Edu Manzano

Edu Manzano
Manzano in 2012
Vice Mayor of Makati
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2001
Mayor	Elenita Binay
Preceded by	Arturo Yabut
Succeeded by	Ernesto Mercado
Chairman of the Optical Media Board
In office February 10, 2004 – August 20, 2009
President	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by	Bong Revilla
Succeeded by	Ronnie Ricketts
Personal details
Born	Eduardo Luis Barrios Manzano (1955-09-14) September 14, 1955 (age 69) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Citizenship	United States Philippines
Political party	PMP (2018–present)
Other political affiliations	Lakas–CMD (2001–2015) Liberal (1997–2001) Independent (2015–2018)
Spouses	Vilma Santos ​ ​ (m. 1980; ann. 1982)​ Maricel Soriano ​ ​ (m. 1989; ann. 1991)​
Domestic partner	Reggie Aspiras
Children	4, including Luis
Residence	San Juan, Metro Manila
Alma mater	De La Salle University
Occupation	Actor; television personality; comedian; politician
Military service
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1973–1977
Commands	Missile Engineering Group, Strategic Air Command[1]
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

Eduardo "Edu" Barrios Manzano (Tagalog: [ˈʔɛdu manˈsanɔ]; born September 14, 1955) is a Filipino actor, television presenter, and politician. He hosted the game shows The Weakest Link, Pilipinas, Game KNB?, 1 vs. 100, Asar Talo Lahat Panalo!, and Game 'N Go.

Eduardo Barrios Manzano was born on September 14, 1955, in San Francisco, California, United States to Filipino parents. Due to his parentage (jus sanguinis) and the place of his birth (jus soli), he is a dual citizen of the Philippines and the United States, as per the laws of both countries.

Manzano studied at De La Salle University in Manila.^[2]

Manzano moved to the Philippines to pursue a full-time career with the local film industry. He was president of the actors’ group Katipunan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino in the 1990s.

He was part of ABS-CBN's roster of contract actors until he took leave to run as Vice President of the Philippines in the 2010 general elections. However, he declared a loss and change of interest in and from show business to hosting current affairs programs.^[3]

After losing the elections, Manzano signed a contract and returned to GMA Network.^[4] In 2010, he hosted the pre-noontime game show Asar Talo Lahat Panalo! and two more game/talent shows in 2011. After months of hiatus from TV, he hosted Family Feud: The Showdown Edition from April to July 2011. But Edu later defected to TV5 for a new TV show called Game 'N Go. In 2012, he joined the morning show called Good Morning Club.

In June 2017, Manzano returned to GMA Network to appear in Celebrity Bluff as a Master Bluffer.^[5]

In 2018, he also returned to ABS-CBN for his role in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.^[6]

In January 2020, Manzano is now officially a celebrity inductee winner for Eastwood City Walk Of Fame 2020 for contributions as a presenter, actor, comedian, endorser, and politician.

Aside from acting and political career, Manzano was also appointed as the executive vice-president of the Philippine Amateur Judo Association and the executive board member of the Philippine Olympic Committee.^[7]

Manzano entered politics in 1998 when he ran for Vice Mayor of Makati under Liberal Party. He garnered a majority of votes in the election, but his proclamation was suspended due to a case filed which alleged that he was not a Filipino citizen because he was born in the United States.^[8] The Supreme Court (Mercado v. Manzano) eventually ruled that he was indeed a Filipino citizen, clearing the way for his proclamation as Vice-Mayor. Following a three-year term, he lost his bid for campaign for Mayor of Makati in 2001 to Jejomar Binay.^[9]

In February 2004, Manzano became the first chairman of the Optical Media Board (OMB), a government agency tasked with combating optical media piracy. He resigned from the position in August 2009.

Manzano ran as the Lakas–Kampi's candidate for Vice-President in the May 2010 election as the running mate of presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro.^[10] He lost again to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, placing fifth. Manzano is the co-founder of the non-profit advocacy organization called Ako Mismo.^[9][11]

In 2016, Manzano ran in the Senate, as he was part of Partido Galing at Puso coalition of presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe.^[12] He lost, finishing 21st overall in the COMELEC's partial and official senatorial tally.^[13]

In 2019, Manzano ran for Representative of San Juan under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.^[14] However, he was disqualified and lost to incumbent representative Ronaldo Zamora.

In 2022, Manzano supported Leni Robredo's campaign and some of its senatorial slate members,^[15][11] but blasted his former rival Jejomar Binay (who is a member of the slate),^[9][11] and supported his friend and former running-mate Gilbert Teodoro's senatorial campaign.^[16]

• Edu Manzano: Dancer of the Universe (Universal Records, 2008)^[19]
• World's Greatest Dance Steps^[20] (Universal Records, 2007)

Manzano has three sons and a daughter.^[21] Manzano married actress Vilma Santos from 1980 to 1982. They have a son named Luis, a TV host and actor.^[22]

He was married to Maricel Soriano in 1989, but their marriage was subsequently annulled in 1991.^[23]

He had a relationship with TV news anchor Pinky Webb but they broke up in 2009, before Manzano ran for vice president with Gibo Teodoro.^[24] From 2021 until 2023, he was in a relationship with actress Cherry Pie Picache.^[25]

Manzano's son Diego Aspiras (born 2004) is a footballer who have played for Manila Digger. Diego is Manzano's son with celebrity chef Reggie Aspiras.^[21][26]

• Edu Manzano at IMDb