Actor-dancer Benj Manalo once believed that Jay Manalo was his biological father, and Jay Manalo also thought that Benj was his son.
Benj told the funny story during a recent guesting on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.
"Ang alam ko lang, ang tatay ko was nagtatrabaho sa [showbiz] industry and nag-start sa letter J. Ang kilala ko lang that time was si Jay Manalo," Benj recalled.
Benj's real father is comedian and Eat Bulaga! mainstay Jose Manalo.
The actor said that he was too young to remember anything when his father and mother, Anna Lyn Manalo, separated.
Years later, and with Benj joining showbiz, he was introduced to Jay by veteran stars Joel Torre and Cherry Pie Picache during a party.
"Nakita namin sa isang party si Tito Jay. Sabi nila 'Jay, ipakikilala namin sa ‘yo si Benj,'" Benj remembered.
Joel and Cherry Pie playfully noted that they share the same surname, teasingly suggesting that Benj might be Jay's long-lost son.
Benj continued, “It was a running joke. Hanggang nakilala ko siya, akala niya talaga anak niya ako for about 15 to 20 minutes.
“Sina Ms. Pie at Tito Joel sabi nila, 'Jay, joke lang, joke lang. Akala niya lang talaga ikaw yung tatay niya from the beginning.'"
MEETING JOSE MANALO
Benj said he was already in fourth year high school when he finally had the chance to meet his real father.
He recalled feeling immensely proud to have a celebrity father and how all eyes were on Jose during a school visit.
"Noong nakita siya sa school na si Jose Manalo ito, iba kaagad yung yabang ko," he said.
“What more kung hindi ko napagdaanan ‘yun [separation of his parents]? For sure, siguro ngayon mayabang na mayabang ako."
Benj's mom, Anna Lyn, passed away on January 14, 2022.
Jose was only 18 years old when he married Anna Lyn. The two eventually separated, with their marital disputes often making showbiz headlines.
Read:
Jose Manalo's camp hoping for "amicable settlement" with Anna Lyn
Jose Manalo categorically denies accusations made by wife Anna Lyn
Jose and Anna Lyn have four children together: Benj, Myki, Ai, and Niccolo, who is also an actor and was seen in the films Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap, Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa, and Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon, among others.
Read: Nicco Manalo, hindi isyu ang pagkukumpara sa kanya sa amang si Jose Manalo
FOLLOWING JOSE MANALO'S FOOTSTEPS
Benj auditioned in 2005 for GMA-7's reality talent search StarStruck, which was eventually won by Jackie Rice and the late Marky Cielo.
Read: Young actor Marky Cielo, 20, dies
Benj told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an interview published on June 19, 2016, that he didn't tell Jose about the audition.
"Kasi meron kami nila daddy na if you wanna do something, gawin mo siya on your own. I don't want to help you kasi ayaw din niyang maramdaman na, 'Andiyan ka, tulungan mo kami.' Ganito-ganito," said Benj.
"Kumbaga we want to make our own way, kaming dalawa ni Kuya. Actually nung nag-join ako sa StarStruck, nakapasok na 'ko sa StarStruck, 'tapos dun niya lang nalaman na parang sumali ako."
Since then, Benj has stayed in showbiz and was seen in the hit musical Rak of Aegis and the television shows On the Wings of Love, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, and Linlang.
Benj is part of the cast of ABS-CBN's upcoming action-drama series Lavender Fields starring Jodi Sta. Maria, Janine Gutierrez, and Jericho Rosales.
Benj tied the knot with comedienne Lovely Abella on January 23, 2021.
The two welcomed their son Liam Emmanuel in September 2023.
Read: Lovely Abella gives birth to baby boy; posts unfiltered photo on IG