Actor Edu Manzano shows the Distinguished Lasallian Achievement Award for Philanthropy at the 8th One La Salle Night of Excellence in Manila.

Actor Edu Manzano recalled attending a class almost in the nude while still a student at De La Salle University on Taft Avenue in Manila.

Manzano made the funny revelation during a lunch with some members of the entertainment press in Quezon City recently.

"Teacher ko si Joey Reyes sa literature. And I was playing for La Salle. Every lunch time may practice kami at siya ang magiging unang subject ko. Sa gym kami. So pag ring ng bell, takbo sa shower, at pasok. So I was always late. Five minutes, seven minutes.

(My teacher is Joey Reyes in literature. And I was playing for La Salle. Every lunch time we have practice and he will be my first subject. We are in the gym. So when the bell rings, run to the shower, and go to class. So I was always late. Five minutes, seven minutes.)

"Kaibigan ko na s'ya. Sabi ni Joey, 'you know you are setting a very bad example in the class. If you are late again one more time, just one more, I'm dropping you.' Sabi ko 'Joey, I'm an athlete. I'm on a scholarship. If I got below the minimum required units, wala na ang scholarship. Sabi n'ya 'sorry, you just have to make an adjustment. My class will not adjust to you.' Okay.

(He's my friend. Joey said, 'you know you are setting a very bad example in the class. If you are late again one more time, just one more, I'm dropping you.' I said 'Joey, I'm an athlete. I'm on a scholarship. If I got below the minimum required units, the scholarship is gone. He said 'sorry, you just have to make an adjustment. My class will not adjust to you.' Okay.)

"So the next day, I talked to the coach. I told him, 'coach, may problema kay Joey Reyes. May I be allowed to leave five minutes early? Makaligo lang. 'Sure Edu go ahead.'

(So the next day, I talked to the coach. I told him, 'Coach, there is a problem with Joey Reyes. May I be allowed to leave five minutes early? Just take a shower. 'Sure Edu go ahead.)

"Nagsa-shower ako biglang nag-ring ang bell. Ang aga naman. Basang-basa pa ako. So I thought, magpapatawa na lang ako. Hindi na ako nagbihis. Nagtuwalya na lang ako. Dumaan ako ng hallways, basang-basa ang buhok ko at naka-tsinelas. Nakatapis lang. And then I walked into the class. Nagsigawan lahat.

(I was taking a shower when the bell suddenly rang. It rang early. I was still wet. So I thought, I'm going to make fun of it. I didn't get dressed. I just wrapped my towel around my waist. I walked through the hallways, my hair was wet I was wearing slippers. It was just tied. And then I walked into the class. They were cheering

"Sabi ni Joey, 'you think you're funny? Sabi ko, 'Joey I'm sorry! I was taking the shower and ayokong ma-late rito kasi magagalit ka eh.'

(Joey said, 'you think you're funny?' I said, 'Joey I'm sorry! I was taking the shower and I don't want to be late because you'll be angry.)

"Okay. C'mon. Doon ka. Pinaupo ako near the air-con. Sinipon tuloy ako ng tatlong araw. Nakatapis lang talaga ako nun the whole hour at tahimik lang. Nanginginig ako sa lamig.

(Okay. Come in. Stay there. I was made to sit near the air-con. I suffered from a cold for three days. I stayed the whole hour and was quiet. I was shivering from the cold.)

Manzano, 67, said that Reyes, now a multi-awarded director and screenwriter, was surprised when he entered showbiz. At present, Reyes serves as a Professorial Lecturer at the Department of Communication, De la Salle University and sits as Chairman of the AB Film Program at the Design and Arts Campus at the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde. And the rest is history.

While he thought he would become a lawyer, Manzano said he never regretted joining show business. "Not at all. Aside from the fact that it afforded me certain benefits and privileges. Akala kasi ng mga tao ang dali lang ng showbiz."

Despite being an athlete in college, Manzano said he really gave importance to education.

"That's the only way you can build a community. It's crucial kasi to your personal and professional growth. So it's adamant na you need to study," he said.

"Ang maganda kasi is yung relationship they try to inculcate between the students and the school that goes beyond your academics," said Manzano when asked about his relationship with his alma mater. "Aside from the tradition of the Manzano sa side namin na lahat ay taga La Salle, isa lang ang nag-Ateneo and that's my daughter. Kapag nagpupunta kami ng La Salle-Ateneo games, we ride together, we sit separately, and we don't talk after the game. Tiyak may mananalo at may matatalo." (Aside from the tradition of the Manzanos on our side where everyone is from La Salle, only one went to Ateneo and that's my daughter. When we go to La Salle-Ateneo games, we ride together, we sit separately, and we don't talk after the game. Surely there will be winners and there will be losers.)

Manzano was immensely happy about his latest milestone after he has conferred the Distinguished Lasallian Achievement Award for Philanthropy at the 8th One La Salle Night of Excellence in Manila. 

The former US serviceman was honored for his support to Bahay Pag-Asa, La Salle Alternative Education, and Adrian Manzano Cancer Wing of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center Quezon City named after his father.

The DLSAA Distinguished Lasallian Award is the highest and most prestigious non-sports award given by the DLSAA. This award honors Lasallians who have achieved multiple and earned distinctions and unusual positive recognition for their vision, leadership, management, and integrity in their chosen fields, professions, or public service, who are reputed nationally or internationally, and who may serve both as professional and personal role models for Lasallian students and other Filipinos.

Jose Santiago "Chito" L. Sta. Romana is this year's DLSAA Distinguished Lasallian Awardee. Other honorees:

DLSAA Lasallian Achievement Awardees: Michael C. Cosiquien, Benjamin I. Espiritu, Ph.D.; Rene A. Ledesma Jr., Edward K. Lee, Edgar B. Saavedra, Wellington Y. Tong, Maria Grace Y. Uy, and Alfonso G. Zulueta.

DLSAA Sports Hall of Fame Awardees: George T. Barcelon, Antonio Noel Z. Colina, Jose Antonio V. Munoz, Marco Januz R. Sauler, Marcus A. Valda, and Rafaelito N. Villavicencio.

DLSAA Lasallian Sports Achievement Awardees: 1971 NCAA Men's Basketball Team, 1999-2003 DLSU Women's Basketball Team, 2022 CSB NCAA Women's Volleyball Team, Raven Faith T. Alcoseba, Bernalyn Bejoy, Annicka Chabeli A. Castaneda, Alisha Claire M. Del Campo, Desiree Hernandez, Chloe Kennedy Anne D. Isleta, Maria Aresa Lipat, Jessel Lumapas, Benoit Mbala, Patrick Neil Nuqui, Andrei Johann F. Olano, Rudolph S. Palermo, Patrick King Perez, Tara Allison B. Shelton, Russel Aaron Usi, Willy Joel V. Wilson, and Roberto M. Cruz.