In 2022, Bables starred as Dali, an effeminate fashion designer who falls in love with a beauty queen and faces the pressure to prove his heterosexuality to her and everyone else around them, in the romantic comedy film Mahal Kita, Beksman.

He also gained broader recognition among the Filipino public for his role as Max Dionisio in the acclaimed teleserye, Dirty Linen.

[6] In 2017, The Philippine Star wrote that Bables' career "languished for six years", as he was relegated to bit and supporting roles.

However, the creatives behind the film gave him another chance, asking him to recite the script, and later decided to cast him as the main character Trisha's best friend, Barbs.

[8] In 2018, he won Best Leading Actor at the 5th Hanoi International Film Festival for his performance in Signal Rock.

Jason Tan Liwag of Rappler lauded Bables' performance, describing him as "an indelible onscreen presence" and "a force to be reckoned with.

[11] In May 2024, Bables signed a contract with Legacy Entertainment, a talent agency based in the USA.

He clarified that he will "forever" be a Filipino actor and has no intentions to leave his Philippines-based talent agency, KreativDen.