Which actor did Benj Manalo think his real father was growing up?

Jose Manalo is Benj Manalo's real father but on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" Friday, Lovely Bella's husband shared a funny anecdote about how, while growing up, he thought Jay Manalo was his real dad.

According to Benj, he was only two years old when Jose and his mom broke up.

"Ang alam ko lang tungkol sa tatay ko was nagtatrabaho siya sa [showbiz] industry and [his name] nag-start sa letter J. Eh ang kilala ko lang that time was Jay Manalo," he narrated.

[All I knew of my dad was that he worked in the showbiz industry and that his name starts wit hthe letter J. The only actor I knew that time [whose name starts with a J] was Jay Manalo.]

When Tito Boy asked whether or not he approached Jay Manalo, Benj said he actually did that at a party with Joel Torre.

"Nakita namin sa isang party si Tito Jay. Sabi nila 'ipapakilala namin sa yo si Benj. Manalo." 

[We saw Tito Jay at a party. They told him, 'we'd like you to meet Benj. Manalo.]

According to the theater actor, the former action star really thought they were related. "Akala niya anak niya talaga ako for about 15-20 minutes. Sina Ms. Pie and Tito Joel [had to tell him], 'Jay, joke lang. Pero akala niya ikaw yung tatay niya from the very beginning.'"  

[For about 15-20 minutes, he really thought I was his son. Ms. Pie and Tito Joel had to tell him 'Jay it's just a joke. But he really thought you were his father from the very beginning.] 

Benj recalled he was already in his 4th year in high school, when he finally met Jose. "So nung nakita sa school na si Jose Manalo [yung tatay ko], iba kaagad yung yabang ko," he said.

Benj and his wife Lovely Abella appeared as guests on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda," where they talked about their live selling business, and their love story. The two got married in 2021. 

Lovely gave birth to their son in September 2023.

— LA, GMA Integrated News