Benigno Dungo Perez (born November 27, 1990), popularly known as Ion Perez (), is a Filipino actor, model, and television host. He is best known as the ''Kuya Escort'' in the ''Miss Q and A'' segment of '' It's Showtime''. He is a regular host on

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine Commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast broadcast network, network tha ...

's noontime variety show '' It's Showtime''.

Early life

Perez is the 11th of 15 siblings with his father a

jeepney Jeepneys (), sometimes called jeeps (), are minibus-like public utility vehicles, serving as the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They are known for their crowded seating and kitsch decorations, which have become ...

driver and his mother a ''

kakanin A rice cake may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a single object. A wide variety of rice cakes exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten and are particularly preval ...

vendor In a supply chain, a vendor, supplier, provider or a seller, is an enterprise that contributes goods or services. Generally, a supply chain vendor manufactures inventory/stock items and sells them to the next link in the chain. Today, these terms ...

. According to some of his interviews from the past, he was bullied when he was younger because of his lanky frame. As a response, he motivated himself to get fit and take care of himself. He used to help his parents run a poultry shop inside a wet market. After developing muscles, Perez often went shirtless as a marketing tactic to help draw in customers to his parents' stall.

Career

Perez works as a model having been featured in the bachelors list of Cosmopolitan Philippines fashion magazine. He also participated in pageants. Perez was among the winners of the 2017 Misters of Filipinas and was the winner of the 2018 Mister Universe Tourism. His victories in pageants led him to more opportunities in his modelling career. He was initially hesitant to join pageants. It took three years of convincing from his

manager Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activities o ...

for him to enter pageants. Perez first joined

's '' It's Showtime'' in September 2018 to audition for the "Kuya Escort" role. He secured the role and eventually became a co-host in the show.

Personal life

On October 19, 2021, Ion Perez and

Vice Ganda Jose Marie Borja Viceral (born March 31, 1976), popularly known as Vice Ganda (; ), is a Filipino comedian, talk show host, television presenter, actor, entrepreneur, and singer. He is a regular host on ABS-CBN's noontime variety show '' It' ...

underwent a commitment ceremony at The Little Vegas Chapel in

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

. It was year 2018 when he first appeared in ''It's Showtime'' but even before he got to work with Vice, they already met in ''

Gandang Gabi Vice ''Gandang Gabi, Vice!'' () is a Philippine late-night comedy talk show broadcast by ABS-CBN, hosted by Vice Ganda. The program premiered from May 22, 2011, and aired every Sunday from 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM, on the network's ''Yes Weekend!'' block. ...

''.

Filmography

Television

Film

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perez, Ion 1990 births Living people Filipino television presenters Filipino television variety show hosts Filipino male models Male actors from Metro Manila Star Magic Male actors from Manila Filipino LGBT actors