FORMER child actor Jiro Manio must be in a woebegone state these days that he was compelled to sell his Urian Best Actor trophy to Boss Toyo as featured in the latter’s vlog Pinoy Pawnstars.
Boss Toyo is such a familiar name in showbiz circles as he maintains a shop that sells a variety of merchandise owned by a number of celebrities.
He is the go-to guy of many a personality in dire need of instant cash in exchange for the latter’s souvenir item. The “more storied” the item sold to him, the pricier.
One such stuff is Jiro’s first ever acting award. It was for the all-star cast film he starred in, director Maryo de los Reyes’ “Magnifico” shown in 2000.
For one, it was bestowed upon him by Urian, a highly respected award-giving body composed of film critics. And if we’re not mistaken, Jiro was the youngest nominee in the category besting the country’s thespic stalwarts.
![Jiro Manio, who sold his Urian Best Actor trophy to Boss Toyo (above photo), can be a good fit to Coco Martin’s (below photo) top rating primetime show, ‘Batang Quiapo.’ YOUTUBE SCREENGRAB/BOSS TOYO PRODUCTION, FACEBOOK PHOTO/REALCOCOMARTIN](https://www.manilatimes.net/manilatimes/uploads/images/2024/01/15/290705.jpg)
Jiro Manio, who sold his Urian Best Actor trophy to Boss Toyo (above photo), can be a good fit to Coco Martin’s (below photo) top rating primetime show, ‘Batang Quiapo.’ YOUTUBE SCREENGRAB/BOSS TOYO PRODUCTION, FACEBOOK PHOTO/REALCOCOMARTIN
Nothing was heard about Jiro’s succeeding film assignments since then. It was until 2014 or thereabouts when Jiro hogged showbiz headlines. He was sighted at the NAIA hoping to catch a glimpse of his father he hasn’t met all his life, even slept there for nights.
Back then, Jiro looked entirely different from the actor most people knew: wasted, scruffy and famished-looking with nary a celebrity trace.
It would be safe to assume that Jiro’s family issues drove him to do drugs, as though it was his only hope to run away from his problems.
Thankfully, there was one kind-hearted soul who came to his rescue: Ai Ai de las Alas.
It was the comedienne who had Jiro sent to a drug facility at her expense. Ai Ai’s support screeched to a halt in no time though, having learned that Jiro returned to his vice.
Fast forward.
Around last year, Jiro made news again but this time as a “going straight” reformed man who works as a volunteer at the DOH Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Bataan.
Part of Jiro’s task is sharing his inspiring testimonials with those in it. When not busy at work, Jiro goes home to their residence in Rizal Province.
Apparently, working at a government agency as a volunteer at that is a struggle for Jiro. Like anyone else, he also needs to address his needs as well as his family’s.
Given this scenario, could Jiro be faulted for selling his Best Actor trophy? (As old-time Urian member Butch Francisco wrote in his online column: “You can sell the physical Urian trophy but the honor attached to it is not for sale.)
His sibling initially wanted him to sell it — believe it or not — for half a million pesos.
Boss Toyo, however, wouldn’t budge. Anybody would have done the same.
Jiro flatly turned down Boss Toyo’s P50k offer. In the end, both the buyer and the seller agreed at P75k.
Not bad, after all except that the trophy could have commanded a higher price had Jiro’s name been engraved on it.
To establish its ownership, Boss Toyo made Jiro affix his signature somewhere on the trophy.
It may have been goodbye, trophy but definitely, Jiro didn’t bid a lasting career memory goodbye.
Many of us still and will always acknowledge the fact that Jiro Manio is quite a rare thespic find local showbiz has ever yielded.
If only for this indelible mark, actors like Jiro are always welcome should he decide to stage a comeback.
In fact, netizens who had seen Pinoy Pawnstars are exhorting Coco Martin to consider taking in Jiro to play a significant part in “Batang Quiapo.”
As we all very well know, Coco has earned the distinct reputation of tapping on his peers even during his “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” glory days.
The latest colleague to have been cast in Batang Quiapo by Coco no less was Deborah Sun upon the recommendation of his co-star Senator Lito Lapid.
Will Coco accede to the netizens’ clamor that he squeeze Jiro in? No doubt, it will be Coco’s privilege!