John Marvin "Yul Servo" Cruz Nieto (born February 22, 1977) is a Filipino actor 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 (born 1952), 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 (1948–2024). 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 (2001), Laman (2002), Naglalayag (2004), Torotot, and Brutus (2008). 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" (reject) 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 six children. Their son Lucas (born 1998) 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.
Electoral history + Electoral history of Yul ServoYearOfficePartyVotes receivedResultLocalNationalTotal %.Swing2007Councilor (Manila–3rd district) colspan="2" rowspan="3" PDP–Laban31,220 5th 2010 Nacionalista60,30112.10%2nd 2013 UNA61,028 1st 2016Representative (Manila–3rd district)Asenso PMP46,35344.93%1st 2019 PDP–Laban65,15367.81%1st 2022Vice Mayor of Manila Aksyon586,85573.67%1st 2025 Lakas249,69128.49%2nd
Filmography Film +YearTitleRole2001Batang West SideHanzel Harana2002LamanDodong2004NaglalayagNoah Garcia2005IlusyonMiguel2008Brutus, Ang Paglalakbay2008Torotot (Destierro)Gabby2010RosarioVicente Velez2011Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga StoryBimbo2012El PresidentePedro Paterno2013PornoXander2017Kiko Boksingero
Television Year Title Role Ref. 2001–2003 Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka Epoy 2002–2003 Habang Kapiling Ka Nonoy Bautista 2005 Kampanerang Kuba Antonio 2006 Calla Lily Ramil 2007 Maria Flordeluna Danillo Ferrer 2008 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bisikleta Piano 2008–2009 LaLola Matias 2009 Rosalinda Roberto Zorro Samurai 2010 Sine Novela Presents: Mars Ravelo's Trudis Liit Lando 2010–2011 Jillian: Namamasko Po Roberto 2011 Carlo J. Caparas' Bangis Don Dominador Serpente Jr. 2012 Biritera Jerome Macapagal 2013 Anna Karenina Kadyo 2014 Kambal Sirena Damos 2015 Baker King Manager Henry Lee 2016 Pepito Manaloto Francis Might Oh, My Mama! Roberto Reyes 2017 Magpakailanman: Love Is Complicated: The Edgar Mendoza Story Colonel Danny 2018 The Cure Pia's father Tadhana: Mabuting Anak Philip Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sementeryo Kokoy 2019 Ipaglaban Mo: Ingrata Dado Magpakailanman: Yanig ng Buhay - The Pampanga Earthquake Victims Story Jason Sahaya Nolan del Sol 2024 Black Rider Miguel Rosales 2025 My Father's Wife Marcelino "Marcel/Jun" Santos Jr.
Acting awards and nominations
Year Award giving body Category Nominated work Results2001Cinemanila International Film FestivalBest ActorBatang West Side2004Brussels Independent Film Festival Naglalayag2005FAMAS Award2008Brussels Independent Film FestivalTorotot (Destierro)Brutus, Ang PaglalakbayCinemalaya Philippine Independent Film FestivalBest Supporting Actor
Notes
References
External links
Hon. Nieto, John Marvin "Yul Servo" C. at the House of Representatives of the Philippines