MANILA, Philippines — Long before he was a fixture in the local entertainment news circuit, IC Mendoza was just a wide-eyed child star who found himself in the presence of global music royalty. In a recent trip down memory lane, the actor and host shared a poignant memory of the time he met—and held hands with—the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson.
The encounter took place during Jackson’s legendary 1996 “HIStory World Tour” stop in Manila, a visit remembered not just for the sold-out concerts at the Parañaque asphalts, but for the singer’s humanitarian visits to local orphanages and hospitals.
Mendoza, who was a prominent child actor at the time, was among the few selected to meet Jackson during a private moment at the Manila Hotel.
“I remember being so small and looking up at him,” Mendoza shared. “He had this aura that was truly larger than life, but at the same time, he was so soft-spoken and gentle. I was nervous, but he reached out and held my hand to make me feel comfortable.”
For the young IC, the moment wasn’t about the fame or the “moonwalk”—it was about the unexpected warmth of a man who was the most famous person on the planet at the time.
Aside from the hand-holding, Mendoza recalled Jackson’s generosity. The singer was known for bringing crates of toys and “Neverland” merchandise to the children he met in every country.
“It wasn’t just a quick photo-op. He actually took a second to acknowledge you,” Mendoza noted. “Holding his hand felt like holding a piece of history. Even as a kid, I knew this was a story I’d be telling for the rest of my life.”
Michael Jackson’s 1996 visit remains one of the biggest events in Philippine pop culture history. During his stay, he:
- Visited the Hospicio de San Jose, where he distributed toys and spent time with orphans.
- Performed two back-to-back shows at the Asia World City in Parañaque for over 150,000 fans.
- Infamously requested a specific brand of Filipino mangoes and local craftsmanship during his stay at the Manila Hotel’s MacArthur Suite.
Decades later, Mendoza views the encounter through a different lens. Having grown up in the industry himself, he appreciates the pressure Jackson faced and the genuine kindness he showed to Filipino children despite the chaos surrounding his world tour.
“Looking back at those old photos, I realize how lucky I was,” Mendoza concluded. “Meeting your idols is one thing, but having a memory where they actually reached out to guide you… that’s something you never forget.”
The story has since trended among local netizens, sparking a wave of nostalgia for the “90s era” of Philippine entertainment and the time the world’s biggest star called Manila his home for a few unforgettable days.