Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto made a heartfelt homecoming as he joined the Philippine premiere fan event for Disney’s ‘Freakier Friday’ on August 5 at the Mall of Asia Atrium in Pasay City.
The actor, who plays Eric Reyes in the much-anticipated sequel, was greeted with thunderous cheers from the crowd—proving that Manila is more than ready to claim him as one of their own.
“Sobrang excited to be here,” Jacinto told fans onstage. “So much love, it really means the world.”
Born in Manila before migrating to Canada at age three, Jacinto described the experience as “wild” — referring not just to his return to the country, but also to the opportunity to star alongside Hollywood legends Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis.
“It feels like a dream. Honestly, I never would have thought that I would be [here],” he shared. “A local boy who gets to act opposite Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis—it’s wild to me. But here we are.”
Jacinto, who rose to fame as Jason Mendoza in ‘The Good Place’, revealed that Freakier Friday marks the first time he’s playing a father on screen.
“It was unbelievable. I was going to play a father for the first time. I would have an anak, a little kid of my own, for the first time,” he said. “I didn’t know how to react at first. I just drew upon the experience of my parents and those memories—and then here we are.”
His character, Eric Reyes, is a Filipino-British widower and chef who’s about to marry Anna Coleman (Lohan), much to the concern of their children, including Jacinto’s onscreen daughter Lily Reyes (played by Sophia Hammons).
Jacinto delighted fans even more when he joined a game of ‘Pinoy Henyo’, successfully guessing the words “Anna” and “Friday” in seconds, sending the audience into a frenzy.
In a particularly touching moment, he hugged one of the lucky fans he played with, leaving her speechless. Another fan was visibly shaking in excitement as Jacinto flashed his signature smile and dropped sweet Tagalog lines like “Mahal kita” and “Maraming salamat.”
“Kamusta po kayo? Thank you for being here, this is so exciting,” he said, earning even louder screams from the crowd.
Despite the sweltering heat and long queues, fans came in full force—carrying witty placards, photo cards, and memorabilia from Jacinto’s past shows like ‘The Good Place’ and ‘The Acolyte’.
Jacinto’s return to Manila was more than a press stop—it was a personal milestone. He said he immediately called his parents when he found out he had landed the role.
He also dropped by the cinema to greet media and special guests ahead of the August 6 Philippine premiere of Freakier Friday, showing his appreciation not just as a star, but as someone deeply connected to his roots.
“I was born here,” he emphasized. “This is home.”
‘Freakier Friday’ picks up years after the 2003 classic ‘Freaky Friday’, with Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) facing another unexpected body swap—this time as their families blend and tensions rise. The film, now showing in Philippine cinemas, explores love, parenting, and second chances, with a whole lot of Pinoy heart, thanks to Manny Jacinto.
