PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — OPTICAL Media Board Chairman Edu Manzano hosted a thanksgiving party for the press at Rustica Restaurant on Mother Ignacia Ave. (they have great food) and he said it’s okay with him if his eldest son Luis would marry Angel Locsin. “I won’t be against it. Pero suwerte talaga sinumang mapapangasawa ng anak ko as he’s very responsible.”
Is Luis serious with Angel? “I think so, ang dami niyang collection ng pictures ni Angel. Para kasi siyang official photographer ni Angel just like in ‘ASAP’, habang sumasayaw si Angel, panay ang kuha niya ng pictures.”
He hosted a thanksgiving party as he feels he has received so many blessings in 2008. “Unang-una na ang magandang performance ng OMB and we successfully prevented the pirating of entries in the recent Metro filmfest,” he says. “I’d like to think na nakatulong kami kaya tumaas ng 40% ang gross earnings ng local movies. Marami kaming nahuling factories housing replicating machines and blank CDs to be used for pirated DVDs. Personally naman, I’m happy na nanalong best game show ang ‘Pilipinas, Game KNB’ sa Star Awards and I won as best host. Then we also won the Anak TV Seal Award as one of the most liked TV programs on local television.”
Edu admits that he continues to receive death threats because of his relentless campaign against piracy and child pornography. “But they don’t scare me,” he says. “Hinahanap ko na ‘yang threats na ‘yan for breakfast. I’m just happy that we’re able to accomplish our job even if the board operates on a tight budget.”
Edu says he misses doing movies but she intentionally stopped accepting film assignment after he became OMB chief to be sure he’d be able to do his job well. “Okay lang hosting a game show and the morning show ‘Umagang Kay Ganda’ kasi may specific taping days kami for ‘Game’ and live naman ang ‘Umaga’, but shooting a movie na inaabot nang magdamagan, parang mahirap kasi we conduct raids anytime of day, kahit sa gabi o madaling araw. Malamang ang tanggapin ko lang, ‘yung role sa movie ni Gov. Vilma Santos dahil akong nire-request niya to play her husband. Special role lang naman ‘yun and it’s nice to work with her and our son, Luis, as we haven’t done a movie na three of us are all together.”
Edu has a gruelling sked everyday since he wakes up at 3:30 in the wee hours of the morning to report on the set of ‘Umagang Kay Ganda’ at 5 a.m. After that, he goes to the OMB office which is just near ABS. Twice a week, he tapes for “Game KNB.” “Nakakapagod but I’m used to it. Nagi-guilty lang ako when my younger teen daughter, Addie, and son, Enzo, tell me, ‘Dad, we hardly see you anymore’. So naku-konsensiya naman ako and I try to find time for them. I’m glad they’re both good children, just like their Kuya Luis.”
Edu raffled off so many appliances and cash prizes at his party. Is he running for public office in 2010? He just smiles. Is he really planning to wed Pinky Webb soon? Again, he just smiles and it’s a smile that is so full of meaning.