He began his theater career with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) in the production Halimaw in 1972. Since then, he has acted with Dulaang UP, Manila Metropolitan Theater, Bulwagang Gantimpala and Tanghalang Pilipino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). He also played roles in Kabesang Tales, Joe Hill, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Rehas Sa Tubig, Solo Entre Las Sombras, General Goyo, The Boor, Henry IV (Pirandello), Mando Plaridel, Canuplin, Marat Sade, Kang Tse, Bombita, Pilipinas Circa 1900, Bien Aligtad, Puntila and Matti, Pantaglieze, The Iceman Cometh, Maliw and Mga Ama Mga Anak.
Manikan's filmography consists of local and international productions, with roles in Lino Brocka's Maynila sa Kuko Ng Liwanag and Bona, and Ishmael Bernal's Broken Marriage and Himala. He went on to work with American and European directors in Behind Enemy Lines, Saigon Commandos, HBO's A Dangerous Life, Le Zhan Chang An, In Naam der Koningin, Tatort-Manila, Au Bout De Rouleau, and Amigo.
In 1981, Manikan won as the Metro Manila Film FestivalBest Supporting Actor and the Catholic Mass Media Awards Best Supporting Actor for Himala. He was also awarded the Best Supporting Actor for GMA's Bahaghari Awards for the tele-movie Parola in 1995. In 2014, Manikan was nominated by the PMPC Star Awards as Best Supporting Actor for Bamboo Flowers. On December 1, 2014, he was awarded the Best Actor (Non-Musical) by the Aliw Awards for his portrayal of Zacarias Monzon in Tanghalang Pilipino's Mga Ama Mga Anak .
Bt spanky manikan di muna makikita sa my love from the star
(2013) Maliw, Tanghalang Pilipino, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
(2000) The Iceman Cometh; University of the Philippines Repertory (UP)
(1998) Pantaglieze, Judge, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
(1995) Taos, Cult Leader (1987); Puntila and Matti (Brecht), Matti (Lead), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); The Police, Chief of Police, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
(1986) Luwalhati sa Kaitaasan, Fanatic (Lead), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
(1985) Bien Aligtad, Takyong Bagting, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Three Penny Opera, MacKieth (Lead), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
(1982) The Importance of Being Earnest, Ernest Worthing, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Pilipinas Circa 1900, Andres (Lead), Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
(1981) The Weavers, Jaeger, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Bombita, Nestor, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Kang Tse, Kang Tse, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
(1980) Marat Sade, Jean Paul Marat, UP Theater; Canuplin, Blas, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); Mando Plaridel, Mando Plaridel, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Henry IV (Pirandello), Henry IV, UP Theater; The Boor, Smirnoff , Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Bent, UP
(1979) Salubong, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); General Goyo, General Goyo, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP); Solo Entre Las Sombras, Metropolitan Theater; Rehas Sa Tubig, MET
(1978) Caucasian Chalk Circle,Narrator, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); Joe Hill,Joe Hill, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); Juan Tamban, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
(1975) Kabesang Tales, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); Antigone, Creon, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); Alitan Sa Venetia, Bepe, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
(1972) Halimaw, Activist, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA); Godspell, Clown, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
Filmography
(2014) Alienasyon directed by Arnel Mardoquio
(2013) Bamboo Flowers directed by Maryo J. De los Reyes
(2012) The Strangers directed by Law Fajardo
(2010) Amigo directed by John Sayles
(2008) Ploning directed by Dante Garcia
(2002) Au Bout De Rouleau directed by Thierry Binisti
(2001) Death Row directed by Joel Lamangan
(2001) Mananabas directed by Cesar Montano
(2000) Buhay Kamao directed by Joyce Bernal
(1999) Bullet directed by Cesar Montano
(1998) Behind Enemy Lines (1997 film) directed by Mark Griffiths
(1998) Tatort-Manila directed by Nikolaus Stein von Kamienski
(1995) In Naam der Koningin directed by Bram Van Erkel
(1992) Divide By Two directed by Ishmael Bernal
(1991) B-Team
(1989) An le Zhan Chang directed by Eric Tsang
(1986) Saigon Commandos directed by Clark Henderson
(1985) Behind Enemy Lines (1986 film) directed by Gideon Amir
(1983) Broken Marriage directed by Ishmael Bernal
(1981) Himala directed by Ishmael Bernal
(1979) Bona directed by Lino Brocka
(1978) Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag directed by Lino Brocka
