The Voice Generations | GMA Network |

#### Specials

| Year | Title | Network |
| 2005 | Bea's Wildest Dreams at 18: Birthday TV Special | ABS-CBN |
| 2006 | Ang Pagbabalik ng Bituin: A Mega Celebration | ABS-CBN |
| 2008 | Martin Nievera's Martin XXV | ABS-CBN |
| 2008 | Lea Salonga's My Life On Stage | ABS-CBN |
| 2009 | Sharon Cuneta's Mega 30 | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Bench: Uncut: A Bold Look at the Future | ABS-CBN |
| 2011 | Binibining Pilipinas 2011: The Pageant | ABS-CBN |
| 2012 | Binibining Pilipinas 2012 | ABS-CBN |
| 2012 | Bench: Universe | ABS-CBN |
| 2012 | Miss Philippines Earth 2012 | ABS-CBN |
| 2013 | Binibining Pilipinas Gold: The 2013 Pageant |
| 2014 | Binibining Pilipinas 2014: The Grand Coronation Night |

### As an actor
#### Film

| Year | Film | Character/Role | Studio |
| 1996 | Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure | Head Tulisan | Star Cinema |
| 1998 | Ang Babae sa Bintana | | Regal Films |
| 2006 | The Bet Collector | Mang Poldo | MLR Films Inc. |

### As a writer
#### Works

| Year | Title |
| 1996 | Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure |
| 2002 | Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip |
| 2005 | Bea's Wildest Dreams at 18: Birthday TV Special |

## Awards

| Year | Award-Giving Body | Category | Work | Result |
| 1979 | Paris Biennale of Art | Special Citation award | | Won |
| 2009 | PMPC Star Awards for TV | Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award | | Won |