It was a fun time meeting celebrity brothers Nicco and Benj Manalo at two separate occasions in just one day. Of which do watch out for my special feature on the elder brother here at Astig, But in the meantime, let us get to know 28 year old Benj more popularly known as Tolits of Barangay Venezia of Rak of Aegis fame!
Did you know that Benj auditioned for Starstruck Batch 3? Even back then, the acting bug was already obvious!
This new guy on the theater block made us laugh, guffaw, melt and fall in love with love the Tolits way. Here’s a quick getting-to-know you Q&A with Benj M of which he himself had a cool time answering back:
1. What made you decide to also become a performer/artist just like your Kuya Nicco?
I wanted to become a performer because when we were young we used to perform in front of a crowd, specially in high school that was the time I really enjoyed performing and inspiring people on what I can offer them using my God given talents.
2. How close are you to your five other younger sisters? How do you bond with them?
Well to be honest im not the everyday kuya to them, coz I moved out of our house when I was 18, but I always make sure that when im free I get to bond with them. lalo na pag biglaan, sabay sabay kami manonood ng movie, have dinner etc. lalo na si Colyn laging nasa Timezone. haha!
3. Where did you take up college and what course did you finish?
Studied Production Design at College of Saint Benilde SDA.
4. When and where was your very first gig as a singer? How was the feeling?
Actually biglaan lang yun, I was doing a hosting stint and they asked me to sing some of my songs, so I did.. haha nakakakaba, pero masarap sa feeling ung nararamdaman ng mga tao ung gusto mong sabihin thru my songs and yung sobrang enjoy. nakakainspire talaga mag-perform sa harap ng tao.
5. What do you do in your spare time? How do you relax and unwind?
Before I used to go out on a trip sa beach, surfing, soundtrip, pero lately I just wanna stay home, listen to different kinds of music, sometime magsulat ng kanta about my experiences. usually kasi pag ganun emo time ko un eh, haha reflecting on my life and talking to God.
6. Did you ever dream to be portraying TOLITS of Rak of Aegis?
To be honest narinig ko na ung Rak of Aegis dahil kina Jerald Napoles, kina Kim and Carlon nung nagkasama kami sa isang TV Commercial, hindi ko talaga sya napanood at all so wala akong idea, so nung tinawagan ako ng Management ko from CORNERSTONE na meron daw Audition for Additional Tolits, sabi lang sakin ni Caress kung kilala ko ba ung role, sabi ko hindi, pero sabi ko cge game ako.. why? kasi gusto ko lang itry and magperform talaga. haha so nung nakuha ko ung role nawindang ako at naiyak, I dont know why pero I just thanked God for giving me the opportunity to perform and share my talents.
7. What’s the most challenging part of doing and being TOLITS of Rak?
Well pinakamahirap? magtulak ng bangka? haha actually ung part mahigitan at maabot ung standards ng dalawang naunang tolits na si Jerald Napoles and si Pepe Herrera. iba kasi ung ginawa nung dalawa, baliw pareho eh, pero they helped me to bring my Original Tolits in me sobrang thankful ako sa kanila that’s why we are called The HardyBoys.. haha! lalo na kay Mr. S. si myke tinutukan nya ako all from singing sa acting, he make it a point na before we step into the brgy. we are all equipped and ready, hindi lang sya magaling at matyaga na MD pero isang Henyo.. grabe sila, syempre kay Direk. Maribel talaga, piniga nya ko to my last drop para malabas ung Tolits in me, not only in being Tolits pero sa pagiging isang actor. I remember her saying to me, “I’ll do everything that I can to teach you everything I know about this art form as long as I have this Job.” haha ang sarap lang talaga and nakaka humble to be part of this family.
8. What are your other dream roles in theatre? And why?
Dream roles? hmmm to be honest gusto ko ung ginawa ng kuya ko sa Klepto na role. Super idol ko lang talaga si kuya, pero other than that, for now iisipin ko pa. haha kasi di ba im a dancer-singer talaga not into theater before pero ngayon sobrang hinahanap-hanap ko na sya. nalaman ko na reason why ang kuya ko eh na-addict sa theater.
9. Who are your singing idols?
My idol sa pag awit. Justin Timberlake, Al Green, D’Angelo and sympre MJ. why? iba kasi sila from other artist na pinakikinggan ko sobrang daming singers talaga na magaling pero I guess sila ung tumatak sakin ng sobra kasi timeless ang mga songs nila every MJ fan can relate to that. basta idol ko sila.
10. Do you have any regrets in life that you wanted to revert or change?
Regrets, wala eh.. sobrang saya kasi ng buhay eh madami ako natutunan sa mga naging experience ko.. wala akong gustong baguhin kasi hindi ako magiging ganitong tao ngayon kung hindi dahil sa mga naranasan ko dati. ☺
Expect to see more of Benj in the teleserye On the Wings of Love as Axle. I am also very excited for this talented guy to really soar and reach for his dreams here in showbiz! The opportunities are endless.
Thank you Benj for being the ever funny guy that you are everytime we meet and chat. Just stay humble and grounded.
After all the Manalo siblings are really here to stay!
Photo Credits: Some images here were grabbed from the Instagram of BM. Thank you!