Dannyka Manangan

Hollywood actor Manny Jacinto flexes his Tagalog at a Freakier Friday event, 'Sana Mag-enjoy kayo!'

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Currently in Manila to attend the Philippine premiere of his film<em> Freakier Friday</em>, Fil-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto said he was very happy to meet his local fans before the screening of the film held at the SM Mall of Asia cinema in Pasay City last August 5. The 37-year-old actor, also admitted he was eager to practice his Tagalog during his visit. </p><p>“Hello everybody, kamusta po kayo? Thank you everybody for being here. This is so exciting. It’s cool walking into a theater where people look like me! Yeah. (laughs) Everyone’s so pretty, beautiful. I am so excited. Sana mag-enjoy kayo. Maraming, maraming salamat. Thank you so much. I’ve been practicing. And again, mahal kita. I love you so much!” he said to the crowd which was composed of fans, content creators, and media guests. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DM-vMGgyyeo/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A188051.39999997616%2C%22ls%22%3A187368.79999995232%2C%22le%22%3A187846.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM7LjGbyf2g/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A188070%2C%22ls%22%3A187368.79999995232%2C%22le%22%3A187846.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="510" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>The<em> Freakier Friday</em> actor, who was born in Manila but left the country when his family decided to emigrate to Canada when he was three years old, shared his first reaction when he found out he landed a role that was part of a popular Disney franchise. </p><p>“It feels like a dream. Honestly, I never would have thought that I would be… I was born here, so a local boy that gets to act opposite Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee-Curtis is wild to me. I never would have thought. But here we are,” he said. </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMx-PkctA5w/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A188084.19999992847%2C%22ls%22%3A187368.79999995232%2C%22le%22%3A187846.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>In the film , Manny plays the role of a British chef named Eric Reyes, who is also a single dad and widower. Once he found out he got the part, Manny admitted the first person he called were his parents. “They’re the biggest fans. They’re super supportive. They would be here if they could. This would be incredible to them. I called my parents to let them know. But it was unbelievable. I was going to play a father for the first tie. I would have an anak, a little kid of my own for the first time. I didn’t know how to react at first. I just drew upon the experience of s of my parents and maybe drew upon those memories and then here we are,” he recalled. </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM-xUiUyj7Z/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A190410.79999995232%2C%22ls%22%3A187368.79999995232%2C%22le%22%3A187846.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Known as one of the most visible Pinoy artists in Hollywood, Manny’s popularity steadily grew starting in 2016 when he was cast in the critically acclaimed NBC comedy series <em>The Good Place</em> where he played the hilarious Filipino character Jason Mendoza during the series’ entire four season run. Last year, he played a villain named Qimir in the Star Wars Disney+ series <em>The Acolyte</em>. Manny was also seen in films like<em> Top Gun: Maverick</em> and <em>Bad Times at the El Royale</em>.  </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM-0np3y6mt/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A190461.09999990463%2C%22ls%22%3A187368.79999995232%2C%22le%22%3A187846.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Before he got into acting, Manny grew up in  Richmond, British Columbia where he was passionate about dancing and sports like basketball and baseball. During college, he also participated in hip-hop competitions. HIs background in dance also mirrored his role in <em>The Good Place</em> where he played a breakdancer. Manny graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of British Columbia before eventually moving to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in acting. </p>

<p>Fil-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto recently flew to Manila to meet his Pinoy fans and to show that he still remembers to speak Tagalog despite leaving the country when he was just three years old.</p>

Fil-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto recently flew to Manila to meet his Pinoy fans and to show that he still remembers to speak Tagalog despite leaving the country when he was just three years old.