Veteran director and star maker Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan has officially joined MQuest Ventures and MQuest Artists Agency (MQAA), the talent management arm of TV5 under the MediaQuest Group, marking a new chapter in his five-decade career of discovering and shaping Filipino talent.
The contract signing was held at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong City, attended by Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP), chairman of MediaQuest Holdings; Jane Jimenez-Basas, president and CEO of MediaQuest Holdings and Cignal TV; Sienna G. Olaso, first vice president of Cignal TV Inc.; and Jeffrey Remigio, head of MQAA.
Under this partnership, Manahan will take charge of initiatives in talent development, content innovation, and creative strategy—areas he has long been known to master.
When asked why he chose to bring his expertise to TV5, Mr. M answered with characteristic humility: “I like to work with nice people.”
He added, half-joking but sincere: “It’s hard to do the job if you work with difficult people. So far, ang babait ng mga kasama ko — like sina Jeff [Remigio]. I like working with young people, as young as seven or ten years old. I guess what drives me is their energy.”
“This partnership feels like a natural fit for me,” Manahan said. “MQuest Ventures shares the same passion I’ve always had in discovering, developing, and celebrating great Filipino talent. I’m excited to collaborate with this incredible team and help create opportunities that inspire.”
MVP described the collaboration as “a powerful union of creativity and purpose.”
“We’ve always believed in investing in Filipino talent, their stories, their artistry, and their dreams,” Pangilinan said. “Having Mr. M on board strengthens that mission. Together, we aim to bring out the best in our people and elevate the industry to new heights.”
Jimenez-Basas called Manahan’s arrival a defining moment for MediaQuest’s creative direction: “His legacy in building talent and shaping the Philippine entertainment landscape perfectly aligns with our vision to create a nurturing, world-class home for artists.”
Remigio, meanwhile, praised Mr. M’s enduring influence: “He has always represented excellence in storytelling and performance. We look forward to letting his genius mind develop and inspire our artists into becoming the stars they are meant to be.”
Since the 1970s, Manahan has been synonymous with talent discovery and artistic discipline, mentoring generations of household names—from Piolo Pascual, Claudine Barretto, and Jericho Rosales to Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, and Kim Chiu. His mentorship style—equal parts rigor, artistry, and empathy—earned him the industry title “The Master of Star-Making.”
Now at MQuest, he plans to build a “tougher, leaner, and more exciting center for artists.”
He teased that several high-profile projects are already in development, mentioning possible collaborations with Piolo Pascual and Enrique Gil, as well as ongoing plans with newly signed artist Andrea Brillantes.
For Manahan, the formula for longevity remains simple: “Work hard, and you become a star.”
As media continues to evolve, Mr. M maintains optimism about traditional television’s future.
“Some people say TV is a sunset industry,” he said. “I think it will still be a long sunset. People will always demand content — drama, comedy. There will always be room for that.”
