Juan "Johnny" Ledesma Manahan (born 11 February 1947), also known as Mr. M,[2] is a Filipino film and television director, actor, talent manager, and screenwriter.
Manahan attended high school at the Ateneo de Manila in 1964, and finished his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, AB Art History, in 1969.
[3] In April 1992, Manahan, then the program director, and Freddie Garcia, then ABS-CBN executive vice president and general manager, formed the idea of creating a stable of new stars exclusively for the network.
It also became a springboard for the careers of Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Camille Prats, Victor Neri, Angelica Panganiban, Angelu de Leon, Sarah Geronimo, Geoff Eigenmann, Gio Alvarez, and Paolo Contis among others.
While he was busy discovering and developing new talent, Manahan continued to direct television shows, movies, concerts, and specials.
[12] Manahan was a mentor to a number of people who went on to become well-known in show business in the Philippines; among these are Star Magic talents Piolo Pascual, Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Angelica Panganiban, Sarah Geronimo, Melai Cantiveros, Diether Ocampo, Jodi Sta.
Maria, Bea Alonzo, Winnie Cordero, Andrei Felix, Geoff Eigenmann, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson and John Lloyd Cruz.