Ariel Pagtalonia Manalo (born February 12, 1966), known professionally as Jose Manalo (Tagalog:[hoˈsemɐˈnɐlɔ]), is a Filipino actor, director, and comedian best known for appearing regularly on the noon-time variety show Eat Bulaga! on GMA Network and now on TV5. He is also known for his stand-up performances.
Early and personal life
Manalo married his estranged wife Anna Lyn Santos, who died at the age of 54 in January 2022. She is survived by their children Myki, a medical doctor, Benj Manalo married to Lovely Abella, Sherwin Nicco, an actor, Ai, an accounts manager, and Colyn, a musician.[1][2]
On December 2, 2024, Manalo became engaged to EB Babe dancer Gene Maranan.[3] They married on December 17.[4]
Career
Manalo first appeared in the children's educational show Boyoyong in 1990. He also appeared in the TV soap opera series Valiente in 1992 as one of its supporting characters.[5] He later started working behind the scenes as a production assistant on Eat Bulaga!.[6] He then became a comedian and with his friend Wally Bayola, who was also entering show business around the same time, and they later became a comic duo. Manalo also appeared in several sitcoms on GMA Network like Daddy Di Do Du and Ful Haus, both starring Vic Sotto.
In 2010, Manalo returned to TV5 (formerly ABC 5) for his former sitcom, My Darling Aswang with Vic Sotto and Richie Reyes (also known as Richie D'Horsie). This was his second television program on TV5.[citation needed]
In 2023, Manalo and other co-hosts of Eat Bulaga! left TAPE, Inc., following the company's feud with Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon.[7] Together, collectively known as the "Legit Dabarkads", moved to TV5 to host a new program entitled E.A.T., later renamed as Eat Bulaga! on January 6, 2024.[8]
Controversy
In 2012, Jose Manalo's wife Annalyn lodged a complaint against the comedian for verbal and emotional abuse.[9] In her affidavit, she claimed that the abuse started in 2011.[10] Manalo denied the charges of abuse and also his wife's accusations of family abandonment and child neglect.[11] In his official statement, Manalo asserted that he provided support, "financial or otherwise", to his children.[10][12]
In late 2013, however, Manalo's daughter filed a case of violation against her father for failure to provide financial support, which caused her to drop out of school.[13] The following year, his daughter subsequently attempted suicide, citing her family problems and mainly blaming her father as the reason.[14] Manalo had also refuted these allegations by his daughter.[15]
In 2022, the Court of Appeals absolved Manalo from civil liability arising from his wife Annalyn's P 50 million debt to businessman Froilan Clemente Jr. It nullified the compromise agreement since Manalo is not part thereof.[16]
