# Juan Karlos Labajo

Juan Karlos Labajo Stolz (Tagalog:; born February 5, 2001) is a Filipino singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Labajo rose to fame at age 13 when he finished third in the first season (2014) of The Voice Kids. He is the frontman and primary songwriter of his namesake band Juan Karlos. He has since released two studio albums as a solo artist and two studio albums with his band.
As an actor, he had supporting roles in the ABS-CBN television series Hawak-Kamay (2014), Pangako Sa 'Yo (2015–16), A Love to Last (2017), and Senior High (2023–24). He was also a celebrity housemate in the reality show Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7 (2016). In film, Labajo was nominated for the Gawad Urian Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Blue Room (2022). He also portrayed Senator Ninoy Aquino in the musical biopic Ako si Ninoy (2023).

## Early life

Labajo was born on February 5, 2001, and raised in Consolacion, Cebu by his mother, Maylinda Labajo. His German father left them when he was still a baby. His mother died when he was twelve years old, on November 17, 2013. He now lives with his uncle Jovanni and grandmother Linda in Metro Manila.
Growing up, Labajo experienced bullying, especially in school. The bullies, who usually acted in groups, teased and punched him because of his looks. Although his Caucasian appearance gave the impression that his family was well-off, they were actually in debt but still able to afford the luxurious life. He later revealed that at the time he made the semi-finals of The Voice Kids, his grandmother asked for financial support from Cebu governor Hilario Davide III. Although the amount was only ₱100, he was still grateful for the governor's support.

## Career
### 2014:The Voice Kids breakthrough

Labajo performed his own rendition of Adam Sandler's song, "Grow Old With You", for ABS-CBN's The Voice Kids season 1 blind auditions, which was broadcast on June 7, 2014. Coaches Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo Mañalac both pressed their buttons to choose him for their teams. Geronimo praised his storytelling. The double selection gave Labajo the choice of coaches. Although Geronimo invited him to be a guest star at her upcoming concert, he picked Mañalac. His new coach called him "the funniest kid I have ever met".
Labajo advanced to the four-person finals after singing "Sway" during the live semi-finals held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. From the public votes, he received the third-highest total of the semi-finalists, after Lyca Gairanod and Darren Espanto. During the first and second rounds of the finals, Labajo performed "Yesterday" and "Runaway Baby" by The Beatles and Bruno Mars respectively. Coach Lea Salonga said, "You have the looks, the charm, and the heart. With those three, you're guaranteed a future in this business." Mañalac gave him a similar comment: "I see a singer, an artist, and possibly an actor. I see someone who has the charisma to do it all." For the final round in the finals, Labajo sang a duet with Gary Valenciano, the upbeat song "Eto Na Naman". At the end of the competition, he once again came in third from the voting.
The Voice Kids Philippines season 1 performances and results :
| Week | Theme | Song | Original artist | Date | Result |
| Blind Audition | — | "Grow Old With You" | Adam Sandler | June 7, 2014 | Sarah and Bamboo turned Joined Team Bamboo's Kamp Kawayan |
| Battle Rounds | — | "A Thousand Years" (vs. Julienne Echavez vs. Maite Zubiri) | Christina Perri | July 5, 2014 | Saved by coach |
| Sing-offs | — | "Stay" | Rihanna | July 6, 2014 | Saved by coach |
| Semi-finals | — | "Sway" | Dean Martin | July 19, 2014 | Saved by public votes (third highest vote total) |
| Finals | Round One: Power Ballad | "Yesterday" | The Beatles | July 26, 2014 | 2nd runner-up |
| Finals | Round Two: Upbeat | "Runaway Baby" | Bruno Mars | July 26, 2014 | 2nd runner-up |
| Finals | Round Three: Duet with a celebrity | "Eto Na Naman" (with Gary Valenciano) | Gary Valenciano | July 27, 2014 | 2nd runner-up |
After the season of The Voice Kids Philippines Labajo, along with his other three co-finalists in The Voice Kids, officially became a part of Star Magic, ABS-CBN's training and management center.
Labajo's first project as part of Star Magic was in ABS-CBN's family drama series Hawak-Kamay. A preview on August 15, 2014, showed him with the show's cast. His fellow The Voice Kids finalist, Lyca Gairanod, joined him in the cast on August 22. He has also appeared in the drama anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya playing himself for his own life story.

### 2015: Pangako Sa 'Yo and debut album

To continue Labajo's acting career he played as Nico in ABS-CBN's TV Series Ipaglaban Mo: Sa Dulo ng Daan episode last May 9, 2015. Labajo was also cast in "Pangako Sa 'Yo" and plays the role of "Amboy Mobido", one of Yna's friends and is the brother of "Egoy"/Jonathan Mobido (Grae Fernandez ) At auditions for a church play "Josephine the Dreamer" Amboy is filled with awe as he sees the beautiful Lia Buenavista daughter of Governor Buenavista known to Amboy as "Lia B". At the auditions when it is time for Lia to tryout Amboy love struck as usual interrupts constantly to tell the judges to give the part. Although Amboy thinks Lia sings beautifully but she does not get the part. Later on Lia tries again for a second time and both Amboy and Egoy are there. As they watch the auditions Egoy innocently falls in love but tries to resist knowing how much his brother loves her. Egoy and Amboy's contributions to the storyline of the show will start to intertwine as the series continues.
In August 2015, Labajo released his debut album, "JK". It has a total of 8 songs, including a special band version of "Para Sa 'Yo," and an acoustic version of "This Gravity". "Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam" is a special song on the album, because JK dedicates it to his late mother.
In October, he was the MYX Celebrity VJ for the month of October, which was his first time.

### 2016: We Love OPM: The Celebrity Sing-Offs and Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7

In May 2016, Labajo was one of the contestants in the Filipino reality music competition show We Love OPM The Celebrity Sing-Offs on ABS-CBN which was aired from May 14, 2016, to July 17, 2016. His other co-teammates were The Voice Kids Season 2 Finalist Kyle Echarri and PBB 737 Teens' Finalist Bailey May. Their CelebriTeam's name was supposedly "Poon and Fork", Labajo jokingly suggested to their mentor Richard Poon, but Poon declined Labajo's witty suggestion. And so, the three decided that their CelebriTeam's name would be Voice Next Door. They performed the songs Sa Kanya popularized by Martin Nievera, Pangarap na Bituin by Sharon Cuneta, Lalake by Hagibis, Paano by Gary Valenciano, Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo by Rey Valera with the Oh My Girls CelebriTeam which consists of Alexa Ilacad, Ylona Garcia, and Krissha Viaje, Macho Gwapito by Rico J. Puno, Sayang na Sayang by Aegis, Wag Kang Pabebe by Vice Ganda, and Blue Jeans by APO Hiking Society.
Labajo wasn't present in some episodes due to fever or for having another schedule during the taping of those episodes. From week nine of the show until the semi-finals, Labajo was permanently absent due to his competition in Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7 in Vietnam and in the Philippines. And so his co-teammates Kyle Echarri and Bailey May were the only ones left in the group. The Voice Next Door was eliminated in the Semi-finals of the show.
After, Labajo with Andrea Brillantes and the other Kapamilya Teen Stars' production in ASAP last July 3, 2016, Robi Domingo and Toni Gonzaga announced that he will be joining the new Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7. Labajo shared some of his expectations and said that he is excited to be part of the reality show. On "Day 0", he, Yassi Pressman, Jinri Park, McCoy de Leon, and Nikko Natividad were introduced as the first five celebrity housemates. They were flown from Manila to Vietnam becoming the show's first time out of the country experience. Although, Jinri, JK, and Hideo were the only ones left due to their visa and immigration conflict.
On "Day 2", the three were finally able to arrive in Vietnam after the immigration and visa issue. In that morning, they were chained and blindfolded inside the living room in the Big Brother Vietnam House, making the housemates to unchain them within 30 minutes. Luckily, they were successful with their task.
On "Day 19", Labajo came back to the PBB House, since the girl housemates were able to guess him while they were blindfolded.
During their second Lucky Task which was to come up with a water puppet show, Labajo suggested something but Nonong and Chacha didn't approve to his suggestion, making him feel ignored. Labajo later on went to the confession room to have some advice from Kuya. He cried for a little inside the confession room because he felt like he didn't have any worth since he was the youngest among the celebrity housemates. Kuya told him to be more open to his housemates since they were his second family. Nonong and Chacha suspected that he wasn't feeling okay, and so they asked him what was wrong. Labajo didn't say anything about it and both Nonong and Chacha gave him the offer to control the puppets, but he refused and stuck with playing the guitar for the music of their water puppet show. After their successful task, the three of them talked again until Labajo admitted that he was feeling ignored with his suggestions by them. Also, he followed Kuya's advice to be open to them.
On July 15's episode of the show, Kuya asked Labajo in the confession room about his personal life. He then shared about his past in Cebu, how hard it was for him and how he felt about it. After Kuya asking him about his mother, he teared up and told Kuya how regretful he was because he wasn't able to spend much time with his mother like how others kids do with theirs. He also shared that he was present during his mother's death. Kuya told him that his mother is very proud of him, regardless of wherever she is. Kuya also told him that he has come far from where he was, and that he will experience more as he grows older so that he should live his life as a child since he still is.
During the celebrity housemates' Big Jump Challenge, Labajo's helper for that challenge was his younger half-brother Louie Stephan Labajo, who made him shock when he first saw him after many months. After the Big Jump Challenge, Labajo was in the confession room. Kuya asked how his relationship with his brother was, and he told him that it was a neighborly type. He admitted that he was jealous of his mother's second family since his mother spent more of her time with her family rather than with him. He also mentioned that he and his two younger half-brothers weren't close, making him say that he always wanted a sibling. Although mentioned earlier, he wasn't close with them. He cried but Kuya told him that he's still young and he has the ability to spend his time with his brothers because dreams can be reached.
Labajo was unable to pass the Big Jump Challenge, making him be evicted along with Nonong, Elisse, Yassi, and Hideo on Day 23. Moreover, on Day 32 which was the PBB: Lucky 7 Teen Edition, he guested during the SwerTeen Ball, surprising Vivoree Esclito, one of the housemates who didn't have a partner that time. He was asked by Kuya to play Vivoree's own song composition, which he did.

### 2017: A Love to Last, sophomore album, and film debut

Labajo served as the MYX Celebrity VJ for the month of January 2017, his second time wherein his first was last October 2015. On January 9, 2017, ABS-CBN's A Love to Last premiered nationwide on television, making his first appearance on the first episode playing the role of Lucas Noble, the son of Anton Noble IV and Grace Silverio-Noble. On January 16, MCA Music announced on their social media accounts that his first ever major solo concert and birthday concert entitled, "JKL Live" was "postponed indefinitely due to unforeseen circumstances." Last February 6, 2017, Labajo's second album entitled, "JKL", was released in selected Astroplus and Astrovision stores. His album consists of 8 tracks with his 3 own compositions entitled, "Demonyo", "Forever" a wedding song, and "Move On" which he composed when he was still in PBB. It also comes up with an EDM-like version.
Later that year, Labajo made his first movie appearance as part of Joven Tan's indie film Tatlong Bibe.

### 2018–present: Juan Karlos

In 2018, JK revealed that he is forming a band named after him. He released one of his most popular songs, "Buwan" (moon in English) in June 2018.
In January 2024, Labajo and fellow actor-singer Kyle Echarri released "Kasing Kasing" (lit. 'Heart'), a Visayan pop ballad that is fully in Cebuano. Labajo and Echarri initially planned to write the song in Tagalog, but decided to write it in Cebuano, their native language, instead. They shared that they felt Cebuano music lacked representation in the Philippines' mainstream music industry. In an interview, Echarri said, "We wanted to show how Bisaya people are with our language with how we express our emotions[...]," adding that the two hoped to normalize using Cebuano in songs. In July, Labajo announced an end to what he called his phase of producing "sad boy music" through the release of his album Sad Songs and Bulls**t Part 2. In October, Labajo remembered his grandmother Linda in launching “Juan Karlos LIVE” set for November 29 in SM Mall of Asia Arena. His first major concert is directed by Paolo Valenciano, produced by Nathan Studios with Universal Music Group Philippines support.

### Influences

Labajo stated that he wanted to have a career in the entertainment industry since he was very young because he wanted to leave a mark in the world. He was also influenced by his late mother, who hoped he would win a television singing contest. Recently, he's been sharing both in interviews and social media that some of his inspirations in his career are Daniel Day-Lewis, Joel Torre, and some other known jazz artists like Django Reinhardt and Bill Evans. He is also an aspiring photographer.

## Personal life

On May 30, 2017, Labajo confirmed his relationship with model Maureen Wroblewitz until they broke up on June 10, 2022. The then-couple had once starred in the 2018 music video Buwan.
Labajo is currently dating singer and model Dia Maté. They co-produced a song titled "Ocean of Emotion".
In October, Labajo said the lawsuit filed by Darren Espanto's mother Marinel Gonzales had been dismissed. The case is anchored on Labajo's alleged deleted tweet on sexuality "gayness at its finest".

## Filmography
### Movies

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2017 | Tatlong Bibe | James | Supporting Cast |
| 2022 | Blue Room | Anton | Lead Cast |
| 2023 | Ako si Ninoy | Benigno Aquino Jr. | Lead Cast |
| 2023 | When This Is All Over | The Guy | Lead Role |
| 2024 | Lolo and the Kid | Adult Kid | Special Participation |
| 2025 | Ex Ex Lovers | Joey | Supporting role |
| 2025 | Untold † | | Supporting Role |

### TV drama series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Picture | Himself | Lead Role |
| 2014 | Hawak-Kamay | Charles Kenneth "CK" Rodriguez | Supporting Cast |
| 2015 | Ipaglaban Mo: Sa Dulo ng Daan | Nico | Lead Role |
| 2015–2016 | Pangako Sa 'Yo | Vincent "Amboy" Mobido | Supporting Cast |
| 2017 | A Love to Last | Lucas Noble | Supporting Cast |
| 2017 | Ipaglaban Mo: Pikon | Lemuel Velasco | Main Cast |
| 2023-2024 | Senior High | Gino Acosta | Main Cast / Protagonist |
| 2024 | High Street | Gino Acosta | Main Cast / Protagonist |

### Reality and variety shows

| Year | Title | Network | Notes |
| 2014 | The Voice Kids | ABS-CBN | Himself / Contestant |
| 2014 | Gandang Gabi, Vice! | ABS-CBN | Himself / Guest |
| 2014 | The Singing Bee | ABS-CBN | Himself / Contestant |
| 2015 | Gandang Gabi, Vice! | ABS-CBN | Himself / Guest |
| 2016 | We Love OPM | ABS-CBN | Himself / Contestant |
| 2016 | Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7 | ABS-CBN | Himself / Housemate |
| 2016 | Minute to Win It: Last Man Standing | ABS-CBN | Himself / Contestant |
| 2017 | Family Feud | ABS-CBN | Himself / Contestant |

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Certifications |
| JK | Released: July 3, 2015 Label: MCA Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | PARI: Gold |
| JKL | Released: January 27, 2017 Label: MCA Music Formats: digital download, streaming | |
| Diwa | Released: March 20, 2020 (as a Band) | |
| Sad Songs and Bullshits | Released: Part 1: September 23, 2023 Part 2: June 21, 2024 | |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, and associated albums :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Runaway Baby" | 2014 | The Voice Kids (The Album) and JK |
| "Para Sa 'Yo" | 2015 | JK |
| "Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam" | 2016 | JK |
| "Summer Time Love" | 2016 | JK |
| "This Gravity" | 2016 | JK |
| "Sana Kung Pwede Lang" | 2016 | JKL |

#### As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, showing year released, and associated albums :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Bwelo Lang" (Edray Teodoro featuring Juan Karlos Labajo) | 2017 | Edray |

### Other appearances

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Lord Merry Christmas" (with various artists) | 2014 | My Christmas Album All Stars |
| "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" | 2014 | My Christmas Album All Stars |
| "Thank You, Ang Babait Ninyo" (with Lyca Gairanod, Darren Espanto, and Darlene Vibares) | 2014 | My Christmas Album All Stars |
| "Beautiful Girl" | 2017 | A Love to Last (The Official Soundtrack) |
| "Leni Laban!" (with various artists) | 2022 | Non-album single |

## Concert

| Year | Title | Details | Notes |
| 2014 | Boses ng Bulilit... Kami Ulit! | Date: July 31, Thursday Venue: Resorts World Manila Studio: ABS-CBN | The Voice Kids PH |
| 2014 | The Voice Kids ALL IN: THE CONCERT | Date: December 6, Saturday Venue: PICC Plenary Hall Studio: MCA Music Inc. | The Voice Kids PH |
| 2015 | Juan Karlos: A Birthday Show | Date: February 20, 2015 Friday Venue: Teatrino Promenade, Greenhills Studio: MCA Music Inc. Juan Karlos United Families Club | SOLD OUT |
| 2015 | Ang Tinig Natin: The Ultimate Kapamilya Song Hits | Date: March 5, 2015 Sunday Venue: Resorts World Manila Studio: ABS-CBN | With Other Kapamilya Stars |
| 2015 | Teen Power: The Kabataang Pinoy Concert | Date: August 8, 2015 Saturday Venue: Aliw Theater Studio: ABS-CBN | With Other Kapamilya Teen Stars |
| 2016 | ONE Voice Concert | Date: October 1, 2016 Saturday Venue: Music Museum, Greenhills Studio: MCA Music Inc. | With Jason Dy and Klarisse De Guzman |
| 2016 | Hi! Music Singtel Concert | Date: December 4, 2016 Sunday Venue: Republic Avenue, Nicoll Highway MRT, Singapore Studio: Singtel | OFW Prepaid Concert |
| 2016 | The Hit Parade Canada Tour 2016 | Date: October 28, 2016 Friday Venue: Massey Theatre, Vancouver, Canada Studio: ABS-CBN | With Elha Nympha, KZ Tandingan, Kean Cipriano, Viveika Ravanes |
| 2017 | JKL Live | Date: February 5, 2017 Venue: Kia Theatre Studio: MCA Music Inc. | POSTPONED (CANCELLED) |
| 2017 | Love Goals: A Love to Last Concert | Date: September 8, 2017 Venue: Kia Theatre Studio: ABS-CBN | With Other A Love to Last actors |
| 2024 | juan karlos live | November 29, 2024 MOA Arena Nathan Studios | First Major Solo Concert |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Organization | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2014 | 28th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best New Male TV Personality | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Picture | Nominated |
| 2015 | 2nd Star Cinema Online Awards | Most Promising TV Star | Pangako Sa 'Yo | Nominated |
| 2015 | 1st RAWR Awards | Performer/Artist of the Year (Male) | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 1st Wish Music Awards | Best Wishclusive Performance by a Young Artist | "Photograph" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 1st Wish Music Awards | Wish Ballad Song of the Year | "Para Sa 'Yo" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 1st Wish Music Awards | Wish Original Song of the Year | "Para Sa 'Yo" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 1st Wish Music Awards | Wish Young Artist of the Year | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 11th Myx Music Awards | Favorite Male Artist | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 11th Myx Music Awards | Favorite Mellow Video | "Para Sa 'Yo" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 11th Myx Music Awards | Favorite MYX Celebrity VJ | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | 29th Awit Awards | Best Performance by a New Male Recording Artist | "Para Sa'Yo" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 29th Awit Awards | Best Musical Arrangement | "Para Sa'Yo" | Nominated |
| 2017 | 2nd Wish Music Awards | Best Wishclusive Performance by a Young Artist | "Starving" | Nominated |
| 2017 | 2nd Wish Music Awards | Wish Young Artist of the Year | — | Nominated |
| 2017 | 12th Myx Music Awards | Favorite Mellow Video | "Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam" | Won |
| 2017 | 4th MPS Online Awards | Favorite Male OPM Artist | — | Nominated |
| 2017 | 4th MPS Online Awards | Favorite Mellow Song | "Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam" | Nominated |
| 2017 | 4th MPS Online Awards | Favorite Chart-Topper Song | "Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam" | Nominated |
| 2017 | 7th EdukCircle Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series | A Love to Last | Nominated |
| 2017 | 30th Awit Awards | Best Pop Recording | "Sana Kung Pwede Lang" | Nominated |
| 2018 | 13th Myx Music Awards | MYX Celebrity VJ of the Year | — | Nominated |
| 2018 | 5th MOR Pinoy Music Awards | Album of the Year | JKL | Won |
| 2018 | 5th MOR Pinoy Music Awards | OPM Revival of the Year | "Beautiful Girl" | Won |
| 2018 | 10th PMPC Star Awards for Music | Male Pop Artist of the Year | "Demonyo" | Nominated |
| 2018 | 31st Awit Awards | Best Pop Recording | "Demonyo" | Nominated |
| 2018 | 31st Awit Awards | Best Rock/Alternative Recording | "Demonyo" | Nominated |
| 2019 | 32nd Awit Awards | Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist | "Buwan" | Won |
| 2019 | 32nd Awit Awards | People's Voice Favorite Male Artist | — | Won |
| 2019 | 5th Alta Media Icon Awards | Best Male Recording Artist | "Buwan" | Won |
| 2020 | 11th PMPC Star Awards for Music | Male Recording Artist of the Year | "Buwan" | Nominated |
| 2022 | 13th PMPC Star Awards for Music | All-Around Artist & Frontman Recognition Award | — | Won |
| 2023 | 3rd Pinoy Rebyu Awards | Best Supporting Performance | Blue Room | Nominated |
| 2023 | 3rd Pinoy Rebyu Awards | Best Ensemble Performance | Blue Room | Nominated |
| 2023 | 6th Entertainment Editor’s Choice Awards | Best Theme Song | "Pag-ibig na Sumpa" | Nominated |
| 2023 | 46th Gawad Urian Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Blue Room | Nominated |