Jay Manalo

Jay Lan Manalo (January 30, 1973) is a Filipino-Vietnamese actor and model.

Early life and background 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.

Acting career

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

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!!”.

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.

In the 2025 GMA Network action-drama series Mga Batang Riles, Manalo plays Rendon Victor, the patriarch of the influential and powerful Victor family.

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

+Key Denotes films or TV productions that have not yet been released

Film Year Title Role 1994 Brat Pack 1995 Urban Rangers Chito1996 Totoy Golem Nicasio "Asiong" Salonga Paracale Gang Gayuma 1997 Totoy Mola Totoy Mola Magkapalad Maalaala Mo Kaya Roger Kool Ka Lang Kaliwa't Kanan, Sakit sa Katawan Ruben Habang Nasasaktan Lalong Tumatapang Magkapalad (Released: 26 November 1997) Gloria, Gloria Labandera 1998 Sabong (Released: 25 March 1998) Wangbu (Released: 22 April 1998) (Produced and Directed by: Toto Natividad) Bayad Puri (Released: 9 September 1998) Ginto't Pilak (Released: 18 November 1998) 1999 Bullet Ferdie 2000 Abandonada 2001 Balahibong Pusa Hubog Uno nominated for Best Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards2002 Bayarán won for Best Actor in the FAMAS Awards Kapalit Prosti Nonoy won Best Actor in the Urian Awards Masikip, Mainit... Paraisong Parisukat Al Mano Po Emerson Lau nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Urian Awards2003 Sssshhh... She Walks by the Night 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 Mano Po 2 Johnson Lim2004 Gagamboy Ipisman U-belt I Will Survive Greg Singles Anton Feng Shui Inton Mano Po III: My Love Paul Yang nominated for Best Actor in the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards 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

Television Year Title Role 1997–1999 Mula sa Puso Gilbert Matias 2000–2002 Pangako Sa 'Yo Caloy Macaspac 2002–2003 Kung Mawawala Ka Nestor Adorable 2005 Saang Sulok ng Langit Dante 2005–2006 Vietnam Rose Lê Đình Hiền Hoàng / Miguel 2006–2007 Carlo J. Caparas's Bakekang Kristof Arevalo 2007–2008 Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan Commander Drigo 2009 All My Life Gary Romualdez Sineserye Presents: Florinda Ramil Gonzales 2010 May Bukas Pa: Father Franco de Jesus The Last Prince Carlos Ledesma 2011 Babaeng Hampaslupa Charles Wong Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum Salazar Glamorosa Dr. Arman Gallano 2012 Isang Dakot na Luha Mario San Diego 2013 Kidlat Mario Palomares / Burak 2013–2014 Madam Chairman Armando "Dodong" de Guzman 2014 Niño Lucio Strawberry Lane Christopher "Chris" Bernarte 2015 Healing Hearts Abel Villamor FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Victor Mangubat 2015–2016 And I Love You So Dominador "Dexter" Eustaquio Jimenez 2016 Danny Zialcita's Bakit Manipis ang Ulap? Ricardo's brother Magpakailanman: My Little Wife: The Teddy and Lorna Francisco Love Story Adult Teddy Maalala Mo Kaya: Pasa Rudy Conan, My Beautician Conrado Maalala Mo Kaya: Gitara Jackson "Jack" Rudio 2016–2017 Till I Met You Robert Ernesto Galang 2017 Meant to Be Melchor Dela Cruz Alyas Robin Hood Pablo Rodrigo 2018 Magpakailanman: Ang Munti Kong Pangarap: The Kyline Alcantara Story Butch Alcantara The Cure General Fernan / Supremo Magpakailanman: May Forever si Lola: The Renato Payos and Eloisa Gonzales Love Story Renato "Rene" Payos2019 Sino ang May Sala?: Mea Culpa Lucio Del Rio Magpakailanman: Baklash: The Viral Prinsesitas of Navotas Jimmy Vileganio 2020–2021 Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday Joaquin Escoto 2022 Wish Ko Lang: Kumpare Greco Tadhana: Batangueno Lover Banjo 2024–2025 Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis Pancho Blanco (season 2 & 3) 2025 Mga Batang Riles Rendon Victor 2025–2026 Sing Galing: SINGlebrity Edition Himself / Contestant