FPJ’s Batang Quiapo cast members express gratitude to Coco Martin
What is there not to like in Coco Martin?
Whatever shortcomings or flaws Coco may perhaps have, these would likely be less of an issue, especially when you hear the cast members of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo say nothing but good words for the actor.
During the media conference for Coco’s latest primetime TV starrer that is set to begin airing on Feb. 13, most of his co-stars expressed gratitude to him for having been instrumental in keeping them visible on screen and proving their worth as actors.
Pen Medina turned emotional while sharing how supportive Coco was when he suffered a spine problem.
“’Yun pong pagpapaospital ko, naoperahan ako sa gulugod, sa spine, pinakamatinding tumulong po sa akin si Coco. Kaya noong lumabas ako, as early as August (2022), nagpasalamat ako sa kanya,” began the seasoned actor. “I texted him to personally say thank you, aside from the post I did in general (on social media) na, ‘Thank you, sa lahat ng tumulong at nagdasal.’”
Pen revealed that aside from the financial aid, Coco offered him work.
He continued, “Ang sinagot niya sa akin, kasi alam ko na alam niyang kailangan kong bumangon pa, kagaya ng ginagawa niyang pagtulong sa napakaraming mga walang trabahong artista. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Tito Pen, kaya mo na ba? Malakas ka na ba? Mag-taping tayo para hindi ka mainip sa bahay.’ Ganoon lang ka-simple kaya tuwang-tuwa po ako, napakalaking bagay nito sa akin at sa aking pamilya. Kaya, I love you, Coco. Napakalaking utang na loob.”
He also thanked Coco even for making his sons, Karl and Ping, part of the TV series. “Parang buong pamilya namin kinuha na ni Coco. Kaya maraming salamat sa ‘yo, Coco.”
Dindo Arroyo, who often played bad guy roles in previous acting projects, said that FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano marks his return to the action scene. He said that action films almost vanished after the passing of action king Fernando Poe Jr.
“When Probinsyano came, it gave me the break, binuhay ‘yung career ko. I was able to feed my family,” Dindo shared and went on to quip, “Ngayon kinuha ulit ako, kaya ang sabi ko tataba na ang pamilya ko.”
Marlo Mortel, on the other hand, shared that his short stint in Ang Probinsyano was the last acting project his mother was able to watch prior to her death.
“Thank you to direk Coco because Ang Probinsyano was so memorable to me,” began Marlo who will appear in the flashback scenes of Batang Quiapo as the young version of Alan Paule’s character. “Even though my mom was already in the hospital at that time and it was really difficult for me to go back and forth (between hospital and location set), I told myself that I needed to be professional and I really wanted to finish what I (had) started with direk Coco.”
“Again, thank you direk Coco because this is my first teleserye after Ang Probinsyano which came at a time when I needed work. I feel so blessed,” he added.
Cherry Pie Picache, meanwhile, feels honored to be working again with Coco after her short stint in Ang Probinsyano. She, too, praised the actor for his dedication to his work.
“And I also told him that I am hoping that when I get old like Pen, there will also be in the young generation of actors who will do what Coco does — he values elder or senior actors. Sana may isa pang Coco Martin na mag-bibigay importansya sa elder actors kaya salamat talaga, anak direk Coco.”
Cherry Pie furthered not many know that Coco has helped so many people and not once did she hear Coco brag about it. What he would often say, Cherry Pie shared, is to give opportunity to others whenever you can because there are people who only need to get a break or an opportunity to show their God-given talent “and Coco is generously giving opportunities to them.”
Benzon Dalina, who plays one of Tanggol’s (portrayed by Coco) buddies in the series, said that Coco didn’t only give him a chance to live a better life but also his whole family. “Thank you for the trust. We assure you that we are always here to support you in whatever way we can for the success of Batang Quiapo,” he said.
Asked for his reasons for helping out fellow actors, Coco replied, “It’s because I also started from scratch. I was just an extra before. I experienced being cursed by directors and then, I would be replaced. Mahirap ‘yung pinagdaanan ko bago ako naging ganap na artista. At noong hindi pa pag-aartista ang pangarap ko kundi magkatrabaho lang, ang hirap pa rin ng oportunidad.”
His work as an extra, he added, wasn’t stable “because let’s say, I have work now and then after that, I will again be jobless for the next six months. I also did indie films where I was only paid P2,000 even though I was the lead star.”
Coco had promised himself that he would never have second thoughts about giving others the opportunity once he would start enjoying success.
“Ngayon na kahit papaano na may pagkakataon na ako makatulong, bakit ko ipagkakait? Iyon rin kasi ang hinihintay ko dati para mabuhay ko pamilya ko kaya ‘yung nakikita kong mga tao na p’wede kong tulungan at nakikita ko na deserving naman, bakit ko pahihirapan pa? Ang binibigay ko sa kanila ay trabaho at hindi naman manggagaling sa bulsa ko ‘yan. Pero isa lang ang hinahanap ko – ‘yung commitment at dedikasyon sa trabaho,” said Coco who, apart from playing lead, is also the series’ co-director, writer and co-producer.
Coco also revealed that it was he who personally chose the actors and informed them via phone or e-mail regarding the remake of Batang Quiapo, the 1986 blockbuster action-drama film of FPJ.
Charo Santos-Concio recalled that she didn’t hesitate to accept the role when Coco phoned her from the US.
“Coco was in San Francisco when he asked me if I could be part of the show. Of course, I said, yes. As a director, (he) creates magic so you have to go along with that magic,” said Charo who plays Tindeng, the grandmother of Coco’s Tanggol.
Asked if he feels that FPJ’s Batang Quiapo will be a hit just like Ang Probinsyano, which lasted for seven years, Coco confidently replied, “This will be my first time to brag. Yes, I know that this project will be successful.”
(FPJ’s Batang Quiapo also stars Lovi Poe, Lito Lapid, Mark Lapid, Ronnie Lazaro, Christopher de Leon, Tommy Abuel, Irma Adlawan, Ronwaldo Martin, Miles Ocampo and John Estrada. Malou Sevilla is co-director. It will air weeknights at 8 on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube Channel.)
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