Born Ferdinand Hipolito Navarro on January 4, 1977 in Makati, Philippines, the multi-faceted entertainer known professionally as Vhong Navarro is an actor, writer, dancer, and TV host of ABS-CBN’s variety show It’s Showtime, for which he received numerous awards, named in the Best Reality/Game Show Hosts category at the PMPC Star Awards for TV 2012. Prior to that, he had acquired roles in 2000 films Anghel dela guardia and Spirit Warriors and was one of the original members of dance group the Streetboys. He started a dance craze following the release of his debut single "Pamela" in 2004, which was also made into a movie called Otso-otso pamela-mela wan. His first studio album, Totoy Bibbo, also arrived in 2004 with follow-up, Don Romantiko, coming the following year. He went on to release another two albums, Chickboy (2007) and Let's Dance (2008), while simultaneously building up his acting career, appearing in films like 2020's Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim, as well as on television, including 2021 interactive reality show Your Face Sounds Familiar. Vhong Navarro's career has also been plagued by controversies. In 2014, he was assaulted by a group of men after being accused of attempted rape by two women, allegations he has denied.
