Arzen Rose Dulzura

EXCLUSIVE: CJ Navato reveals his secret side: ‘I have accepted na freak talaga ako’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>It’s been over 17 years since he graduated from the cast of ABS-CBN’s iconic kiddie gag show <em>Goin’ Bulilit</em> along with batchmates Kathryn Bernardo and Jane Oineza. CJ Navato has slowly been carving a name out for himself in showbiz, especially on stage.</p><p>The 28-year-old former child star has not looked back since joining his first theatrical production seven years ago. Starting this week, he stars as one of the leads in The Sandbox Collective’s newest musical <em>Side Show</em> which is based on the lives of real-life conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton who become famous stage performers during the 1930s. </p><p>“First off, napakaganda ng music nito. If you don’t know anything about freaks, they live among us talaga eh. We’re all freaks here. And I think that’s what you’re going to realize once you watch this. Na we’re all freaks here. Wala tayong pinagkaiba. In fact, yung pagkakaiba natin ay pagkakapareho natin. That’s being different makes us the same. Kasi magkakaiba talaga tayo. Pare-pareho tayong magkakaiba and that is okay,” he told <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong> in an exclusive interview. </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJeVQaOhjNu/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A4229739.800000012%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="843" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLVEiD1yhAt/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A4207386.699999988%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="811" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/7/24/exclusive-cj-navato-on-working-with-theater-veteran-jon-santos-ang-sarap-niyang-katrabaho-1203"><strong><u>READ: EXCLUSIVE: CJ Navato on working with theater veteran Jon Santos: ‘Ang sarap niyang katrabaho&#x27;</u></strong></a></div><p>After headlining musicals like PETA’s <em>One More Chance </em>last year and 9 Works Theatrical’s <em>Liwanag Sa Dilim</em> earlier this year, CJ said he has learned to fully embrace his strengths and weaknesses as an actor and continues to improve himself with every show. </p><p>“I feel like a freak talaga eh. I think I’ve learned to accept my freak. I have accepted na freak talaga ako. I’m just different. And yung difference natin, that’s what makes us a freak eh. Sa inaral namin, freak has a lot of terms and nag-change yung terminology niya through time, through history. But the one thing that remained is warrior. So freaks are warriors.</p><p>&quot;Puwede ka maging gym freak, puwede ka maging fitness freak, movie freak, geek, it’s everything eh. It’s a lot of those things. Moreover, ang pinaka ano niya is that a freak is special, different, unique, unusual. Ganun tayo sa lahat ng tayo, depende lang kung sino kausap mo,” he explained. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/2/22/exclusive-cj-navato-on-being-forever-grateful-to-goin-bulilit-it-s-just-part-of-me-1026"><strong><u>READ: EXCLUSIVE: CJ Navato on being forever grateful to ‘Goin’ Bulilit’: ‘It’s just part of me’</u></strong></a></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLnFvzUy3md/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A4148451%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Working with some of the most talented theater actors in the country, CJ said that it is more than worth the ticket to see his co-stars like Vien King and Jon Santos perform live on stage,</p><p>“First thing to look forward to is napakagaling ng cast na ito. This will make you laugh, this will make you cry, and this will make your heart melt. I swear. Kikiligin ka. It’s a lot of things. Ma-su-surprise ka and ma-e-entertain ka. Ang ma-e-expect mo sa akin, if you’ve heard me sing before, you haven’t heard me sing like this. So come watch our musical, come watch the show on July 26 to August 17!” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/3/10/cj-navato-on-falling-in-love-with-doing-theater-sobrang-nakakapuno-ng-puso-2003"><strong><u>READ: CJ Navato on falling in love with doing theater: &#x27;Sobrang nakakapuno ng puso&#x27;</u></strong></a></div><p>When not busy with performances, CJ said he is perfectly happy and content enjoying the single life. “I’m 28. Wala, wala pa plano. Matagal pa tayo. Kung darating sa akin ay darating siya sa akin. Hindi ko yan minamadali. I am happy and darating sa akin yan. Love is always around the corner,” he admitted. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMT_stsTN29/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A4077184.300000012%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/2/22/exclusive-cj-navato-on-being-forever-grateful-to-goin-bulilit-it-s-just-part-of-me-1026"><strong><u>READ: EXCLUSIVE: CJ Navato on being forever grateful to ‘Goin’ Bulilit’: ‘It’s just part of me’</u></strong></a></div><p>Watch CJ Navato in <em>Side Show</em> the musical which runs until August 17, 2025 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, in Circuit Mall, Makati. The cast also includes Jon Santos, Vien King, Reb Atadero, Tim Pavino, Tanya Manalang, Marynor Madamesila, Krystal Kane, Molly Langley, Joshua Cabiladas, Marvin Ong, and many more. Directed by Toff De Venecia and produced by The Sandbox Collective. </p>

<p>CJ Navato takes on another challenging role as one of the leads in the latest Sandbox Collective musical 'Side Show.' </p>

CJ Navato takes on another challenging role as one of the leads in the latest Sandbox Collective musical 'Side Show.'