The Mano Po ()

anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...

—produced by

Regal Entertainment Regal Entertainment, Inc. (formerly and more commonly known as Regal Films) is a Philippine film production company based in Pasig. It was founded by Lily Monteverde on August 19, 1962. It has produced movies of all genres; and is the oldest s ...

—is one of the most successful film series produced in the history of

Philippine cinema The Cinema of the Philippines ( Filipino: ''Pelikulang Pilipino'' or ''Sine Pilipino'') began with the introduction of the first moving pictures to the country on August 31, 1897, at the ''Salón de Pertierra'' in Manila. The following year, local ...

, second only to

Shake, Rattle & Roll (Filipino film series) ''Shake, Rattle & Roll'' (''SRR'') is a Filipino horror anthology film series produced by Regal Entertainment, and formerly Athena Productions. It is the longest-running film series in the Philippines, as it dates back from 1984 to 2014. All ...

←(which has a total of 15 films with three episodes). The series has now seven productions and also includes ''

Ako Legal Wife ''Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife'' () is a 2005 Filipino comedy-drama film produced by Regal Entertainment, and an entry to the 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film focuses on the lives of the Chinese-Filipino community, but rather in a comedic ...

'' and ''

Bahay Kubo The ''bahay kubo'', also known as ''payag'' (Nipon) in the Visayan languages and, is a type of stilt house indigenous to the Philippines. It often serves as an icon of Philippine culture. The house is exclusive to the lowland population of ...

(A Pinoy Mano Po)''. All episodes are directed by

Joel Lamangan Joel Lamangan (born September 21, 1952) is a Filipino film director, television director and actor. His award-winning films includes '' The Flor Contemplacion Story'', ''Sidhi'', '' Deathrow'', ''Hubog'', '' Aishte Imasu 1941'', '' Blue Moon'' an ...

, with the exception of ''Mano Po 2'' (2003) which was helmed by Erik Matti and ''Mano Po 7: Tsinoy'' (2016) which was helmed by Ian Loreños. The series focuses on the ways and traditions of the

Chinese Filipino Chinese Filipinos; tl, Tsinoy, / Tsinong Pilipino, ; Philippine Hokkien , Mandarin (also known as Filipino Chinese in the Philippines) are Filipinos of Chinese descent, mostly of southern Fujianese ancestry, where the majority are bor ...

community. Another tradition for the cast and crew of the Mano Po series is the visit of several cities in China, including

Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China (, literally "ten thousand ''li'' wall") is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic grou ...

Forbidden City The Forbidden City () is a Chinese palace, palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples includ ...

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

(also shown for '' Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love'') and

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flow ...

; and also in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

(for '' Mano Po III: My Love'')

List of Series

''Mano Po 1: My Family'' (2002)

Starring:

Maricel Soriano Maricel Soriano (; born Maria Cecilia Dador Soriano; February 25, 1965) is a Filipina film and television actress, occasional host and dancer. With a career spanning of over 50 years, Soriano is one of the most celebrated artists and popularly ...

Kris Aquino Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (born February 14, 1971), professionally known as Kris Aquino (), is a Filipino television host, actress, producer, socialite and businesswoman. Dubbed as Philippine's "Queen of All Media", Aquino has hos ...

Richard Gomez Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, television presenter and director, politician, and épée fencing, fencer. He has been serving as the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Representative of Ley ...

Ara Mina Ara Mina (born Hazel Pascual Reyes-Almarinez; May 9, 1979) is a Filipino people, Filipino actress, singer, endorser, and entrepreneur. Career Mina became part of the Philippine entertainment industry at 14 years of age via the youth-oriented ...

Eddie Garcia Eduardo Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 20, 2019), known colloquially as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, film director and producer. With almost 600 film and television roles and a career spanning seven decades, he ...

Regal Entertainment produced the first Mano Po episode, known also as ''Mano Po 1: My Family''. The film won twelve MMFF awards including Best Picture. The story revolves around a Chinese immigrant Don Luis Go (

) whom at the young age left China to be with his Filipino wife Elisa (

Boots Anson-Roa Maria Elisa Cristobal Anson-Rodrigo (née Anson; born January 30, 1945), better known as Boots Anson-Roa, is a Filipina actress, columnist, editor, and lecturer. Early life and education Anson-Roa, a Bicolana, is the eldest daughter of post-w ...

). They had 2 children Daniel (

Tirso Cruz III Tirso Silvano Cruz III (born April 1, 1952) is a Filipino actor, comedian, and singer. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Regarded as a "matinee idol", Cruz is a FAMAS Award and Gawad Uria ...

) and Linda (

Amy Austria Esmeralda Diaz Tuazon (born December 13, 1961), known professionally as Amy Austria-Ventura, is a Filipino film and television actress. Austria is recognized as one of the defining actresses in Philippine cinema. She has won a FAMAS Award, 2 G ...

). The Go family had 3 granddaughters Vera (

) the eldest and heiress to the Go family business, Juliet (

) and Richelle (

), the youngest and the blacksheep of the family.

''Mano Po 2: My Home'' (2003)

Starring:

Susan Roces Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe (July 28, 1941 – May 20, 2022), known professionally as Susan Roces (), was a Filipino actress. She was the wife of Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, better known as Fernando Poe Jr. Roces was regarded as the "Quee ...

Christopher de Leon Christopher Strauss de León (born October 31, 1956) is a Philippine film actor and politician. He is recognized as the “''King of Philippine Drama''” has appeared in over 120 films since the early 1970s. Regarded as an "acting genius" and ...

Lorna Tolentino Victoria Lorna Perez Aluquin-Fernandez (born December 23, 1961), better known by her stage name Lorna Tolentino, sometimes known as ''L.T.'', an abbreviation of her screen name, is a Filipino people, Filipino actress, Television presenter, host ...

, Zsa Zsa Padilla,

Judy Ann Santos Judy Anne Lumagui Santos (born May 11, 1978) is a Filipino actress and film producer. Prolific in film and television in the Philippines since the early 1990s, she is known for her comedic and dramatic roles in independent films and blockbus ...

Richard Gutierrez Richard Kristian Gutierrez (born January 21, 1984), known professionally as Richard Gutierrez, is a Filipino actor, environmentalist and model. He is one of the sons of actor Eddie Gutierrez. Early life Richard Gutierrez was born on January ...

Jay Manalo Jay Manalo (born Jay Lan Manalo on 30 January 1976 in Saigon, South Vietnam) is a Filipino-Vietnamese singer, model, rapper, and actor. He was born in South Vietnam but raised in Tondo, Manila. He was born to a Filipino father and Vietnamese mo ...

Antonio Chan, a prominent Chinese businessman, has three women in his life: Sol, a Filipina; Lu Shui, a Chinese; and Belinda, a Filipino-Chinese. Antonio has children with all three women. A crisis shakes up the over-extended Tsinoy family prompting all the members to re-examine their values, their relationships, and confront issues that they have refused to face all these years. With Mano Po 2, My Home, Regal Entertainment continues the tradition established by the critical and box-office hit Mano Po. Features strong dramatic performances from a stellar ensemble cast, lush visuals, a reverberating musical score, an unforgettable theme song, and a heart-warming screenplay that eloquently captures the rich Tsinoy culture. Laugh, cry, and be touched by this family story about forgiveness, healing and undying love.

''Mano Po 3: My Love'' (2004)

Starring:

Vilma Santos Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (, born November 3, 1953) is a Filipino actress, singer, dancer, TV host, producer, and politician. She served as a House Deputy Speaker since 2019 to 2022 and as the Representative of Batangas' 6th district since ...

Angel Locsin Angelica Locsin Colmenares (born April 23, 1985) is a Filipino actress and humanitarian. She is known for her dramatic roles and portrayals of heroines and mythological characters in film and television. She is a recipient of various accolades ...

Angelica Panganiban Angelica Panganiban (; born Angelica Jane David Charlson on November 4, 1986) is a Filipino-American actress, model, TV host and comedienne. Regarded as the new “Queen of Drama” by various media outlets, Panganiban is recognized as one of ...

Dennis Trillo Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho (born 12 May 1981), known professionally as Dennis Trillo (), is a Filipino actor, model and recording artist. He is currently a contract star of GMA Network. He was known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the firs ...

Jean Garcia Jessica Anne Rodriguez Maitim (born August 22, 1969), better known as Jean Garcia (), is a Filipino television and film actress, who hails from Angeles City. She is best known for her role as Madam Claudia Buenavista in the original version o ...

The third episode marks the appearance of

as Lilia Chiong-Yang, an anti-crime crusader who was romantically torn between Michael (

, in their latest team-up after '' Dekada 70'') and Paul (

). This film won the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture Award. Santos won the best actress award in the said filmfest. Produced by Regal's sister production MAQ Productions, ''Mano Po III'' marks the return of

as the series' director. Lamangan, however, lost to

Cesar Montano Cesar Manhilot (born August 1, 1962), known professionally as Cesar Montano (), is a Filipino actor, film producer and film director. Montano started in show business as a commercial model.

(for ''

Panaghoy sa Suba ''Panaghoy sa Suba'' ( en, The Call of the River or The Cry of the River; tl, Ang Panaghoy ng Suba), is a 2004 Visayan language film produced and directed by Cesar Montano, who also played the lead role.

'') for winning the Best Director Award in the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival.

''Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife'' (2005)

Starring: Zsa Zsa Padilla,

Rufa Mae Quinto Rufa is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Rufa Mae Quinto (born 1978), Filipina actress, comedian, television host, and singer *Rufa Mi Maria Krista Aguilar (born April 8, 1988), known professionally as Rufa Mi, is a Filipina ...

Cherry Pie Picache Cherry Pie Sison Picache (born May 27, 1970) is a Filipino actress who has starred television and in mainstream and independent films and has worked as a print and TV commercial model for Palmolive, Camay, and Eskinol. Cherry Pie is notable ...

This comedy focuses on

concubinage Concubinage is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want, or cannot enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive. Concubin ...

. Zsa Zsa Padilla won the best actress award in the 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival. It is revealed that this movie is officially called "Mano Po 4" after the release of Mano Po 5 due to the return of Padilla since "My Home".

''Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di'' (2006)

Starring:

This series is more of a romantic comedy-drama rather than the earlier ones which center around serious drama. However, Angel Locsin's appearance as the leading role for this film is her last project with

(not counting '' The Promise'') followed by her transfer to

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine Commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast broadcast network, network tha ...

a year later. ''"Gua ai di"'' can be translated as ''"I love you"'' in the Philippine dialect of the

Hokkien The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...

Chinese language Chinese (, especially when referring to written Chinese) is a group of languages spoken natively by the ethnic Han Chinese majority and many minority ethnic groups in Greater China. About 1.3 billion people (or approximately 16% of the wor ...

, also known as ''"Fukien"'' in the Philippines.

''Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love'' (2009)

Starring:

Sharon Cuneta Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan ( , ; born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, television host, and socialite. Regarded as one of the most successful and highest-earning individuals in the Philippine entertainment industry, she has ...

Heart Evangelista Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco (born February 14, 1985), known professionally as Heart Evangelista (, alternately ), is a Filipino actress, artist, businesswoman, and socialite. Early life Heart Evangelista was born as Love Marie Payawal Ongpau ...

The new tale marks the first project of

under Regal Films. This is also a reunion movie for Cuneta with

(last worked in ''Walang Kapalit'' in 2003) and

(last worked in ''Magkapatid'' in 2002). The dramatic story focuses on billionaire Melinda Uy, who had a rags-to-riches story of hardships and triumphs as a

Chinese-Filipino Chinese Filipinos; tl, Tsinoy, / Tsinong Pilipino, ; Hokkien in the Philippines, Philippine Hokkien , Mandarin Chinese in the Philippines, Mandarin (also known as Filipino Chinese in the Philippines) are Filipinos of Chinese descent, mo ...

woman.

''Mano Po 7: Chinoy'' (2016)

Starring:

Richard Yap Richard Edison Uy Yap (born May 18, 1967) is a Filipino actor, singer, model and businessman of Chinese descent. He is best known for portraying Richard "Sir Chief" Lim in ''Be Careful with My Heart'' and "Papa Chen" in ''My Binondo Girl''. ...

Enchong Dee Ernest Lorenzo Velasquez Dee (, born November 5, 1988), professionally known as Enchong Dee, is a Filipino actor, model, and swimmer. Dee is a contract artist of ABS-CBN's Star Magic. He came to prominence after starring in his first major TV ...

Janella Salvador Janella Maxine Desiderio Salvador (; born March 30, 1998) is a Filipino actress and singer. Debuting in the hit morning drama ''Be Careful with My Heart'' (2012–2014), she followed with leading roles in ''Oh My G!'' (2015), Jun Lana's ''Haunte ...

The story focuses on relationship and modern generation of Tsinoys. The film started Richard Yap making him the first male lead protagonist in the entire series.

Actors with multiple film appearances

NOTE: Actors do not portray the same character in the other films.

Spin-offs

*'' Bahay Kubo: A Pinoy Mano Po!'' - 2007 film focuses on family in the pure Philippine setting. *'' Mano Po Legacy'' - 2022 television series.

Links and References

Mano Po on IMDB.com Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di on IMDB.com
{{Reflist, 30em 2000s romantic comedy films 2010s romantic comedy films 2020s romantic comedy films Regal Entertainment films Philippine romantic comedy films Films directed by Joel Lamangan