Jose Manalo, former EB Babe Mergene Maranan are now engaged

Wedding bells are in sight for Eat Bulaga mainstay host Jose Manalo and former EB Babe Mergene Maranan. 

On Instagram, Maranan posted photos as she revealed the good news alongside a video showing the comedian singing Yeng Constantino's hit, Ikaw. As he walks from the dining hall to the pool area, a neon light sign appears reading "Will you marry me?"

"Ano 'yan? Totoo ba 'yan?" Maranan reacted. "Hala, nahihiya ako."

Afterward, Manalo romantically popped the question to Maranan beside the swimming pool. 

"The easiest YES I've ever said," the former dancer wrote in the caption.

In a separate post, Maranan also uploaded a closer look at her engagement ring alongside some pictures of their nearest and dearest during the romantic event. 

Manalo and Maranan have been private about their relationship, but reports say they met on the set of Eat Bulaga. 

Maranan was a member of the noontime show's dance group, the EB Babes, from 2006 to 2020.

Manalo was previously married to Anna Lyn Santos, who died in January 2022. They shared five children, including the actors Benj and Nicco Manalo.