Michael V Reveals What Inspires Pepito Manaloto
MICHAEL V – The comedian, who’s also known as Bitoy, opened up about the ongoing success of Pepito Manaloto, GMA-7’s family sitcom that has been on the air for 15 years.
As both the lead actor and one of the show’s directors, he believes the real secret lies in the love and dedication of everyone involved—himself, the writers, the staff, and the entire cast. “Pare-pareho kaming mahal yung show, nagmamalasakit para sa show,” he said. “Meron kaming passion doon sa ginagawa namin.” He even joked that maybe their “beauty tips” helped, too!
Co-star Manilyn Reynes shared that what makes their team work so well is the genuine bond they’ve built over time. “Yung ganito, masaya lang kami talaga, e, simula pa lang. Siyempre, habang tumatagal kayo, mas nakikilala nila ang isa’t isa,” she said. “Alam niyo na rin kung anong sa tingin niyo ay ayaw at hindi nila magugustuhan o hindi sila kumportable. Alam mo na rin kung ano yung kumportable na para sa yo.”
Michael also revealed that Pepito Manaloto was inspired by the classic Filipino sitcom John en Marsha, which aired from the 1970s to the early ’90s and starred Dolphy and Nida Blanca. While John en Marsha told the story of a poor man married to a wealthy woman, Pepito Manaloto flips the script by showing what happens when an ordinary man suddenly becomes rich. Michael said the show aims to teach viewers how to handle unexpected blessings wisely, especially those who experience sudden success.
When asked if anyone in the cast is difficult to work with, Michael admitted that everyone has their own quirks—including himself. But he quickly added that when it’s time to work, they are all focused and dependable—like soldiers ready for battle.
Since the passing of their beloved director Bert de Leon in 2021, Michael has taken on more behind-the-scenes responsibilities, helping direct the show alongside Direk Armin Collado and Mark David. While he still considers himself primarily an actor, he emphasized the importance of honoring and continuing the legacy left by Direk Bert. Pepito Manaloto airs every Saturday at 7:15 p.m. on GMA-7.