Rendon Labador
Rendon Labador is a Filipino social media personality known for speaking very directly. He often talks about public figures and shares his opinions on different issues in the Philippines. He became well-known after a meme he made, called "Motivational Rice" went viral online. 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 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 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 fields. 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.2021
In July, Labador made headlines after an altercation with Filipino-Portuguese actor 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
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 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., 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 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. 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.On November, Labador publicly called out Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited winner Slater Young amid ongoing controversy surrounding the celebrity engineer. Rendon criticized Young for his luxury condominium project in the upland area of Cebu City, questioning its environmental impact. On his Facebook page, Rendon wrote, "Let's ask Young what's good to do in Sierra Madre. Where is he ? contact me, we have a project. You haven't replied to my message." Many netizens also voiced disapproval, suggesting that Young's project contributed to worsening flooding in Cebu during Typhoon Kalmaegi.
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 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 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.