When you speak with the 11-year-old actor, you get a feeling that he has the mind of a young adult. He talks very eloquently about a wide range of topics, he doesn’t mince words, he doesn’t try to impress, and when he doesn’t know the answer, he wouldn’t pretend that he does – he’ll simply tell you, "Hindi ko po alam."
This kind of sincere, straight-forwardness is rare in Philippine showbiz setting, and I hope that the more time Manio gets doing films, his brilliant young mind will not fall prey to corruption and filth.
After having acted in only six films (Anghel sa Lupa and Tanging Ina are already in the can), Manio has managed to bring home five acting trophies. He impressed everyone in Chito Roño’s La Vida Rosa and endeared himself as the young Muslim boy in Marilou Abaya’s Bagong Buwan. Joel Lamangan had only praises for him in Mila and everyone who has previewed Magnifico are one is saying that this is the start of bigger things to come for the boy wonder.
In Magnifico, Manio plays a poor boy who just wants to make things easier for his family. His intricate relationships with his sick and senile grandmother and his selfless concern for his disabled sister are the crosses that he bravely carries throughout the film.
When Manio talks about work, it is very evident that he is passionate about acting. "I like to act. I like to work with good actors. Kahit pagod na ako from school (the boy is a grade schooler at the Holy Child Academy in San Juan), nae-excite ako lagi pag may shooting," he says enthusiastically.
He shares that he learned a lot in portraying the lead role of Magnifico. "Natutunan ko pong importante ang maging mabait. Na lahat po tayo pwedeng maging mabait kapag ginusto natin. I also learned to be patient and to be a professional because they always make people wait in shootings and sometimes, talagang nakakainis maghintay ng matagal lalo na kapag wala namang rason kung bakit kami pinaghihintay. Kung lahat po ginagawa ang trabaho, eh di po ba dapat, on time lagi?"
I’ve never heard someone say it so simply and so directly. If only the biggies in the industry will be willing to listen to the wisdom of Manio’s words.
The film’s lead actor adds that his character also taught him not to be hot-tempered because one cannot always have one’s way in life. "Minsan po may gustung-gusto tayo, pero hindi naman pala para sa atin. Lalo na para sa mga bata, mahirap pong tanggapin yon."
On a much larger context, I ask the little boy about his views of the world. He tells me that the world’s biggest problem is safety. "War is bad. Nobody wins in war. People get hurt. Children are scared." He tells me he wants to eradicate all terrorists and cannot, in his young mind, understand why people can be so cruel, and why people are out there to sow harm and kill innocent lives.
When our talk shifted to the problems of the young people, he was quick with an answer, "Mga Bisyo (Vices)." He cites a neighborhood in San Juan, in a small place called Tubo, where he sees young boys puffing cigarettes. "Lagi pong may nagsusuntukan, laging may nag-aaway. Parang wala pong nagtuturo sa kanila kung ano ang tama at mali. Nakakalungkot po, hindi po ba?"
I’ve seen the opus of Maryo de los Reyes and was immensely moved by it, specially by the boy who brilliantly played Magnifico. So young, so incorruptible, so positive, so real, so hopeful.