Even before the rise of Pinoy pop, Jhong Hilario had already established himself as a force in the entertainment industry. From his beginnings with the legendary all-male dance group Streetboys to becoming a respected actor and television host, his career is a testament to decades of talent, versatility, and enduring appeal.
Just three years after entering showbiz, Jhong began expanding his career beyond dance, steadily building an impressive portfolio across television, film, and even theater. Over the years, he has taken on a diverse range of roles that highlighted his growth as an actor, proving that his talents extend far beyond the dance floor.
Most recently, fans eagerly awaiting the ABS-CBN Studios primetime series “Coco Martin’s Sigabo” were thrilled to spot Jhong in the full trailer released on June 15. He is set to portray Django, a nemesis of the main character Gabo, played by Coco.
As we look forward to seeing him in his latest kontrabida role, let us first revisit his TV acting gigs through the years that have defined his journey as an actor in this Kapamilya Spotlight feature.
Although Jhong has been part of the local entertainment scene since 1993 as a dancer, he made his acting debut in 1996. He first honed his craft in films before transitioning to television in 1999.
His first ABS-CBN project came in 2002 through the Emmy-nominated drama series “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay,” where he portrayed Ivan, the childhood friend of lead character Yuri (John Lloyd Cruz). After appearing as Ariel in the 2003 action-drama “Basta’t Kasama Kita,” he took on the notable role of Kuya Dong in the supernatural mystery series “Spirits” in 2004.
That same year, he made his first appearance in Asia’s longest-running drama anthology, “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” He portrayed Filipino-American artist Apl.de.ap of the award-winning hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas, whose inspiring life story was dramatized in the “Jacket” episode.
In 2006, he was cast in the weekly fantaserye “Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko” as Ka Edgar. He also appeared in the “Rugby” episode of “MMK,” playing Bigboy, an acrobat trainer, who helped transform the lives of five “rugby boys” by training them to become acrobats.
The year 2007 proved to be one of his busiest. He starred in the fantasy action drama “Rounin” as Venom, a member of the second generation of elite warriors living in the fictional world of Lumeria. His character was described as dark, secretive, and driven by motives that often remained unclear.
While working on “Rounin,” he also headlined two memorable MMK episodes, namely, “Rehas” and “Tren.” In the critically acclaimed “Rehas” episode, he portrayed Joel, one of the children of letter sender Reming (Gina Pareño), who was forced to confine him and her other son in a makeshift cage after they developed a severe mental health condition. Meanwhile in “Tren,” he played Rex Ferrer, an overseas Filipino worker in Spain who became the lone Filipino casualty in the tragic 2004 Madrid train bombings.
Following his supporting stint as Kevin Marilao in the 2008 fantasy-adventure series “Kung Fu Kids,” Jhong topbilled the “Medal of Valor” episode of MMK in 2009. He portrayed Lieutenant Romualdo “Lolong” Rubi, a recipient of the Philippines’ highest military award for courage, recognized for his extraordinary bravery during his intense, hours-long solo encounter against a communist group in Surigao del Sur.
Despite appearing on TV almost everyday as the resident hurado and eventual mainstay host of “It’s Showtime” since 2010, he still managed to work on his other acting projects over the years.
In 2010, he joined the ensemble of “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo” and “Agimat: Ang mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla: Tonyong Bayawak,” and went on to compel viewers with his remarkable performance as Gary David, the primary antagonist in the remake of “Emil Cruz Jr.’s Mara Clara.”
He later appeared in the MMK episode “Bisikleta,” portraying Jose “Joe” Sumalde, a legendary figure in Philippine cycling who inspired and mentored future champion cyclist Bert Sanchez. He capped off 2011 with his stint in the Kapamilya Christmas series “Ikaw Ay Pag-ibig” as Alex, an optimistic and devoted father to his son, Edison (Louise Abuel), one of the protagonists.
The year 2013 was another particularly busy chapter in Jhong’s career, as he didn’t just join in one but three teleseryes. He had a special participation in the fantasy action drama “Juan Dela Cruz” as antagonist Poldo, a role he later reprised in its prequel, “My Little Juan.” In between those projects, he portrayed the main villain Lucas Caballero, also known as Leon del Torro Jr., in the family drama “Little Champ.”
In 2014, he starred in the “Ako ang Biktima” episode of the legal drama anthology “Ipaglaban Mo” as Erwin, a man who met a tragic end after sexually harassing a woman. The following year, he got cast in the kiddie drama series “Walang Iwanan” as antagonist Kamlon Bautista.
Jhong returned to MMK in 2017 via the “Sto. Niño” episode, where he portrayed Isong, a hardworking habal-habal driver and a barangay tanod who lost his innocent during an alleged Tokhang operation that he used to be a part of. He also headlined the “Hinala” episode of “Ipaglaban Mo” as Ely, a man who killed his wife out of extreme jealousy and rage.
From 2017 to 2018, he brought terror to primetime as Homer “Alakdan” Adlawan, one of Cardo Dalisay’s most formidable enemies in the long-running ABS-CBN Studios series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” In 2019, he starred in the “Kalaguyo” episode of “Ipaglaban Mo” as Tony, a man who mercilessly murdered his wife and sister-in-law in order to pursue his illicit affair with their youngest sister.
Several years later, Jhong made his acting comeback through “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” where he delivered a compelling performance as the younger version of Don Gustavo Guerrero, originally portrayed by Dante Rivero.
Now, in 2026, Jhong is set to captivate viewers once again as he reunites with Coco Martin in the highly anticipated series “Sigabo.” As Django, he is expected to challenge Gabo in what promises to be a series of gripping confrontations that will ignite primetime beginning June 22 on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and iWant.
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