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This guy might have the best Conan O’Brien-in-Manila story yet
Conan O’Brien has made it a thrilling week in Manila, with lucky fans spotting the comedian in the wild, and Conan happily posing for photos with them.
On social media, both Conan and his fans would share these encounters, with Michael V. joining the fray with a special greeting he received from the American comedian and TV host.
But Charles de Guia might have the best Conan-in-Manila story yet.
Conan first posted a funny photo of himself on Instagram lying on a bed of candy and said he “visited my fan Charles’ candy factory and lost my f-ing mind.”
A little sleuthing led us to Charles’ Instagram account where he posted about Conan’s visit to Philips Sweets factory. “Still chewing on how surreal today was," he said, adding “Love you, Conan.”
Apparently, Charles' Conan story began in May 2024, when he applied to appear on Conan's podcast, "Conan Needs a Friend."
"Sasabihin mo 'yung back story mo, something about yourself that Conan could help with in his own way," Charles tells GMA News Online. For Charles, it was his family's candy factory, that "we could use a bit of advertising, parang marketing exposure."
According to Charles, their candy sales have been dismal. "Kinukwento sa akin ng uncle ko in the earlier days, sobrang lakas daw nung candy factory, like 24/7 tumatakbo and may daily deliveries. Right now, hindi na siya ganon. When I applied, parang suntok sa buwan lang," the Conan fan said.
It wasn't until October 2024, when he heard back from Conan's team. One thing led to another and by November, Charles finally guested on the show.
While Charles admits guesting on the pod didn't really do much for their candy factory, in December he received another email from Conan's team. "Gusto nilang mag-shoot ng b-roll sometime in January or February."
But we all know what happened around that time. Conan lost his parents days apart in December, and then the L.A. Fires happened in January. Charles knew things wouldn't proceed as earlier talked about.
Fast forward to July 2025 and in comes another email from Conan's team. They were asking Charles if he'll be in the Philippines sometime October-November, and if he'll be available to shoot for the aforementioned b-roll.
In September, a Philippine team made an ocular at their factory and scheduled Charles for a shoot in October. While he said "kinutuban ako," Charles said he couldn't really say for sure if Conan will fly to town.
Until he saw in the news that Conan was in fact in town earlier this week.
Conan and team were scheduled to visit Charles' candy factory on Wednesday morning at 9:45. "But na-traffic sila so they arrived 10:45."
According to Charles, Conan is exactly what you see on TV. "Normally, sobrang introverted ako, but nung nakaharap ko na siya, parang I just went along, nag- go with the flow," he said.
"Tapos ang dami kong palang ano sa kanya — now that I'm thinking about it, sa mga episodes niya, lagi siyang inaasar ng mga tao, 'you're so white' or 'you're so tall,' mga ganon. In retrospect, naging ganun rin pala ako sa kanya. Sinasabi niya, 'all I hear about is all negative things' pero mabait siya," he said.
Off-cam, Conan was not very talkative and didn't partake in the food that Charles and his staff prepared. "He was constantly talking with his producers and writers kasi they were working, and nalaman namin, he only eats once a day. Kumurot-kurot siya sa food pero hindi siya nakikain. His staff loved what we prepared though — pancit malabon, ChickenJoy," Charles continued.
But there was one touching move that Conan did: "Nandito siya sa desk ko sa office kasi may scene kami dito sa office. Tapos wala siya ginagawa. Kumuha na lang siya ng scratch paper ko dito sa desk tapos bigla na lang siya nag-doodle ng drawing niya. And gave it to me. Pinirmahan niya," Charles says.
In another Instagram post, Charles posted some precious behind-the-scenes with Conan, as well as the TV host's surprises for him: the doodle Charles earlier mentioned, and a Conan mug with a little note. The Filipino fan was also surprised to find that Conan had signed his funkopop toy of Conan that Charles kept in his office.
But perhaps the biggest surprise of them all? Conan unveiling to Charles the funny billboard of himself promoting candy from Charles' family factory. It was the marketing and advertising help that Charles had asked from Conan last year, when he applied to be a guest on the podcast.
— LA, GMA Integrated News
