FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano extended until 2018

MANILA, Philippines - The FPJ magic lives on!

At a thanksgiving party last Friday night hosted by Coco Martin at his mansion (yes, it is!) in an upscale Quezon City subdivision, Coco himself was the one most surprised when ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes announced that his starrer FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano would be extended until 2018, making it the longest-running action-adventure series in Philippine Television.

Cory was among the ABS-CBN bigwigs at the party including Carlo Katigbak (chairman) and Deo Endrinal (head of Dreamscape which is behind Probinsyano).

“Alam mo,” Coco confided to a guest later that evening, “when  I start thinking of scenes to make Probinsyano more exciting, feeling ko gina-guide ako ni FPJ.”

Besides playing the legendary hero created and popularized by Da King in several movies, Coco is also part of the creative team. As soon as he comes up with an idea, Coco discusses it with directors Toto Natividad, Malu Sevilla and Abel Sanpunco. Routine master is Val Iglesias.

Also topbilled in the series is FPJ’s widow Susan Roces, a veritable crowd-drawer even in the presence of younger actors in the cast including Michael de Mesa, Joel Torre, Jaime Fabregas, Rez Cortez, Arjo Atayde, Jeric Raval, Long Mejia, John Prats, Awra, Makmak and Julio Diaz (who has recovered from a brain surgery caused by a stroke, helped financially by Coco). All of them were present at the Saturday party.

Launched in August 2015, Probinsyano has been topping ratings as it continues to reinvent itself by introducing a parade of characters played by big actors in the field.

“The show is unbeatable,” according to a Funfare source. “How many shows na ba ang itinapat sa Probinsyano?”

As they say, you can’t lick a consistent winner, especially if it’s rating over 40 percent every time, all the time, all the way.

“That’s why no show would dare compete with it,” added the Funfare source. “Ang lakas-lakas! 40 percent is 40 percent!”