Jan Manual: Impersonating Pacman

Da who is this boylet who is known for making impersonations of a celebrity boxer—but when cameras stop rolling, he yearns to do more serious acting! Da who is the boylet? Let’s not hide him under the name: Jan Manual! “Akala ko hindi ako nakakatawa," Jan Manual begins. Who would have thought that one of the more effective young comedians today, actually think he isn’t funny? Jan has made a name for himself through his Manny Pacquaio impersonations: from his humble beginnings as a finalist in StarStruck, to delivering the weekend gossip as PacBoy in Startalk. But beyond the fake mustache, Jan wants to be known as himself: simply Jan Manual. “Marami naman natatawa, siguro may mga ilan na hindi, na boring sa kanila [ang pag-impersonate ko], pero halos lahat naman na nagsasabi, mga naririnig ko, nagugulat sila sa akin pag nakikita nila ako." Jan says that most people comment, ‘ibang-iba ‘yung mukha mo! Ang galing mo doon ah!’ “So nakakatuwa." But, he says, people have also told him to distance himself from being PacBoy or PacManual. “Try ko daw na hindi ako ma-level sa mga [impersonators. Dahil] lagi akong kinukumpara kay Pacquiao, try ko daw lumabas na ako, as ako. If he were to decide though, he wants to try some serious acting. “Gusto ko mag-kontrabida eh. ‘Yung mga tipong rapists, tapos si Jesi [Corcuera] ‘yung [kapareha] ko," he adds with a laugh. Seriously, Jan wants to try out other roles. But, he reveals, “lahat ng mga ino-offer as akin, ‘yung mga pa-sexy. Hindi naman ako pwede magpa-sexy kasi sexy na masyado ‘yung katawan ko eh—ang taba!" Jan also reveals that he’s working out through Taekwondo and Boxing, but he’s not losing as much as he is gaining. “Malakas akong kumain e." “[So] sa ngayon, dito muna." He goes on to explain that right now, this is what’s expected of him, “eto ‘yung pinapagawa sa akin." And he doesn’t begrudge those who decide, because it is getting him people’s attention. starsHe also admits, “nagugustuhan ko na rin. Mukhang nage-enjoy ‘yung mga tao, kaya ayun. Go!" Besides, Jan loves working with Chariz Solomon and Paulo Avelino—both of whom were his contemporaries in show business. “Si Chariz, masarap kasama. Mabait eh. Si Paulo, kahit StarStruck pa lang medyo close-close na eh. “Masarap sila kasama; sila ngayon ‘yung kadikit ko eh." And other than hanging out with his friends every week, they also get fresh showbiz gossip—like Startalk’s Da Who! But Jan says they actually don’t know who they’re supposed to be acting out every single time. “Basta inaarte lang namin." - iGMA.tv