Why Mr. M decided to join GMA Network

After five decades of being a stalwart of Philippine show business, Johnny Manahan a.k.a. Mr. M is starting a whole new chapter in his career as a Kapuso.

After signing a contract with GMA Network on Tuesday, the renowned starbuilder and director admitted considering retirement after leaving ABS-CBN last year.

But after doing some freelance work for several months, Mr. M couldn't deny that "really missed" the business.

"There was a time when I really thought I would just leave it all behind and just become a grandfather, you know? Play with my apos but after a while, parang you need to do something," he told reporters.

"'Di ako mapakali 'pag wala akong ginagawa, so I guess I missed it. I really missed the business, so here I am again, refreshed after a rest, and let's see what I can do," he added.

During an internal press interview after the signing, Mr. M thanked GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon, GMA Network SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong and other executives present for giving him a warm welcome.

"They [GMA executives] said, 'sige we'll talk and we'll see what happens.' And it turns out, they're really, very nice people and they said that I could be of some help to their organization," he told GMA News Online.

"And I consider myself a gypsy, a showbiz gypsy," Mr. M added. "We go where there is work, where we are respected, and they seem like really nice people, so everything came together."

Mr. M has overseen ABS-CBN's talent management arm Star Magic for many years before leaving the network in 2020.

He described his contract signing with GMA Network on Tuesday as a "coming home of sorts," sharing that he has previously worked on shows under Channel-7 a long time ago before the martial law era.

Now an official Kapuso, Mr. M said his team was already getting familiar with the GMA Artist Center and expressed his excitement to work with its talented pool of artists.

"Ang main aim is to develop a new breed of GMA artists," he said after the signing.

"Kung ano pa 'yung kulang sa kanila, we hope to develop that and give them a brighter shine. So abangan niyo, mga Kapuso," he added. — LA, GMA News