# Jay Manalo

Jay Manalo is a Vietnamese-born Filipino actor and model.

## Early life

Jay Manalo was born on January 30, 1973 in Vietnam but was raised in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. He was born to Eustaquio Manalo and a Vietnamese mother.

## Career

After he won as 1st runner-up of SM Man of the Year he became a model/endorser of Blowing Bubbles.

### Movies

His film debut was through the action movie Brat Pack in 1994. He became a lead in his second film, Paracale Gang, which was released in 1996 and followed by the movie Urban Rangers. That same year, he did a switch from action to sexy roles when he starred in the movie Gayuma opposite Amanda Page. Possessing boyish looks and an oozing sex appeal, he became a staple of sexy movies in the Philippines, with the film Totoy Mola pushing him to sexy stardom.
After Totoy Mola, he played lead in "bold flicks" like Kool Ka Lang, Kaliwat Kanan, Sakit sa Katawan, Bayad Puri, Bawal na Halik and Balahibong Pusa. By the turn of the century, his roles had become more serious and dramatic. His recent performances have been well received by movie critics, and he has won a number of acting awards in the Philippines. Some of his noticeable portrayals are in the films Prosti, Bayarán, Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa, Hubog, Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita and Mano Po 3: My Love. He ventured into other film genres, having starred recently in comedies such as I Will Survive and Ako Legal Wife and in fantasy / horror films such as Gagamboy, Feng Shui, and his latest film Barang.
He voiced Simakwel in Urduja who was the titular character's fiancé. The film also stars Regine Velasquez, Cesar Montano, Eddie Garcia and Johnny Delgado.
His latest movie role was in 2011's Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 as Mar in the episode, Rain Rain Go Away.
He is also known for his role as Tiago in a Vivamax movie, Selina's Gold, and his famous quote, “Bawasan mo ang pagsasalsal, para may oras ka sa gawain!!”.

### Television

Jay Manalo has been part of the cast of soap operas. His TV career started with the top-rated soap in 1997, Mula sa Puso, (ABS-CBN) which starred Claudine Barretto. He followed it up with other appearances in soaps like Pangako Sa 'Yo (ABS-CBN) and Kung Mawawala Ka (GMA Network).
His breakthrough role in television is his portrayal in the soap opera, Vietnam Rose in ABS-CBN in 2005. He plays Miguel, a Vietnamese businessman who was Carina's (played by Maricel Soriano) first love. Though the performances of the cast were well-cited by critics, the ratings were disappointing. After Vietnam Rose, he was included in the cast of GMA's TV adaptation of Bakekang. He played Christoph, an actor and a love interest of the lead role, Bakekang, played by Sunshine Dizon and Valeria, played by Sheryl Cruz. Bakekang became one of the top-rated shows in the Philippines. He recently starred in his new action-adventure series on GMA titled Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan as Drigo, a Filipino version of Hessler of Shaider.

## Personal life

Jay's father was Eustaquio Manalo a musician and his mother is Vietnamese. They moved to Thailand when he was three and eventually moved to Manila. By the time he was five, his parents had separated. His mother was forced to leave him.
He has a younger half-brother, Julius Manalo, who was born to Eustaquio and a Korean mother. Julius currently works as a policeman.
Despite being married, Manalo has admitted that he has twelve children with six different women.

### Bomb joke

Manalo was briefly detained in July 2007 for making a bomb joke at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on his way to take a flight to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1994 | Brat Pack | |
| 1995 | Urban Rangers | Chito |
| 1996 | Totoy Golem | Nicasio "Asiong" Salonga |
| 1996 | Paracale Gang | |
| 1996 | Gayuma | |
| 1997 | Totoy Mola | Totoy Mola |
| 1997 | Magkapalad | |
| 1997 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | Roger |
| 1997 | Kool Ka Lang | |
| 1997 | Kaliwa't Kanan, Sakit sa Katawan | Ruben |
| 1997 | Habang Nasasaktan Lalong Tumatapang | |
| 1997 | Magkapalad | (Released: 26 November 1997) |
| 1997 | Gloria, Gloria Labandera | |
| 1998 | Sabong | (Released: 25 March 1998) |
| 1998 | Wangbu | (Released: 22 April 1998) (Produced and Directed by: Toto Natividad) |
| 1998 | Bayad Puri | (Released: 9 September 1998) |
| 1998 | Ginto't Pilak | (Released: 18 November 1998) |
| 1999 | Bullet | Ferdie |
| 2000 | Abandonada | |
| 2001 | Balahibong Pusa | |
| 2001 | Hubog | Uno nominated for Best Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards |
| 2002 | Bayarán | won for Best Actor in the FAMAS Awards |
| 2002 | Kapalit | |
| 2002 | Prosti | Nonoy won Best Actor in the Urian Awards |
| 2002 | Masikip, Mainit... Paraisong Parisukat | Al |
| 2002 | Mano Po | Emerson Lau nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Urian Awards |
| 2003 | Sssshhh... She Walks by the Night | |
| 2003 | Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa | Fr. Emman won for Best Actor in the Manila Film Festival Awards nominated for Best Actor in the Star Awards for Movies |
| 2003 | Mano Po 2 | Johnson Lim |
| 2004 | Gagamboy | Ipisman |
| 2004 | U-belt | |
| 2004 | I Will Survive | Greg |
| 2004 | Singles | Anton |
| 2004 | Feng Shui | Inton |
| 2004 | Mano Po III: My Love | Paul Yang nominated for Best Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards |
| 2004 | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Ichiru nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards won for Best Supporting Actor in the Film Academy of the Philippines Awards |
| 2005 | Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife | Elton Chong nominated for Best Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards |
| 2006 | Pacquiao: The Movie | Emong |
| 2006 | Barang | Elmo |
| 2008 | Urduja | Simakwel (voice) |
| 2008 | Paupahan | |
| 2009 | Manila | Tristan |
| 2010 | Romeo at Juliet | |
| 2011 | Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 | Mar |
| 2011 | Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story | Prison Mayor Guardame |
| 2013 | Seduction | Ervin |
| 2017 | Higanti | Congressman Alex |
| 2017 | Pusit | |
| 2017 | Ang Panday | |
| 2018 | Watch Me Kill | Franco |
| 2021 | Anak ng Macho Dancer | Jun Mallari |
| 2022 | Girl Friday | Congressman Fredie Ibasco |
| 2022 | Selina's Gold | Tiago |
| 2022 | Laruan | Rene |
| 2023 | Beloved | Leo |
| 2023 | Hosto | Daniel |
| 2023 | Bugaw | Ser |
| 2024 | Bad Boy 3: Bagani | |

### Television / Digital series

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1997–99 | Mula sa Puso | Gilbert Matias | ABS-CBN |
| 2000–02 | Pangako Sa 'Yo | Caloy Macaspac | ABS-CBN |
| 2002–03 | Kung Mawawala Ka | Nestor Adorable | GMA Network |
| 2005 | Saang Sulok ng Langit | Dante | GMA Network |
| 2005–06 | Vietnam Rose | Lê Đình Hiền Hoàng / Miguel | ABS-CBN |
| 2006–07 | Carlo J. Caparas's Bakekang | Kristof Arevalo | GMA Network |
| 2007–08 | Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan | Commander Drigo | GMA Network |
| 2009 | All My Life | Gary Romualdez | GMA Network |
| 2009 | SineSerye: Florinda | Ramil Gonzales | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | May Bukas Pa: Father | Franco de Jesus | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | The Last Prince | Carlos Ledesma | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Babaeng Hampaslupa | Charles Wong | TV5 |
| 2011 | Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum | Salazar | TV5 |
| 2011 | Glamorosa | Dr. Arman Gallano | TV5 |
| 2012 | Isang Dakot na Luha | Mario San Diego | TV5 |
| 2013 | Kidlat | Mario Palomares / Burak | TV5 |
| 2013–14 | Madam Chairman | Armando "Dodong" de Guzman | TV5 |
| 2014 | Niño | Lucio | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Strawberry Lane | Christopher "Chris" Bernarte | GMA Network |
| 2015 | Healing Hearts | Abel Villamor | GMA Network |
| 2015 | FPJ's Ang Probinsyano | Victor Mangubat | ABS-CBN |
| 2015–16 | And I Love You So | Dominador "Dexter" Eustaquio Jimenez | ABS-CBN |
| 2016 | Danny Zialcita's Bakit Manipis ang Ulap? | Ricardo's brother | TV5 |
| 2016 | Conan, My Beautician | Conrado | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Till I Met You | Robert Ernesto Galang | ABS-CBN |
| 2017 | Meant to Be | Melchor Dela Cruz | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Alyas Robin Hood | Pablo Rodrigo | GMA Network |
| 2018 | The Cure | General Fernan / Supremo | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Magpakailanman: May Forever si Lola | Rene | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Sino ang May Sala?: Mea Culpa | Lucio Del Rio | ABS-CBN |
| 2020–21 | Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday | Joaquin Escoto | GMA Network |
| 2022 | Tadhana: Batangueno Lover | Banjo | GMA Network |
| 2024 | Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis | Pancho Blanco | GMA Network |
| 2025 | Mga Batang Riles | Rendon Victor | GMA Network |

## References and sources

* Valerai, Nini (14 June 2003). "Jay Manalo:Bringing up father". Global Nation (Philippines). Archived from the original on 2 December 2005. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
* Sicami, Edmund L. C. "Jay Manalo: More Than a Stud". Planet Philippines. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007.
* Cruz, Marinel R (28 July 2003). "2 Jay Manalo starrers". Global Nation (Philippines). Archived from the original on 11 November 2005. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
* Jay Manalo at IMDb
* Galvez, James Konstantin. "Actor Jay Manalo ordered released after bomb joke". The Manila Times (Philippines). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007.