Yul Servo
John Marvin "Yul Servo" Cruz Nieto is a Filipino actor, visual artist and politician who has served as the 34th Vice Mayor of Manila from 2022 to 2025.
Early life and education
Nieto, nicknamed "Jon-Jon" as a child, was born in Calumpit, Bulacan, and was raised in Binondo, Manila. Nieto's father, Glenn Martin Romano Nieto, is an architect by profession who used to own a tailoring shop and served as a city councilor from 1988 to 1995. His mother was Zenaida Cruz Nieto. The second of eight children in a Manila middle-class family, Nieto studied and graduated from the Philippine College of Criminology to become a policeman but was pushed into acting by his maternal uncle.Entertainment career
Servo entered show business in 2001. His stage name Yul Servo was chosen by director Maryo J. de los Reyes in homage to Russian actor Yul Brynner and Servo being the name of the head waiter in the restaurant de los Reyes frequented. He initially wanted his stage name as Ador Papa, after a famous swimmer, but agreed to the stage name given by the director. Servo started his career as a theater actor. Servo's notable films include Batang West Side, Laman, Naglalayag, Torotot, and Brutus. Several of Servo's notable acting accolades include winning the Best Actor award for Naglalayag at the 2004 Brussels Independent Film Festival, an international award-giving body based in Belgium.Following his loss in the 2025 Manila local elections, which ended his 18-year political stint in the city, he returned to show business through GMA Network's TV series My Father's Wife.
Political career
Servo entered politics in 2007 with his election to the Manila City Council. Upon being term-limited during his third term, Servo was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 to represent Manila's 3rd congressional district in the chamber, being reelected to a second term in 2019.Although he was one of the actors who appeared on some of the programs of ABS-CBN, he is among the 70 representatives who voted "yes" to "kill" the franchise renewal of the said network, the largest in the Philippines. A former heavy smoker himself and quitter, Servo is also the proponent of the Smoke-Free Environment Bill which aims to create more public places for people to be free from the dangers of second-hand smoke.
Servo was later elected vice mayor of Manila in 2022 under the local party Asenso Manileño. He was the running mate of then-vice mayor Honey Lacuna, who was elected mayor.
As vice mayor, Servo highlighted the Manila City Council’s efforts to improve transparency by launching a website to access the city's ordinances and establishing a legislative team to develop new ordinances. During his tenure, the city council has approved 185 ordinances and 1,119 resolutions as of August 2024. He also emphasized his near-perfect attendance record, missing only one session as vice mayor due to late arrival on August 22, 2024. He ran for re-election in 2025, but lost to Chi Atienza.
Controversies
On February 16, 2013, months before the election, police arrested and detained Servo, fellow councilor Joel Chua, two other incumbent councilors, former councilor Manuel Zarcal, and vice mayor Isko Moreno due to alleged bingo operations held in a public place in Santa Cruz, Manila, and a lack of permit. Moreno claimed Mayor Alfredo Lim was behind his arrest, which Lim denied, and they asserted that the bingo game was not illegal as it involved no wagers, was held in a private compound, and aimed to entertain attendees of a consultation program. They were released a day later, and the gambling charges were eventually dismissed by the Department of Justice due to lack of evidence and vague allegations. The police complainants also failed to cite a particular provision of the law that was violated.In August 2024, members of the Manila City Council allied with former Mayor Isko Moreno filed an injunction against Servo, Majority Floor Leader Ernesto Isip Jr., Minority Floor Leader Philip Lacuna, and 19 other councilors allied with incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna for allegedly conducting a session during recess on July 23, when the city government declared all work to be suspended in view of Typhoon Carina. The Moreno allies who filed the suit condemned the meeting as being "illegal and secret", noting that city council funds were transferred to the office of the mayor during the meeting. Servo belied the suit and said that the session was livestreamed.
In September 2024, Manila Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Juliana Rae “Yanyan” Ibay filed with the Ombudsman a complaint against Servo and the city councilors for violation of the Local Government Code and the Sangguniang Kabataan Act of 2015. The case stemmed from her alleged illegal ouster as youth committee chairwoman during a ‘secret session.'
Personal life
Servo is married to Flovelyn Lola and has five children. Their son Lucas was the third nominee of Juan Pinoy Partylist for the 2025 election, where it ran unsuccessfully.Outside acting and politics, Servo is an avid skateboarding fan and rides the skateboard. Servo is good friends with fellow actor Piolo Pascual, who is also the godfather to four of Servo's children.
Filmography
Film
Television
Acting awards and nominations
| Year | Award giving body | Category | Nominated work | Results |
| 2001 | Cinemanila International Film Festival | Best Actor | Batang West Side | Won |
| 2004 | Brussels Independent Film Festival | Best Actor | Naglalayag | Won |
| 2005 | FAMAS Award | Best Actor | Naglalayag | |
| 2008 | Brussels Independent Film Festival | Best Actor | Torotot | Won |
| 2008 | Brussels Independent Film Festival | Best Actor | Brutus, Ang Paglalakbay | Won |
| 2008 | Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Brutus, Ang Paglalakbay | Won |