Born in the Philippines, Manny was educated in the Central New Jersey Shore area and received a BA degree in Art Education from Monmouth College and certification to teach art in New Jersey. After serving as a Naval Photographer, Manny taught art to disadvantage youths for programs in New Jersey, Maryland and Maine. His art career as a watercolorist blossomed after taking workshops with nationally renowned watercolor artists, Pat Dews, Frank Francese, Robert O'Brien, plus painting and exhibiting with the Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast. He has also studied in recent years with Timothy Thies and Don Andrews.

Manny retired from the US Postal Service in 2008, and along with his wife embarked on an adventure to travel the country in their RV, reaching as far as Alaska in 2009. During his travels, he became a member of and painted with art groups such as the San Antonio Watercolor Group; International Plein Air Painters, Niagara Falls; Acadia Plein Air, MT. Desert Island, Maine; Coastal Fine Arts Alliance of Maine; Palm Beach Watercolor Society (FL); Florida Plein Air; Delray Art League (FL); and the Florida Watercolor Society. Manny's winter residence is in Boynton Beach, Florida and spends his summers in Bar Harbor, Maine.

"The attempt to capture in my paintings how light affects the color, forms, atmosphere and mood found outdoors on site, becomes an alluring challenge to me. Watercolor's transparency, subtle and gentle effects can produce a creative expression that's unique and captivating. Associating with other plein air artists throughout the country aligns me with an artistic style found in the realistic and impressionistic tradition"Manny's watercolors are found in private and corporate collections throughout the United States, Canada, England and Australia. He exhibits regularly in Maine and Florida, and is currently represented by the Frederick Gallery Spring Lake, New Jersey and the Works of Hand Artist Gallery, in Winter Harbor, Maine.