What Coco fears the most

CEBU, Philippines – Years ago, when Coco Martin was yet to be the household name that he now is, he found himself alone at home one night and chanced upon a television run of Kris Aquino’s 2004 hit “Feng Shui.”

He remembered thinking it was his first time to see a fright flick that looked glossy and colorful, unlike the usual grim, sinister surroundings of regular horror fare.

“Patay yung ilaw habang nanonood ako. Mamaya, sabi ko, nakakatakot ‘to ah. Hindi ko kayang panoorin, so binuksan ko yung ilaw. Hindi ko na tinuloy ang panonood. Lumipas muna ang ilang taon bago ko siya napanood ulit ng buo,” Coco shares during a delightful interview at the Radisson Blu Hotel before a promo appearance at the SM City Cebu Event Centre.

It was May of this year when Coco and Sarah Geronimo plugged their rom-com film “Maybe This Time” on “The Buzz,” where Kris is one of the hosts. Off-air, he broached the idea to the talk show host of doing a follow up to  “Feng Shui.”

He had already dabbled in drama, action, fantasy, romantic-comedy, and even a musical – so he wanted to dip his toes into the horror genre.

“Sabi ko, ‘Ate Kris, gawin naman natin yung Feng Shui.’ Kasi ilang taon na ang nakalipas since napanood ko, pero never ko pa siyang nakalimutan. Like yung pagkamatay ni Lotlot. And the ending na hindi mo ini-expect patay na pala yung mga bata. Sabi niya, sige, ita-try daw niya. Ayaw na talaga gawan ng part two ni Direk Chito Roño, kasi para sa kanya, enough na yun. Nasarado niya yung Feng Shui na maganda. Later on, na-excite siya, baka magandang combination daw ako at si Ate Kris,” Coco recounts.

Return of the Lotus Feet

Previously dubbed the Prince of Philippine Independent Films, Coco says he discovered that the struggle with horror is to believably appear that his character is truly scared out of his wits.

He shares, “Medyo mahirap pala paniwalain yung viewers na may bagay na nakakatakot. Hindi pwedeng uma-acting lang ako na natatakot; kailangan tumagos sa viewers anong reason bakit ka natatakot. Sabi ni Direk Chito, challenging sa kanya na this time, lalaki yung bida, kasi ang mga lalaki kapag natatakot, hindi gaano nagpapakita ng emotion. Parang awkward kung sumigaw. So sabi ko, dadaanin ko nalang sa mata para mapakita yung fear.”

This “Feng Shui” sequel sees Joy (Kris Aquino) teaming up with new bagua owner Lester (Coco) to foil the evil curse unleashed by the ancient bagua that preys on people’s desires.

While Coco relents there’s no harm in following feng shui in real life, he’s not one to believe in the Chinese practice, explaining he was taught by his grandma to determine his own fate.

“Kasi siguro dahil Pinoy ako at pinalaki ako ng lola ko na ang totoong swerte pinaghihirapan daw yan,” he points out. “Mahirap umasa sa isang bagay. Pero hindi ako sarado ha. Minsan nagbabasa din ako ng zodiac sign o horoscope ko sa newspaper.”

Looking up to Eddie Garcia

As to how he prepared for his first horror role, Coco discloses that he spent time observing his director’s style.

Instead of relaxing inside his tent, the ABS-CBN star would hang around behind the scenes during his co-stars’ takes to determine what method Roño prefers. For Coco, chemistry should not only be present between co-actors, but between actor and director, too.

When talk turned to his chances at an MMFF 2014 Best Actor accolade, the ever-modest 33-year-old was quick to stress that awards aren’t his end goal. But given a choice between critical recognition or a blockbuster movie to his name, Coco would rather aim for the former on any given day.

“I look forward more to awards kasi nanggaling ako sa indie. Pagkatapos namin gumawa ng indie film, we always hope na sana may kahantungan. Kung saka-sakali man pagpalain at magustuhan ako ng mga hurado, sobrang bonus at thankful na ako dun. Pero since nasa MMFF kami, ang hinahangad ko sana kahit papaano kumita. Kung ako lang, hindi ako humahangad mag number one. At least, mabawi lang yung investment, happy na ako dun.”

Asked how he feels that phrases such as “one of this generation’s best actors” are constantly attached to his name, Coco grins widely and exclaims, “Kinikilig!”

“Pero ayoko ma-pressure,” he adds. “Masaya ako pag nakatanggap ng award, pero hindi ko siya masyadong dinidibdib. Minsan nga nahihiya akong sabihin ang mga award ko kasi gusto ko grounded ako. Kapag nakikita ko ang mga natatanggap kong award, natutuwa ako kasi nung nag-aaral ako, laging bagsak ang mga grades ko. Lagi akong last section. Tapos ngayon, hindi ko akalain na matututo pala akong umarte. Kumbaga sa pag-aaral, parang first honor ka palagi.”

Next month, Coco says he’s set to start work on a Star Cinema film. Television though, would have to wait a bit longer. His last soap opera “Ikaw Lamang” enjoyed a lengthy run, so Coco wants the viewers to miss him for a bit.

He also wants to further explore mainstream movies. “When I was still in the indie scene, haslos lahat nagawa ko – pinaka-matapang na pelikula, pinaka-daring…at wala akong pinagsisihan dahil diyan ako nahulma at nahinog. Nung time na tumalon ako sa soap opera, gusto ko lahat ng kwento – action, drama, love story, musical – nasubukan ko. Hindi ko sinasabing nagawa ko na lahat, but on my part, I want new challenges. I want to try many genres. Kaya idolo ko si Eddie Garcia, kasi walang pinipili na role. Ayokong bigyan ng limitation ang sarili ko na pang-drama lang ako. Kung bibigyan ako ng chance sa comedy, bibigyan ko ng panahon na pag-aralan.”

Family man

In the real world, outside the realm of horror films, what Coco fears the most is to find himself incapable of helping his loved ones.

“Yung mga unexpected na pwedeng mangyari sa family ko at sa sarili ko. Kasi everyday akong nagtatrabaho, natatakot ako like kunwari nag-a-action ako, yung madisgrasya which is nangyari na sa akin before sa ‘Tayong Dalawa’ na nasabugan ako sa mukha. Yung sakit, ilang beses ko na ring naranasan dahil sa sobrang pagod. Natatakot ako na isang araw may mangyaring hindi maganda—huwag naman po sana— kasi this time, ako ang pundasyon ng pamilya ko,” he explains.

“Ako yung may kakayanan ngayon para tumulong sa kanila. Gusto ko sana, ma-establish muna sila, at mailagay sila sa ayos. Palagi nga ako tinatanong bakit hindi ko daw naiisip yung love life. Sabi ko, pinagdaanan ko na lahat yan. Diyan nga nagsimula kung bakit nagkamali-mali ako sa career ko dahil inuna ko ang ganyang mga bagay. Dahil nagsimula ako sa wala, at pinagdaanan ko na lahat, ilang beses na akong nadapa. Lahat ng gimik, napuntahan ko na yan. Umuuwi ako ng lasing, barkada dito, bulakbol doon, cutting classes…lahat, napagdaanan ko na. Ngayon, dumating yung time na nag mature na ako.”

Aside from shouldering the studies of his four siblings, nieces, and nephews, Coco is also exploring one business venture at a time, so that when a sister or brother is ready to take over, they will have their own sources of income and not entirely depend on him.

When Coco builds a family of his own, he envisions all his siblings will by then stand on their own two feet.

“Ayoko dumating yung point that my future wife will question me, kung bakit hanggang ngayon, ako pa rin ang tumutulong sa kanila. Kaya habang binata at okay pa ako, ginagawa ko ang lahat. Nagsubok akong mag-business, yung Fix Salon of Bench, which I’m preparing for to give to my sister. At least, paisa-isa. Later on, yung brother ko naman ang bibigyan ko. Para ang mangyayari, nagtutulungan kami, hindi yung lahat sila umaasa sa akin. Ako kasi yung tipong galit na galit ako sa taong tamad.”

He continues, “Kaya natatakot akong may masamang mangyari sa akin, kasi masasayang yung pinaghirapan ko kung madapa ko, lalo na hindi pa ready yung mga kapatid ko. Kung sarili ko lang iintindihin ko, honestly, okay na ako. Hindi naman ako sobrang mapaghangad. Kahit maliit nga na bahay, okay lang. Pero nag-a-ambisyon ako ng malaki, kasi marami kami. Ang Pilipino naman ganoon diba? Kung sino ang meron, siya ang tumutulong.”

Rags to riches

Opening up further on his childhood years, Coco’s success becomes even more inspiring as he narrates his days as a misguided youth.

He turns wistful at the thought that he could have achieved more had his parents reared him well. At the same time, he’s grateful that his unfortunate background served as motivation for him to rise above poverty.

“I come from a broken family. Hindi ako gaanong na-guide ng parents ko. May time na naiiyak ako, kasi naaalala ko nung nag-aaral ako, lahat ng Filipino subjects, ang galing galing ko. Kumbaga, pa-bibo ako basta may Tagalog. Pagdating sa English, Math, Science – patay!”

“Nalulungkot ako noon, kasi nag-aaral ako sa sarili kong pamamaraan. Pag-uwi ko, walang nagtuturo sa aking gumawa ng assignment. My normal environment, paglabas ko ng bahay, lahat Tagalog ang salita, so hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang English. Nalulungkot ako, kasi kung perfect pa sana yung family ko, mas malayo pa siguro ang narating ko. Siguro hindi ako ganito lang. Sa kabilang banda, kung perfect pa yung parents ko, hindi din siguro ako ganito ka-pursigido. I would have been one of those na palaging gimik, barkada, basketball. Dahil nga wala akong ibang makapitan, nagsumikap ako.”

This time, Coco uses his resources to mend what used to be a troubled household. “Ngayon, binubuo ko. Hindi man tayo naging maayos noon, baka ako ang magiging daan para maayos ang pamilya natin,” he quips.

All his luck the past years, Coco attributes to faith and fervent prayers.

“Kung babalikan ko yung 2007, lagi akong nagdadasal sa Quiapo Church. Paraket-raket kasi ako noon. Trabaho sa hotel, restaurant, nagbibigay ng samples sa bar…minsan, extra sa commercial, sa TV or movie. Hindi ako mapiling tao. Gusto ko lang noon magkaroon nga regular na trabaho. Para hindi na ako kinakabahan na after six months, tengga na naman. That time, gusto ko ako na tumulong sa Lola ko. Hindi ko makalimutan, sinabi ko sa Diyos, kahit hindi ako matulog, kahit everyday yan, hindi ako magrereklamo.”

His pleas to the heavens were not in vain, as Coco found himself shooting one indie film to another. He hasn’t looked back since, and is now one of the country’s most sought-after talents.

“Hanggang sa dumating yung pagkakataon na binigay Niya lahat sa akin ito. I had an indie film where the scene was me touching the Nazarene icon. After that, hindi ko na namalayan, na everyday, nagtatrabaho na ako. Sa isang buwan, minsan, tatlo o apat na indie films ang ginagawa ko. Hanggang ngayon, hindi na siya huminto. Ano bang pinanggalingan ko? Ang liit ko, hindi naman ako artistahin, bulol ako, hindi ako magaling mag-English. Pero sabi ko nga, siguro nakita ng Diyos yung determinasyon ko na tulungan ang pamilya ko.”

Having started from the bottom, Coco knows the danger of throwing resources when he has it in abundance.

He says, “Sobra kong pinaghahandaan ang kinabukasan. Hindi ako nagpapalunod kung anong meron ako ngayon. Lagi kong iniisip na ang daming artista na okay na okay pero after that, biglang nawala. Pero pangit rin na sobra akong advance mag-isip, pero ayaw ko kasing mataranta. Ayokong magpakasilaw, tapos mamaya, ibebenta lang.”

These days, when Coco whispers a prayer, he says it’s to ask God not to give him trials that can’t be assuaged with money. “Kung sakit, may pera naming panggastos para sa mahal na ospital. Yan, kayang solusyonan. Pero kunwari, makadisgrasya ka, kahit may pera, hindi na mababawi yung disgrasya. So ang palagi kong dasal ngayon, sana hindi pagdaanan ng pamilya ko yan.”