Ariel Pagtalonia Manalo, more popularly known as Jose Manalo, is a Filipino television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts the noontime show Eat Bulaga! and has been since 1994.
He first joined the crew of Eat Bulaga! as a production assistant and was then promoted to become a floor director. After the show's management saw his potential, he was soon asked to join Eat Bulaga! as a co-host.
He was 28 years old when he joined the show in 1994. The unannounced departure and absence of Jimmy Santos from Eat Bulaga! makes him the show's longest-running cast member after Tito, Vic, and Joey.
Jose's success from a small Tondo boy to one of the most respected comedians in the business is something that was born out from strong perseverance. Since then, Jose has now become one of the most recognizable faces on television.
Originally paired with Wally Bayola, the tandem has since grown to include Paolo Ballesteros to become JoWaPao, a comedy trio proclaimed by fans as the successor of the industry stalwarts TVJ.
Early life
Ariel Pagatalonia Manalo was born on 12 February 1966 to Renato Manalo, a policeman, and Anita "Aning" Pagtalonia, a housewife. He is second to the youngest among five siblings.
Jose grew up in Tondo, Manila. The five siblings had to help their parents earn money so they can eat three times a day. While his father worked as a policeman, Jose helped his mother sell lugaw in Divisoria. Jose's mother also made him join amateur singing contests so they could use his cash winnings to buy rice for their dinner table.
He finished elementary at Magat Salamat Elementary School in Tondo, and graduated high school at Gregorio Perfecto High School. Jose attended various schools in college including University of Santo Tomas and entered the Conservatory of Music. He also enrolled in Lyceum of the Philippines University, Mapua Institute of Technology and University of the East where he took up Civil Engineering. However, he did not finish any of his college education. Jose was more active in extra-curricular activities because he likes to sing, dance, and play basketball. According to him, “Wala akong natapos, puro 1st year irregular lang kasi bulakbol“.
At the tender age of 18, Jose got married and had to quit school to support his own growing family. Without a college degree to back up his inborn intellect and talents, Jose grabbed each and every small-time or odd job that came his way.
Prior to Eat Bulaga!
Comedic beginnings
Jose became an errand boy, a pedicab driver, and a cigarette and candle vendor in Quiapo. He knew he did not have the pleasure of being picky with jobs; any gig that would pay him an extra buck was well-received.
From 1985 to 1988, Jose had a three-year stint as a Boyoyong clown, a trio of clown performers made up of Bobo, Yoyo, and Ong-Ong. He used to play the clown Yoyo. In fact, Jose was one of the original members of the group before it was formally named as such.
Foray into showbiz
In 1992, Jose was chosen by director Herman Escueta (who was a friend of Jose's father) to join the cast of the afternoon drama series Valiente. Herman first saw him in dancing and singing contests in Tondo, Manila.
Valiente, where he played the role of a household boy, became Jose’s big break into showbiz. His stay in the series exposed him to the tricks and trade of the entertainment work in a more intimate way. Being surrounded by big-name actors such as Michael de Mesa and Tirso Cruz III influenced his work ethic and the way he honed his craft.
He also became a reliever in the youth-oriented variety show That's Entertainment whenever a dancer is unable to perform his duties.
As an Eat Bulaga! Dabarkads
Working behind the camera
After Valiente was nearing the end of its run on ABS-CBN, he was offered by Dir. Herman Escueta to work as a production assistant on Eat Bulaga!. He was 28 years old when he started working for the noontime show in 1994. He was assigned to conduct auditions for the dance contests of the noontime show in the 1990s.
After about five years, Manalo was promoted to floor director in 1999 at the age of 33. As a floor director, he frequently fed jokes and comical lines to the hosts of the noontime show. Eventually, he was given a chance to show off his talent in front of the camera.
Joining the Dabarkads
In 2003, Jose Manalo officially became a regular co-host in the noontime show Eat Bulaga!. He was 37 years old at the time he joined as a co-host.
Immediately, his colleagues praised his comedic skills, even becoming some sort of a "sidekick" for Eat Bulaga!'s pioneer host Vic Sotto. Jose Manalo and Vic Sotto soon became a popular tandem in the timeless segment Bulagaan where they are known for performing the 1973 song "Sing" by the Carpenters as their knock-knock joke.
Jose also found himself in an unlikely pairing with co-host Wally Bayola after meeting each other on the set of Eat Bulaga!. While Jose is known for observational comedy and is usually heralded as the talkative one, Wally excels at dressing up as different characters. Nevertheless, a comedic chemistry between them exists. One of them would throw a line and the other will catch it, turn it around, and out comes a hilarious gag. The tandem has appeared in various movies and television shows. In 2011, they were given their very own show called The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto.
On 2 March 2012, the dynamic duo became certified concert artists after their very first major concert held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Their sold-out concert, which scored a record-breaking attendance at that time, was titled The Jose And Wally Show: A Party For Every Juan. They followed their success a year later on 15 March 2013 with Jose and Wally Concert: A Party for Juan and All at the same venue.
From duo to trio
The segment Juan for All, All for Juan: Bayanihan of d' Pipol began on 28 June 2010. The tandem of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola were the originally the only barangay hosts of the segment. From time to time, various Eat Bulaga! hosts have joined Jose and Wally in an attempt to add an additional host to the barangay. On 12 October 2010, Paolo Ballesteros hosted in the barangay for the first time. Eventually, Paolo became the third mainstay barangay host of the segment, forming the comic trio of JoWaPao.
In 2015, the comedy trio eventually became even more popular after finding fame as the Zobeyala triplet sisters in the hit segment Kalyeserye. Jose Manalo played the role of Lola Tinidora, the free-spirited sister who is known for going up ladders dancing to "Mambo No. 5". According to an episode in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, portraying the role of Lola Tinidora reminded him of his early days as an entertainer when he used to dress up as a Boyoyong clown.
Beyond Eat Bulaga!
Showbiz career
Jose Manalo was included in the cast of Vic Sotto's sitcoms, including Daddy Di Do Du (2001), Ful Haus (2007), My Darling Aswang (2010), Vampire ang Daddy Ko (2013), and Hay, Bahay! (2016). He also starred in the comedy series The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto (2011). Other notable television stints include Celebrity Bluff (2012) and Sunday PinaSaya (2015). After the 2016 Philippine presidential elections, Jose Manalo found fame as the impersonation of the newly-elected Rodrigo Duterte named Rodney Juterte.
He also starred in Vic Sotto's various MMFF film entries, including Lastikman (2003), the Enteng Kabisote movie franchise (2004–2016), Iskul Bukol 20 Years After: Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure (2008), and My Bebe Love (2015). The comic tandem of Jose and Wally also topbilled the romantic comedy film D' Kilabots Pogi Brothers Weh?! (2012). After the success of the Eat Bulaga! segment Kalyeserye (2015), the comedic trio of JoWaPao topbilled the parody film Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs. Zombies (2017), with Jose Manalo playing the free-spirited Lola Tinidora.
He became a judge in the seventh season of reality show StarStruck in 2019. In TV5, he and his long-time comedy partner Wally Bayola topbilled The Jose and Wally Show Starring Vic Sotto.
Also in TV5, he is also the host of Fill in the Bank in 2020 alongside ABS-CBN personality Pokwang. Known as "Manedyer Jose" in the set, he plays as the "Chief Echuserong Officer". He also hosts Catch Me Out Philippines, a reality show for amateurs and professionals that premiered on February 6, 2021 on GMA Network.
Other ventures
Since the early 2000s, the tandem of Jose and Wally regularly works as stand-up comedians in comedy bars Klownz and Zirkoh, which are partly owned by fellow Eat Bulaga! co-host Allan K. Jose and Wally also became novelty recording artists with the hit 2006 song "Kalabit Penge". The song is included in their 2006 album Try Mo Lang. The duo once again released a song in 2011, "Jump Brother", which featured rapper Elmo Magalona. In 2012, Jose and Wally won the Most Popular Male Novelty Singer award at the 43rd Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation Box Office Entertainment Awards.
On May 2018, Jose Manalo also opened two business establishments at Brittany Square in Fairview, Quezon City. The first one is a barbershop called Yael's Gupitan as well as a nail studio and body spa called Nailandia.
Personal life
Jose Manalo married Anna Lyn Santos at age 18. They have five children: daughters Ai, Myki, and Colyn and sons Benj and Nicco. Like their father, Nicco and Benj entered the Philippine entertainment industry. Meanwhile, his daughter Myki became a licensed doctor after passing the Physician Licensure Examination in September 2017.
In March 2012, Jose and his wife Anna Lyn separated amid problems reportedly involving money. Anna Lyn then charged the comedian-host with for violations of abuse as well as bigamy for tying the knot with another woman in 1994. The name of the woman whom Jose allegedly married in 1994 was not mentioned in the complaint. His wife also accused him of family abandonment and child neglect because of an alleged affair with a member of the dance group EB Babes. However, the cases filed by his wife against him were eventually dismissed.
Segments
Eat Bulaga's Lenten Special
Year | Episode | Role |
---|---|---|
2003 | "The Manager" | Jose Hibok-Hibok |
2004 | "Alalay" | |
2005 | "Tahanan" | Tonio |
2006 | "Ganyan Kita Kamahal" | Antonio |
2007 | "Sa Iyong Paglaya" | Tibor |
2008 | "Ang Mga Anak ng Maestro" | |
2014 | "Pangalawang Bukas" | Alex |
2015 | "Pinagpalang Ama" | Jessie |
2016 | "Kaputol ng Buhay" | Lola Tinidora |
"God Gave Me You" | Frank "Isko" Flores | |
2017 | "Mansyon" | Moris Neruda |
2018 | "Hating Kapatid" | Rico "Mr. Boomerang" Vergara |
2019 | "Ikigai" | Danilo Espinosa |
Notable roles within Eat Bulaga!
Year | Segment | Role |
---|---|---|
2006 | Bebot | Sharmaine Fiona Kong |
2015 | Kalyeserye | Frankie Amoi Arenolli |
Don Francisco "Franing" Arenolli | ||
Lola Tinidora | ||
2017 | Kap's Book of Amazing True Love Stories | Kap. Joselito Nunal |
The Barangay Jokers | ||
2020 | Pamilya Nunal |
Awards and nominations
The following list only includes the awards and nominations of Jose Manalo for his contributions as a host and comedian on the noontime show Eat Bulaga! as well as other notable accolades for his important contributions to the Philippine entertainment industry. His achievements in the music and film industries as well as television accolades not associated with Eat Bulaga! are not listed. The list also excludes awards that he received as part of a group, such as JoWaPao.
Aliw Awards
The Aliw Awards is an awards ceremony organized by the Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. that gives recognition to entertainers who perform live in the Philippines and abroad.
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
2015 | Best Stand-Up Comedian | Nominated |
2016 | Best Stand-Up Comedian | Won |
Eastwood City Walk of Fame
The Eastwood City Walk of Fame is a sidewalk along Eastwood City, Quezon City that serves as a Philippine entertainment hall of fame. It is embedded with hundreds of brass star plaques featuring the names of celebrities for their popularity and contributions to the entertainment industry.
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
2015 | Eastwood City Walk of Fame Star | Inducted |
Inding-Indie Short Film Festival Awards
The Inding Indie Short Film Festival aims to support independent filmmakers and independent artists who are passionate about the media arts. Its awards ceremony recognizes films, television programs, and personalities for their noteworthy contributions to the media and entertainment industry.
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
2016 | Pinakahuwarang Komedyante ng Taon | Won |
Kagitingan Awards for Television
Established in 2013, the Kagitingan Awards for Television are awarded annually by the Bataan Peninsula State University to recognize ten television programs from any kind of genre and ten television personalities who depicted a sense of valor in their respective shows. The recognition is based on the importance or values of heroism in its different faces.
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
2017 | Pinakamagiting na Personalidad ng Entertainment Program | Won |
OFW Gawad Parangal
The OFW Gawad Parangal is an award given to pay tribute to individuals, groups, and organizations who unselfishly share their time, skills, and resources for the welfare of overseas Filipinos. It is awarded by KAKAMMPI, Inc., a community-based organization of Overseas Filipino Workers.
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
2015 | Outstanding Actor and Comedian | Won |
PEP List Awards
The PEP List is presented by the Philippine Entertainment Portal to honor showbiz personalities, television shows, and movies that made a great impact in the year. The list is divided into two categories: Editors' Choice and PEPsters' Choice. The Editors' Choice subcategories will be chosen by the editors and staff of PEP, while the PEPsters' Choice subcategories will be decided upon by PEP users through an online poll.
Editors' Choice
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
2016 | Male Comedy Star of the Year | Nominated |
PMPC Star Awards for Television
Founded by the Philippine Movie Press Club in 1987, the PMPC Star Awards for Television is a major award-giving body that recognizes the outstanding programming produced by the several television networks in the Philippines.
Year | Category | Result | |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Best Single Performance by an Actor (for "Hulog ng Langit" episode of 2014 Eat Bulaga's Lenten Special) |
Won* | |
2017 | Best Male TV Host | Nominated | |
Notes
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Yahoo! Celebrity Awards
Yahoo! Celebrity Awards (formerly Yahoo! OMG Awards) is an awards ceremony presented by Yahoo! Philippines that honors the most popular personalities and programs across television, movies, music, social media, and sports. The nominees are voted into the top ranks by their fans across the world.
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
2014 | Favorite Male TV Host | Nominated |