One of the busiest men in show business will be even busier, if that is even possible.

Aside from being on TV twice daily (in the early morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda" and the lunchtime quiz show, "Pilipinas, Game KNB?") and being the chairman of the Optical Media Board, Edu Manzano will be appearing in a movie (or movies) after four years (His last was "Tanging Yaman" in 2003).

It is a very special project. The movie, tentatively titled "A Mother’s Story," will have his ex wife, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos playing the mother of a homosexual, played by their son, Luis Manzano, who has John Lloyd Cruz for his lover. Although it is just a cameo, Edu is excited.

"For all you know this might be the first and last time you will see Luis, Vi and I together in a movie," he said

It is said that Luis will have a kissing scene with John Lloyd. Edu’s reaction?

"Ok lang kissing scene, huwag lang niyang sasaktan ang anak ko," he guffaws.

He might also be in an indie movie to be directed by Peque Gallaga, "Agaton and Mindy."

So 2009 is shaping up to be very good for Edu. Actually, his winning streak started in 2008, where he got awards for best game show host, was cited by international groups for his war against child porn and piracy and being a favorite endorser of several big companies.

Personally, his relationship with "Umagang Kay Ganda" co-host Pinky Webb is going smoothly and wedding bells might actually be heard this year, although he refuses to give details about it as of now. Edu publicly acknowledged his ladylove when he received his trophy for best game show host from the Philippine Movie Press Club’s Star Awards for Television in December last year.

Where his kids, Luis, Enzo and Addie, are concerned, he is the picture of a proud dad. He is at a point where he seems to have rediscovered the joys of fatherhood.

"I’ve entered a new phase. I have a better appreciation of my children. We talk and I see them talking and I see the respect and love they have for each other," he proudly says.

He speaks very highly of his eldest, 27-year-old Luis. He says he has met actress Angel Locsin, Luis’ girlfriend. "Mabait siyang bata," Edu says. "If Luis wants to get married, go ahead. He is of age. I would never stand in their way.

"Pero bilisan nila. Gusto ko malakas lakas pa ako para mabuhat ko ang apo ko," he adds with a laugh. "I’m sure Vi would also love to see ang produkto o bunga ng pagmamahalan ng anak namin."

In spite of his very busy day, Edu does not neglect his job at the Optical Media Board.

While everyone were making merry during the holidays, the OMB main man was doing serious work. He and his men were busy making sure the pirates were not doing anything naughty, like churning out copies of entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival and flooding the market with them.

And for four years straight, they have met their goal. Since 2005, no copy of any MMFF entry was found in Quaipo, a hotbed of piracy. This was done with the assistance of members of the legitimate vendors of music and video CDs headed by Yassin Ibrahim. Ibrahim is the president of the task force in charge of Quiapo and neighboring areas. His group, he reveals, approached Chairman Edu and volunteered to police fellow sellers.

"Lagi kaming nabubu-labog kapag nag ra-raid sila sa Quiapo so gumawa kami ng grupo at lumapit kami kay Chairman," he says.

Their assistance has been very invaluable and the OMB chair, who will be stepping down, as mandated by law, this year, wants to extend his appreciation for the cooperation of Yassin’s group. "Hindi na ako aabot sa 2010 filmfest so I want to recognize sila Yassin and the task force for what they’ve done.

"In fact weeks before the filmfest, the task force led by Yassin was able to catch flicker pirates in SM San Lazano, who admitted that they wanted to see whether they can bypass SM’s security and successfully shoot copies of the filmfest entries from there," Edu relates.

The one who will take over OMB must know the law, says Edu. "Gusto ko abogado."