Jay Manalo's role in his upcoming movie Children Of The River is a soldier with a son—played by 15-year-old actor Noel Comia Jr.—who is a closet gay.
The film is produced by Spears Films of Albert Almendralejo together with Luna Studios and GMA Films.
In real life, Jay has a son whose age is the same as Noel's. What if his son turns out to be gay, what will be his reaction?
"Tanggap ko," Jay replies quickly. "Tatanggapin ko. Anak ko iyan, e. Tao iyan, e. Kahit nga hindi ko anak, e, di ba? Respeto yun, e, respeto mo bilang ano, e. Walang ano rito. Wala naman tayong magagawa, e. Di ba?
"Kung sa babae rin naman, maging ano, di ba? Tatanggapin mo rin naman."
Jay says he will not hurt or beat his son.
"No, no, no. Why? Bakit kailangan mong bugbugin?"
Some fathers hurt their children when they admit to being gay, but that's them.
"Pride nila yun e, pride nila yun. Ego yun, e. Kabalbalan yun for me!"
Jay's son is 14 years old.
"Yung isa ko twenty five na."
WHY NONE OF HIS CHILDREN JOINED SHOWBIZ
None of his children have entered showbiz. Is this because Jay doesn't want them to join the industry?
"Hindi naman sa ayaw. Kaya lang, ang gusto ko lang kasing unahin na muna, yung pag-aaral.
"Well, kung sisingit yun sa panahon na nag-aaral sila, make sure lang na hindi nila pababayaan.
"Hahayaan ko naman, okay lang din naman sa akin. Kaya lang sa akin kasi, parang hindi ko nakikita na magiging ganun kasi wala akong ine-encourage."
Jay has 12 children. Has any of them shown interest in pursuing a career in showbiz?
"May nagpapahaging. Actually, may unang-una nagpaalam na nun e, babae.
"Sinabihan ko siya na sabi ko, 'Puwede aral muna?'
"Ngayon may isang taon pa siya [sa pag-aaral], pero nagtrabaho kasi agad siya, e.
"Parang siguro nakatamaran na niya, nakalimutan na niya, na-overcome na niya yung thought na gusto niyang pumasok din sa showbiz bilang para sundan yung tatay niya.
"Pero sabi ko kung hangga't maaari kaya ko kayong ilihis, e, gagawin ko.
"Gusto ko lang unang i-ano yung pag-aaral. After that, bahala sila, gusto nila ako pa magpasok sa kanila, e.
"Walang problema, e. Basta ba tatapatan nila ako ng magandang grades."
Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) spoke to Jay last Thursday, June 20, at Limbaga 77 restaurant in Quezon City during a pocket interview for Children of the River, which stars Rich Asuncion and Juancho Trivino.
The indie film, which was written and directed by Maricel Cariaga, is an entry in the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2019.
Spears Films has two entries in this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival: Children of the River and Malamaya, a co-production with ALV Films starring Sunshine Cruz and Enzo Pineda.
The Cinemalaya Film Festival will run from August 2 until August 11, 2019.