Comedian Rex Navarrete is coming to N.J. for the Independence Day weekend
The Studio Ligaya, a Filipino American cultural venue and community hub in Metuchen, New Jersey, will present Laugh with Ligaya, a three-show stand-up comedy event headlined by Rex Navarrete on June 12 and 13, 2026.
This show series is created to celebrate Philippine Independence Day and bring together the East Coast FilAm community. The event is produced by The Studio Ligaya founder Tiffany Joy Argonza and local FilAm comedian and host Marites.
Laugh with Ligaya is located at 16 Jersey Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840. The events are scheduled for the following dates:
● Friday, June 12 | 7:30 PM
● Saturday, June 13 | 3:30 PM
● Saturday, June 13 | 7:30 PM
Tickets are available at eventbrite.com/o/the-studio-ligaya-llc-65990531663
Rex Navarrete has been performing stand-up comedy since 1989, beginning in the San Francisco scene of the 1990s. Over the course of his career, he has shared the stage with Robin Williams, George Lopez, Russell Peters, and Ali Wong, among others.
He recalls how he got his start in late 1980s when a college professor told him to “take your jokes to the stage.”
According to his website: “Navarrete gathers all of his material from what he calls ‘real Rex moments,’ reality and shared life experiences. ‘I think everything has humor; you will always find humor. I don’t always make stuff up. Even though most of my material is geared for a Filipino audience, if you’re smart enough you’ll understand the universality of it. Look at the comedy traditions of Jewish and African American comics, which are now the mainstream through Seinfeld, Bruce, Allen, Rock, Pryor and Murphy. Our struggles become our comedy.’
“‘My parents never knew I would become a comedian. They did think I would go on to become an architect. I led a dual life; I would play the role of a Filipino at home and at school be the American with my classmates. I bought my first Eddie Murphy album in middle school and memorized ‘Comedian’ with my friends. That was my first real introduction to stand-up comedy and the art of storytelling.
“A lot has happened since then. Navarrete has performed his brand of comedy all across the nation touring numerous colleges, universities and community events. He has become a household name in Filipino American homes.”
His 2001 animated short “Maritess vs The Superfriends” became widely circulated online and remains a reference point for many Filipino American audiences. His concert film “Badass Madapaka” was filmed before a sold-out crowd at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. He has appeared on Lopez Tonight, Live at Gotham, MyxTV, and MTV Philippines, and in the film “Asian Persuasion alongside Dante Basco and KC Concepcion.
Navarrete currently tours internationally across Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada, and for the U.S. Armed Forces. He also hosts The Flip Chronicles, a podcast featuring Filipinos from around the world.
In 2025, he was inducted into the Aliw Awards Hall of Fame, which recognizes performing artists in the Philippines. More information at rexnavarrete.com | Instagram: @rexnava
Since opening, The Studio Ligaya has hosted cultural markets, community events, and weekly classes in Filipino Folk Dancing through a partnership with The Filipino School of New York/New Jersey and Future Ancestors, Filipino Martial Arts led by Bayani Arnis, and has expanded into original live programming.
Marites is a FilAm comedian based in Central Jersey and producer of the LOL.CO Comedy Show. She teamed up with Argonza to create Laugh with Ligaya.
The weekend’s show will also feature local comedians Patricia Dinglasan, Kyle Lucero, Max Higgins, Brian Acosta Arya, Jordan Manglona, and Dominique Nisperos.
