Luis Manzano is the busiest host on local television.
Aside from “Minute to Win It,” “ASAP” and “Family Feud,” he will be joining Toni Gonzaga as host of “The Voice of the Philippines: Teens” starting April 16.
He is also doing very well away from the limelight. His taxi business with his College of Saint Benilde friends is doing very well.
“What they are most proud of is the honesty of their drivers,” said our source. “Their drivers make it a point to remind their passengers, each time they disembark, to make sure they don’t leave their stuff behind.”
His personal life, of course, is also blooming. Manzano, who is turning 36 on April 21, seems to have finally found “the one” in Jessy Mendiola.
***
Janno as ‘guest’ in GMA show
Janno Gibbs sheds light on the rumor that because he is currently seen in the top-rating prime time show Meant To Be, he’s back on GMA.
“For the record, I’m still with TV 5!” he avers. “This is just one project in which I asked permission from the management and I’m glad they allowed me. I got excited when I heard that GMA was planning to have me as a guest in Meant to Be, so I talked to my Kapatid bosses right away.”
Many say he’s lucky that despite the fact that he left the Kapuso stable, they still got him for a guest stint, which doesn’t happen to every star.
“Perhaps, one huge factor there is that I’ve been with GMA for 30 solid years. I can say that I’m one of their longest-serving and original talents. I’ve done a lot of hit shows with them. My loyalty to them is proven, so to speak.
“Before I moved to TV 5, I talked to the management. I asked permission to try working for the Kapatid network since that time I still didn’t have a new show with them. I guess, that gesture was very important to them. So I can say I left without burning the bridge between us. There was no bad blood.”
Speaking of TV 5, Janno says he doesn’t have any regret with his transfer even if some say that the station is not doing much shows of late.
“The contract that I’ve signed with them is for two years. I don’t have any single regret because the management is kind and accommodating. It’s just that at this point, they are diverting direction, trying and experimenting new stuff, which I understand. At the end of the day, it is still business.”
When his contract with TV 5 ends, many ask if he’ll consider going back to GMA.
“If I’m still welcome, why not?” states Janno.
***
Mother Lily worries about resort
Mother Lily Monteverde was shaken by the recent earthquakes which hit Batangas.
As in common knowledge, the Regal matriarch owns a resort in Taal, Batangas, Imperial Beach Resort.
Taal Mayor Bong Mercado, incidentally, used to work in her film firm, Regal Films.
Mother Lily need not worry, though, according to Mayor Bong. Her resort was among the places he visited, he said, and it was not affected by the earthquake.
“Ang medyo apektado,” Mayor Bong said, “and it worries me, is the Basilica of Martin de Tours. Centuries-old na ito at dinadayo ng mga turista. Paboritong puntahan din ito ng mga kababayan natin tuwing Mahal Na Araw.
“I ordered it temporarily closed dahil maraming cracks sa iba’t ibang panig ng simbahan kaming nakita. Nakakalungkot,” he sighed.