Ladies and gentlemen, meet candidate for senator in this year’s elections, Eduardo B. Manzano.
Of course the name is familiar. It sounds like the person we know in the movies and on television. Oh, yes! He’s Edu Manzano. And he is gunning this time for a seat in the nation’s bicameral legislature as senator.
Edu met some members of the press weeks before the holidays last year. No, it wasn’t a press conference, just a small get together with his friends in the showbiz press. Yet, Edu obliged to answer a few questions, specifically his reason for seeking a seat in the Senate.
The TV actor/ host was forthright in his answers. “I want to be of service to the country and the people. I am not new to politics and after spending time in the private sector as a businessman and actor/TV host on the side, I felt the urge that I can be useful in the public sector,” he said.
Edu Manzano was Chairman of the Optical Media Board and up until today he feels bad that the agency doesn’t seem to have a leader that can fight the resurging piracy of films. TV shows, and music, not to mention computer software.
“I am just hoping President (Benigno) Aquino appoints someone to head the agency as pirates have become even more daring these days, copying illegally certain shows (like the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight,” he said.
His successor in the agency, Ronnie Ricketts, has resigned after filing his certificate of candidacy to run for congress in Muntinlupa. Last year, the Office of the Ombudsman has filed a case of graft against Ricketts for allegedly allowing the pull out of seized pirated DVDs that would have served as evidence against suspected counterfeiters.
Manzano is optimistic the case will prosper.
As a candidate for this year’s elections, he is aligned with the party of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.
“I am going to advance the interests of the family,” he said, “if elected to the senate. The family is the most important aspect in building a strong society. It’s where everything begins – values and morals of everyone. That’s why we need to strengthen the core of our society.”
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Rocky Marciano biopic
Jeremy Renner will star in a biopic about boxer Rocky Marciano.
Undefeated: The Rocky Marciano Story is produced by Morris S. Levy, and written by Samuel Franco and Evan Kilgore.
Levy is seeking a director. His Mega Films own the rights to the life story, as told by his younger brother Lou Marciano.
It will be the first authorized biopic on Marciano’s life and will follow him from childhood to his 1969 death in a plane crash. Marciano remains the only heavyweight champion to retire from his professional career undefeated 49-0.
Best known for his relentless style, Marciano held the heavyweight crown from 1952 to 1956, and defended his title against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles, Don Cockell and Archie Moore before retiring at the age of 32.
Renner was last seen in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and he will reprise his role as Hawkeye in Captain America: Civil War in May.
Levy’s credits include Seduced and Abandoned and the series Cop Show.
