Johnny Manahan


Juan "Johnny" Ledesma Manahan, also known as Mr. M, is a Filipino film and television director, actor, talent manager, and screenwriter. He is known for scouting and managing actors, having been served as VP and managing director for ABS-CBN's Star Magic and head of ABS-CBN Studios until 2020, as well as the former senior vice-president of ABS-CBN. Manahan worked as a consultant for GMA Artist Center|Sparkle], GMA Network's talent management arm, until 2025.

Early life and education

Manahan was born as Juan Ledesma Manahan on February 11, 1947, in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines. His parents were Dr. Constantino Perez Manahan and Elvira Ledesma Manahan, a socialite and television host. Manahan attended high school at the Ateneo de Manila in 1964, and finished his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, AB Art History, in 1969.
Before becoming a director-manager, Manahan was a visual artist, painter, and sculptor. He received the "Special Citation" award at the Paris Biennale of Art in 1979.

Career

Manahan began his career directing for television soon after his studies around 1971. He was a freelancer and directed shows for the various local channels such as Two for the Road, For the Boys, The Big Big Show, and Kaluskos Musmos. Right after ABS-CBN re-opened in 1986, he was appointed as a resident director at the network. He directed the leading shows of the history of local television, such as Chika Chika Chicks, Palibhasa Lalake, Tonight with Dick and Carmi, Abangan Ang Susunod Na Kabanata, and I Am What I Am.
Manahan's mother, socialite and actress Elvira Manahan was killed on October 14, 1986.
On February 5, 1992, Manahan assisted lawyer Miriam Defensor Santiago in setting up the first national convention of her People's Reform Party at the Araneta Coliseum. In April 1992, Manahan, then the program director, and Freddie Garcia, then ABS-CBN executive vice president and general manager, formed the idea of creating a stable of new stars exclusively for the network. This gave birth to Talent Center. In its early years, the Talent Center's project was Ang TV. The show auditioned thousands of people and accepted chosen ones into the program. The series soon led to mall shows, live concerts, and record albums. It also became a springboard for the careers of Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Camille Prats, Victor Neri, Angelica Panganiban, Angelu de Leon, Sarah Geronimo, Geoff Eigenmann, Rica Peralejo, Gio Alvarez, and Paolo Contis among others. The Talent Center continued its search through the launching vehicle Star Circle in 1995.
While he was busy discovering and developing new talent, Manahan continued to direct television shows, movies, concerts, and specials. In particular, he directed the first collaboration of Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano, a major concert in September 2009 at the Mall of Asia concert grounds, as well as concerts of international singers Barry Manilow, Diana Krall and Andrea Bocelli in the Philippines.
He is the man behind the television coverage of the Miss Earth pageants, the Christmas and anniversary specials of ABS-CBN, celebrity weddings and debut specials, election specials, and many more. In addition, he also managed the grand world tours and concerts outside the country which includes ASAP '05 in the U.S. and Japan, Wowowee in Las Vegas, Chicago and Hawaii, and the Star Magic World Tour in Canada and the U.S., among others.
Manahan held various positions in ABS-CBN management. He was the director in the Talent Center ; program director in the Production Department ; and vice president in the Talent Development & Management Center ; senior vice president of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. He retired in 2007 but remained as head and consultant of Star Magic until 2020.
In 2020, following the closure of ABS-CBN for not having its franchise renewed by the congress and National Telecommunications Commission, Manahan signed up as Production Consultant with Brightlight Productions, an independent company owned by former Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Albee Benitez. Brightlight Productions secured a blocktime agreement with TV5, allowing Manahan to handle two variety shows: the daily noontime show Lunch Out Loud and the now-defunct Sunday noontime musical variety show Sunday Noontime Live!. Following his departure, Joane Laygo, who was an assistant director in ASAP, replaced Manahan as the director of ASAP.
In July 2021, Manahan returned to GMA Network by joining its talent management arm, GMA Artist Center as a consultant. The said agency is later rebranded as Sparkle in January 2022.
In November 2025, Manahan was found New Home With TV5 Network's Home Artist Agency under "Mquest Artist Agency" Via "MQuest Ventures" for It's New Became a Starmaker on Growing Home Artists as Known as Kapatid Network.

Legacy

Manahan was a mentor to a number of people who went on to become well-known in show business in the Philippines; among these are Star Magic talents Piolo Pascual, Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Camille Prats, Patrick Garcia, Paolo Contis, Angelica Panganiban, Sarah Geronimo, Melai Cantiveros, Dimples Romana, Denise Laurel, Diether Ocampo, Rica Peralejo, Heaven Peralejo, Jerome Ponce, Baron Geisler, Jodi Sta. Maria, Bea Alonzo, Winnie Cordero, Andrei Felix, Geoff Eigenmann, Heart Evangelista, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson and John Lloyd Cruz.
On March 16, 2024, a surprise 5 star-studded tribute party 'Night of 100 Stars' to ‘Mr. M’s 77th birthday on February 11, 2024, held at Newport World Resorts, became a multiple reunion of the nation’s top stars.

Filmography

Pre-resident director

;As director
;As guest director

As director

;Film
YearTitle
1989Si Aida, Si Lorna, O Si Fe
1993Home Along da Riles: Da Movie
1996Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure
1999Wansapanataym: The Movie
1999Oo Na, Mahal Na Kung Mahal

;Television series
YearTitle
1984–1991Chika Chika Chicks
1987–1998Palibhasa Lalake
1989–1995Sa Linggo nAPO Sila
1991–1997Abangan ang Susunod Na Kabanata
1992–1997Ang TV
1992–1997Home Along Da Riles
1993–2000Oki Doki Doc
1997Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis
1997–2000Wansapanataym
2001Da Pilya en da Pilot
2001Eto Na Ang Susunod Na Kabanata
2002–2003Klasmeyts
2005–2006Bora: Sons of the Beach
2003–2007Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita
2006Komiks: "Bampy" episode
2008I Am KC: "Love 2 Dance" episode

;Reality and variety shows
YearTitle
1988Tonight with Dick and Carmi
1995–2020ASAP
2003Masayang Tanghali Bayan!
2005Wowowee
2006Sharon
2010Shoutout!
2010Pilipinas Win Na Win
2010Star Power
2011Happy Yipee Yehey!
2012The X Factor Philippines
2013–19Minute to Win It
2013–15The Voice of the Philippines
2014–19; 2024The Voice Kids
2015–16I Love OPM
2017–20The Voice Teens
2020–21Lunch Out Loud
2020–21Sunday Noontime Live!
2023The Voice Generations
2024The Voice Kids Season 6
2025Stars on the Floor

;Specials
YearTitle
2005Bea's Wildest Dreams at 18: Birthday TV Special
2006Ang Pagbabalik ng Bituin: A Mega Celebration
2008Martin Nievera's Martin XXV
2008Lea: My Life... On Stage!
2009Sharon Cuneta's Mega 30
2010Bench: Uncut: A Bold Look at the Future
2011Binibining Pilipinas 2011: The Pageant
2012Binibining Pilipinas 2012
2012Bench: Universe
2012Miss Philippines Earth 2012
2013Binibining Pilipinas Gold: The 2013 Pageant
2014Binibining Pilipinas 2014: The Grand Coronation Night

As an actor

;Film
YearFilmCharacter/Role
1996Ang TV Movie: The Adarna AdventureHead Tulisan
1998Ang Babae sa Bintana
2006The Bet CollectorMang Poldo

As a writer

;Works
YearTitle
1996Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure
2002Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip
2005Bea's Wildest Dreams at 18: Birthday TV Special