Vhong Navarro jokes about talent fee cut due to Kim Chiu joining ‘It’s Showtime’
During ‘It’s Showtime’s’ 15th anniversary celebration, host Vhong Navarro lightheartedly revealed that his talent fee was reduced when Kim Chiu officially joined the show in September 2020.
This came up as the hosts reminisced about It’s Showtime’s early days, which began as a pre-noontime program on October 24, 2009, with just five hosts.

The original team featured Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, and Kim Atienza, with Vice Ganda joining later as a judge.
As the cast expanded, Jhong Hilario teased that Vhong’s talent fee had been adjusted to accommodate the growing lineup. The other hosts joined in, jokingly thanking Vhong for “sharing” his talent fee with them. “Alam mo bakit nabawas? Kasi pumasok si Kim [Chiu],” Vhong quipped, with Kim playfully pointing to Ogie Alcasid as a “senior” influence, to which Ogie responded, “Siyempre senior kami.”
This playful exchange was part of ‘It’s Showtime’s’ ‘Magpasikat’ week, marking 15 years of the show with a series of performances by the host teams.

Vice Ganda, Karylle, and Ryan Bang kicked off the week with an inspiring performance on hope, followed by Ogie Alcasid, Kim Chiu, MC, and Lassy’s act focusing on calmness. Vhong Navarro, Ion Perez, Darren Espanto, and Amy Perez highlighted kindness in their Wednesday performance, while Anne Curtis, Jugs Jugueta, and Teddy Corpuz celebrated core memories on Thursday with a guest performance by OPM group BINI.
The final performance, featuring Jhong Hilario, Jackie Gonzaga, and Cianne Dominguez, will close the week on Friday. This year’s ‘Magpasikat’ judges include filmmaker Rory Quintos, actor Donny Pangilinan, GMA Network star Gabbi Garcia, actress Alice Dixson, and former ABS-CBN president Freddie Garcia.