Cesar Manhilot,known by his screen name Cesar Montano, is a multi-awarded Filipino actor and film director.
He started in show business as a stuntman. He played roles in numerous B movies. He then played major roles in several action movies and a brief television career playing the lead role in the television sitcom Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis.
His breakout role is his portrayal of José Rizal, the Philippine National Hero in the film José Rizal. The film is unprecedented as it portrays Philippine society during Spanish colonization of the Philippines and its relevance up to the present day.
He has won numerous acting awards, such as Hollywood's The Great Raid, Panaghoy sa Suba (The Call of the River), José Rizal, Muro Ami (Reef Hunters) and Bagong Buwan (New Moon).
Aside from acting, Montano also embarked on a singing career, with the release of his music album Subok lang or Just try in 2000. He has also ventured into film production as well as directing, with Panaghoy sa Suba as his directorial film debut.
After his first Hollywood movie The Great Raid with Benjamin Bratt, he was cast in another Hollywood movie Another Deep Breath'.
In May 2007, he unsuccessfully ran for senate under the coalition Team Unity (TU). GMA news reported that he lost about P40 million worth of endorsement for running in public office.
On July 13, 2010 Montano officially became a contract artist of GMA Network after signing a two-year exclusive contract with the said network.
He is the fifth of seven children born to a lawyer father and Seventh-day Adventist mother. Montano says discipline was the hallmark of his childhood: he describes his father as a strict disciplinarian, and his mother imposing the religious prohibitions of "no pork" and "no movies".
Montano went to the Sta. Ana Elementary School, Mariano Marcos Memorial High School and finished Engineering at Letran College in Intramuros, Manila. An average student, he was good at drawing and would have become a painter, if not a singer, if he hadn't become an actor.
Montano was first married to Marilyn Polinga, a fellow Boholano he met at a local Seventh-day Adventist Church, but Montano attented before at the Bread of Life Ministries International, evangelical church in Quezon City, and now in Christ's Commission Fellowship in Mandaluyong City, together with his wife, Sunshine Cruz and his children. Their two children, Angela and Angelo, grew up with her when they separated as a couple. When she died of a brain tumor in 1993, the children moved back in with him. His other son, Carlos Diego, lives with his mother, Filipino actress Teresa Loyzaga, in Australia, and has recently signed to a three-year exclusive contract with the Philippines TV network, ABS-CBN.
Montano married Philippine actress Sunshine Cruz on September 14, 2000 in a set of Christian wedding. They have three daughters, Angeline Isabelle, Samantha Angeline and Angel Francheska.
His second child from first wife, Christian Angelo Manhilot, died at the age of 23 on March 26, 2010 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at their residence in Quezon City.
Aside from his Bulacan farm, he also owns an Italian restaurant located in Quezon City.
