Rendon Labador

Rendon Labador is a Filipino social media personality known for his direct and outspoken style, often criticizing public figures and commenting on controversial topics, particularly those related to social issues in the Philippines. He gained significant attention with a viral social media post featuring a meme he created, humorously dubbed the "Motivational Rice". Labador became one of the most hated and controversial internet personalities in the Philippines.

In 2020, Labador rose to prominence social media, following his earlier work in the fitness culture as a bodybuilder, which he began in 2014. He founded the gym ''Fitness Army'' in 2019, and also opened a restaurant called ''Episode Bar + Kitchen'', which eventually closed following negative comments surrounding his online presence.

Early life

Labador is eldest of six siblings. He was not raised by his parents, but instead was brought up by his aunt and grandparents. His father, Manolito Labador, is a retired general of the Philippine National Police and a fitness enthusiast. He graduated from the University of the East, where he began his studies in Information technology before transitioning to Civil engineering, earning a dual degree in both topics. He has referred to himself as a "geek", with calculus being his preferred subject.

Social media

Labador regularly discusses hot-button issues, including politics, social norms, and public figures. He has been involved in several controversies related to his criticisms of media content.

2021

In July, Labador made headlines after an altercation with Filipino-Portuguese actor Kiko Matos during the ''Battle of the YouTubers'' event. A video of the incident went viral online, showing Labador initially thanking his supporters before being interrupted by Matos, who shouted "bobo ka!" ("") at him. Labador appeared to ignore the insult at first but then suddenly punched Matos in the head. The confrontation was quickly broken up by bouncers at the venue. Following the incident, both Labador and Matos uploaded videos on their respective YouTube channels expressing their intention to pursue legal action against each other.

2022

In September, Christiana Gabrielle Dimaunahan, a UAAP women's basketball player and daughter of basketball player and coach Aris Dimaunahan, also addressed Labador's comments. Dimaunahan, who was part of the National University Lady Bulldogs' historic winning streak, took to social media to confront Labador, calling out his perceived arrogance and dismissiveness toward the contributions of national athletes.

In October, Labador issued a public apology to Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes after previously criticizing him during the team's struggles in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. In his statement, Labador recognized Reyes's sacrifices and courage, following the national team's eventual win.

In December, Rendon Labador criticized members of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans after a video of them allegedly ignoring fans in Boracay went viral on TikTok. Sharing the clip on Facebook, Labador questioned the team's manners, writing: "Sino po ang coach nitong mga ito? Dagdagan pa natin ng konti pang training sa good manners and right conduct." () Television presenter Kim Atienza also commented, urging athletes to show gratitude to fans or maintain privacy if they prefer not to engage.

Actress Nadine Lustre reacted to a controversial comment made by Labador on social media. A screenshot of Labador's remark circulated online, where he appeared to question Lustre's demeanor and image. He also referred to himself as a motivational speaker while allegedly making statements interpreted by some users as confrontational or aggressive. Lustre responded in a quote-retweet on Twitter (now known as X)

2023

In June, Labador faced backlash over his comments about actress Andrea Brillantes. Labador criticized Brillantes's behavior and appearance, which many viewed as misogynistic. His comments referenced her breakup with basketball player Ricci Rivero.

In July, Labador criticized a segment from the ''ABS-CBN'' show '' It's Showtime'', where Vice Ganda and Ion Perez licked icing off their fingers in front of children, calling it inappropriate. Labador's comments quickly escalated the situation, leading the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to summon the producers of the show and eventually suspend it for 12 days. Labador celebrated the suspension, while ''ABS-CBN'' planned to challenge the decision.

Labador made headlines by criticizing comedian Michael V. in a social media post. Labador claimed that Michael V and other celebrities were " outdated" and accused them of lacking influence compared to social media personalities like himself. Labador asserted that social media now holds more power in shaping public opinion than traditional media. This statement sparked controversy and debate regarding the role and influence of social media in the entertainment industry.

In August, Labador has been vocal in criticizing various television personalities. He targeted senator Tito Sotto and his wife Helen Gamboa for their on-air display of affection during the 44th anniversary of the noontime show '' E.A.T.'' (commonly known as Eat Bulaga! after reclaiming its original title), Labador deemed the act as indecent and inappropriate for national TV, calling on the MTRCB to take action. He criticized Sotto for setting a bad example and accused him of contributing to the moral decline of television content. Labador also reacted to an apology from ''E.A.T''. management over a controversial joke made by comedian Joey de Leon, advising de Leon to change his ways despite the apology. Labador continues to push for an investigation by the MTRCB.

In September, Labador's Facebook page was deleted, which he attributed to the mass reporting of his pages to fans of '' Batang Quiapo'' starring Coco Martin and ''It’s Showtime'' host Vice Ganda. In response, Labador posted a message on his other social media platforms, expressing his gratitude to his supporters and promising to release an official statement on his YouTube channel. A few weeks later, Labador's Facebook page was restored.

2024

Labador expressed disapproval of internet personality and entrepreneur Deo Balbuena, also known as Diwata, who filed a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) for the 2025 elections. Labador reacted to news about Balbuena’s political plans, stating that running for office should not be taken lightly. He implying that Diwata may not be fully aware of the responsibilities associated with public service.

Vlogger and entrepreneur, Rosmar Tan-Pamulaklakin was publicly addressed by Labador regarding her decision to run for public office in the 2025 Philippine midterm elections. Through a social media post, Labador advised Tan to withdraw her candidacy for councilor of the 1st district of Manila, stating, "Hindi mo alam ang pinapasok mo, hindi internet ang pulitika. Mag-backout ka na lang para matahimik na ang Pilipinas." ()

2025

In May, Labador called out content creator Euleen Castro, also known as "Pambansang Yobab", after she posted a negative food review of a coffee shop in Iloilo. He took to Facebook, saying that criticisms should not harm small businesses and that "no to body shaming" should not be used as a shield for bad behavior. In the same month, a vlogger named Yanna drew backlash after a viral video showed her making an obscene gesture during a road altercation, which resulted in a show cause order issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Labador responded on Facebook, criticizing her behavior and reminding influencers of their responsibility to set a positive example, with his remarks gaining significant attention online. Labador criticized a now-deleted viral video by vlogger Ser Geybin that featured a child sliding down a chair, calling it inappropriate and exploitative. He emphasized that public apologies should not be considered enough when minors are involved, urging relevant government agencies to investigate the matter and hold content creators accountable.

Other ventures

''Fitness Army'' and ''Episode Bar + Kitchen''

Labador is the owner of ''Fitness Army'', a fitness gym, and previously operated a restaurant called ''Episode Bar + Kitchen'', which permanently closed in 2023, after the establishment drew online attention for its ₱100 "motivational rice", though it was later clarified that the price had been adjusted to ₱50.

''PNP fitness program''

On June 19, 2025, Labador was invited to assist in promoting physical fitness among police personnel, in line with the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame, Quezon City. The program was conducted in response to PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III's renewed emphasis on ensuring that police officers remain physically fit. According to Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) Director Brig. Gen. Marvin Joe Saro, the initiative was not a formal partnership but a voluntary collaboration, with no financial arrangement involved.

Labador introduced a 93-day "motivated functional workout and nutrition program", which departed from the typical fitness routines often implemented in police training, such as Zumba and Tae Bo. Around 150 officers initially enrolled in the program, which Labador said was designed to promote physical conditioning and mental discipline among law enforcement personnel.

On June 24, Labador was quickly evicted from a police physical fitness activity. The event, part of a PNP initiative dubbed "Pulisteniks", aimed to encourage overweight officers to participate in fitness training. Though the official memo did not name him, it referenced the June 19 event organized by the PCADG, where Labador led a workout. Negative reactions on social media led senior police officials to clarify that he was not hired to lead the PNP's fitness program.

Views

Behavior and life discipline

In online posts and interviews, Labador talks about what he sees as a culture of complacency and excuses, which he criticizes. According to '' Daily Tribune'', in a 2023 interview on '' One News (The Big Story)'' with Gretchen Ho, Labador stated that he posts his opinions without prior research or analysis, explaining that mistakes can be corrected: "Pag nagkamali ka ngayon, pwede mo na baguhin." () He criticized overanalyzing decisions, saying it often leads to failure or delay. Labador also remarked that he does not selectively target individuals in his criticisms, asserting, "Basta 'pag may nakita akong mali, iko-correct ko kahit sino." ()

He has also been involved in various controversies, including a physical altercation with actor Kiko Matos, a widely criticized response to a Facebook commenter, and motivational statements that some audiences have described as unclear or contradictory. He criticized content that "fights for likes", arguing instead that creators must first influence themselves before seeking to inspire others.

In a 2023 interview with ''SunStar'', Following his declaration as ''persona non grata'' by the municipal council of Coron, Palawan, due to alleged "disorderly behavior" and actions described as "inimical to the morals of the community", he responded by emphasizing the importance of personal accountability. He stated that individuals should take responsibility for their mistakes and treat setbacks as opportunities for growth, adding that there were "lessons learned" from the incident.

Motivational Rice

Labador's growing presence on social media, especially his "Motivational Rice" campaign, drew a wide range of reactions from the public. While some saw it as a creative and humorous way to inspire discipline, others criticized it as attention-seeking and overpriced.

Australian-British doctor and YouTube content creator Doc Adam Smith praised Labador's efforts to raise awareness about health issues such as obesity and diabetes in the Philippines. In a video, Smith interpreted the "Motivational Rice" campaign as an unconventional but creative approach to promoting healthier lifestyle choices and personal accountability. Swedish-Filipino fashion influencer Bryanboy said he wasn't motivated by Labador's rice, claiming they eat rice from Gucci worth 20,000 euros.

Controversies

Livestreaming of Makati police raid

In 2023, Labador was under investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for livestreaming a police raid on an online lending company in Makati. The raid, conducted by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in collaboration with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), targeted the company for allegedly harassing clients who failed to repay loans. Labador's livestream, which showed the faces of employees and included a caption suggesting their guilt, has been criticized by the families of the workers. The PNP spokesperson Capt. Michelle Sabino expressed concern that his presence and actions during the raid might have violated police protocols.

Persona non grata declaration in Palawan

In June 2024, Rendon Labador along with Rosmar Tan and Marki Tan, was declared persona non-grata in the entire province of Palawan due to their disrespectful behavior, negative publicity, incitement to conflict, and violations of Republic Act No. 10951 (the 'Property and Damage Penalty Adjustment Act'), Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code, and Republic Act No. 11313 (the 'Safe Spaces Act'). The incident stemmed from Labador and Rosmar Tan angrily confronting a government employee at the municipal hall of Coron, Palawan for allegedly defaming them online over a charity event that they held.

Personal life

Labador is a fitness instructor and entrepreneur and is known for being a "motivational speaker". In October 2021, Labador's partner, fellow fitness instructor and model Hazel Joy Ortiz, gave birth to their son. His brother named Jormiel Labador is also a social media personality.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

Further reading

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External links

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Rendon Labador
on YouTube

{{DEFAULTSORT:Labador, Rendon
Living people
21st-century Filipino businesspeople
Filipino YouTubers
Filipino Internet celebrities
Filipino male television actors
Social media influencers
Filipino bloggers
Filipino motivational speakers
Filipino exercise instructors
Internet-related controversies
People involved in race and intelligence controversies
Filipino restaurateurs
University of the East alumni
Filipino male film actors