Anna Marie Lukban

Vhong Navarro’s facet as an actor as seen in these Kapamilya programs 

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751527811013Vhong-Navarro’s-facet-as-an-actor-as-seen-in-these-Kapamilya-programs-.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Vhong Navarro is one of the most talented and versatile artists in the local entertainment scene. Aside from being one of the gregarious hosts of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime"><strong><u>“It’s Showtime,”</u></strong></a> he’s also a seasoned performer, comedian, and actor.  </p><p>While we always get to see his flair in hosting, performing, and comedy through the noontime show and his other appearances, it has already been five years since the last time that we’d seen his acting skills through his stints in a movie and a sitcom.  </p><p>And this 2025, Vhong is about to showcase not only his acting chops anew but also a facet of him that we probably have not witnessed yet before through his special participation in the finale of the well-loved ABS-CBN Studios series <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/incognito"><strong><u>“Incognito.”</u></strong></a></p><p>We’ve already gotten a glimpse of him in the “The Final Mission” trailer of the action-drama series, wherein his character, Gaspar, is hinted to be one of the henchmen of Manuel Aguinaldo, portrayed by Joem Bascon. You may spot Vhong at the 1:16 mark of this video:  </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SmdM5tbULP8?si=HvRdZSeIDNtOCBJj" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>But as we look forward to seeing his side as an actor again via “Incognito,” let us revisit first his acting stints in some programs of ABS-CBN through the years.</p><p>As we all know, Vhong is a member of the legendary all-male Filipino dance group Streetboys, which was formed and rose to popularity in the ‘90s. It was also in that same period when his career as an actor and comedian started, with the iconic sitcom “Home Along Da Riles” being one of his first acting forays.  </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S56kkfpD0dE" title="Wansapanataym: Lampaeng feat. Vhong Navarro (Full Episode 210) | Jeepney TV" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>It was succeeded by his stints in other sitcoms, namely “Pwedeng Pwede” (1999), “Whattamen” (2001), and “Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis” (2003), as well as in a couple of narratives of the fantasy-drama anthology “Wansapanataym,” one of which being the “Lampaeng” episode, wherein he took on the titular character Paeng.  </p><p>After his appearance in the 2006 fantasy drama series “Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko”, starring Matt Evans, Vhong went on to breathe life into renowned Pinoy superhero “Lastikman” in the TV adaptation of the popular comics entitled “Mars Ravelo’s Lastikman” in 2007. Since it was his first-ever lead role, he confessed during one of his recent appearances in “Showtime Online U” that he has considered it as his favorite. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZA1aEMNH5RE" title="Lastikman | Episode 86 (1/5) | June 29, 2025" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>He then amused us with his portrayal of Nicholas “Kulas” Moro, the nerdy yet reliable bestie of the titular character in the Kapamilya teleserye “I Love Betty La Fea” in 2008. The following year, he showed off his dramatic chops through his guest appearance as Moy in the inspirational teleserye “May Bukas Pa.”</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UaBh5t3tNuE" title="Moy remains optimistic for Grace | May Bukas Pa" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Despite already being busy with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime"><strong><u>“It’s Showtime”</u></strong></a> then, Vhong was still able to work in the 2010 fantasy drama series, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2024/11/26/throwback-kokey-ako-2010-2339"><strong><u>“Kokey @ Ako,” </u></strong></a> wherein he played the role of Bruce Kho Reyes. The following year, he was cast in “100 Days to Heaven” as Elpidio “Pido” Abucay and in the sitcom “Toda Max” as Justin Bibbo.  </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DrwD6LTXWNw" title="Toda Max V1 (HD)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>In 2019, he was back in making a sitcom via “Home Sweetie Home: Extra Sweet,” taking on the role of Ferdinand “Ferdie” Bustamante. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o91f9LKi6h4" title="Pip discovers Ferdie&#x27;s letter for Julie | HSH Extra Sweet" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Ahead of his much-awaited appearance on “Incognito,”  Vhong swung by the June 30 episode of “Showtime Online U” to promote and talk about his upcoming stint. According to him, it all started when he bumped into Star Creatives head Des De Guzman and told her how much he already missed working on a teleserye. Since he’s a self-confessed avid viewer of the series, he asked her if he could guest star in it, to which she replied, “Ako bahala sa’yo.”  </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zy_nZPbp8OU?si=5rY3ylKsZ6kgmyR8" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>True to her words, Vhong indeed received a call three weeks later offering him a special role in Incognito. Since the finale was shot in Marawi, which used to be the ground zero of the months-long armed conflict between Philippine security forces and Islamic State-affiliated groups in 2017, he confessed to feeling nervous and sad at first. But those were eventually replaced by delight upon seeing how happy the people there were to be visited by the cast of “Incognito.”</p><p>“Parang ang laking bagay na sa konting paraan, nalimutan nila ‘yong pinagdaanan nila dahil nabigyan sila ng kasiyahan, dahil binisita sila ng mga sikat na artista at bida ng ‘Incognito.’ Tapos isa na rin ako sa mga kasama na nagpasaya sa kanila,” he said. </p><p>When asked about his stint, Vhong described it as “pasabog” and hinted that it would be his first time ever to do this kind of role in the decades that he has been in showbiz. It was totally nerve-wracking for him, so he hopes that the people would appreciate it.  </p><p>Are you looking forward as much as us to seeing Vhong in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/incognito"><strong><u>“Incognito”?</u></strong></a> Well, you better not dare miss it by watching the next episodes, weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5.</p>

<p>Let’s revisit Vhong Navarro’s acting stints in some Kapamilya programs through the years.</p>

Let’s revisit Vhong Navarro’s acting stints in some Kapamilya programs through the years.