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In an episode of The Howie Severino Podcast, GMA Artist Center consultant Johnny Manahan revealed what he is looking for in aspiring artists.

At the start of his career, Mr. M admitted that he was only using his gut feeling when eyeing potential superstars.

He said, "Nung una tsamba, e. Tsamba tsamba. It's a gut feel, and even people who can't, who didn't sing or didn't dance but you figure they have something in them. It's the X factor."

He added, "Sometimes you look at them, alam mo na kaagad, e. Hindi mo na kailangang testing-in sa mga workshop. You just know these people have it."

Of course, having good looks is already a plus point during auditions.

"Initially, it's the physical thing, e. Parang may classification system sa ulo, e. Maganda 'yan, 'yan gwapo 'yan. Iyan muntik nang maging pangit pero maganda. May ganun, e. Sometimes mas maganda 'yun, e. And then, you have a feeling about these people."

He further clarifies, "But you wanna validate it so you send them to the workshops, you send them to dance instructors. And then after a certain time, you say, 'How did that person do? That's when they say, 'Direk, may magic 'yan. May garbo 'yan.' So you validate it."

Still, Mr. M asked aspiring stars to think twice or even thrice before entering showbiz.

“I think they have to think about it really well, whether they want to be in this business, in show business. Mahirap ito, e," he said in his Kapuso Profiles interview.

"Maraming nangyayari dito na hindi kanais-nais. Kailangan matibay ang loob nila. A lot of people think it's all about the glamour and glitz pero trabaho 'yan, e.'Pag pinasukan mo 'yan, maraming pipintas sa'yo. Marami 'yung nagbibigay pugay pero I think there are more slings and arrows in show business than praises."

Listen to Mr. M's guesting on The Howie Severino Podcast as he talked about the past, the present, and the future of the industry:

Meanwhile, get to know more about Mr. M in this gallery:

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