# Gelo Rivera
**Gelo Rivera** is a Filipino singer, rapper, and actor who serves as the leader and one of the rappers of the five-member P-pop boy group BGYO, managed by [Star Magic](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-magic), the talent arm of ABS-CBN. Vietnamese press identifies his real name as Angelo Troy Rivera, while a fan-maintained reference gives it as Angelo Troy Garcia Rivera; he was born in 2001.[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) • [2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) He came to wider attention in 2025 with his first lead acting role and in 2026 through a cross-border collaboration with the Vietnamese singer Vũ Thảo My (武氏美).[3](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/2/exclusive-bgyo-gelo-rivera-feels-challenged-by-first-lead-role-in-the-four-bad-boys-and-me-0009) • [4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identity | Leader and rapper of BGYO under Star Magic (ABS-CBN); real name reported as Angelo Troy Rivera (VnExpress) or Angelo Troy Garcia Rivera (fan reference)[5](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207) • [1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) • [2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) |
| Born | 2001; height reported as 1.88 m (VnExpress) or 187 cm / 6'2" (fan reference)[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) • [2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) |
| Group debut | BGYO debuted January 29, 2021 with "The Light", co-written by the members with Distract and MU Doctor, after Star Hunt Academy training from 2018[5](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207) |
| Solo release | "ZEALOUS (Gã săn mồi)" with Vũ Thảo My, Mỹ Mỹ, and Juky San, released April 21, 2026, with an English version on April 24[4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624) • [6](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HPS5uxEDEzm4JFLpxsSvu) |
| Acting | First lead role in "The Four Bad Boys and Me" (2025), directed by Benedict Mique; slated to headline the microdrama "The Chambermaid's Daughter" with Alexa Ilacad[3](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/2/exclusive-bgyo-gelo-rivera-feels-challenged-by-first-lead-role-in-the-four-bad-boys-and-me-0009) • [4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624) |
| Streaming | 10,761 Spotify monthly listeners at retrieval; the two ZEALOUS versions at 85,350 and 83,563 plays[6](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HPS5uxEDEzm4JFLpxsSvu) |
| Group milestones | BGYO reached #1 on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart (2021) and holds the longest-charting #1 album on iTunes in OPM history at 12 consecutive days[2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) |
## Identity and background
Gelo Rivera is verified as the BGYO leader through Philippine trade press, ABS-CBN's own entertainment coverage, and Vietnamese mainstream news, which all describe the same person: the leader of the Star Magic-managed boy group BGYO.[5](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207) • [1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) VnExpress gives his real name as Angelo Troy Rivera and his age as 25 at the time of its article, with a height of 1.88 m.[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) A fan-maintained profile gives the fuller form Angelo Troy Garcia Rivera, born 2001, height 187 cm (6'2").[2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) The middle name Garcia appears only in that fan source and is not confirmed by press coverage, so the full legal name remains a discrepancy between the two available sources.[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) • [2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/)
Before debut he trained from 2018 through Star Hunt Academy, ABS-CBN's idol-training venture, where the group was previously known as the SHA Boys; Filipino and South Korean coaches gave the trainees more than 24 hours per week of vocal and dance instruction over two years.[5](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207) In December 2020 the group signed a management contract with Star Magic.[5](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207)
## BGYO: debut and group career
BGYO debuted on January 29, 2021 with the single "The Light", which the members co-wrote with Distract and MU Doctor.[5](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207) The lineup places Gelo Rivera as leader and rapper alongside Akira Morishita (vocals), JL Toreliza (vocals), Michael Claver Jr. (rapper), and Nate Porcalla (lead dancer).[5](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207) He is credited with additional lyrics on "The Light".[2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/)
The group's album releases are *THE LIGHT* (October 7, 2021) and *BE US* (November 3, 2022, lead single "Magnet"), with the fandom named ACEs and the group under ABS-CBN's Star Magic and [Star Music](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-music).[2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) By the time of a VMAN Southeast Asia feature, BGYO was two albums deep with a newly released EP that March, and Rivera described leading mainly in choreography: "Since I started as a dancer, I usually lead in that area."[7](https://vman-sea.com/arts-culture/music/gelo-rivera-guide-to-being-that-guy/)
## Solo work and the Vietnamese collaboration
Rivera's solo-listed Spotify catalog consists of the single "ZEALOUS (GÃ SĂN MỒI)" with Vũ Thảo My, Mỹ Mỹ, and Juky San.[6](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HPS5uxEDEzm4JFLpxsSvu) ABS-CBN reported the track's release on April 21, 2026, with an English version scheduled for April 24, according to announcements on Vũ Thảo My's social media accounts.[4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624) VnExpress reported that Gelo flew to [Ho Chi Minh City](https://www.edgepedia.org/ho-chi-minh-city) early in the year to film the music video over two days, and cited the language barrier as his biggest challenge working with the Vietnamese team.[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) The song combines pop, R&B, and rap.[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html)
## Acting
In August 2025 Rivera took his first lead acting role in "The Four Bad Boys and Me", a film adaptation of Tina Lata's Wattpad novel directed by Benedict Mique, streaming on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel and the iWant app; he described feeling both pressured and grateful about the role.[3](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/2/exclusive-bgyo-gelo-rivera-feels-challenged-by-first-lead-role-in-the-four-bad-boys-and-me-0009) He is also slated to headline the upcoming microdrama "The Chambermaid's Daughter" alongside Alexa Ilacad.[4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624)
## By the numbers
Rivera's solo streaming footprint is modest relative to his group profile: his Spotify profile listed 10,761 monthly listeners at retrieval, and the two versions of "ZEALOUS" showed 85,350 plays (Vietnamese) and 83,563 plays (English), each 2:57 long.[6](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HPS5uxEDEzm4JFLpxsSvu) These figures are point-in-time platform counts, not certifications. At the group level, BGYO reached #1 on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart in 2021 and holds the longest-charting #1 album on iTunes in OPM history at 12 consecutive days.[2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) VnExpress reported nearly 300,000 Instagram followers for Rivera at the time of its article.[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) Documented live appearances are group events from 2021 to 2022, including #1MXDubai2021 at Trade Center Arena, Dubai (December 3, 2021), the PPOP Convention at Araneta Coliseum (April 2022), and ASAP in Vegas (November 5, 2022).[2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/)
## What has changed since late 2023
Rivera's public profile has broadened from group idol to solo collaborator and actor. In February 2026 the five-member BGYO released the single "Fresh".[4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624) The ZEALOUS collaboration with Vũ Thảo My followed in April 2026, marking his first documented solo release and his first cross-border Vietnamese project.[4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624) • [6](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HPS5uxEDEzm4JFLpxsSvu) His move into acting began with the 2025 lead film role and continues with the announced microdrama.[3](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/2/exclusive-bgyo-gelo-rivera-feels-challenged-by-first-lead-role-in-the-four-bad-boys-and-me-0009) • [4](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624) VMAN Southeast Asia has also featured him on its cover as a face of P-pop.[8](https://vman-sea.com/on-the-cover/gelo-rivera-bgyo-the-face-of-ppop/)
## Reception and recognition
The documented awards are group honors, not personal ones: Best Theme Song (National Winner) at the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards and People's Voice Favorite Group Artist at the 34th [Awit Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/awit-awards).[2](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/) Critical characterizations come from music and fashion press: Billboard Philippines commented that Gelo's strength is commanding the stage, and VMAN Southeast Asia described his calm, leadership-bearing demeanor.[1](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html) In its cover feature, VMAN profiled the then 24-year-old Rivera as leader of one of the Philippines' most visible boy groups, quoting his view that "I do not think leadership has to be loud."[8](https://vman-sea.com/on-the-cover/gelo-rivera-bgyo-the-face-of-ppop/)
## References
1. [Mỹ nam Philippines đóng MV cùng Vũ Thảo My, VnExpress Giải trí](https://vnexpress.net/my-nam-philippines-dong-mv-cung-vu-thao-my-5065863.html)
2. [about bgyo (fan-maintained reference)](https://bgyoph.carrd.co/)
3. [EXCLUSIVE: BGYO Gelo Rivera feels challenged by first lead role in 'The Four Bad Boys and Me', ABS-CBN News (August 2, 2025)](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/2/exclusive-bgyo-gelo-rivera-feels-challenged-by-first-lead-role-in-the-four-bad-boys-and-me-0009)
4. [BGYO's Gelo to drop song with Vietnamese star Vũ Thảo My, ABS-CBN News (April 21, 2026)](https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/4/21/bgyo-s-gelo-to-drop-song-with-vietnamese-star-v-th-o-my-1624)
5. [P-Pop group BGYO makes its debut, PEP.ph (February 7, 2021)](https://www.pep.ph/news/local/bgyo-debut-a721-20210207)
6. [GELO RIVERA, Spotify artist profile](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HPS5uxEDEzm4JFLpxsSvu)
7. [Gelo Rivera of BGYO: A Guide to Modern Leadership, VMAN Southeast Asia](https://vman-sea.com/arts-culture/music/gelo-rivera-guide-to-being-that-guy/)
8. [Gelo Rivera of BGYO on Leadership, P-Pop, and Identity, VMAN Southeast Asia](https://vman-sea.com/on-the-cover/gelo-rivera-bgyo-the-face-of-ppop/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Hip hop scenes worldwide › Artists, groups, and people: Hip hop scenes worldwide › South and Southeast Asian rap*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license