indi ko iniisip na meron akong launching movie, and kumita 'yong Mr. Suave. Iniisip ko kasi ngayon, dancer pa rin ako.' Ando'n pa rin pa rin ako sa lebel na 'yon. Ayoko kasi na ang mga kagrupo ko, mailang sa akin because I'm a celebrity na."

Vhong Navarro is speaking with obviously heartfelt humility during one of the few somber moments that he spends with YES! one lazy Saturday afternoon. With the astounding box-office take of his first solo lead starrer, Star Cinema's Mr. Suave, plus the expected good showing of MaQ Productions' Gagamboy at Metro Manila Film Festival-not to mention his regular appearances on TV's "Whattamen" and "Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis" - Vhong is now being hailed as the Golden Boy of Philippine Comedy.

The local showbiz world's bet newest hot property is, however, not an overnight sensation.

LIVING THE DREAM
Born Ferdinand Navarro to Danilo and Imelda Hipolito Navarro on January 4, 1977, Vhong was known in his younger days as Bong-Bong, and he never in his wildest dreams thought he would end up in the movies.

"Ang pangarap ko lang talaga maging dancer," he recalls. "Oo, house dancer lang sa Equinox. Doon lang talaga, pare!" Equinox was a popular Makati disco in the 1980s, when Vhong was growing up in Pasay City.

"Nagma-Michael Jackson na ako no'ng elementary," Vhong says. "And then, high school naman ako, sumasali ako sa mga fiesta, mga dance contest. Pero may dance group na ako no'n. Dancer ako sai sang mobile disco. Nagbubuhat ako ng mabibigat na speaker na malaki pa sa akin. Gano'n lagn buhay ko noon."

It was his original team dream that prompted Vhong, when he was 16 years old, to try out for The Streetboys, a dance group that well-know film director Chito Roño was forming at the time.

"Bale nag-audition siya, tinanggap na siya," Direk Chito recounts. "'Tapos, nag-training siya as a dancer."

Back then, being part of the very visible Streetboys was the most that Vhong could hope for out of life. "Noong bata ako, ang hilig ko, kung mag-aartista man ako, action. Problem, 'yong action, ayaw sa akin dahil sa pangangatawan ko naman," he jokes about his lanky frame. "Talagang sayaw lang."

His manager, however, recognized Vhong's natural gift for comedy and was already making plans for him. "Sa grupo pa talaga, komikero na 'yan," says Direk Chito. "Siya na ang bangka sa mga ganyan."

For the next six years, Vhong honed his craft by playing bit parts on TV. It was not until the dance group headlined Direk Chito's entry to the 2000 Metro Manila Film Festival that people finally took notice of Vhong.

"No'ng ginawa ko 'yong Spirit Warriors, malaki na 'yong 'binigay ko sa kanyang role," Direk Chito recounts. "Actually doon siya pumutok. Na finollow-up naman ng Star Cinema no'ng maging sidekick siya kay Robin at Claudine for Star Cinema [Oops, Teka Lan… Diskarte Ko 'To!], which also was a big hit. Pumasok ang Got 2 Believe. Ayun, parang sunod-sunod na 'yon. Got 2 Believe hanggang sa Jologs, then of course 'yong Spirit Warriors 2. 'Yong first lead niyang role kasi was with Bayani Agabayani, Cass & Cary for Violet Films, which made a lot of money."

HANDLING SUCCESS
It has been 11 years since Vhong started his journey to where he is now, and his gradual rise has tough him not to take his fame for granted.

True enough, Vhong is as much of a delight offscreen as he is onscreen. Even while he is enjoying his well-earned success, he is very easy to take.

"Dati, tinatawag akong Tita Swarding," Vhong says, referring to his critically acclaimed role as Tita Swarding, a gay radio personality, in a "Maalaala Mo Kaya" episode. "Tapos ngayon, tinatawag ngayon Mr. Suave! Minsan nagpapa-autograph, nagpapa-picture. Nahihiya nga ako, kasi dati, minsan, pag dinadaanan nila ako, akala nila siguro driver lang ako! Ngayon, napapansin na ako, so nakakatuwa naman."

With a nudge at the F4 phenomenon, the irrepressible Vhong adds: "Minsan tinatawag pa akong Dao Ming Si, kaya naasar pa ako, e. Nakakainis, dib a?"

BONDING ICE
Asked to comment on his recent success, Vhong grows pensive. "Siguro, sabihin nating pinaghihirapan ko ito," he says. His parent separated when he was till to young to remember, and he was determined not to have the same thing happen to his family, but unfortunately he ended up in the same situation.

"Imbis na damdamin ko 'yon, malungkot ako, isipin ko 'yon-hindi. Nilabanan ko 'yong problemang 'yon, para at least kahit papa'no, siguro, baka career ko mas maayos ko, or mapatunayan ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako ma-affect doon. Basta mangyari, magsumikap ako."

One of his biggest regrets during these hectic days is that he doesn't spend as much time with his son Ice. Isaiah Vhong Lapus Navarrro is his five-year-old child by Bianca Lapus. And while he and Bianca are no longer an item, they have a good relationship, which includes his having unlimited access to his son. It is his access Vhong treasure.

"Wala nga akong time sa family ko, my son, na talagang nagtatampo na sa akin" he says with real guilt. But once things start getting back to normal, he says he will definitely make up for lost time.

"Every weekend nga, nasa akin. So 'yon 'yong time na puwede kaming mamasyal, pumunta kung saan-saan, and then bonding time. Alam mo, natutuwa nga ako roon. Gusto niyang panoorin mga movie ko! Dahil pag bumili ako ng VCD no'n, talagang pinanood niya every day. Oo, talagang ganoon siya. Kabisado niya mga dialogue ko. Bago ko pa lang bitawan ang dialogue sa eksena, alam niya na 'yon, bibitawan na niya!"

Could Ice be set to follow in his father's footsteps?

"Puwede! Gusto niya raw magsayaw, gusto niya mag-artista. 'Yon ang sinasabi niya. 'Tapos, komedyante! Makikita mo pa, pag nag-otso-otso, ang galing! Daig pa ako!"
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